The Brazil Blog: Update from Brazil

I'm going to try and post again to sum up everything that happened during my trip but I need to share a little update on some answered prayer. In my last post, I asked for some financial help to buy some clothes for a family that is in the church I attend here in Gravatai. Very soon afterwards, my prayers were answered with just the right amount of money to supply this family with a haircut, clothes and a load of groceries. Praise God for what He has done!
I'll tell you a little bit about their haircuts. During my stay here, I've needed a few haircuts. So the place that I chose was a salon in Wal-mart. I ended up meeting the owner of the salon due to my lack of language skills. She was the only staff member that could speak English. We ended up talking for a really long time at the store and I found out she had just moved back to Brazil from South Carolina. She gave me her card and invited me back before I departed Brazil. When I realized that the boys needed haircuts, I knew where I would be going! Our first stop in our big day of shopping was in the hair salon. They got their haircuts done pretty quick. I brought them up to the counter to pay, and the employee told me, "No pay". What?! That was so cool to receive that kind of generosity from people that I barely know! With the money that we saved we were able to buy socks. Little did I know that they had been sharing socks with their mom for the entire winter without having any of their own. After the haircut we headed over to McDonald's for an ice cream treat. I don't know how often they get to go to McDonald's because in Brazil, McDonald's is where you go if you HAVE money. A Big Mac meal runs you about 15 dollars. So I'm sure that was fun for them :) After the treat we went shopping and I was able to get them two nice shirts for church, and a pair of new shorts. That may not seem like a lot but Brazil is very expensive. It is unbelievable. A pair of Nike running shoes costs about $300! I had some extra money so I decided to head to the grocery store and fill their refridgerator. It was so awesome to see Nelci's (the mom) face when I saw her. She had tears of joy! God's grace is so humbling! It's crazy how He uses undeserving sinners like us to carry out His purposes. What an amazing privilege to be able to serve God!
It was an amazing day! One of the many highlights of my stay in Brazil! I have already started my "farewell tour". It has been really tough saying goodbye to people that I have grown to love for the last time. Lord-willing I will see them again on this earth. I have so many other thoughts in my mind about Brazil, missions and God I could type forever! I will try to get a few more of these written before I leave!

Oh! One last update! I will be preaching on Sunday for the first time in my life! It will be on my favorite chapter of the Bible; John 9. Please pray for God to speak through me to the thirsty souls of whoever comes to hear. Thanks!