Second Bible Study: Two Saved

We had our second Bible study today with two visitors showing up and both gave their lives to Jesus! Praise the Lord!!!

My wife and I managed to do some song service music together along with my kids.  It was difficult at first but we managed to create an atmosphere of worship that God could move in.  God is so wonderful to us.

There were some people missing, but we are not going to give up on them.  Please pray for us as we try to break ground in this wonderful country.

1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ESV

Words of Wisdom

In Brazil, people don't make a lot of money.  The average wage earner in our city makes about R$1,500 to R$2000 Reals a month.  That's about $633 to $844 USD.  This isn't bad considering other countries where the average is about $30 to $70 USD a month.  What hurts Brazilian people the most is that the cost of living is very high.  Most people in Brazil live on credit.  Payments that can be made over a period of time.  You can make payments on virtually anything (clothing, electronics, food).  Unlike the U.S., where Americans are guaranteed a minimum wage, housing and food benefits, not to mention a free cell phone, most Brazilians cannot pay the high price of goods. Everything is payed in payments.  You can pay a partial payment, short span payments, like 6 to 10 payments per month, until paid in full.  This is because of the high taxes on goods.

Think about it, if you were making R$1500 to R$2000 Reals a month, and your house or apartment is R$1200 Reals a month, electricity is R$125 a month, plus you have to pay water and gas, groceries, fuel for your vehicle . . . you get the picture.  Things add up pretty quickly.  Most people have extended families living with them to make ends meet.  It's not too different from the states, but when you consider the cost of goods over here you will understand why people must live in a payment plan lifestyle.

Brazil does have a type of welfare system, but most Brazilians cannot live off the system that's in place.  It's just not enough.  If you can't work, the government gives you about $R600 and that's it.  Medical is free but you have to eat, buy clothing, and if you have kids, things for school.  So you are going to have to find a way to make more money.  Clothing here is expensive.  Well, everything is expensive.  There are no thrift stores in Joinville.  I wish there were.

Clothing made in Brazil can cost anywhere from R$30 to $R50 for a polo shirt of thin material.  Sneakers cost around R$70 to R$150.  And women's clothes,  forget it!  For a printed blouse you can expect to pay anywhere from R$35 to R$100 made of thin material!  And to remind you, this is all made in Brazil.  So how can one afford to live in such a high cost of living!  Well, you find a way.


Let me add this disclaimer, begging is rare,  at least in Joinville.  People here get creative to make ends meet.  They will sell crafts, juggle on the streets, or like my friend, who makes some of the most beautiful wire artwork, bend wire and create wire art of ants, spiders, scorpions, and my favorite, "Le Penseur", translated "The Thinker".

Meeting him was a true joy.  He spotted us while we were walking downtown looking for stuff for the apartment.  I noticed the artwork while walking down the sidewalk.  I was amazed on how well his pieces were made.  Then he started telling us that he noticed we were different from many of the families who walk down his path.  He said that he could see that we were a close nit family because of the way we were walking together and having conversation with each other.  "Very rare!" he said.

Then he started asking me if I heard about the ant in Proverbs 6:6.  "The Bible says", he started saying, "Look to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!"  Then he asked if we knew why God says to look to the ant.  He goes on to recite verses 7&8.  "It has no guide, overseer, or ruler, yet it stores its provision in the summer, and gathers its food in the harvest."  "God meant for people to be productive and not be lazy."  "God blesses hard work."  What words of wisdom.

 
He went on to say how there is a God in Heaven who loves us.  We invited him to our home Bible study.  He was very happy and so grateful for this invitation.  I do hope he comes.  Please pray for him.  Brazilian people are very resilient and resourceful.  Most don't take handouts.  They believe in hard work.  God can use these kind of people.  And he will.  Please pray for them.  I call them "Street Artist's."  We are working with a few of them.  Telling them about the love of the Savior.  Many of them have been written off by the religious world.  But God is faithful and loves them.  Please pray for them to come to know Jesus!       

Our Story

Our First Bible Study

We had our first Bible Study on Friday night the 14th of this month. I made some flyer's, old school, and gave them to the people whom we've met since we've been here.   That's over 20 people.  We also invited some teenagers that we met at the park.  That's over 25, actually.  There was one kid that spoke English and I challenged him to come to interpret. He said, "Cool!"  We had lots of responses.  We also had one text from a young guy named Nathan who texts, "I would love to come."

Well, I got ready. My wife and I bought refreshments and a dry eraser board. And wouldn't you know it, no one showed up.  But we still had Bible study.  I thought, "I can still put in some practice."  It went great!  My kids were impressed.  Their so cool!  My wife said, "It was a good idea to still have a family Bible study."  It's always good to show kids, especially yours, that the "Show Must Go On."

Now, not to make excuses, their were people who did want to come, but were getting out of work late, traveling, parent issues, couldn't get a ride, you know.  This has cause me to rethink time and day for the next study.

On Sundays everything is closed.  So I'm going to reschedule Bible study on Sunday nights at 6PM.  This will be a good transition solution when we start actual services.


Things like this happen and you can't expect quick results all the time.  Though we all wish it would.  But doing a work for God takes a lot of work.  Diligent work!  Please pray for us.

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Come back for a post I'll call,
"The Worst Day In Brazil." 

Brazilians - A Very Friendly Culture

Let's segway a bit from food and into the Brazilian culture and what I have found to be the best thing about my new home country. . . . The Brazilian People!

Ever since we stepped into Brazil, we've met people who are genuinely willing to make our stay successful.  When we were struggling with our luggage and transferring to another airport in Sao Paulo for instance, there were people who asked us if we needed help.  A lady at the airport said a few words to my wife and then took a piece of luggage from her and help my wife as far as she could go.

We've been in Brazil and in the hotel for almost two months. That's a long time my friend.  I think we shocked the staff when we arrived with three taxi's loaded with all our luggage!  They ask if we were vacationing.  "No, we are moving here from Texas."  "Ta, Bem-vindo ao Joinville" (Okay, Welcome to Joinville."

Our hotel room is a two twin bedroom with A/C.  When we first arrived all four of us were staying in room 411.  About two weeks later, the reservation manager informed us that they had decided to give us a room for our boys free of charge!  What a blessing!  They're also giving us the lowest rate possible tax-free! Praise God!

We do have an apartment reserved that meets our immediate needs, but the hold up is with the deposit money from the States to the Bank of Brazil.  I'm encouraged to write a post on what I call, "To Do and Not To Do - Step before coming to Brazil.  I know that not all things are black and white, but there are things I've learned in this experience that can make transitioning a bit easier.

We joke with the hotel staff and say to them, "Don't get us wrong, we love you guys, but we want our apartment." :'-(  But if there is any consolation, the people here have been amazingly accommodating. Two of which are the desk clerk, Evandro and Bruna, the reservation manager who gave us the extra room for the boys.  Evandro is actually from Portugal and Bruna was born in Sao Paulo.  These two have been very good to us, helping us in what ever we need.  From directions to interpreting to telling us where can we find good food cheap.  They've been such a tremendous blessing.

We invited them to a local pizzeria called "Oficina das Pizzas for a some fellowship.  We had such a wonderful time getting to know them.  Evandro is a young single man in his 20's and not married.  He recently moved to Joinville from Portugal.  He loves pizza and learned to speak English by watching movies in English.

Bruna is a young lady in her twenties.  She is single, as well, and has no children. But she is raising her 13 year old brother.  Both her parents have passed away.  She has another brother who is twenty.  Her father died when she was a teenager and her mother died from a stroke when she was twenty.  But you can tell that she is person who doesn't let bad circumstances define her.

I was able to witness to Evandro and let him know that it would be awesome for him to come to our Bible study and church when we open.  Maybe even interpret.  He seemed open to the idea.  I haven't taken pictures with them so come back.  I should have some pictures of them today or tomorrow.

There is so much potential in these to young people.  Please pray that they will respond to the Holy Spirit calling them to repentance and the great work that God has prepared for them.  Please continue to come back for more updates on our exciting adventure for the Gospel.












Tchau,










JCHC
Pastor Ray Felan