In the Interior of Brazil

Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. - GK Chesterton

The night we spent painting the inside of this church, was one of my very favorite days in Brazil. This little church was located deep into the amazon about 3 hours from Manaus Brazil. 
And here is where we were so very welcomed by the sweetest church family. What God taught me this night as we were working, painting, laughing hysterically, goofing around with each other, as the fans were doing the best job they could at keeping some air circulating.

..... was that we are closest to Gods presence, and face to face with Him when we set aside our needs, agenda, worries, and just meet the needs of those around us. That night my "heavy burdens" fell off and I really experienced Psalm 16:11 In the presence of God is the fullness of joy! Was it ever! Those who stayed painting till the end remember just how hard we were laughing, cracking jokes left and right, many new inside jokes were birthed for the rest of the trip,laughing at the black acai all over Paul's and my teeth (a pic I will not post!) lol 

I came home knowing that this part of my walk with God, and how I live would look different, seeing to it that not much time goes by without stepping away from my needs and meet those who cant ever pay me back. I also learned that serving Christ does not always have to be "hard" and "suffering" but blissful joy!

Now every time I see that paint on my flip flops my heart skips a beat, where I fell more in love with my God, and was loved on by the sweetest little church family in the interior of Brazil.  

"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless......then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal." Isaiah 58:7-8

It has really shifted my heart to live this lifestyle more in my home town, and the times of doing that here in the states have been JUST as fun since I got back! 

Just a shout out for this little church in the interior, you could be praying for them as they are meeting the needs of people who have never been out of the jungle, their children have a very small chance of ever leaving the jungle, but because of this little ray of light of God through this church, people are meeting their God and following hard after Him, things are changing. Please lift up the Pastor in this church, his dedication blew me away as they were obviously training the next generation the word of God, and they are growing! 

John 13:34-35

Melissa 
XxOo