In Rio we went to a very poor area to minister to the kids there and to give them the hope of Christ.

Every saturday some people from church go there to love on the kids and to teach them the word of God.

In Rio there is a lot of poor areas, called ´favelas´ where anarchy reigns and even the police doesn´t want to go in because of danger to get shoot. The families live in very miserable conditions and most of them have no job.

Please pray for the kids there and for our brothers and sisters going there to give them the Gospel.

Proverbs 28:27

´He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.´

Hey my friends!

Sorry for not writing for so long, it seems that I wrote more often travelling than being home..


It was an amazing trip through Brazil; it´s such a beautiful country!
So hear are the promised pics:

This is on our trip to Paranagua, close to Curitiba through the forest on our way to the beach..

..we made it!

And this is Matinho (little gras), a little town at the beach.

travelling

Last week I went with a couple people from Biblecollege to Curitiba, the capital of the state of Parana. We also went to the mountains and to some beaches close to Curitiba - I will put on some pics later.
On Sunday I arrived in Rio de Janeiro and I absolutly love it here.
On Saturday we will be going to a very poor area of the city to minister to the kids there. Please keep us in prayer and also the church in Rio that started about a year ago!!!
In a week I will be leaving Brazil to go to Madrid/ Spain for a couple days and then back home. Then I will update you more on what was going on here!
In the love of Christ!

Martyrdom in Turkey

I wanted to share with you guys this e-mail I got forwarded from a friend.
God is doing great things, and the Lord is moving hearts as He did in the early church.
My prayer is, that God would light the fire in my heart HUGE for His glory, that people all around the world would see HIM in it, and come to Him!! - The Lord is working!!!

I recently sent you the gory details of the martyrdom of 3 men in Turkey. Here is a first hand report of one of their funerals that will rescue our hearts from hate or fear or anger, and give us understanding of God's heart and purposes. Here it is: A Powerful witness in the funeral of the Turkish Martyrs On Wednesday April 18, 2007, the fledgling Christian community in this nation of 70 million Muslims, suffered a devastating blow, when three of its finest, were brutally murdered for their faith. One German and two other Turkish brothers were found in the print shop, in south central Turkey, where they published and sold Bibles. They had been tortured,stabbed repeatedly, and bound with their throats slit. Sadly, it was at the hands of five trusted young men, who had claimed to be seekers of our LORD. The murder was skillfully pre-meditated and ruthlessly carried out. Needless to say, as members of the Body, we have been deeply grieved by this terrible tragedy. Yet, what appeared to be a victory for the enemy has since resulted in the most OPEN DECLARATION of the GOSPEL this nation has seen since the Apostle Paul! Therefore, we rejoice that not one drop of blood shed by these dear saints has fallen to the ground in vain. Last Saturday, approximately 500 believers gathered in a demonstration of solidarity, to honor the lives of these colleagues. Despite the heavy police and media coverage in a country that is 99.9% Muslim, each of ushad determined that is was worth the risk and exposure, to stand together for our LORD. After all, it seemed a small sacrifice, compared to the loss experienced by the wives, children and fiancé of the deceased. What we witnessed has FOREVER changed our lives! As the body was carried into the courtyard, high upon the shoulders of our Turkish brothers, spontaneous applause burst forth! I leaned over to my national friend and queried, "Is this normal for funerals, in your culture?" "No," he asserted, "it's because he's a martyr!" As the casket continued its journey toward the front, ethereally beautiful worship music erupted-somewhat reminiscent of a Gregorian chant. Then everyone joined together in the singing of Turkish praise songs. However, what followed nearly took our breath away! Approximately ten [Christian] Turkish leaders proclaimed openly the GOSPEL in front of television cameras, newspaper reporters, police officials, the Deputy Governor of Izmir and several other important officials. FEARLESSLY, yet with GENTLE STRENGTH each shared his faith in CHRIST, and HIS FORGIVENESS of those who had committed the heinous murders! Additionally, they shared that CHRIST had won the VICTORY, and at this very hour the martyrs were standing before the very throne of GOD! Several mentioned that the lives of these men were perhaps the seeds that must be planted in order for a harvest to come forth. One pastor passionately exclaimed, "We will spread this message, God's Word, because we are children of the Word! You may kill us all, but we will spread this message, because we love you and because Jesus loves you! We forgive the attackers, because we too, have been forgiven." Powerful applause, "Amens" and "Hallelujahs" erupted from among the scores of nationalities represented there! It was awesome! However, what happened next.....can ONLY be explained by the SUPERNATURAL LOVE and STRENGTH that GOD ALONE can give. Spontaneously,in an unplanned moment-- Necati's wife asked if she could speak. "Amid her tears she spoke of her forgiveness of the very men who had tortured and killed her precious husband, and the father of her children! In an emotion filled voice, she asserted: "I know my Necati was praying for them, even while he was being tortured." She also spoke of the wonderful love they shared as a family and their joy in serving the LORD together. Lastly, she stated "I loved my husband very, very much---but, I love my Jesus even more. And that is how I can face tomorrow." Again thunderous applause burst forth! We were spell bound! In the closing moments of this incredible service, one of thepastors shouted "Afferin Necati!!! Afferin Tilman!!! Afferin Ugur!!!---Which translated means--- "Well done Necati!! Well done Tilman!! Well done Ugur!! We are certain the LORD echoed those same sentiments, as he received those precious men into HIS heavenly kingdom!!! Then, as Necati's body was lovingly ushered onward to its final resting place, applause and praise resonated throughout the garden! As we looked up, we noticed that the media stood utterly dumbfounded! We were quite certain they had NEVER witnessed anything like this before. Yet, as believers we knew we had been in the very presence of the LORD! It seemed as if we had observed church history in the very making. Most importantly, we believe that the precious blood of these saints was NOT shed in vain, but will be used to further GOD'S KINGDOM in a manner that has not occurred since the time of the apostles! So let it be written--- so let it be done!!!!!!

Retreat

Last weekend we had a youth-retreat on campus.

We studied the Word, prayed, had communion together and lot´s of fellowship. On saturday we had an outreach in downtown and we went evangelizing. The next day we had a big!! barbeque -´churrasco´ with the retreat and our friends from town. After that we had a baptism, and 7 people got baptized!

The Lord was speaking and moving our hearts. It´s such a blessing to live in the will of God! He has big plans for all of us and great blessings in store for us !!

Hiking through the jungle

Last saturday we went hiking about half an hour away from the campus. It was a 2,5 hours hike through the jungle; we hiked along a river and passed two beautiful waterfalls. Some of us want to go back for a full day hike there.

At the end of the semester we will go to Foz do Iguacu, some huge waterfalls about five hours away from Campo Mourão. It contains more water than the Niagara falls! We will help with the churchplant in town and have an outreach there and in Paraguay.

Please pray for the Lord´s leading to share the Gospel there!

Orphanage

There is an orphanage right next to the Biblecollege, so I go there about once a week to visit the orphans. They are very cute, and even though I don´t speak much Portuguese, I enjoy it each time there!! The kids are very precious!!

Please pray for them as most of them come from abusive families, and that they be thought God´s ways.

The Lord gave me a heart for orphans, so it´s such a blessing and a cool opportunity for me.

1.Thessalonians 5:16-18

´Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.´