Hope For The World

Cape Town, South Africa: Day 4

2012-02-08T22:32:00.006-06:00

Bottom's up. It's time to drink in more of the beauty we're seeing here.

Gulp, gulp, gulp...

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp...

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp...

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Good, huh?

Today, let's just say our team is exhausted beyond measure. For that reason alone, we're taking a half-day off.

This morning, we went to Living Grace, the ministry of Living Hope for the helpless, homeless, and addicted. We stepped one foot inside and were greeted by those in the recovery program, the ministry leaders, and a few early morning patients.

Before we even started unpacking blood pressure cuffs and eye glasses, we sat down to worship with the group. Then, we got an extra special treat as our very own Michael took on a new name: The Right Reverend Russell.

He delivered a short message to the crowd based on Jesus' words in Acts 8:7-9: "'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him."

The Rev explained that it's much easier to go to a foreign country and tell people about Jesus than to do it right where you live, work, and play. He's right. We're realizing that more and more on this trip. And he pointed out that Jesus didn't suggest that we do this, but said we will do it if we want to follow Him.

Overall, he challenged those native South Africans in the room to take Jesus' words to heart, embracing the uncomfortable task of reaching people in their own community with the gospel through relationships, love, and service.

Let's just say he hit a home run. I almost passed the offering plate and stood to give an invitation. I've already suggested he may need to reconsider his calling in life and move from the court of law to the pulpit.

The program at Living Grace offers a feeding program and recovery/rehab program for those who are trapped in addiction. Ashley Lovell, a Brentwood Baptist missionary, serves as a rehab counselor in this program. (Stay tuned for a story on BrentwoodBaptist.com about her ministry and what she's doing.)

After the clinic, we took the afternoon to rest and see the area. Some took naps. Some spent time with our missionaries. Some walked the beach. And some of us went to Boulders Beach near Simon's Town to take in the Penguins Colony. Want to guess what I did?

Tonight, we enjoyed a delicious meal together, prepared by Nadine, our spectacular cook in The Team House. She surprised Troy with a birthday cake since he's celebrating his 23rd (for the fourth year in a row?). It was decadent, mouthwatering, mesmerizing.

If you come to South Africa for any reason, it must be for these things (in this order): Jesus, the people, Living Hope, the beauty, and Nadine's cooking. Can I get an amen? Amen. We're all going to need to go on strict diets after this trip. She's amazing and talented.

Having said that, check out what we experienced last night. We were challenged by Nadine to figure out a way to get into and drain an ostrich egg for tomorrow morning's breakfast. Guess what? Missions accomplished. Ahhh...the many talents of our team and Brentwood Baptist missionaries.

Needless to say, most of us only had toast and juice this morning.

Cape Town, South Africa: Day 3

2012-02-07T15:03:00.013-06:00

Here's your daily dose of South African beauty.

You're welcome.

We were up bright and early this morning for breakfast and prayer partner letters. The name of our early morning game was preparation, preparation, preparation for the sake of the people in a township called Capricorn.

This township is intense, with 8,000 people living in a very cramped space. We saw so much brokenness and addiction. Mothers who couldn't feed their children. Fathers who didn't know their children. Children who were addicted to drugs and alcohol. Teenagers who were parents before they should be. People who desperately need relief and Jesus.

Housed in a Living Hope-developed building, we started at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 1:00 p.m., which felt like it equaled out to be the longest, most exhausting four and a half hours of our lives. But the payoff was amazing. Lives were altered. We were humbled. And Jesus' name was lifted higher.

We performed more eye exams, took more blood pressures, washed more feet, and added a blood sugar testing area. I was personally moved to tears to sit at the feet of people suffering through TB, AIDS, HIV, and other illnesses to wash the dust from their soles. Those are the moments in life that change your entire global perspective on the people God is so desperate to reconcile to Himself.

After packing up the clinic at Capricorn, we went back to The Team House for lunch and rest (aka naps equivalent to what you'd let yourself get away with on a Sunday afternoon).

At 5:00 p.m., we started a new venture in Muizenberg. The evening eye clinic drew a slightly different crowd—one that heard about it through 107.5 CCFM, the Christian radio station started by Living Hope. Some in line had been waiting since this morning to be tested.

This is what we saw when we got there...

When we arrived, people were lined up around the building—some having been there since this morning. Unbelievable. We were amazed to see them waving, cheering, and shouting: "We love you!" That probably spurred some of our stealth-like, all-star behavior until 10:00 p.m. tonight.

Have you ever watched a pit crew get to work on the track during a race like NASCAR? No? Me neither, but go with me on this one. Imagine it. That's exactly how our crew teamed up to make this thing happen.

That didn't mean we herded people through like cattle. Rather, it meant we didn't waste a minute of the precious time given to us in ministering to each and every person fully with every ounce of energy left in our sleep-deprived, jet-lagged bodies.

The split-screen day was an eye-opener. This morning, we wanted to hold our clients. Tonight, it seemed they all wanted to hold us. Many of them held an incredibly deep love for Jesus. We walked away talking about how much they encouraged us when we'd planned for it to be the other way around.

In the end, we still had to turn away hundreds of people and invite them back to another clinic on another day.

Here's what some of our team members said about the day.

One couple, who'd been married for 50 years, came in to get their eyes checked. The wife went to Scott Holmes and the husband went to George West. Then, they tag-teamed on the retelling of this story tonight:

"He had terrible, terrible cancer several years ago. His wife had to take care of him and he was in hospice for several years. They're both very strong Christians. What he was saying is how the Lord has kept him on earth to keep glorifying Him with his life. Then, at the end of our time together, he pointed to the left and said, 'That's my wife down there.'"

—George

"Her name was Mary. She literally gripped me the whole time and encouraged me like no one I've ever known. She told me about her husband having cancer and pointed him out at the end. She said, 'I don't pray for God to help me every day. I pray for Him to carry me every step.' I told her I was married and she said, 'You go home and hug your wife every day and love her every day.' They were really two people who loved the Lord and each other. It was so encouraging to me."

—Scott

"The whole day was overwhelming. I started the day off washing the feet of someone who was about to get tested for TB and there were sores. Then I got into a conversation with a woman whose daughter was being beaten by her boyfriend. Then a man sat down tonight and said to me, 'I'm so glad Jesus loves me that I get to be here.' It was an emotional roller coaster today. I was encouraged and blessed and broken and hurt. It was exciting and exhausting and wonderful and burdensome—all at the same time."

—Becky Gross

"This morning, I read in Proverbs. Chapter 22 talks about how to train up a child. It felt like 70 percent of my patients who came through asked me to pray for their kids—kids that were on drugs and drinking and in bad situations. I used that verse so much today. It's like God knew I would need that piece of wisdom to pass on to the people I met today."

—Chris Bishop

I love our evening debriefing sessions and devotional times at the end of the day. Tonight, Michael Russell challenged us with this: Sometimes, serving the Lord is uncomfortable. What could you do in your community to make yourself less comfortable and minister to someone in need?

Good word. We'll take it.

P.S. Pray for us tomorrow as we go to Living Way for our fourth eye clinic of the week.

Posted by Kaylan Christopher.

Cape Town, South Africa: Day 2

2012-02-06T13:15:00.021-06:00

Let's start today's post of with a little bit of this...

I know, right? Drool, sigh, melt into a pool of happiness. That's how we feel too. And we get to see this every day for a week.

What we've heard is true, though: This is a first world area with third world issues. It's a topic we've rolled around back and forth since we arrived, trying to figure out what to do with it.

Today was like "drinking water from a fire hose," as Natasha, our tour guide and Living Hope Teams Coordinator, said. It's true. It was full, rich, emotional, and exhausting.

We started off at the main campus of Living Hope and got the full overview. Let me try to translate in a few short paragraphs what we learned.

John Thomas, pastor of King of Kings Baptist Church in the Cape Town area, heard a statistic that revealed the HIV infection rate in Masiphumelele, a nearby township, was 42%. It broke his heart and moved him to action.

That was in 1999. And that's when Living Hope took off.

Today, we learned that the ministry has four different arms that minister to the greater Cape Town area:

Living Care – The health care center with 22 beds and home-based health care with 50 carers.
Living Grace – Originally reaching the homeless and now offering a substance abuse recovery program and feeding program.
Living Right – Offering support groups, health counselors, and life skills for both children and adults.
Living Way – The job creation arm that offers soft skills (keeping a job), hard skills (what you need to get a job), and business development training.

Want to hear another cool part about this ministry? Five of our Brentwood Baptist members are serving as missionaries at Living Hope in each of the four break-off ministries.

Amy Helms is a nurse at Living Care. Ashley Lovell works with Living Grace. Danielle Schneider and Courtney Lankford work with Living Right. And Joey Lankford works with Living Way.

Don't worry. I plan to post more in-depth stories on what each person is doing, more about their roles in the ministry, and the lives they've already touched. Stay tuned.

Our tour included township drive-bys through Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Overcome Heights, and Capricorn.

And we were able to fit a small run-through of Living Way in there.

It finally ended with lunch, prayer, and a pep talk from John and Avril Thomas.

This afternoon, we set sail for our first stop in the week-long eye clinic journey—Red Hill, a small, rural township of about 2,000 people. The pictures speak for themselves regarding the poverty they live in.

But don't be fooled by looks alone. Those we served were kind and grateful we came to visit. And God is up to something there.

Along with the Living Hope crew—who set up tents for glucose, TB, and HIV testing—our crew rotated through various roles. Two took blood pressure, one ushered patients through, three tested eyes, two washed feet, and the rest volleyed between one role and the other helping out where it was needed.

Here are some remarks from the team after the fact:

George West: "Gordon, our bus driver, said, 'You have no idea what that meant to them. Nobody washes their feet—especially a white person. It was something they've never seen before.'"

Chris Bishop: "A mother and her son came through. I gave the little boy a piece of gum and you could tell it put him at ease. I asked if I could pray with them and he put his head against his mom like they'd done it before. You could tell they prayed together at home."

Troy Brown: "One lady came to get glasses and I asked if I could pray for her. She was hesitant at first, but finally admitted that she'd been to the doctor and found out she was pregnant. She hadn't told any of her family members yet and was concerned about how they would take it. I'm glad we got to pray through that."

Becky Gross led a powerful devotional tonight based on Romans 8:28: "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him."

She encouraged us to hone in on "in everything" and what that looks like. Because it looks like both good and bad times. And it doesn't mean that we always see the good that comes out of what we do right then and there—and we may possibly never see it. But, nevertheless, in everything.

Tomorrow is a rough neighborhood in the township of Capricorn. It's going to be another long day for our team. But God has already proved His faithfulness again and again, going before us, behind us, and surrounding us as we take the gospel to this nation.

BONUS MATERIAL...

Prime footage of Red Hill and this afternoon's eye clinic.

Quote of the Day:

"Most of those women had no idea what the word 'tickle' meant."

—George West,

Resident Foot Washer, Mission Journey Fashionista, & Professional Napper

Sharon Fairchild, whom we like to call "The Baby Whisperer"

This verse was posted on a sign in the tunnel run by the hard work of our Brentwood Baptist missionary Joey Lankford and others at Living Way.

"Listen to what I am tell you. Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest."

—John 4:35

This was a preschool on Living Way's campus. The kids loved showing off their skills for us.

Post by Kaylan Christopher

Cape Town, South Africa: Day 1

2012-02-05T14:51:00.014-06:00

Words can't really explain what we're experiencing right now (especially the first-timers), so I'm going to let pictures and videos do some of the talking today.

This place is beauty mixed with brokenness, majesty mixed with mayhem. It's quite possibly one of the most spectacular places on earth. But the poverty and corruption is severe and people are desperate for hope.

It feels good to know we've been obedient to God's call to come to bring some of them Good News about Jesus and what He did so they can have a new life. No, this is great news. No, even better—FANTASTIC, life-giving news. Can you imagine what this might mean to them?

Today was all about getting to know our Hope for the World Missions Offering partner Living Hope, encouraging a few of our missionaries (Amy Helms, Danielle Schneider, and Joey, Courtney, Briley, Braxton, Barron, and Bristol Lankford), resting, and preparing for the week ahead.

We first visited King of Kings Baptist Church where our good friend, and Living Hope founder, John Thomas is pastor. You may know him from the times he's visited Brentwood Baptist and spoke to us. In our opinion, he's a rock star for the kingdom.

After King of Kings, we went to our second worship service in Masiphumelele (or Masi for short), a township in Cape Town. Masiphumelele Baptist Church was planted by King of Kings in the area specifically to reach the crime-infused, wrecked neighborhood.

The service changed our lives. It's always amazing to see other brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who worship in such a different style than we do—and in a different language. It never gets old.

After Masi, our team went to lunch at Cafe Roux in Noordhoek Farm Village with our missionaries and then spent the rest of the day neck-deep in conversation with them—hearing updates on their work here—and practicing for our eye glass fittings and blood pressure tests.

Tonight (because it's now 11:00 p.m. where we are), during our devotional time, led by George and Julie West, we went around the room and talked about what it means to deny everything in your life to be a disciple of Christ (from Luke 14-ish). Folks, let me just say: This crowd gets it. Christ is all. And to hear our missionaries hearts for reaching the lost and forsaking all for Jesus was inspiring.

Please pray specifically as we minister to the residents of Red Hill tomorrow (Monday). This is a great team we've got going on. This is going to be a good week. Can't wait to tell you more tomorrow.

P.S. Below you can watch some of the videos I took today...

Cape Town

Masiphumelele Baptist Church

Bristol Lankford bringing a little Mike Glenn action to South Africa (with some help from her dad). Our pastor would be so proud.

Briley and Bristol Lankford showing off their talent to us—South Africa-style.

Leg 2 Complete: Johannesburg, South Africa

2012-02-04T11:52:00.002-06:00

Welp. We made it. Nearly.

We've still got one more leg to go before we reach our final destination.

Your prayers have definitely carried us through. We hit a few luggage snags, but God was covering us and we'll now see them on the other side in Cape Town.

Most of us are sleep-deprived (as in we haven't slept a wink since Thursday night).

Case in point: Watch the video below.

Our chum Scott Holmes is running on fumes like the rest of us. P.S. Don't believe a word he says in this video (well almost). Nevertheless, it's funny and you'll get a good laugh out of it like we did.

Goodbye and good night (said in my best South African accent).

Flexibility Bracelets & South Africa

2012-02-03T13:37:00.012-06:00

Thanks to Brentwood Baptist member Raja O'Brien, each person on our team is the proud owner of a flexibility bracelets.

What's a flexibility bracelet, you ask? Well, let me explain. It's a fine, one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted symbolic piece of jewelry. It's a gentle reminder that nothing is set in stone on this journey and the best way to handle the change that will inevitably come is with a happy heart and good attitude.

Who knew we'd have to use it so soon?

That's right, folks. Our first connecting flight to New York, which was then going to take us to Amsterdam, which was then going to lead us into Cape Town, is no more.

Apparently, there's some horrendous, torrential snowstorm in Amsterdam that's caused our travel demise. So we've been officially rerouted—from Nashville to Atlanta to Johannesburg to Cape Town. And we're only 3 hours into this thing.

SNAP. SNAP. SNAP. (That's me popping my flexibility bracelet.)

Certainly, there's a reason for everything. Our new friend at Delta Airlines, Shawn, worked hard on the itinerary revamp for an hour and got a Starbucks coffee from our crew out of the deal.

Who's to say that coffee and our friendly smiles and our conversations about where we were going and what we would be doing there won't be the very thing that ministers to him today. (Thank you, Shawn. You rock.)

And that's how it goes on a mission journey. We're expecting God to move. We're waiting and watching for it already. And He already has so far.

Thank you for your prayers along the way as we travel to Cape Town and minister alongside Living Hope (a Hope for the World Missions Offering partner) to the people in their surrounding communities. We'll take 'em.

SNAP. ... SNAP. SNAP. ... SNAP. SNAP.

P.S. Here are some of the extra curricular activities that our team members participated in during our 4-hour wait for the new flight. Hey...you have to find something to pass the time.

Brentwood is in Switzerland!!!

2012-01-05T10:55:00.001-06:00

We had an amazing first day. The worship team lead in two
worship sessions and later the missionaries shared how blessed they were and
how God spoke to them through the ministry of music. Lincoln and his team had
an awesome time with the youth. The surroundings and the beauty of the Alps
make us stand in awe of our Creator of such beauty.

We had a busy first day with the children. Some speak
Hebrew, some Spanish and some Portuguese! What a challenge. But they are
precious.

Tonight we built a bonfire and did s'mores for everyone.
Imagine looking out over the snow caped Alpes eating s'mores! It was a blast.

It is a joy to serve those who have given so much to
share the gospel in far away places. Pray that we stay health and available to
do whatever needs to be done.

In the Garden...

2011-10-20T09:49:00.002-05:00

A morning spent traveling to Bethlehem and Jerusalem... Although Israel's landscapes and skylines have drastically changed since the first century, one thing hasn't... dirty feet! You can be sure that if you're wearing flip flops or sandals in this country, you will have to come home and wash your feet!!!

As the wind blows the dust across the country from side to side, you can't help but ponder on the moment Jesus washed the disciples' feet and what an honor that was.

On top of the Mount of Olives, you stand and look out to a perfect view of the sealed Eastern Gate and rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus will return and split that Gate open! Come, Lord Jesus, come... We walked to the Garden of Gethsemane and sang about the blood of Jesus knowing that our story as believers doesn't end with His blood on the cross, but His resurrection!

Beginning with the End...

2011-10-14T15:29:00.004-05:00

Today, we began our day at the place where we, believers, know it will all end... Tel Megiddo, known to us as Armageddon. This hill overlooks the Valley of Jezreel, a fertile land in between Mount Carmel and the Jordan Valley. There are several cities on top of mountains that overlook onto this valley, Nazareth being one of them. Just imagine, Jesus grew up having a clear view of this valley and knew His final return would be here as well.

Then, we went to Capernaum. Here, Jesus began His ministry after having been baptized by John the Baptist. This is where, He stayed with Peter and healed the paralytic after he was lowered into the house. Jesus forgave the man's sins while the Pharisees and teachers questioned him for having that authority. Then, Jesus asked them, "which is easier to say, 'your sins are forgiven' or 'get up and walk?'" Then, He told him to pick up his mat and walk. Have you ever wanted something from Jesus so badly that it was easier for Him to forgive your sins than to grant you the healing you needed?

Upon the Mount of Beatitudes, we read Matthew 5-7 before heading down for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee as we imagined Jesus calming the storm or telling Peter to cast his net on the other side. I assure you, none of us walked on water, although it was tempting to try when we put our feet in.

The Lord has been good to us. We are thankful for His love and provision as we continue to seek Him. Blessed are the pure at heart for they shall see the face of God...

Israel Day 1 - Antipatris

2011-10-14T00:39:00.006-05:00

Antipatris was a city built by Herod the Great and named in honor of his father... This city served as a fortress and major strategic points in battles between the Egyptians, Israelites and Philistines in the Bronze and Iron Age, until it fell into ruin prior to Herod's rebuilding. The city was destroyed by an earthquake but that doesn't mean that 2000 year old roads wouldn't still be there, does it??? Cause they are...

From Exodus to Peter, many of the ruins and the roads have withheld the battles of man and the battles of natural disaster which is a perfect comparison to the withholding of our lives in God's hands. Not to mention, the glory or demise of one era was the foundation of another era. Ruins are constantly built upon because of their secure foundation.

How much of that is true in our lives? No matter the battles our lives endure, a firm foundation in Him will only leave ruins that people will stand in awe of and come from thousands of miles away to see... And others in the family of God get to constantly build on top of. Sing this with us... "The church's one foundation is Jesus..."

South Africa Wrap-Up

2011-10-13T19:20:00.003-05:00

We are all back in the States now, but I wanted to take a few moments to reflect on what happened the last two weeks...

First, after we finished the Holiday Clubs on Friday we still weren't finished. On Saturday, part of our team headed back to the U.S. But the other half stayed for a few days to do more things in Cape Town. We spent Saturday morning and lunch with the Life Skills Educators and local volunteers who worked at each of the locations during the week. We all played paintball. It was so much fun! It was my first time (and may other's as well) to play paintball. Our BBC friend, Joey Lankford also played with us and was ruthless! I have bruises to prove it!
Despite the pain it was a blast of a way to end the time with the folks who work year-round with Living Hope. We had lunch together and spend more time visiting together.

Then the 10 of us who stayed the extra time were able to other things throughout the weekend to see more of South Africa. David and Jaina were able to do separate overnight stays in one of the townships. I know that was a neat experience for them to hang out with families who live in the communities in which we worked all week.

In looking back over this mission journey, I continue to be amazed at what God does when people make themselves available to be used by Him. Our team of 19 was a mixture of folks from different life stages, backgrounds and careers. Some had traveled extensively and for some this was the first time out of the country. Yet, God used each one in a unique way to build His Kingdom.
I am very thankful for the servant attitude by the team members. We really had no issues with personality conflicts, complaining, someone not doing their part and some of the other issues that can happen when you have this many people serving and living together for two weeks. Also, I feel they really served the Life Skills Educators in each community. Our team's role in the setting with Living Hope is not to go in an "run the show." Rather it is to come in with resources and support to help the folks who work there all year do the job. This was done well by each team and I hope that lasting relationships were formed between our folks and the Life Skills Educators.
We know of at least 8 children and teens who professed Christ as Lord and Savior during the week. Please pray that more come to know Him in the weeks to follow as the Life Skills Educators resume regular Kid's Clubs each week and follow up on the Holiday Club experience.
I am grateful for being able to be in South Africa for a fourth time and to be a part of God's work there. This year one of the main things that I learned is the value of commitment and consistency in relationships. It takes time to establish trust with folks (especially when you only show up 1-2 weeks a year). There are pretty distinct racial lines in South Africa--even with apartheid gone. For four years I have worked in a "black" Xhosa-speaking community. This white girl is about as far from a black Xhosa person as there can be. : ) But somewhere along the four years of our teams being there, God has done something. On Thursday night we had "family night" in our community where the children shared with their family members what they learned during the week. At one point, the Living Hope team leader shared a word of thanks to our team for being their for the week. She told the congreation (all Xhosa folks) about our BBC team and said, "they are white but they understand us." It was at that moment that I better realized that God had broken through racial and cultural lines and used two very different groups of Christ-followers to proclaim His message of truth and salvation to this community!

Praise God for all that He did during October Holiday Club in 2011!

Day 5: Connecting with L-I-F-E

2011-10-07T14:23:00.001-05:00

Our final day of holiday club began with lots of sunshine and warm tempatures. I have been serving in the Overcome Heights township and most of our club is held outside. Before we even arrive the kids start coming and today at least 20 children were there to greet us. They were excited. Not only is it a beautiful Spring morning but they know us better after 4 days together. They know the songs we will sing. They know the motions to the songs, the bible stories, the crafts and fun games that are also going to be part of this final day. To top it off it's parents day at our site and they are eager for their families to come and see what they have been doing all week long.

Our Life Skill Educators immediately begin playing music and the outdoor games begin. Within 30 minutes there are 105 children playing, singing and being loved on by BBC folks and the LSE staff. There are 5 of us in all but we work together as a team and are each motivated by one goal: to connect these children to Jesus Christ.

Amy Carter, BBC Childrens Minister and our superb team leader prayed this scripture with us this week: Psalm 78:4b 'we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.' This is our goal; both American volunteer and South African Life Skill Educator.

The children are more enthusiastic today than any other day of the week. They sing in earnest and strive to remember each word and movement. They are eager to answer any questions the leaders ask and listen intently to the bible stories. It's the final day of this Big Apple Adventure and they know this.

This is my 5th year to serve in Cape Town with Living Hope. My 5th year to come with Brentwood Baptist to serve alongside Living Hope staff in their goal to break despair and offer hope to all in the name of Jesus. I continue to be called to this place because of the incredible evidence I see of the Holy Spirit changing lives both here in South Africa and also through the lives of those who come to serve.

I've worked in the same place all three years; with the same young adults who are the Life Skill Educators, most of who are in their early 20's. Their spiritual growth and increased confidence in their abilities to lead these children is a direct result of their commitment to the Lord.

Our entire group from Brentwood debriefs each evening and Friday nights are always my favorite. Each person is asked to share how they sense the Holy Spirit has worked in their lives through this week of service. It is powerful to be a first hand witness to what the Lord is doing in so many lives.

A mission trip experience is hard to describe in such a brief space. New friendships have begun, fellowship has been enjoyed, the beauty of a new country has been discovered. But most important children have been introduced to Jesus, teens have been challenged to commit to Jesus and adults are becoming sold out for Jesus. My invitation to anyone reading this blog is to please come experience it for yourself!

Day 4: Connecting with Others

2011-10-07T14:22:00.002-05:00

Thursday was another full day for all of us here in South Africa. After spending the day with some fabulous children and teenagers in Masi, Oceanview, Overcome, Red Hill, and Capricorn, we invited the parents for a celebration night. These family nights are a great time to get to know the children more by meeting their families and seeing them share their gifts with everyone.

I was fortunate to get to see the Masi family night on Thursday night and then be a part of the Overcome celebration on Friday. Each of these times was a great time full of singing and dancing.

When my group entered the Masi family night, we were surrounded by happy children dancing around and enjoying time with their friends. The prayer that opened the night was heartwarming, and we felt welcomed and a part of their community throughout the evening. A great part of the night was seeing the parents get up and try the dances that their children had learned all week. The kids were cheering their parents on and trying to coach them on the motions. It was a fun time!

At both the Masi and Overcome family celebrations, the children showed off their songs and dances and impressed their parents with all that they had learned this week. A great moment in each of the celebrations for me was seeing the teenagers come forward and recite their memory verses for the group. Teens, who had been shy all week, came forward and proudly shared with everyone what they had learned about the gospel.

It was awesome to see children so proud of all that they had learned and we were glad to be a part of it all. After the Overcome celebration, several children came up to me and introduced their mothers to me. It was great to hear these parents say how happy their children had been all week and how much their children were enjoying the Big Apple Adventure with the white people! Spending time with these children has been a blessing, and it was an added bonus to get to know their families and watch them perform in their communities.

--Paige Stillwell

Day 3: Connecting with Trust

2011-10-05T17:18:00.002-05:00

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life."
One of the most familiar verses to Christians, but believe me it takes on a whole new dynamic when the words are set to a rap song. : ) Today was a great day of Holiday Clubs at all locations. More kids than Tuesday and lots of energy from staff and volunteers. We talked about Connecting with Trust and communicated about salvation through the story of Nicodemus and Jesus. We know of 17 children and teens who committed their lives to Christ today! We trust that the Gospel was clearly communicated and seeds were planted for many other kids. Pray for us as we still have two more days to keep the conversation going and see what God does.

The VBS song for today was a rap to learn John 3:16 and the ABCs of becoming a Christian. The kids LOVED it! Rap is not my choice of music style but this particular song is so effective in helping them learn the Scripture that will hopefully be hidden in their heart forever.

We also had a special treat tonight with having the Lankford family join us for dinner. Many of you may know Joey and Courtney and their 4 children who moved to Cape Town almost a year ago. We have seen them several times and our "handyman" team is working with Joey every day at the Living Way campus. Tonight they shared about their God-journey of getting to Cape Town. Great encouragement and challenge from them to hear about they have trusted God to lead them to this place of ministry.

Please pray for Holiday Club on Thursday as most of our locations will have a "family night" in the evening. We really want to connect with the family members and let them know all the great things about God that the children have been learning.

Two days left to go!

Day 2: Connect with Love

2011-10-04T15:07:00.003-05:00

Team Overcome reporting today. Our story today was "A Woman responds in Love" (the woman washing Jesus' feet). Our team had the opportunity to experience a similar story. Melanie, Paige, and I showed up to our location this morning with a bit of a surprise. The community uses the area where we are working as the township trash collection and this was not cleaned up at all this morning. Without hesitation, Sandile, one of our Life Skill Educators (who works for Living Hope), grabbed a rake, trash bags, a pair of gloves, and we got to work. Melanie and Paige helped out with getting club started while Sandile and I played trash men for a couple of hours. I finally got around to asking Sandile if this was something he was supposed to be doing. He responded by saying the ladies who are paid to do this do not get paid enough, so he was going to do it for them. He said, "Dustin, I must take care of my community." At that moment, I realized our Bible story was being played out at Overcome. Like the woman washing Jesus' feet, Sandile responded in love and I'm so thankful to have been a part of this. Hundreds of other Overcome residents walking by the Living Hope location saw a Living Hope Life Skills Educator picking up their trash. The community knows Sandile and Living Hope are Christ followers, and Overcome got to see Christ at work when they walked by today. Also, the kids who know Sandile as a leader got to witness this servant action before they were taught the bible story about responding in Love!
We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

Day 1: Connecting With Faith

2011-10-03T15:32:00.002-05:00

Start Spreadin' the News! The Big Apple Adventure has started in Cape Town!
Today we began the first day of "Holiday Club" (it's not called VBS here) in 5 different townships. Reports from all sites were great and things seemed to run smooth for both the morning children's clubs and afternoon teen clubs. For all 5 sites combined there were about 550 in attendance and we hope there are more on Tuesday (after they tell their friends about it!).
Today we helped the children and teens learn how to connect with FAITH through the story of the Roman Centurion who believed that Jesus could heal his servant. Each team helped explain what it means to have faith--to believe and trust in something even when you can't see it.

Also, the dynamic duo of a "handyman" team (Bill & Michael) got started on building a shed on the campus of Living Way. According to them, it was quite interesting to try and put posts in the ground without concrete and just use sand... : )

A fun little thing that happened for me (Amy) today in Masi. I was walking out of the location where we did our morning club and heard someone yell my name. It was children in the street with whom I had been with on previous mission journeys to Masi. They did not come to club today but will hopefully be there on Tuesday. One of them was even wearing an Outrigger Island t-shirt from the first time we did Holiday Club in 2008! For me, it was a little reminder from God of the impact that can happen with children even when you make a commitment to be with them for just one week out of a year!

Tuesday we will teaching about "Connecting with Love" through the story of a woman who showmed much love for Jesus. Please pray for the children to return and to bring friends with them and they will understand what God's great love is all about!

--Amy Carter

South Africa VBS & Handyman

2011-10-02T15:09:00.005-05:00

Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa!

The group of 20 arrived safely and dived right into our preparation for Vacation Bible Study. We have met, eaten and trained with the Life Skills Educators of Living Hope led by Danielle Schneider (former Brentwood Baptist member). She also gave us a tour of the Living Hope facilities. A small group visited the Living Way and helped Joey Lankford with ground maintenance and planted 768 tomato plants.

We have five teams who will branch out to five locations this week. We visited each location and prayed for the group members and the location. Today we were greeted by a group of precious children in the Township of Red Hill who could not get enough hugs or attention.

This morning (Sunday) we visited the King of Kings Baptist Church and got to hear Brentwood Baptist's Missions Minister, Scott Harris, preach! From here we drove over to the Masi Baptist Church and hear them worship in the language of Xhosa. We didn't understand of what they said but the Holy Spirit was alive and present.

This afternoon we travelled to the south western most tip of Africa--The Cape of Hope (and passed by baboons, ostriches and zebras) I was reminded that we are bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth!

Please pray for strength for us and that God would fill us so full of his love that it would spill over to each one of His children who attends.

First Post...on the Last Day :)

2011-07-31T21:47:00.003-05:00

We are sitting in the airport somewhat exhausted from our week. We arrived Friday, July 22 without delay. This team has done an outstanding job navigating cultural challenges and leading the largest VBS since we began our partnership with Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church. Our hosts, Janice Chung & Thomas Schewior mobilized the local volunteers, secured the facilities, and handled the VBS pre registration. This allowed our team to arrive at the facility on Saturday and begin set-up, followed by a smooth start to the VBS on Monday. With many more kids than expected, registration was slightly chaotic, but we solved those logistical problems and the rest of the week was a breeze. We had four children that we know of respond in faith to the gospel, and two unchurched families came to the VBS family service yesterday at CBIBC. An additional jot this year was the ability to provide a coach for the ICM kids to come to VBS as well. This was made possible through the Brentwood Kids' VBS offering received just two weeks ago. To learn more about the ICM ministry see their website here.

Our plane will soon board so this post will be short. When we arrive back in the States, we will update our post with some pictures and other news from the trip. Bottom line, the team was great, the host church was great, and above all God is great.

Warsaw, Poland — Service in Otwock

2011-07-31T15:23:00.008-05:00

Greetings from Warsaw, Poland!

We arrived safely on Friday afternoon to cool tempartures... a welcomed change from the Nashville humidity! We've spent most of the weekend getting acclimated to the area and planning out our upcoming week.

We traveled down to Otwock, a suburb of Warsaw, for church service this morning. There is a growing Baptist Church located there and we were invited to join them for service and a baptism. After a brief time of worship and message, we all loaded up into cars and headed to a section of the Wisla River for baptism. There were 5 young Poles being baptized today. No one on our team had ever attended a river baptism so it was a special treat!

One of the things that struck us was the worshipful atmosphere that was on the banks of the river this morning. People were excited to see new members of their church making a public confession of faith and being obedient to God's word.

(video courtesy of Chelsea Bennett)

There was also a unique moment during the baptism. Some of the church members were standing on a bridge watching the service when some people in the community were walking by. Here in Poland, adult baptisms are very rare so we're sure that it was a curiosty for these folks as they strolled by. We can only pray that it might have raised some questions in their own lives about what this local church is doing in their community.

We returned to the church for some more worship and then had an Agape Lunch (a.k.a potluck!). We enjoyed sitting around the tables sharing a meal and getting to talk with our Polish brothers and sisters in Christ.

Attending church services with the Poles this morning reminded all of us how much God is alive and working in Poland today.

Traveling down the Amazon...

2011-07-07T14:23:00.002-05:00

Time seems to fly by when your on a boat travelling on the Amazon!!! There is only one day left then we will be flying home. Please pray specifically that we have the opportunity to use our last 2 days wisely. Pray that God multiplies the glasses and we have just the right prescriptions we need for every person that needs readers. Pray that we have enough vitamins and medications for each person that needs our care. Pray that we have divine encounters that show Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Pray that we not grow weary in all that is before us. What a comfort it is to know that so many are pray for each one of us and that God’s hands hold us firmly.

Amazon Team arrives in Manaus!!!

2011-07-05T08:35:00.003-05:00

"You are spending a week on a boat on the Amazon???" "You're crazy!". "Wish I could come with you". "Don't get eaten by piranas or anacondas!". When you tell someone you're going to the Amazon there is never is a lack of response. Some think we are crazy, others are so jealous they aren't with us. Our team is a group of 12 people of various ages and backgrounds excited about the journey before us. We signed up for this trip not merely to have an Amazon adventure but because we want to experience another culture, serve others using our gifts and most importantly to have a chance to share the gospel and be involved in God's plan for the nations.
We are working with a local Brazilian church that has a boat ministry to the many village communities along the Amazon River. Please pray for the local church members, our translators as well as our team.

We will be spending 6 nights on a boat. We will be stopping along villages down the Amazon to provide free medical care, medicine and eyeglasses to needy people. We will also get to play with kids and interact with people. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel and for hearts to be open

Rio Medical Mission Journey Update: WE'RE HOME!

2011-06-20T16:30:00.008-05:00

We're home! It seems like we've been gone for 10 months and also 10 days. It went on forever and seemed like a dream—all at the same time. God moved. Lives were changed. We were changed.

Before we left for Rio, during one of our preparatory team meetings, Sharon Fairchild presented us with a Brentwood Baptist Missions Training & Education Manual. It gave us tons of information to prepare for the trip, including a section called "Reentry & Debriefing."

What's funny about this is that I barely skimmed through it before we went. I was confident I wouldn't have a problem re-entering my own culture and adjusting appropriately. That, my friends, couldn't be farther from the truth.

The booklet says, and I quote:

"Something has changed very dramatically while you were gone. YOU! Now you may experience re-entry shock, which is the unexpected confrontation with the familiar. You may find yourself wondering: Is everyone feeling the same way I am? How do I share what I've learned? How should these changes affect me?"

Ya think?! That lady knew exactly what she was talking about.

Today, as I ease back into American culture, I'm personally finding it difficult to return to normalcy. I find myself wanting to go back to the place where I saw God move, to the people who soaked him in, to the family of believers who embraced us. But that's not reality. This is.

Back at home, here's what we can do:

Cherish the moment and understand that our explanations of the experience may be inadequate to actually being there and seeing it. Just like Mary "kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often" (Luke 2:19, NLT), so can we rejoice in what God did and relish that moment with Him.

Be thankful for the experience and grateful for where God has placed us right now in life. I may not be called to sell all I own and move to Rio to minister full-time (like I kind of want to do at this very moment), but I can serve the least of these right where I am. A good friend reminded me of this: "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required" (Luke 12:48, NLT). We live in a pretty, clean, manicured, middle- to upper-class area of the world. Without feeling guilt for what we have, we're to be grateful God has divinely placed us in this place at this moment in time, and with that blessing comes responsibility and action. That should be one reason for taking some action around this joint.

Share, share, share about your experience and what God did in the lives of others and you. Sometimes it takes flying across the world to move us spiritually and shift our worldview. However, in either place—at home or abroad—God has a heart for the poor, brokenhearted, and captives. When you spend time with them, serve them, and love them well, then you'll see Jesus face to face and walk closer to Him in obedience.

Thank you to all who covered us in prayers. They didn't go unanswered. The kingdom was expanded. Lives were transformed. We experienced sanctification. And His name was lifted higher. To God be the glory for all that happened in Rio de Janeiro!

Christ is all,

Kaylan Christopher

Rio Medical Mission Journey Update: Day 8

2011-06-17T08:38:00.002-05:00

This week...

144 people requested that a church member visit their home.

158 people requested to be placed in a Bible study.

196 people made decisions to follow Christ.

202 fluoride treatments were given to children.

402 people received eye exams and glasses.

596 people went through our medical clinic.

1,629 prescriptions were filled.

This is the end. Today was bittersweet. We embraced the least of these as they filed through the clinic—sharing Christ, healing wounds, giving sight. And we embraced our Brazilian family as we left in tears.

At the end of the clinic, we participated in a sort of closing ceremony. Raja O'Brien presented a love offering to the young 3-year-old church and Pastor Wellington. Then Ken Gross stepped up to give Pastor Wellington a stack of all those who wanted to be contacted by the pastor and church.

Many people who came through the clinic didn't recognize our host was a church sitting in the middle of their own neighborhood. And, anyway, Pastor Wellington said most of them would've never darkened the doors of a Baptist Church had they known.

Along with the church members, we were all able to shed a new light on the place. Once those in need entered the clinic and saw that our love was genuine and our care for their lives was sincere, many responded with gratitude and interest. Today, we're sad to leave behind so many that we can't journey on with, but the work will go on. The church is picking up where we left off to reach their community for Christ.

Portuguese Version:

Por tudo o que tens feito

Por tudo que vais fazer

Por tuas promessas e tudo tudo que és

Eu quero te agradecer

Com todo meu ser

Te agradeço meu Senhor...

Te agradeço por me libertar e salvar

Por ter morrido em meu lugar

Te agradeço

Jesus, te agradeço

Eu te agradeço

Te agradeço...

English Version:

For all that you've done, I will thank you

For all that you're going to do

For all that you've promised
And all that you are
Is all that has carried me through
Jesus, I thank you
Thank you for loving and setting me free
Thank you for giving your life just for me
How I thank you
Jesus, I thank you
Gracefully thank you
Thank you

During our last debriefing session as a team, I think Kara Herblin said it best in her devotion: "No, we couldn't understand every word they said. And, yes, we needed a translator to help us communicate. But the Lord was our translator for love."

By the way, remember the story on the Brentwood Baptist website about 10-year-old Cameron Powell who raised over $600 for Portuguese Bibles for our summer mission journeys? Here's the fruit of his labor. Some of the kids signed a soccer ball for him and another man went to each of our team member's and had us sign his New Testament.

What a cool story! Click here to read it.

Rio Medical Mission Journey Update: Day 7

2011-06-16T22:13:00.002-05:00

Rio Medical Mission Journey: Meet the Pharmacy Team

2011-06-16T20:10:00.009-05:00

CATHY PATTERSON

From Franklin, TN

What do you do back at home?

I'm the Catalyst Minister for Kairos at Brentwood Baptist Church.

Why did you decide to come on this trip?

Because Scott Harris begged me. No, I really came on this trip because I love the people of Brazil. I was here in 2006 and fell in love with the people. When this trip came up, I felt God's calling on my life to return.

What was your favorite part of the day?

I have fun with the patients when they come by for their prescriptions. We're dancing, singing, and waving at them. We have fun. And, also, spending my 32nd wedding anniversary with this team.

What are you most surprised to see come out of this week?

I do think it's really fun to be an eyewitness to what God is doing around us, not only in the new church and the people that we've attracted to the clinic, but also to the things that are going on in the lives of the team members and how I see them changing right before my eyes. It's transformation that only God can do.

KAYLAN CHRISTOPHER

From Texas

Currently lives in Franklin, TN

What do you do back at home?

I'm the Editorial Manager (writer and editor) at Brentwood Baptist Church in the Communications Ministry.

Why did you decide to come on this trip?

Because God created me to write and I want to tell the stories of God and his people all over the world. I've been praying for the opportunity to do this for about a year now. And he answered by opening up the chance to be on this trip to Rio.

What was your favorite part of the day?

Talking in-depth with two interpreters—Cecilia and Nilton—and hearing all about their stories, their families, and their jobs, and how they came to know the Lord, how they learned English, and how they're reaching Brazilian people.

What are you most surprised to see come out of this week?

The unity of Brazilians and Americans bonding over our love for Christ through worship, conversation, and service—even though some of us can't communicate in language with each other. My whole perspective has changed on the world and God's people around the world. I'm blown away by the warmth and kindness of these people. My love for these people already goes deeper than I can explain, after only one week with them. Also, visiting the leper colony this week and learning so much about it as it relates to Christ's love, compassion, and healing in our own lives.

SHARON FAIRCHILD

Born in United States

Raised in England

Lived in Brazil for 27 years

Current resides in Brentwood, TN

What do you do back at home?

I'm the Missions Project Coordinator at Brentwood Baptist Church.

Why did you decide to come on this trip?

I love Brazil. I love the people. I love the ministry. And any opportunity that God gives me, I'm going to take it.

What was your favorite part of the day?

Holding the babies.

What are you most surprised to see come out of this week?

Yesterday, meeting the 9-year-old boy who just got saved named David and talking with him. The unity of the team and the excitement and the focus of the church plant of the church people…I think it just came together to make an incredible team effort.

Rio Medical Mission Journey Update: Day 6

2011-06-15T20:41:00.015-05:00

21 people requested home visits.

22 people requested to be plugged into a Bible study.

32 people made decisions to follow Christ.

35 children received fluoride treatments.

61 people received eye exams and glasses.

92 people were seen in the medical clinic (50 adults and 42 children).

218 prescriptions were filled in the pharmacy.

It's called Wacky Wednesday for a reason. That because this day, in the middle of the clinic week, was extremely different from all the rest.

Today, we were open for business from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The word is now out on the streets and more people are stopping by to receive medicine, glasses, and teeth cleaning, and to hear the message of Jesus.

After closing up shop, everyone loaded the bus to stop by the leper colony that a recent Brentwood Baptist team visited a few weeks ago. While there, they planted a beautiful garden, poured concrete for a sidewalk, laid sod, planted flowers, and more.

The colony was established in the 1920s. Back then, lepers were ostracized from their family and friends. A glass wall in each home separated visitors and lepers. It was segregation at its worst. Until it was open to the public in the 1980s, the lepers living there weren't to be touched for fear of passing the disease on to someone else.

Here's the current reality that doctors have come to realize: this disease can't be transferred with a touch. It's not contagious like a cold. It's caused by a germ similar to what causes tuberculosis that develops from living in close quarters every day with someone who's affected.

If detected early on, a cocktail of antibiotics can cure it. However, if left untreated, it can destroy the ability to feel pain, so lepers have a higher risk of injury and infection. And, the longer the disease is left undetected, the more likely that person will develop deformities—noses shrinking away, earlobes swelling, blindness, fingers and toes disappearing, and eventually losing hands and feet.

Leprosy is a disease that affects more than 12 million people around the world, and Brazil has one of the highest rates. This statistic is attributed to the extremely crowded areas where people live in the slums, the lack of food, and the waning immune systems that come from unclean water and sustenance.

At the leper colony where Brentwood Baptist worked, we got to meet two women: Terazina and Angelique. Living among 5,000 other residents, they both paint for a living—flower pots and canvases. And their spirits are incredibly beautiful.

While the rest of the country abandons and ignores the least of these, believers in Brazil and Brentwood Baptist have embraced them.

The New Testament is full of stories that paints pictures of Jesus' compassion for lepers. For example, in Matthew 8, a man with leprosy approached him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, if you're willing you can heal me and make me clean."

Jesus wasn't repulsed. He didn't shy away. He reached out and touched him and said, "I'm willing. Be healed." Then the leprosy instantly disappeared from the man's body. There's another account in Luke 17, and Jesus tells his disciples to do what he did and also heal the lepers, found in Matthew 10.

Amy Fairchild, a nurse who's been here just as long with Sharon Fairchild, her mother-in-law, mentioned a particular book yesterday after we left the colony called Gift of Pain, co-authored by Philip Yancey and Paul Brand. It chronicles Dr. Brand's experiences with leprosy patients in India and the United States. In the book, he talks about the mystery of pain and its importance in our lives.

The bottom line: pain isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes the numbing produces decay and death in our lives. Sometimes the pain is a reminder of danger or the fact that we need the help of another (i.e. Jesus Christ). God uses pain to refine us and awaken our senses to what's happening through different things: a numb perception, a scarred heart, an emotionless existence and reaction to the world around you.

Romans 8:28 says, "All things work together for good to them who love God." The Greek original text translates this: "In everything that happens to us, God is working for the good of those who love him." If we believe Scripture, then we believe that to be true all the time. If God is good, he's always good—no matter what. If God is faithful, then he's always faithful—whatever the situation. Even in the pain.

Most of the people we've seen at the clinic this week have come in for some sort of pain, sickness, or irritation, and almost all of them have also shared the pain that's been brewing in their hearts and lives. And we're introducing them to a Great Healer, one who has each day of their lives planned out.

Who better to know the kind of pain their going through than a Father who gave up his only Son and a Son who died for the sins of all?

Other pictures from the day:

Rio Medical Mission Journey: Meet the Eye Team

2011-06-15T18:57:00.008-05:00

Meet the Eye Team at the medical clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this week! They're fantastic.

ROYCE HARRELL

From Brentwood, TN

What do you do at home?

I'm retired and I'm a career, life, and financial coach. Before that, I was a healthcare executive.

Why did you come on this trip?

You want the real answer? Because Raja said I had to come, and I felt called to come. I felt like this was an area where I could be of service. I think this is my third mission trip to Brazil. My first trip, which wasn't a mission trip, was in 1969. I spent a month here with the goal to learn Portuguese, but everyone wanted to practice their English, so that was easier.

What was the most exciting part of your day?

I think they came in pretty nervous, unsure what was going to happen and very shy. By the time we got them fitted with glasses, they opened up and their smiles began to shine. I was able to share the love of Christ with them and how I hoped they would take that smile and let others see it as well.

What have you looked forward to most this week?

We've got two days left in the clinic, but I want to stay on the real high. Our whole trip has been effortless for me. As a team, we've gotten along so well. There haven't been any complications. For this eye team, primarily three of us did testing and dispensing, with the exception of the fourth who directs traffic and jumps in for some backup. We've seen an incredible number of patients and we don't feel rushed at all. We're very efficient and we get along. We have one person, Alecia, who's on her first trip and it's been like she's done this forever. I think we've done some good work fitting people with glasses and I hope that continues.

ALICE CONNER

From Brentwood, TN

What do you do back home?

I'm a senior sales director with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Why did you come on this trip?

This is my third time to come to Brazil and I was hooked from the first trip, so this is a great return trip for me.

What was your favorite part about working on the team today?

It's always about the people that we meet during the day and the stories that we hear from them. There's about three that stand out in my mind:

One was a 95-year-old lady. She was so sweet and we had so much fun with her. I said, "Do you realize in five years you'll be 100?" And she laughed. And I said, "Are you going to throw a party?" And she laughed. It was just great to celebrate her long life and loving the Lord.
The saddest moment of my week was meeting a lady who's 44 years old. She has twin 13-year-old sons, a 37-year-old son, and a daughter and son-in-law in between there who are both addicted to crack. She had just had surgery herself. Her husband had left the family because of the situation with the crack addiction. She felt like she needed to go get a job to support the family—and it just broke my heart. This lady was already a Christian. At the end of the day, I took my interpreter and we went to Pastor Wellington and I told him about her. He looked at me and said, "We have so many people like that in this favela all around us. I promise I'll go to her home and visit her and get her involved in a Bible study."
The third lady I don't remember much about her, but at the end, she said, "Thank you for the attention." People just appreciate you taking the time to listen to their stories and pray with them. And with the eye team, every now and then, we get the opportunity to present the plan of salvation.

What are you looking forward to most this week?

It's the same. At lunchtime, I love going around and watching the children play. I love getting to know my interpreter and the other interpreters on the eye team. There's a lot of interaction between us. It's always about the people. There's one special lady on the cooking team. She came by and I fitted her with glasses. The pastor came by and I fitted him with glasses. I asked him if he had the love of Jesus in her heart and he just died laughing. Another little girl comes by every day and wants her picture made with me. Brazilian people are just so warm and kind and loving. They just love us giving them our time. The free glasses are wonderful, but I think they love the rest of it more.

ALECIA BANDSTRA

From Nashville, TN

What do you do back home?

I'm an interior design for an architecture firm in Brentwood called HR Design.

Why did you come on this trip?

Because God told me and told me and told me and there was really no doubt about it.

What was your favorite part of working with the team today?

I've taken for granted eyesight. I'm 20/20, so being able to help people so they can read their Bibles. That's all they want to do is read their Bibles. The fact that they put on those glasses and say, "Oh my gosh...it's perfect! It's perfect! I can read." It's great to see the smiles on their faces. Also, working with my interpreter. She's helped me so much to learn Portuguese and hold the very front end of a conversation with everyone who comes in the clinic.

What are you looking forward to or expecting from this week?

I was surprised to see how much I have bonded with the people at the church that we're working with. I didn't think I would bond as quickly as I did. And I wanted to get a broader perspective of what's beyond my walls of comfort at home. I'm really looking forward to Friday when we get to hand out all the gifts.

DEBBIE MCBEE

From Hendersonville, TN

What do you do back home?

I am a self-employed painter and handy woman. I do electrical, plumbing, and tiling.

What did you come on this trip?

My first trip was in 2000 and this is my 12th trip. Sharon asked if I could come down and spend a few weeks with her, plus my team from First Baptist Hendersonville is coming down next week to serve. I said, "Let me pray about it." The Lord said "yes" and my husband said "yes," so I did.

What was your favorite part of working on the team today?

What I've been doing up until today is herding people and making sure they come in and out like they should. Today, I actually sat with people and fitted them for glasses, and I got to share with every one of them. I was telling Sharon I made five ladies cry because when I asked them if there was something I could pray with them about they always say "their children"—a son that's in drugs, a daughter who's living with her boyfriend, or a husband who's an alcoholic. I could relate to having a son being involved in drugs and alcohol because my youngest son was for a few years. I would tell them as a mother I knew how their heart was feeling because my heart was broken when my son was doing that, but if you raise them and train them in the Word, then they'll come back. I was telling them it's not always in mama's time, but in the Lord's timing. It was good to share that with them.

What have you looked forward to most this week?

Working with your team. I've known Raja and Kevin and meeting the rest of your bunch. This is the third different team I've worked with since I've been down here—each one of them has been great and different. You all have been a joy and blessing to me. You all are so easy to get along with and so helpful and smiling, and it's easy for me to blend right in. Yesterday, Royce asked me if we had any 4.5 glasses. I said, "I've never seen any 4.5s, but I'll turn around and look." I did and there was one pair. That was a God moment for me because I've never seen any of those before. For me, personally, I've enjoyed getting to love on those babies, sing them to sleep in English, singing "Jesus Loves Me."

Rio Medical Mission Journey: Meet the Dental Team

2011-06-14T19:11:00.008-05:00

BETH MCDOWELL

Wake Forest, NC

What do you do back home?

I just made a move from Nashville, so I'm currently a domestic engineer.

Why did you come on the trip?

I felt led by God. As soon as I heard there was going to be another trip led by Sharon and Raja, I knew I'd want to go. This is my second trip to Rio with Sharon.

What was your favorite part of today?

Oh goodness, there were so many. Children's faces come into my mind. One of the most tender moments was when a girl ran up and threw her arms around me. It was just a couple of hours after I'd cleaned her teeth.

What are you looking forward to this week?

I look forward to seeing the accomplishments of what's happened this week—who got saved, how many people came through medical, etc. I love having my hands on people and being able to express love through tender touch. I would do this again in a heartbeat.

KARA HERBLIN

From Franklin, TN

What do you do back home?

I'm a dental hygienist for Dr. Sara Northcutt in Franklin.

Why did you come on the trip?

I felt like the Lord was calling me to it.

What was your favorite part of today?

Having so much fun with someone you can't communicate with and being able to show love without words.

What are you looking forward to this week?

I want to continue growing with the people who are around me and learning different lessons. For instance, when I'm in pain, I get cranky. It's amazing to see the amount of kids who come in with so much decay in their mouths and yet they're so full of joy. These kids have so much more peace, but come from so much more suffering. They're more than excited to get a sticker on their shirts. They come in hurting, and that's just a cavity. Who knows what else is going on with them? I love making their smiles brighter.

Rio Medical Mission Journey Update: Day 5

2011-06-14T16:25:00.012-05:00

25 people requested home visits.

40 people asked to be placed in a Bible study.

45 flouride treatments were given to children.

47 people decided to follow Christ.

92 eyes were checked and glasses were passed out.

178 patients were seen in the by doctors and nurses.

560 prescriptions were dispensed.

Becky Gross, Brentwood Baptist's Community Missions Minister, and her dad, Ken, split our morning and evening devotionals today. They synced messages to talk about thanksgiving and praise from Psalm 103 and Colossians 1.

"May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He's enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins" (Colossians 1:11-14).

Ken talked about how the Father has qualified, rescued, and redeemed us. It's a free gift to us from him. Now, that's something to be thankful for—especially when we're working in the clinic among people who have so little. This is a message of hope for them. It's a message to rejoice about!

Today was long. It was physically grueling. It was emotionally draining. It was hard work. And, right now, we're all ready to fall into bed. But it was so much fun. Our hearts are full with joy and love—and God is blessed.

A special shout-out goes to our interpretors, who are sacrificing so much to be with us every day. We know for sure one lady is commuting two hours each week just to serve. And, after helping us all day, others go on to their jobs, school, and home to take care of their families. They. Are. Rockstars. We couldn't do what we do without them.

Today's feature is the dental team, which includes Beth McDowell and Kara Herblin. This is the first trial run with this sort of medical center within the larger-scale clinic. You need to know how outstanding and passionate these women have been about their position on this team.

Working with minimal instruments, a makeshift dental chair, and humble hearts, they've posted under a shade tree in the corner of the church yard and have rocked and rolled from morning to evening. If they work this hard here, never once complaining, just imagine how hard they must work at home. Click here to check out their daily feature.

Please pray for us tomorrow as we reach the middle of the clinic week. Our bodies are tired, but our spirits and passion are alive and well. As always, thank you for lifting us up this entire trip. Your prayers have sustained us.

Here are some other photos from the day:

Rio Medical Mission Journey Update: Day 4

2011-06-13T20:14:00.020-05:00

34 flouride treatments were given in the dental area.

36 people asked to be plugged into a Bible study.

38 decisions were made by those who want to follow Christ.

38 people asked the partner church to make a house visit.

81 patients were seen in the medical clinic (33 children and 48 adults).

100 eye exams were performed and glasses were given out.

201 prescriptions were dispensed to patients.

Day one of the medical clinic...was a success! Praise God for that.

I speak for all of our team when I say, "My heart is so full right now that it just might explode at any second." For me, I didn't even make it through the 9:30 a.m. devotional this morning, led by team member Holly Kunz, before the floodgates of the Amazon River came streaming down my face and cleared my eyes of all mascara.

Holly, alongside her translator, shared a beautiful passage from Psalm with us and the church members of FBC Freguesia and the new church plant who were also there to volunteer. She reminded us what kind of God we serve and why we're here: to bless the heart of a strong and mighty God and those He created.

We welcomed the people from the City of God from early this morning until late this afternoon. They were warm and kind. They let us embrace them fully. They let us hold their children. They let us into their lives. The love they reciprocated was nothing short of beautiful.

Kevin O'Brien, the doc on the team, shared a great story with me today that just adds to this whole experience. Recently, those in his Bible study were talking about heaven and who they'd like to see when they finally get there. Some wanted to see family members who'd gone before them. Others wanted to reunite with old friends. But when Kevin was asked who he'd like to see? His response was: "I'd like for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say, 'Remember me? We met in Rio. You led me to Christ.'"

Today, we're featuring the Evangelism Team on our journey in a second blog post. Pray for them this week, as they build relationships and boldly share the gospel with this community, that:

Hearts and eyes would be open to the reality of what a relationship with Jesus Christ is like.
That people would truly understand that their faith isn't about what they do or how they can earn their way into heaven, but instead it's about the grace and mercy poured out on them by a God who loves them deeply and a real relationship with a Christ who's alive.
The enemy would be bound up and muzzled in their presence as they seek truth.

When we debriefed back at the hotel tonight, Kathy Alwahab led a short Bible study time. Piggybacking on Holly's theme earlier this morning, she said (paraphrased in my own words), "Recognizing a need in someone's life and meeting it could be the greatest experience you've ever had. See beyond the obvious needs of people. Don't miss God's activity because you're reluctant to get involved. God doesn't provide for all our wants and dreams, but He always provides for what He calls us to."

So let's not get tired of doing what's good. At just the right time, we'll reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. ... And God will generously provide all you need. Then you'll always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

—Galatians 6:9-8; 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

Where is God working around you and how can you get involved? How is He calling you to serve others? How have you shared the gospel with those around you this week who need Him?

Thank you for your prayers this week. We're seeing the fruit of them nearly 5,000 miles away.

Christ is all,

Kaylan Christopher

====================

Here are some other fun photos from the day:

Rio Medical Mission Journey: Meet the Evangelism Team

2011-06-13T18:28:00.007-05:00

Meet our Evangelism Team this week (they're the ones in blue scrubs, except for Ms. Raja who's the ray of sunshine in bubblegum pink). They're developing relationships with those in the favela who come by the clinic. And they're also spending some time sharing the gospel with each person who comes through.

BECKY GROSS

From Brentwood, TN

What do you do back home?

I'm currently the Community Missions Minister at Brentwood Baptist Church.

Why did you come on this trip?

I've been a member at Brentwood Baptist for two and a half years now. I wanted to go on my first mission journey with this church. When you work in the Missions Ministry and everyone is always traveling all over the world, I miss actually serving overseas because I work out in the community. Your worldview changes when you go international. Sometimes you just can't get that in your own backyard.

What was your favorite part of the day working with the team?

There was a group of women that I was with and we were talking about the Lord. We had just started the conversation, so I didn't already know who knew Christ and who didn't. I was just talking about how good the Lord is and how good His love is. I looked at one of the ladies and her face was beaming. She was gorgeous. I could tell she was my sister in Christ. I looked at her and said, 'You're my sister in Christ, aren't you?' She nodded and said, 'Yes, I'm a Christian.' I said, 'I can tell because you're face is glowing.' I went on to share Christ with the other ladies in the group. But I think there was something special there because we knew we were family and you could just see it in her face even though we didn't speak the same language. That was so special for me.

What do you look forward to this week?

What do I not look forward to? I look forward to seeing transformed hearts and lives, both for Brazilians and our team. I don't want us to go back and be the same people that we were before we arrived—and the same goes for those we minister to.

EVAN KUNZ

From Nolensville, TN

What do you do back home?

I just graduated from Ravenwood High School, and I plan to go to Union University in the fall.

Why did you come on this trip?

I felt that God was calling me to come.

What was your favorite part of the day working on the team?

Worshiping with the Brazilians was fun this morning. It was cool to worship alongside people who don't speak your language and are from another country.

What do you look forward to this week?

Changing more lives.

KEN GROSS

From Fresno, CA

What do you do back home?

I'm a warehouse supervisor for a food distribution company.

Why did you come on this trip?

I like to participate in missions and my daughter, Becky, invited me to come.

What was your favorite part of the day working on the team?

Having such good translators to work with (I got to work with three different ones), and just walking around. When I had a little down time, I got to visit the other teams and watch them do what they've been called here to do. Everything functioned so well.

What do you look forward to this week?

I look forward to helping the new church minister to their community.

RAJA O'BRIEN

From Nashville, TN

What do you do back home?

I was a critical care nurse for 20 years. Now, I'm involved in all aspects of missions at Brentwood Baptist.

Why did you come on this trip?

Because I fell in love with Rio in 1999 when I made my first trip here. I've been coming for 12 years.

What was your favorite part of the day working with the team?

Seeing how we were finally able to put into action all the plans we had been making for so many months and watching the eight new team members just jump right in like they had been there numerous times before. And the fellowship—because that's what the fellowship of the believers is all about. It's a common thread that ties us all together. And, of course, sharing Jesus.

What do you look forward to this week?

Just continuing to watch the way the team deepens their friendships and relationships in being witness to the life-changing experience that will occur.

Rio Medical Team Update: Day 3

2011-06-12T18:16:00.021-05:00

Before we go any further, I have to get this off my chest: I confess I'm left speechless at the end of this day. I'm in love—IN LOVE—with our brothers and sisters in Christ that we were introduced to today. It's literally taken me hours to process what I've experienced so far—and we haven't even started the clinic yet.

Today has changed my worldview and perspective on God's precious children forever. And I'm sure it has for the rest of my team members too. And, just so you know, I'm sure this isn't the last of these types of confessions. Lucky you.

This morning, the team boarded the bus and headed to First Baptist Church Freguesia, otherwise known in Portuguese as Primeira Igreja Batista de Jacarepagua and led by Pastor Jonanias. We were welcomed at the front gate by the pastor himself, who led us to a breakfast spread prepared by the church members.

They had us at "hello." We were overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness from minuto uno. And if that wasn't enough, I think every team member had at least three generous helpings of the hot chocolate that was served, which more than sealed the deal for us.

Today was a special day. It was Valentine's Day in Brazil, "Day of the Pastor," and Pastor Jonanias' birthday—and don't forget it's also the day of the week we like to gather together and worship Jesus. That gave us four good reasons to celebrate with our Portuguese brothers and sisters—all wrapped into one two and a half hour service.

That's right, you heard me—two and a half blessed hours. When does that happen in the United States? Not often. And let me address all of you out there who think you can't go that long without burning your pot roast and ruining Sunday lunch altogether. Trust me, you can—especially if you're in a service like the one we attended this morning. Every minute was packed full of pure joy, love, honor, celebration, praise, and thanksgiving.

We celebrated Pastor Jonanias and the other church pastors on the front two rows, right alongside our new Brazilian family of faith. People whose lives he touched in years past showed up to recognize him. His own church members stood to honor his service. And his family gathered on stage to show their love and devotion to a man who's left behind a legacy of faith.

And if that doesn't make you want to buy a plane ticket right now to come and meet this man in person, then this will. He ended the church service by singing a solo rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" without missing a beat, falling off key, or breaking a sweat. It. Was. Flawless/Incredible.

The icing covering all of this that was weaved throughout the entire service was a holy fragrance of praise lifted to the One who started this show and continues to be the main attraction—a holy and generous God.

What you may not know are these things about FBC Freguesia and Pastor J:

Brentwood Baptist has entered into a three-year partnership with FBC Freguesia.
Pastor Jonanias prays for his American friends and Brentwood Baptist every day. That's how much he loves and appreciates us.
FBC Freguesia has started seven new churches—the most recent being the one where we'll be conducting the medical clinic in the City of God this week.

That was Part 1 of an incredible day.

Now, on to Part 2.

After leaving church, we headed over to the City of God where the members of the new church start were waiting. Then, we were mobbed. In a good way—a spectacular way. Members greeted us with banners, American flags, smiles, kisses, hugs, lunch, and song. Our hearts melted into big puddles of goo, right there on the favela streets.

What amazes me most is this: they didn't speak a lick of English and we don't speak a lick of Portuguese. But it didn't matter. If you were a bystander watching all the commotion, you would've thought we'd just come home for a family reunion after 20 years of being away. It was like that, folks.

The congregation sang "Mighty to Save" for us in English, which was no easy task since you can imagine how long it must've took them to learn it in a language unfamiliar to them. Everyone participated, from the smallest to the oldest. They blessed us. It's a moment we'll never forget.

After the mini praise session, they ushered us under a tent to tables where we got to mingle with everyone. Then came lunch prepared by the generous, kind hands of church members. We were treated like royalty and welcomed like family until we left later this afternoon.

Not many words were spoken, but lots of smiles were exchanged. And when attempts were made to mumble through a few Portuguese words, it was usually followed by a laugh or polite smile. The language barrier tried to separate us, but it couldn't stand the weight of something that was undeniably there—the common bond of Christ. That's something that can't be broken.

Please pray for us tomorrow as we start our first day of the clinic. Our five teams are set and ready to go. And half of the members from the new church will be joining us throughout the week to participate. They're ready to see their city and neighborhood come to know Christ just as we are.

Christ is all,

Kaylan Christopher

P.S. What's that saying? A picture is worth 1,000 words? Oh yeah. In that case, I'll let these do the talking.

Rio Team Update: "Free Day" in Rio

2011-06-11T15:29:00.031-05:00

This morning, after breakfast in the hotel cafe, we met in a room to sort medicine and organize our supplies for the coming week. It was a good way to unify the team even more and talk more about our purpose for being here. Here are some of the organizing/packing party people at their finest:

According to Sharon, people in Rio see Jesus one of two ways: 1) helpless as a baby in the arms of Mary and 2) hopeless in his death on the cross. They don't know him any other way. They don't know him as the giver of life, powerful and perfect in word and deed, strong and mighty to save, and victorious over death.

We were reminded that we haven't come to Rio to be lawyers; we've come to be witnesses to the truth of who he is and the relationship he wants to have with each person (Acts 1:8).

We aren't here to manipulate people into Christianity or argue with them about the Virgin Mary. We aren't here to tell them how wrong they are for believing and practicing Spiritism and Universalism. We're not here to coerce them into becoming church members.

No...we're here to introduce them to Jesus. Period. The world will know who we are—that we're disciples and followers of Christ—by how well we love and serve others (John 13:35).

Here, there are barriers these people must deal with that we Americans will never understand. There are issues they're working through that we'll never be able to comprehend. That's why our mission is what it is.

All who come to the clinic this week will hear about Jesus and know of his great, unconditional love and grace for them. It's been said it takes 6-8 times for someone to hear the gospel and actually understand it, so we realize we may only play a small part in simply planting a seed or we could actually witness a life completely change before our eyes.

Either way, it's not our job to clean up lives. It's not our purpose to throw perfume on people, make them look pretty first, and then introduce them to Christ. No, he wants them just as they are.

Our job is to tell his story, show them his love, and point them to hope. He takes it from there. It's his job to penetrate hearts, redeem situations, offer forgiveness and grace, wipe up the messes, give them a fresh start, love them passionately, and walk with them daily.

During our team meeting today, Sharon shared a story about the time when Elizabeth Elliott, well-known author and wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliott, visited her home. Hoping to gain some golden nuggets of wisdom from this spiritual giant over a cup of tea, Sharon asked her: "Is there any wisdom you could pass on to me?"

Elizabeth replied: "Do the next thing."

Profound, simple words from an incredibly wise woman, don't you think?

That's exactly what we're going to do. When we hit snags along the way each day, we'll continue by doing the next thing. When we face obstacles in our path this week, we'll just do the next thing. I know, for me, this is a piece of advice in my spiritual walk that I'll take with me long after we leave Rio.

Stop back by tomorrow for more updates. Until then, take a look through some of the pictures below that we took today on our "free day" as we explored the city and its people:

(The photographer/missing team member for the team photo on the beach)

Trip to the "the good beach"

2011-06-11T14:53:00.006-05:00

Today, we got to stop by Receiro Beach, what Mrs. Sharon Fairchild calls "the good beach." It was 30 minutes of pure bliss—dodging giant waves, taking pictures, oohing and ahhing over God's spectacular creation. And the ladies received an extra surprise—free foot exfoliation, courtesy of the white sand covering the beach.

Evan Kunz, the youngest member of our team, got roped into doing this last-minute video interview before lunch. Lucky him. You never know when we're going to do a random man-on-the-street here in Rio. Good job, Evan!

Rio Medical Team Update: Day 1

2011-06-10T20:39:00.019-05:00

We've arrived!

After nine hours of overnight, over-the-ocean flying on a big mechanical bird—along with very little sleep, minimal cabin comfort, and two red-eye blockbuster movies under our belts—our team finally landed in Rio around noon today. We've been covered in prayers for months, but now we're seeing them answered.

One of our faithful leaders, Mrs. Raja O'Brien, told us, "This has been the easiest trip through customs we've ever experienced in the 12 years I've been coming to Brazil!" We blew through customs like a breeze. Praise God for that! Everyone's bags made it safe and sound—and so did we.

Outside the airport, our Brazilian "tour guide" named Daniel met us on the curb. He escorted us in a single-file line straight to the bus, picked up a mic when we all boarded, and pointed out interesting facts and historical markers as we navigated from the north of the city to the south around Copacabana Beach where our hotel is located.

The city is old and beautiful. The culture is breathtaking. And the poverty is widespread and devastating. Known for its Carnival Celebration, beaches, giant Christ the Redeemer statue, and Sugarloaf Mountain, and for being the future host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil with six million people.

Although it's one of the world's major metropolitan cities, one-fifth of its inhabitants live in 600 various neighborhood slums called favelas, some of which we passed by on our way to the hotel today. The heart-wrenching poverty mixed with the beauty of these people can't even be explained. You can't help but just know that many are in desperate need of a Savior. This is where we'll be spending all of our time beginning Sunday.

Once we traveled through the heart of the city to our hotel, we inhaled a brief lunch at the hotel cafe, doing our best to keep our eyes open long enough to push our forks from plate to mouth. Then, this afternoon, we were given the chance to stay close to our rooms so we could take much-needed naps and much, much-needed showers to prepare for the next leg of our journey.

At 6:00 p.m., we gathered in conference room in the hotel to meet up with Sharon Fairchild, Brentwood Baptist Mission Journey Coordinator and a former missionary in Rio for 27 years alongside her husband, Ray Fairchild. So far, she's been here for nearly three weeks, working with teams from America who've come to serve like us.

She debriefed us on what's happened over the last two weeks and how God has already moved through the Brentwood Baptist team that just finished building a garden in a nearby leper colony. Story after story inspired us to watch for God to work in big ways this week.

Case in point, I'm lucky to be sitting in this hotel room, in this hotel chair, posting a blog while using this hotel's Internet. Up until Monday of this week, we couldn't find any rooms to reserve. But because of the faithful prayers of so many and a rockstar travel agent, we were able to lock into this never-before-visited establishment and finally secure places to lay our heads each night.

That's God at work. Praise!

Also, as we were touching down in Rio today, many other departing flights were being cancelled at the same time. Those passengers were told to go back to the hotel because the eruption of Puyahue Volcano had prevented them from reaching their destinations throughout South America. Thankfully, amidst this mass exodus from the airport back to find hotels in the area, including ours, we were able to hang on to our rooms.

The city is beautiful, the people are lovely, and they're in great need of a Savior. Your prayers for our team are appreciated more than we could ever express.

Please continue praying for:

The people of Rio, especially those we'll be specifically ministering to in the City of God.
God to go before us and prepare hearts to hear the gospel and see it in action.
Each team member as we act as Christ's witnesses, telling people about Him (Acts 1:8).
Continued unity among this team.
Protection and safety.
Christ to be glorified and revealed in all we say and do.

God is SO good and faithful. We couldn't be more excited and honored to be a part of this journey to which He's called us. Keep checking back for updates.

Christ is all,

Kaylan Christopher

We've landed!

2011-06-10T13:19:00.001-05:00

Becky goes to Rio

2011-06-09T20:18:00.000-05:00

Rio Medical Team leaves today

2011-06-09T19:05:00.012-05:00

A team of 20 left Nashville today for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to conduct a medical, dental, and vision clinic through Sunday, June 19. With an afternoon layover in Charlotte, we'll be traveling through the night and arriving Friday morning in "The Marvelous City."

Please pray for our team as we share Christ with the hurting in a favela (city slum) called "City of God."

Medical:

Kevin O'Brien

Amy Fairchild

Kathy Alwahab

Holly Kunz

Jane Scott

Kathy Warren

Optometry:

Royce Harrell

Alecia Bandstra

Alice Conner

Debbie McBee

Pharmacy:

Sharon Fairchild

Kaylan Christopher

Meredith Graham

Cathy Patterson

Evangelism:

Becky Gross

Ken Gross

Evan Kunz

Raja O'Brien

Dental:

Kara Herblin

Beth McDowell

Throughout the trip, come back each day for an update and stories on what's happening as we blog about our journey. Thank you for your prayers!

-Kaylan Christopher

It was good!

2011-06-01T08:55:00.004-05:00

Cindy asked how you go from the first day of this mission journey to the last in a blink of the eye.

That is how we all feel today. What an incredible week. We woke this morning to the sun shining and warm weather.

Everyone is moving a little slower this morning, after shoveling, planting, and pushing wheel barrels all day yesterday.

But it is such a good tiredness. When we arrived the concrete was dry and we started pulling off the forms while others planted the flowers and trees.

We have seen God answer so many requests this week, and we were able to accomplish so much.

The garden is finished and the first lady from the colony slowly walked down the sidewalk to the new chairs.

We kind of know in a very small way how our Father felt on the sixth day of creation as He looked out over His handiwork and said it was good.

We also say, "it was good."

Pouring Cement!

2011-05-31T11:13:00.001-05:00

It is 11 pm here in Rio and we just got back to the hotel. We are totally exhausted but so very happy. Words cannot express how incredible today was for all of us.
We arrived at the Colony about 8 am and about 8:30 the loads of fillin dirt and the good soil arrived. We hauled over 200 hundred wheel barrels of dirt!!
Then we were able to plant all the grass. Everyone pitched in to get the forms prepared for the cement truck which was scheduled to arrive at 2pm.
Well at 3pm I called the cement company and they said they could only send the cement truck but the pumping truck would not be able to come.
I almost sat down and cried. There was no way we could haul wheel barrels of cement for 8 cubic metros. We all began to pray and Jadson, our van driver, said,"Sharon, can I help you?"
He took my phone and began to call places that rent pumping trucks.
There was none available, so at 5pm we got in the van to return to the hotel. About 10 minutes into the ride back Jadson received a call from a man called Marcos. He said if we would return they would bring their pumping truck.
Everyone said "Praise the Lord turn the van around". At 8 pm the cement truck and the pumping truck arrived.Was a joyous 2 hours we had as we praised the Lord for His provisions.
The men on the trucks even help us set the benches and concrete chairs and cemented them down so noone could move them.
We prayed for no rain and the sun was out all day, we prayed for the dirt and it came, and finally the miracle God preformed through Jadson. Remember, he is not a believer but Sunday morning he came into the worship service with us and went forward to dedicate himself and his family.
while we waited for the trucks Brenda and Mildred brought the devotional. They talked about the importance of the family of God and how we all fit together into a beautiful picture being painted by our Heavenly Father. How very important each of us are in our Fathers eyes and how important we are to each other.
The work was hard today and we are very tired but so very aware the all we needed today, God provided.

A Day of Worship

2011-05-30T10:08:00.001-05:00

What a glorious day. We worshiped with our Brasilian brothers and
sisters at FBC Recreio. The service lasted 2 1/2 hours.

I listened as Barbara Swanson talked with her husband and she said
that even though she could not understand alot of what went on during
the service, she could see and feel the moving of the Holy Spirit.

The music was amazing and the guest preacher preached for over and
hour. The message was on the resposibilities of a godly father and
husband.

At the end of the service the preacher asked all the men to come
forward and dedicate their homes, families and themselves to God.

There were over five hundred men that went forward to sing and pray.
As we looked up we saw Jadson, our van driver, go forward. We were so
excited because he is not a believer.

Pray as we share with him about the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

We got back to the hotel and counted vitamins for the Amazon Medical
trip and had such a great time laughing and working together.

Cindy brought our devotional and she really ministered to all of us as
she encouraged us to delight ourselves in our Father.

God has asnswered our prayers for no rain today and please continue to
pray for clear skies tomorrow and Tuesday.

The days are flying by and we cannot believe that we only have 3 more
days in this beautiful country.

The longer we serve Him the sweeter He grows.

Just a little mud....

2011-05-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

Today was a good day. We are still facing problems with rain but a little mud never hurt anyone!!

Our dirt did not arrive but we were able to level the ground clean out the rock and prepare the garden for the top soil and grass.

What fun we had at the nurseries. We bought 2 benches, two concrete chairs pots and plants.

I had no idea the gardening world was so complex!! The names of some of these plants have no translation. So I just rely on Ray's old phrase, "planta verde" which sounds good but it means green plant!

Cindy got to visit with Terezinha, the lady who makes the pots and God gave us the opportunity to talk with a group of medical students.

They wanted to know why we were here and we were able to tell them that Gd had sent us to plant and let people know that the One who created the plants has a plan for our lives.

We find ourselves praying and expecting. There have been so many answers to prayer and we know it is because you are praying and covering us in prayer.

Pray for sunny days on Monday and Tuesday and that the concrete truck arrives on time Tuesday morning.

He is good all the time.

Brazil Gardening Day 1

2011-05-28T11:34:00.001-05:00

This is the day that the Lord has made we WILL rejoice and be glad in
it.

That is what we said as we left the hotel this morning. It was raining
and the traffic was slow.

We finally made it to the colony and prayed that all the dirt and
grass would arrive. You cannot begin to know how happy we were when
the trucks started to roll in.

The first load of dirt and all the grass arrived. Praise the Lord. The
experienced gardeners had a blast at the nursery discussing where to
plant and what to plant!

Most of us just stood back and let "professionals" decide.

We also got to visit some of the ladies in the colony had the joy of
listenng to Mrs Dalva sing to us.

The Director of the colony assigned 3 men to work with us and it took
awhile for them to realize that women can work and haul brick and dirt!

We climbed on the van tonight muddy, tired, hungry but really happy
with what was done today.

Tomorrow another truck load of dirt will arrive and we will start
planting grass.

Barbara Swanson did the devoitional tonight and talked about praying
and speaking with boldness. Please pray for us to be bold as our days
here are few.

Blessings
Sharon

ITALY Team arrives home!

2011-05-11T13:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday morning, which actually would have been really late Tuesday night for Nashville, the left for the airport with David and began our journey back home. There is always a mixed bag of emotions at the end of any journey. We are all very grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Bologna, pray over the streets, cafes, university and people there as well as minister to and encourage David and Nicole. We left with a lot of memories, but what is more important is that we left with a burden for the students of the university, the city and Italy.
God was certainly with us as we went, while we were there and on our return. We all felt the prayers of friends and family while we were there. Altogether it was a smooth trip going and coming without any hiccups along the way. We all stayed healthy and had the energy to do the tasks set before us. No conflicts arose and we all developed community. All of these things are a testament to the posture of our hearts toward God and the power of prayer.
Each one of us answered the call to go, but our responsibility to Bologna and the ministries taking place there did not end when we departed. The people there are in desperate need of the light of Christ, and we must pray for God to soften their hearts and open their eyes. We must also not forget David and Nicole and continue to pray for them and the relationships that they develop. God can and will do, and is indeed doing, great things there. But, as he is faithful always to his work through us, we must remain faithful to doing his work. The trip is over, but the journey continues!

Last day in ITALY!

2011-05-09T16:13:00.002-05:00

Our last day in Italy was a bit of a treat. We traveled with David and Nicole to Florence along with Mark Brucato who is the Son of Andy and Linda Brucato who have been long time missionaries here. He is very knowledgeable about church history and reformation history. So he gave us a very unique tour of Florence. We focused on four words, Bible, Witness, Faith and Trial stopping at the Duomo and other significant sites around Florence. He highlighted for us the big differences between Catholic theology and the theology of the reformation movement, to which we owe our religious lineage to, and how people have died for the truth of the Gospel here. It was an excellent capstone to our time here and really magnified both the need that is here for God and the Hope of the work he has done and is continuing to do here.

After we returned from Florence we had an opportunity to get together with David and do a debriefing on the trip, our observations and so on. David had two main goals for us here. One was that we would bathe the people, streets, cafes, markets and university here with prayer. The other was that our hearts would be burdened for the people of Bologna and Italy. Both objectives were met. All of us will return changed. There are so many people here who never have God cross there mind on a day to day basis. We have prayed and will continue to pray that that reality changes significantly for many many people here. We also had the privilege to minister to, encourage and love on David, Nicole and Ruby. It has strengthened them, and they are deeply grateful for us and for Brentwood Baptist Church.

As we are all packing up and getting ready for our early flight out tomorrow morning we leave with deep sense of gratitude, gratitude for God allowing us to come on this journey and see the amazing beauty of Bologna, gratitude also that the people here and their need for Christ has deeply touched us. We cannot, and we must not leave unchanged by what we have seen and heard here. Truly, miracles are needed here to open doors, soften hearts, cross bridges and so on. Thankfully for us, our God is in the business of such miracles, and our God is a God who saves.

Thank you all for your love and support for us and your continued love and support for the Hannah's