"Thanks" from a Brazilian Missionary

Hi Friends, I just received this email 5 minutes ago. It is from a young Brazilian pastor who moved into one of the quilombo villages several years ago to live among and disciple the people there. God strongly burdened my heart to help financially support this man who is answering God's call to share the gospel with his own people!

He can live in the quilombo for $200 USD a month in addition to his small teaching salary. When the Jefferson's told me about his life, ministry, and financial need I decided that it would be a great use of the excess money that was donated towards my season in Brazil! Several months ago I was able to send him 4 months worth of support (that many of you gladly gave...amen!) through the International Mission Board, and it is time to do so again! I have enough for another 4 months but am going to start getting the word out so that others can send in a months support. It's insane how much it costs an American to do the work he is doing (though they are needed also!) so let's stretch our money because many of us can spare $100-$200 easily...while for others $50 will be a huge sacrifice that they will make with joy!

He must have hitched a ride to town and gone to an internet cafe to send me (us) the following email...

dear sarah we are very grateful to you for all her help . thank you very much . batist, mission in casinhas -brazil love eliseu

For the Longest Time...

...I have had this strong burden for the souls of fellow Americans. In the most recent year past I sat in a small group of about 12 friends who every Thursday talked about the challenges and joys of being the only Christian at work. I remember praying for them and hearing reports back that let us rejoice in God's work together. Then I followed the Lord's lead to Brazil where I would work with a number of different missionaries, American's on short-term trips, and Brazilians. The season both messed me up and built me up. I learned things that make me want to call it one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had, and I learned things that made me want to turn my back on organized religion completely. It's been an interesting year of perspective change, understanding love better, questioning the widely accepted norms of christian practice, returning to some of them with thankfulness, and leaving others behind. I'm just a daughter of God's who really wants to know Him, and out of that love serve Him, but I have a lot of unanswered questions that don't scare me as much as they once did. One of the sweetest things I can think of is that He has now placed me in an environment that I have long longed for. I work with a small team of women whose standing before the Lord I can not be an accurate judge of, but I see Him at work among us. Today we got to talk about the Lord for quite some time and I was beyond giddy inside. Only God can transform our lives...and I pray that He does!