Our Time In Brazil So Far...

The First Few Days

We made it to Brazil safely and have settled in after a few days.  We haven’t had super accessible internet so we haven’t been able to update everyone as consistently as we had hoped.  But then again, it’s good to be confronted with just how comfortable our lives are back home.  I enjoy the difference and am more grateful for what I do have.  

Ella has done so amazingly well.  We’re so proud of her.  After a long layover in Rio (and a spontaneous bus adventure into the city!) we made it to Curitiba Monday evening and then made the drive south to Sao Bento Do Sul.  It was so good to meet our friends here.  We have had a wonderful time together.

First, let me explain something to you... it is COLD here.  I’m not talking about it’s a little cool.  I’m talking about cold.  It’s winter here and we are in the south of the country so it gets much colder here than in other parts of Brazil.  It’s hard to prepare your mind for winter weather when it’s been close to 100 degrees each day in Carolina!  It’s also hard to think about being as cold indoors as it is outdoors.  Central air and heat is a major luxury here and one that our friends cannot afford.  We truly are a spoiled lot.

Tuesday we had an amazing meeting with area musicians.  It is a testimony to how Jean (the pastor of O Refugio) has reached out to the musical community and built relationships here.  We had about 30 people come.  These guys are the premier players in the bars and clubs of the city; many of which are music teachers.  We met at the church and for many, it was their first time in an evangelical church.  I had the privilege of teaching the Nashville Number System (something they were absolutely fascinated with) and give some insight into home and studio recording.  It could not have gone better.  Afterwards we hung out and I gave my CD’s away for them to take home.  Let’s pray it opens the atmosphere for them to receive Jesus!  

Wednesday we spent time in the city getting to know the area and then had a get together at Jean and Giuliana’s apartment with some of the musicians that came to the workshop.  It was awesome to continue building relationships with these guys.  One of the guys said that God did something in his heart while he was at the workshop.  This is what we’re believing for.  

Tonight, I will lead a worship workshop for area pastors, leaders and musicians.  We already have heard from so many that are coming that Jean and Giuliana are trying to find a bigger location!  We’re so overwhelmed by the welcome we’ve received here by the city and by the church.  It is our prayer to get the city and the church together more and more!!  

Tomorrow Tamsey will speak for a women’s event.  I’m so excited for her.  Pastor wives are responding from all over the area to say that they are coming.  One of the leaders at  O Refugio is a teacher here in the city.  She has invited all of the teachers at her school to come tomorrow.  Pray for an open heaven, an impartation of the miraculous and a revelation of Jesus.  We’re expecting nothing less!  

I’ll try to update the blog again before the weekend.  We’ve been invited to play and speak at a ‘Bola De Neve’ church here in town Saturday Night after we do an outreach in the city and then we will minister at O Refuge Sunday.  We are so grateful for your prayers and support.  We could not be here but for the grace of God and friends like you.

Blessed.

The Power and Potential of Friendship

I came across this blog I wrote a couple years ago.  As I think about our upcoming trip to Brazil the message here speaks to me all the louder.  My friend who started this ministry, passed away since I wrote this.  The impact of his life stirs me all the more as I consider these thoughts again.

There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother...

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

I'm sitting in northern Georgia in the US and am between sessions at a missions event I'm leading worship for. This particular organization helps construct church buildings for existing churches in Brazil. They have done this for over 30 years and have taken thousands of people on their first missions trips (including me!). Over 300 churches built, countless lives impacted by the Love of Jesus and more stories than you can imagine. All of it stemming from one American guy and his Brazilian friend.

These two men became friends on accident. They should have never met. They had nothing in common. One, a country preacher in the US and the other a businessman in the center of the Amazon in Brazil. However, they did become friends. And they found they had two things in common... they both loved Jesus and the both wanted to do something for the Brazilian people.

And so, over 30 years later, I am here at an event where these two friends (now in their 60's) are talking about all that God has done through them and all that they have planned for the years ahead. And it makes me think of my friends.

I shouldn't know my friends in Austria and Bosnia and Brazil and Belgium and Uganda, etc... There was no earthly reason for us to meet. But as I sit here, inspired by the ministry and accomplishments of two friends who just did what they could to build the Kingdom of God I think about my friends and what stories we will tell 30 years from now. I hope to make a difference. I want to impact this world for Jesus. And, I'd love to get to do it with my friends.

So, the next time you share a cup of coffee with a friend, or send an email to a friend across the seas think of what God may use that friendship to accomplish. We are not our own and we are not here for our own purposes. He desires to use us to see His Kingdom come and HIs will to be done on the earth!

Inspired,
Nathan

Don't Fall In Love With Caterpillars

I just got back from vacation.  It was so incredibly good.  It wasn't that we did the most amazing things ever.  We went back home to Alabama.  I mean, I've been all over Europe, Brazil and USA (and Bermuda!).  When you put Alabama up against that list it seems pretty lame (and that's not even considering Alabama isn't necessarily a 'world heritage site' to begin with).  It wasn't good because of the scenery or cultural experiences.  It was good because of relationships.  Great relationships.

There's a lot I could tell.  We had a blast down on the Gulf Coast (which is beautiful so cut Alabama some slack).  We had great time seeing friends and family all up and down I-65 and I-85.  But, my favorite time was in Auburn.  Ya, it's a nice town and I enjoy the sports and such but it had more to do with our friends there.  Again... relationships.

My friend 'Coach' is an awesome guy.  His whole family is amazing and they have been dear friends of ours since 1999.  We became friends years ago when Tamsey and I lived in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL.  We all started a church together and had some amazing times.  We later moved to NC and Coach and Sherry moved to Auburn.  We've been on different paths since then but have been doing the same thing.... building and expanding the Kingdom of God.

I've always loved Coach and Sherry.  They invested in Tamsey and I from the first day we met them.  Coach (Wren) was the Gulf Shores High School girls basketball coach and just an all around great guy.  He liked Brazil (took me on my first trip there in 2001 and the rest is history) had a great sense of humor and enjoyed good music.  I liked him just the way he was and would have been delighted to know him in that same way for the rest of our lives.  What I didn't know was that there was so much more inside of him that I would later get to see.

When Coach moved to Auburn he and his wife Sherry started a small group at his church for college students.  Well, that group of 20 students has grown to a Wednesday Night service of about 700 college students called ONE Auburn.  I got to go to ONE last week and see my friend Coach do his thing as he shared his heart and the Word of God with all of those students.  It blew me away!  I mean, who is this guy?!  I was overwhelmed in the greatest way and I left that night in complete awe of God.

How long was this lying dormant inside of him?  How many leaders did he serve under for years that never invited him to break out of the cocoon and fly?!  Now, I certainly believe in 'times and seasons' and Coach told me himself that he wouldn't have been ready to do anything like this before the time that it happened.  I believe him.  But there was so much greatness sitting and waiting patiently for so long.  It made me wonder at God.  Of course, God knew all along.  I wonder how excited He was to see this guy finally get to spread his wings and come into his destiny?  It is amazing and I know there's so much more to come.

What about you?  Is there more inside that needs to come forth?  Probably.  What about your friends?  What about those that serve under you at work or at church?  I guarantee there's more for them.  I left Auburn with a mission.  I want to see people come into their destiny like never before.  It's always been a passion but there is some major fuel on the fire these days.

Don't fall in love with caterpillars.  Embrace and enjoy people where they are but keep an eye out for wings.  They're in there.  Rather than helping people 'get comfortable in their own skin' call them to greatness and help them take flight.  When they do, we will all stand in awe.... not just of them, but at the Great God that has been preparing them to fly from the day they were born.