Brazil Bound

What a great evening it was last night. About 40 of us gathered at the house of Chris and Cathy Moore, giving our send off to Christina. She is from Itu, Brazil and has been staying with a family in Abilene and looking into graduate school in the states. As I think about that scene last night -- all these high school and college students playing ping pong in the garage, shooting pool in the family room and hanging out in the kitchen -- I thought of how awesome our God is. And I go back to 1995 when 13 of us from the Highland church went to Saltillo, Mexico for a short-term mission trip one summer. We went back there two more times. And then in the fall of 1998, Antenor Goncalves, a missionary in Itu, Brazil whom our church supports, invited a group of us to come to Brazil for a campaign. At the time, it seemed like such a daunting task -- and so much money to raise. And yet God put together a wonderful team of 41 people -- families -- and provided from various sources all the funds we needed, and we eventually boarded a plane to Sao Paulo, Brazil in June of 2000.

Two years later 116 of us from Highland returned to Itu to put on an evangelistic camp for teenagers, a medical mission, worked at a children's orphanage, lprovided eadership training, hosted a Bible Times Marketplace and engaged in one-on-one Bible studies. Over time people came to Christ. The church there was greatly edified ... and those of us who had the privilege of going have never been the same.

About 60 of us went back there last summer. Each time some new people joined us on these missions. And many them ended up being leaders, encouraging others to go. Now God has raised up 46 of us --the majority of them high school and college students -- to go to Itu in June 2006 to put on another camp for the teenagers. These short-term mission trips have been one of the greatest highlights of my life, as I and many others have witnessed the power and provision and joy of the Lord in our preparation for these trips and while there in Brazil.

And so I go back to last night. Many of the "jovenes" (Portuguese for young people) at the house last night have never been to Brazil. But they plan to go with us this summer. And I can't wait to see what an impact they will make for Jesus at the camp - and how our Lord will change their lives, too. I can already see the joy in their hearts as they begin working as a team, united by the Holy Spirit, to bring the good news to Itu, Brazil.

Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than receive. I've definitely seen the truth of His words as I've made just a few small sacrifices of time, money and effort to be a part of these mission trips. The joy He has given me and the others that have gone to Brazil greatly exceeded all the difficulties we went through to go there each time.

How has Christ changed you as you've carried out His mission -- whether on a short-term summer outreach -- or sharing the gospel with someone in your every day life?

Jim