The Reality outside the Church!!!

I go to speak in a church here in Brazil or I just go to visit and the sad thing is that right after the service I am faced with the reality of Brazil. I am a missionary and my heart breaks when I just left from a big church that has so much resource, money, people and they are just concerned about themselves. I know and understand the impact the churches in Brazil can have in the slums, prisons, streets of Brazil but most of the churches in Brazil are just worried about numbers of people, money, fame, power. I look forward for that day when we as Christian Brazilians will wake up and shake this beautiful nation of Brazil. The world needs to see how Brazil is devoted, committed to the cause of Jesus.

But outside our churches and behind the popular images of Brazil, the tropical beaches, soccer and carnival lies another reality, that of desperate poverty. Kids are subject to police brutality, rape, violence, and being forced into prostitution just for food or to stay alive. Brazil's GDP ranks it as the eighth richest country. Less than one percent of the population owns more than fifty percent while more than fifty percent of the population owns less than one per-cent of the land. Brazil has the greatest disparity between the rich and poor of all countries.

Brazilian churches need to wake up and do something. We need to fight for those that can’t fight for themselves, we need to love those people that are unloved, we need to care for the forgotten ones, we need to embrace those that are desperate for love, we need to cry with those that are crying, we need to be agents of transformation, restitution, healing here in Brazil. Brazil is so ready for change. Are we ready to be the change? Lord, help me to fulfill your dreams(will, purpose) in my life.

Is Brazil ready for change?

I have been discussing a lot with Pastor Richard about the real Brazil and I know the real Brazil is being built right now as I write this entry in my blog. What we see in the newspapers, TV news is not true. The country is on the road towards an ever more participatory, responsible democracy.

The economy is growing, and in a short time we will be competitive in high-tech industries; agriculture is turning us into a world granary, tourism will contribute increasingly to the national revenue.

But it will be difficult for our per-capita income to meet that of the First World countries, or that of the new rich that form a New Second World.

Brazil will continue as the champion of income concentration. We are not undergoing a tragedy like Africa, but neither are we distributing income in a rational, sustainable manner.

Education—the only instrument capable of changing the income distribution pattern—will show improvement in the number of students enrolled, the number completing high school, the number of college-admission candidates.

But those improvements are insufficient to reduce the distance between rich and poor, or the growing gap between our education level and that of countries making a serious investment in educating their people.

By maintaining the present course, we will not be exporters of science and technology, except for isolated sectors; we will not be great producers of art; nor will we win more Olympic medals.

Healthcare will certainly undergo improvements in quality and universalization of delivery, but housing conditions will not make great progress. The cities, above all, tend towards urban chaos, and crime—both organized and petty— is becoming uncontrollable.

Surprisingly, two sectors are advancing and give signs of growth: solidarity and organizing. The last few years have shown an increase in the organization of society and in socially responsible actions on the part of the wealthiest Brazilians.

But social responsibility does not necessarily evolve from mere assistance into transformation. And the social organizing can increase corporativism, each group fighting for its own interests and ignoring—even tearing—the social fabric.

Despite this greater organizing and solidarity, the growing distance between the extremes can be foreseen: the 10% richest, families with an average monthly salary of 5,600 reais (US$ 1982), and the 50% poorest, families that receive an average of 272 reais (US $96) a month.

Even graver, is the growing distance in access to, and quality of essential services according to social class.

If urgent changes are not made, that will be the most serious tendency for the future: an inequality so great that it will consolidate the rupture of the Brazilian species into two groups that will not recognize each other.

More than unequal, they will be distinct; they will form different races in culture and in interests.

This tendency has been evident for years, and for years we have insisted in maintaining that course, despite the illusion of the political rituals, the economic data, and the timid advances in education and healthcare.

But even if we are ever more distant from the countries forming the New Second World, we have the resources to reorient our destiny and all the conditions are present to do so.

We will not catch up to the countries that changed course in the twentieth century, but we can reorient our own twenty-first century.

It is a shame that the superficiality of politics impedes us from making the change that Brazil needs. We can be so much better but we still have a lot of people in Brazil just thinking about themselves. Let’s not even talk about the churches in Brazil, Right? They need Jesus. Oh, how we need a revolution in our country and churches. Brazil will never change if we don’t accept the Jesus’revolution,

My Sister is Heading to Mozambique!!!

I am not too proud to ask for help. Joseph asked for help. Genesis 37:15-16 “And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.” For him to get the passport into Egypt, he needed to fulfil his father’s assignment. When he faced challenges in doing this, he asked for help and got back on track. I do not know it all. If Moses, the anointed prophet of God received wise counsel from Jethro, his non-prophet father in law how much more do I need? (Exodus 18:13-26)

We all have dreams. Dreams about our life,future and etc…..In the Bible we always see people who have dreams. I have asked God for his dreams for my life and now I am in the process of asking God with my sister God’s dream for her. My sister is so excited and I am very excited to let all of you know that my sister is going to Mozambique in June 2009. She has never been to Africa but she can't wait to get there to work with forgotten, abandoned children. I am in the process of raising money for her to go and live there for a year as a missionary and I have been asking churches and friends to partner with us. The missionaries in Mozambique are so excited to have my sister with them and she will be of great help for them. She will be working with orphans that need Jesus’s love, care, protection. I am praying and fasting for a break-through financially for my sister and I know I can’t do this without your help. Please let me know if you want to bless my sister financially or sponsor her monthly during her time in Mozambique. God is faithful and he wants to use you!!!

I know many of you don't know my sister but you know my ministry and my life story, so you know I am a fighter for justice and people. I am so excited to see what God is going to do because he is a God of miracles and I have seen him time after time pouring down his blessings from heaven and this time my sister and Africa will be forever changed. Man, This life is so exciting with Jesus and it is so cool to chase after his heart for me, my family, ministry, Africa!!!

My Sister is Restored for God's glory!!!

Although growing up can be difficult, most children and young people receive the love and care they need to develop into healthy, happy young adults. But some children are hurt, neglected and used by adults or other children. Younger children may not be aware that what is happening to them is abuse. That is what happened with both of my sisters. They were abused not once but many times.

I grew up at home seeing my father hitting, kicking, beating with objects, throwing and shaking my mom and my siblings. I grew up in a big and dangerous slum here in Brazil without hope, destiny, love, proper care from my parents. Our father abused us in every sense of the word. My father didn’t give us love, approval or acceptance. We were constantly criticised, blamed, sworn and shouted at, my father always told us that other people were better than we were. My father didn’t provide for us proper food, warmth, shelter, clothing, care and protection. We had to go to the streets of Brazil and beg for money and food and stuff.

But I am so glad we have a heavenly father that cares for us and fights for us until our last breath. How often did I wish or dream I could turn back and start all over again in my life? Although the past is irrevocable, irreversible, and unchangeable but we serve a God that restores people’s lives. God is in restoration business. He wants and have restored almost everything the enemy has stolen from my family.

For example: My sister just got married with an awesome young, passionate, honest, Christian man. She is so happy and I gave her away at a church in the city I was born and she was so beautiful with the dress I picked for her. It was those Cinderella’ dress and she sang a beautiful song walking in to the arms of her future husband. He was shaking because he was so nervous because he knows my sister is a gift from God to her. What a huge responsibility!!! It was my sister happiest day and she couldn’t believe now God was restoring her to completeness, wholeness. That is the God we serve!!! He restored her virginity, ability to dream. By the way this is my younger sister because the older one is getting ready to go to Mozambique, Africa as a missionary.

I was in the wedding and I couldn’t believe how God is faithful. I thank all of you my friends and sponsors who paid literally my sister’s wedding with sacrificial gifts. Thank you and you should had been here to see how beautiful she was and how far your money went in Brazil. God bless you and I am so thankful to God for your friendship and support.

Death is so Painful!!!

I am seating here and I am so overwhelmed by the lost of Edipo. He grew up with me in the restoration house in Belo, Brazil. I can’t believe that I just came back from his funeral because he was only 20 years old and still a long way to go in life. He died because of his bad choices in life. I can’t believe two months ago he was living in the restoration house with great missionaries that loved him and cared for his future. Now two days ago he was found dead in front of a brothel with no friends, family member, love or Jesus in his life. He had just got his driving permit and was working as a mechanic with a bright future ahead of him.

Edipo was a bright and wonderful person, intelligent, with special energy and God definitely loved him until his last breath. God was always chasing after him and still gave him the chance to reconcile to the people in YWAM and also to hear about God’s love to him one more time.

I wasn’t able to hold my tears in the ceremony because I was thinking about my lost brother. I haven’t seen my brother for 5 years and I have no idea if he’s alive or not. I hope and pray he is. Today I cried so hard and if you know me I never cry for any reason. But tears were coming so easily out of my eyes and I couldn't control those tears. I have always tried to be tough but inside I am someone that is full of grieve, pain and lost. I was so glad I had people from YWAM to hug me and comfort my spirit. We loaded a bus, a van, a car full of people to go to the ceremony of Edipo and it was so hard to see Edipo’ face. But I am so glad Jesus was there to comfort our hearts.

But today It has been a very sad day in YWAM and espeacilly for me and Anderson because our family is in the same situation as Edipo. Today, God please don't let me see miracles happening in my life and still give up some day in life. But God I desire pasionately to be faithful to you until the end of my life, Help me not to drop my cross. I want to serve and follow you God until the end. Please God, help me not to be like my father or my brothers. I want to be different and make something out of my life for your glory and honor. It doesn't matter what it is going to cost me but I will be not give up on you Jesus!!!

But when "pain" is dead, Who will take it to the mortuary? Who will bury it? Lets us get this right, I am not referring to pain as in physical wound or injury. I am referring to the pain of the heart, emotional pain, psychological pain. The kind of pain that is even more dangerous.

The only prize we can pay for pain is to cry (since it is painful). When we cry, we are telling pain that it cannot do anything rather than to make us cry and that crying is not enough reason for it (pain) to inflict us.

The main method of handling pain is to cry, grieve, endure and move on. This is the general method of handling pain. We should never allow pain to destroy our lives. We should never allow pain to remove our happiness. We should have control over pain and not pain having control over us.

Today Anderson and Myself are taking Alexandre and Lorinda out to go to Baby’ Beef just to honor them because they have laid their lives to help, encourage, pour into our lives and we want to thank and honor them. Alexandre and Lorinda are my parents and I am so thankful to God to have them in my life. God is always faithful and good!!! But He gives us the choice of choosing life over death, choosing light instead of darkness. Hallelua!!! Thank you Jesus!!!