Ask Yourself A Question (Part II)

Santarem

Oct 19th 5:30 a.m.
We wake up to bright overhead lights, and the sounds of our ship docking in the harbor. We put away our hammocks and pack up our things. At this point we still have no plan as to where we are going, or what we are doing. We ask if we can wait on the boat until more of the stores and churches open. While we wait Chelsea sees a girl with a Christian shirt on and approaches her. Google translator in hand, she explains what we are doing. The girl Yara, reveals that she and her friend are in Santarem for a huge church conference.

7:45 a.m.
The girls take the time to write out a letter in Portuguese explaining that we are looking for ministry contacts, they put us in a cab and tell the driver where to go. Once we get to the church, Igreja Da Paz (Church of Peace) Chelsea and I go inside to talk with the administrator. She doesn’t know English but flags a man down who speaks some Spanish. Talking with him was easier for us and he finds someone who speaks broken English. They quickly contact some American missionaries who work for the church. 

9:20 a.m
We sit on a bench in front of a beautiful apartment the church rents out. Many of the other missionaries live here and most of them are American and speak English, yayy! They welcomed us with open arms and are planning a potluck in the coming days full of all the comfort foods we are missing.

11:00 a.m.
As we walk to the grocery store to buy some food a girl approaches us. She speaks English well and has a beautiful smile that lights up her face. She was on her way out of the city and after talking for a few minutes we say goodbye. Almost immediately we are filled with regret at not praying for her. God clearly highlighted Laci as someone He is trying to reach and we leave with heavy hearts for missing it.

Oct 21st 10:00 a.m.
We take a prayer walk through the university this morning. As we are leaving we run into Mauricio eating his lunch. Not willing to take chances this time, Chelsea immediately asks if there is anything he wants us to pray for. He seems unsure but after talking to him for twenty minutes about Jesus and what we are doing he accepts our offer to pray for him. After we finish his countenance seems lighter and he claps his hands in delight. 

Oct 22nd 3:00 p.m.
Our host mom, Viktoria, takes us to the beach to swim in the river and as we pass a gift shop we run into Laci! Here we are, about an hour away from where we first met her a few days ago. Anouk isn’t about to make the same mistake twice and asks if we can pray for her. We gather around her and thank God for second chances and the opportunity to get to know this girl that He so clearly wants to pursue.

Somewhere along the Amazon River

Oct 24th 830 p.m.
As Anouk, Chelsea and I are talking on the top deck of our boat, a young man stands next to us. He’s playing some American pop music so we say hello and ask his name. We ask if he speaks English and he says not well, inviting his friend who speaks a little to join our conversation. We learn that these are Brazilian military men going back to where they live in Manaus. They offer to find us a safe place to stay and help us find churches to partner with.

Manaus

Oct 26th 7:30 a.m.
I just found out that while we made our way down the river our host mom from Santarem, Viktoria, was busy making arrangements for us to stay with their church branch in Manaus. She gives me the name of the pastor I need to reach when we arrive in the city.

9:30 a.m.
Once we dock our new friends act as translator and call the church to find out what the plan is and where we need to go. They lead us off the boat warning us to keep our valuables hidden while we walk through the dangerous part of the city. As we walk the men fan out on all sides of us, I could only thank God for LITERALLY providing AN ARMY to escort us safely to the next host.

11:00 a.m.
Our friends find us the cheapest taxis and drive with us to the church, not leaving our side until we are safely with the pastor at Igreja Da Paz Manaus. The pastors take us to a campground they own and we look around our new home. We will stay here for the next few days until we join our entire squad on Halloween for debrief. And guess what? There are two Venezuelan refugees who don’t know Christ living here as well. Coincidence? No way.

Remember, it’s not about the works you do.

It’s not about the tasks you complete, or the money you make. It’s not about striving for perfection, or being a good “Christian”.

It’s about relationships. It’s about the people you meet along the way. The people placed in your life so you can show them the love of Jesus.

Whether you’re a CEO, a stay at home mom, a teacher or a pastor. Whether you are living a life in the slums of Africa or in a penthouse in NYC. It’s not about what you do. It’s about how you live. 

Jesus was a carpenter, but He isnt known for what He did for a living. He isn’t remembered for the works He did. He is remembered for the way He LOVED PEOPLE. He did it whether He was fishing with his friends, eating a meal, or walking through the square. He did it whether He was a guest in someone’s home, or a prisoner on His way to be crucified. Whether at work, at home, at church, or on vacation, He dropped everything at any time, for people.

God’s love knows no bounds, and His love is for people. That has never been more evident to me than this last month. He provided for all our needs and He sent guardian angels along the way to help us. Even when we didn’t have “work”, we always had people. People to care for and be kind to. People to smile at and pray for. People to laugh with and encourage.

He’s given me a heart for what He loves, and He. Loves. Us.

I guess you’ve got to ask yourself a question… it’s the same one I ask myself every day. What’s more important? Living in comfort or living in freedom?

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners”

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”