BRAZIL POST 1

[Pictures Below. Click to enlarge.] After arrival around noon from the airport to Pastor Iran’s home, we had lunch, then napped. Dinner at 6ish, then whisked into town to attend the Youth Cell gathering. we were there just to observe. The youth are intense about their relationship with God. The speakers were all impassioned to live a life worthy of God. Even in the music the youth were passionate. We sang the newest song by the worship leader, created the day before, as a theme song for the night. Then, on Sunday night’s celebration sang it again. I think it will become the theme of the “Encounter Weekend”, the national gathering of people affiliated with the Mustard Seed Church.

We arrived home to have another dinner, as you can see by my watch, past midnight. I slept for seven hours straight on Saturday night.

We’re fed well! Lots of beans and rice. Rice is served at every meal. Beef was great. On Sunday afternoon we were entertained by the missionary family with the church. They are from Green Bay, but are truly Brazilian. In fact, the father has served here for over thirty years. His first wife died of cancer. He married a Brazilian woman and have two children, 16 and 14. We ate the traditional Brazilian favorite dish, faijoada, comprised of black beans, sausage, pork and tons of spices over rice. Each of the family members is dedicated to the mission of the gospel and their cell groups are intense places for discipleship. As well as our “families” and the missionary’s, a friend from Green Bay with her son is staying with Bruce and his wife for three weeks.

On Sunday morning we gave Pastor Iran a $1,000.00 gift to be used where he most needed it in ministry, the conference or any expenses of the congregation. He immediately thanked us, saying it was too much. We insisted he take it as a gift for him and the ministry. He was brought to tears. He spoke of the love that people sent to him through the gift. Giving is sacramental, he said. As he told Noueza, his wife, she could not believe it. As well, we have much more to give. The church does not have an overflow of abundance, yet is a prosperous congregation. Most people have their college degrees. Their goal is to have 2% of their congregation have Doctorates and 10% have Master’s Degrees within eight more years. So, they are sending their people to the U.S. or to Brazilian schools, helping with costs and helping with scholarship searches. The money we have left may very well be used for scholarships.

Sunday night I preached on “What is the Gospel?” Many of you know my spiel about this. I acted out a variation of Rob Bell’s Cave Man, Cave Woman example from his “God is Not Angry” tour. I tried it out on a couple of people before preaching so I could make sure I had culturally appropriate terms and questions. Babi suggested I use real people to be the Cave Man and Cave Woman because she wasn’t sure in the translation to Portuguese it would be as effective without them. So, I used the missionaries two teens as props. they acted along with me as if we had choreographed the skit before hand. What was happening is that I spoke in English so by the time they started to act, the interpreter, their father, would start the Portuguese and it would seem to be in “real time” for the Portuguese.

Throughout the sermon I kept the focus on the fact that the church has covered up the simple gospel so that the church portrays a God who is angry. I prepared them often to be ready for the question, “What is the Gospel?” I had checked with several people before the sermon if this question would offend people, but everyone said “no!” So, I had each person ask a neighbor the question and listen for the answer. After a few minutes I asked if anyone was absolutely positive they had answered the question correctly. No one answered. I was sure I had offended everyone, especially Pastor Iran. So, when I explained 1 Cor. 15:1-8, and said the simple gospel, i.e. the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, there were “Amens!” and “Ahh’s” of understanding. They truly had complicated the gospel just like the rest of us! It’s so simple and so central to all that we are and believe.

After worship we went out to eat at 10:30 and arrived home at one a.m. What a day. And this is normal. Tonight we meet our Cell Group at 8:30! When do our friends go to work in the morning?

The view from Bruce’s Back Yard 09. In the boonies.

Bruce’s dinner party 110809

Our last luggage pick up!

I’m praying, but Pastor Iran has his eyes open during the prayer.

Youth night

Posing with youth leaders

The TIME our first dinner took place…that’s a.m.!

Our first dinner with Pastor Iran and Neueza

Babi waving in the long line for Brazilians in customs.

Ben after customs and running through the airport in Sao Paulo

Babi and her dad, Pastor Iran

USA or Brazil?

the time of our arrival on the first day

Youth Praying

Praying at the Youth Cell Night on Saturday

Bruce and Naiajia

Praying before dinner. Pastor Iran

Delicious dinner at Bruce and Noiagia (sp?)’ s house

The noisiest bird in the world…like a crow.

Bruce, missionary, and Ben talking construction

The rain is keeping it gorgeously cool! About 80 during the day.

Raining!

Modern government building in Brasilia

Playing the role of cave people, a la Rob Bell, but Tom Bier style

A Candleabra

Neueza, Pastor’s wife, our unbelievable chef, hostess

Paulo, drummer, Pastor’s son, cell leader

Treated to seafood dinner after worship!

Athletic club owned by the famous footballer Renaldo

Brazil = Shoes!

John, missionary’s son