| Rio de Janeiro Medical Mission Trip: Sept. 28 - Oct. 7, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Our primary purpose in going to Brazil is to tell the lost about Jesus Christ and meet physical needs. Ours is a medical mission trip. This is the eighth year we have gone to Rio. The team consists of both medical and non-medical members. They conducted a weeklong medical clinic in a Baptist church in one of the very low income parts of the city, as well as doing street and door-to-door evangelism. This year we are at the First Baptist Church of Vila Kennedy.
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* Patients/Extractions
2007 Rio de Janeiro Medical Mission Trip Team As a first timer on the trip it took me a while to process everything I have seen. Actually I am still processing. I keep going back to the last day there and as we sat and watched a video of the week, it dawned on me how God used each and every one of us to bring 511 people to the Lord. How awesome is that!! Not one of us could have done that on our own without God’s help. It made me think of our work back here at home. Sometimes we think our job is so minimal, but what would happen if that job remained vacant because we were not obedient. The Lord can use what we think are minimal talents to bring glory and honor to him. I just pray that I will always give the Lord my best, no matter how big or small the job. Katie Gammon I had many very special experiences in the clinic, in worship and in fellowship with my fellow team members. Many people and events inspirited me and made me cry (big shocker, right?). What I want to share involves the day we toured Lapa. Lapa is where our host missionaries, Ray and Sharon Fairchild, have started a rescue mission shelter for homeless and desperate people living on the streets. It is housed in an old warehouse that was falling down and filled with trash and satanic worship debris when they purchased it years ago. They have been working on this building for many years and have made incredible improvements, yet they still have so much to do. The entire second floor still needs repair. but this team is so excited about the next phase. They are not tired of this work. They are enthusiastic about how the next phase will impact this community, full of the plans they have, and trusting God to finish this work. When we left the mission and boarded the bus, a scripture verse came to my mind, "Do not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Gal. 6:9. We get very busy in our churches and sometimes burn out, but I am convinced that is not an excuse for giving up or quitting our service to God. Instead, I think we need to re-evaluate what we are doing and decide what is "doing good." It's easy to get busy working for the church and our families, our jobs, and ourselves, but I think doing good can be boiled down to a few things: loving God, loving God's people, drawing them to Him, and prayer. We must not grow weary of doing these things. Everything else is secondary and can make us too busy if we get caught up in them. I want this trip to remind me of what it truly means to "do good." Lots of stuff is good, but I think my Lord has a specific "good" He wants me to focus on. Leslie Jones Friday, I finally got to go out into the community. We have been told that because it is so far from the city, it is the first time the majority of the people had ever seen an American. God used their curiosity to draw them to us and to Himself. We met with a group of workers on break from their job. Three were Christians. Two were not. I shared the Gospel with them and two prayed to receive Christ. I could see the conviction on Marcos' face during the presentation and the joy on his face after "the prayer." One of his buddies came around the corner and Marcos said, "Tell him. He needs to hear this." I said, "You tell him," and he took my EvangeCube and told him, and his buddy accepted Christ. WOW! Talk about holy goose bumps. I asked the interpreter how he did and he said, "Very good." I gave Marcos my cube and he almost exploded. I was able to get our EvangeCubes into three different denominations this week. Only God will be able to calculate the difference it will make in that community. We also were told that up until four months ago, the community was so full of drugs and violence that we could not have gone there. God has been at work preparing the Way for us. The last street murder was two months ago. How I would love to go back next year and see what God has been up to! Kathy Hancock While working with an almost blind lady, I brought her a pair of +6.00 readers (cost $2.50 - special mission price from AmericanReadingGlasses.com. You don't have to speak Portuguese to understand the joy that spread across her face as she realized she could see again. Teresa Phipps, MSC, Clarksville, TN I worked in the eye clinic. It was just a joy to meet all the people and to see how excited they were about us being there. There was a lady about 60 something that was having problems with her eyes. I found her a pair of glasses that worked for her and she just started crying. I was so excited for her and she told me that God sent me to her so she could see. I felt so blessed just to be a part of it. Christy Naill
One of the interpreters, Miriam, came to me today (Friday) to thank me for the English class I taught in February of this year in Rio. She is now attending college studying English. The awesome thing is that God used my class to help her do very will on an entrance test for college. And she was able to receive a full scholarship for her degree. While I was here in February, I didn't really see the results what God had done through the classes I taught. But I see now that He DID use those English classes for His glory, and this precious young woman is able to pursue her education. Over the course of this week, God has done many miraculous things - I'm always amazed by His glorious surprises. Today I saw a young girl who had received a visit in her home on another day from our evangelism team, and she proudly reported that EVERYONE in her family had received Christ! She told me that she would be coming to the First Baptist Church in Vila Kennedy this Sunday. Can you imagine the excitement in the church as they begin to follow-up on over 500 decision for Christ and disciple these brand new Christians! I believe God has His hand on that favela and that church. Stephanie Hill I talked to a lady in an evangelism group today (Friday). I shared the Gospel with the group and when I asked if she wanted to accept Jesus, she told me she was already a Christian. She also said that she had been to the clinic several times and seen the doctor, the dentist, and the eye clinic. because she had vision problems, she couldn't see to read her Bible. She had been standing in line to get a number to get inside NOT to see the doctor, but to hear the Gospel preached again and again. Oh, that we would all have such a hunger for God's Word - that we would go to such lengths to be able to hear the Good News! Bruce Hill Wednesday night, when calling home, I received the message that my dear Aunt Frances had gone home to her Father. Facing the next day with tissues in my pockets, I prayed for courage and peace to work and show God's love, grace and mercy. The morning clinic went swiftly. After lunch I found myself with a patient, but no interpreter. The lady said she knew "little English." So I began to triage. When I saw her name - Francentina - I asked what was her name in English - Frances. That may seem small, but it was a Praise God for me. To know how much He loves us to send that breath of encouragement to whisper Frances (Aunt Frances) to me. Thank you, Jesus. - Norma Miller What an encouraging way to end the morning (Thursday). I had the opportunity to go out into the community before/during lunch today. On a street corner stood a mama and her two grown daughters (ages 31 and 35). They were willing to listen to me and were standing with eyes welled up and chins quivering half way thru the presentation. The daughters accepted Jesus as their Savior - the mama was crying tears of joy. She shared that years ago she became a Christian and had been praying for her daughters for 16 years. We rejoiced with her being able to witness an answer to prayer. God answers the prayers of His children. It may not be the answer we want - when we want it - but, He answers. What a sweet time of rejoicing. Kim Blake The people here are so grateful. Any act of kindness is so appreciated. For example, I was walking by three ladies who work in the kitchen. They were looking for a small pin we were giving away that said "I am loved." I found Stephanie and brought them to these ladies who were so happy and thankful. A patient was wanting something from the pharmacy at the end of the day. I could not understand what she wanted (thinking medicine), but all she wanted was a bracelet that says, "Smile, Jesus Loves You." Perhaps the most inspiring is mothers who are so thankful for vitamins for their children. I guess what impresses me the most is their thankfulness for such small things - pins, bracelets, toys, vitamins, Tylenol; things we take for granted and throw away even. I have learned to be more thankful for the many blessings God has given me. Kim Mendenhall
I had a special day evangelizing also. I led a Catholic couple to Christ this morning - their faces just lit up!!! Also, I met a Brazilian man who is as big as Bruce - and I led him to Christ!! Also, Sharon asked me to come back in February to teach English to the interpreters for the second year. Stephanie Hill David and I were blessed today to be able to lead a 16 year old boy to the Lord. The streets of the community were safe to walk in; not so just four months ago. I felt God's blessing on the community. Debbie Manuel Earlier in the week we were out in the community talking to what was to be the last people to talk to before heading back to the church. We were talking to a couple of women when a very well dressed, handsome young man came in. My first thought was that he was a drug lord looking out for his people. He stayed while we prayed, then we left and headed back to the church. We were about a block away when the young man came running to us. He asked if we would go and pray for his family - his wife, her sister, his mother, and his two children. We shared the gospel and his 16 year old daughter accepted Christ. The Holy Spirit was obviously working. David Manuel Today (Wednesday), I talked to the first group of people that came into the eye clinic. I asked them what time did they got in line this morning. They told me 7:00 p.m. last night. They ranged in age from 40 to 80. They slept on the sidewalk or on cots for a pair of glasses that cost us 69 cents. Not only did they get their glasses, but they left with Jesus in their hearts. The glasses will break someday, but their new life with Jesus will last an ETERNITY. Kathy Hancock We also saw an 89 year old man blinded by cataracts on one eye and needing strong readers for the other. We gave him a #6.00 reader (that cost us $2.50) and the moment he put them on he began to weep. Thank you to everyone that helped make this possible for him and for me to be able to be here! Teresa Phipps, MSC, Clarksville, TN Sunday, during the church service, Norma Miller stood up and gave her testimony. Her battle with dystonia is truly being used by God to spread the Word. The people of this church saw her courage and how God blesses her and them through her. Sunday night as we left the hotel for dinner, Norma’s voice was taken. It did not hurt, but she could not speak. Her job Monday morning was to check in patients and interview them with an interpreter... difficult, with no voice! We prayed right there as a team in front of the hotel door for God’s will to be done. We encouraged Norma by letting her know that her most important job in God’s plan must have been to give her testimony. Norma has great strength in the Lord, but she was sadden at the thought of not being able to sing praises to Him. Monday morning, we all woke up hoping Norma would have her voice back. She did not. We arrived at the church and settled in the sanctuary. All of a sudden, there was word spreading through the team that Norma’s voice had returned. Before Sharon Fairchild (the missionary) got the news, she asked us to stand and sing, “This is the Day that the Lord has Made.” At the end of the song, someone got Sharon’s attention or maybe she saw Norma singing, and she told the church members that Norma had lost her voice and that it had just returned. What a celebration! We who were there had to have felt God’s presence, while he was praised in different languages, but with the same hearts. I know that is what I felt. Praise God, for he is not only our Salvation, but our Provider and our Redeemer. Cindy Bush Everyday on our way to the clinic, we pass this river that is lined with trash and smells like a sewer. However, there are these beautiful clean white cranes that apparently live in that environment. As I watch those birds every day, I wonder, "Is that how Jesus see us?" They say in America sometimes that criminals are victims of their environment. Are we all victims? Or do we allow Jesus to make us like those beautiful cranes living in smelly, dirty sludge? If I come to this country thinking I came to help these poor people, which I'm sure a part of me did, I will be leaving looking for the same contentment that I have seen among these people in my own life. Praise Jesus for providing the opportunity to be content, no matter what our environment looks like. Cindy Bush
We had an instance in
the dental clinic when other people waiting on the dentist were believers
and the helped us to evangelism those who were not. Marlene accepted
the Lord, our first convert of the day. Praise God! Bruce HIll
We had a similar situation in one of our evangelism
groups this afternoon. We were sharing the Gospel with a group of
three. I went through the Gospel presentation and when I asked the
first lady if she would like to prayer to receive Christ, she said she was
already a Christian. The second lady said she wasn't ready. I
asked her what it would take for her to be ready. She responded, but
before the interpreter could interpret what she said, the lady on her left
started talking, then the lady from the church that was recording
decisions for us started taking, then the gentleman on her right started
talking. All the time our interpreter was trying to give me tidbits
of what was going on. Bottom line... she prayed to receive Christ
and the angels in Heaven and God's children on Earth rejoiced. Edd
Hancock
In worship today (Sunday), we sang "Shout to the Lord"
in Portuguese. Later in the service, the pastor said that he had a
hard time hearing our team sing (we determined that our lack of volume was
a result of our not having the lyrics on the screen in English). So
I was called upon to sing "Shout to the Lord" in English and lead our
team, while the church's praise team, band, and the Brazilian congregation
sang in Portuguese. I had the privilege of standing before that
packed house and watching God's people with hands lifted high, singing
praises to our "Comfort, Shelter, Tower of Refuge and Strength." I
believe that's what was in the pastor's message this morning. He
spoke from Luke 8 about the demon-possessed man and his healing by Jesus.
His message was that this man just like some of our patients had physical
needs, as well as spiritual ones. He told us that we would be seeing
people who are isolated from their family, their friends, and God.
We will be giving the total Gospel, just like Jesus did. Jesus dealt
with the man's physical and spiritual needs. Please pray that
the Holy Spirit pours out His blessings on this team as we begin work
tomorrow. Stephanie Hill
We have been here two days and I have
had three special thoughts so far. First, the strength the Lord has
provided is incredible. I would find myself praying for rest on the
plane, then waking up an hour later. Second, we have not because
we ask not. I think it should be, we have not because we rely
not. We ask for many things but when we truly rely on
God, he delivers. We get caught up in our business and try to throw
God a prayer bone, but when we really rely on God's power, He always
provides. Third, the most awesome worship I have ever witnessed...
They worship through giving, praise, song, and Word of God. As we
came back on the bus it occurred to me that two things are happening in
our churches in America. We are either ashamed of God or afraid of
each other. We get so involved in church we forget to sit at
Jesus' feet and worship. Bruce Hill
Norma Miller gave
her testimony in worship today (Sunday). You could tell the anointing of God
was on her. She talked about how her condition has given her
opportunities to witness for Him. The Brazilian people got to see
Christianity in action. I was reminded again of Rick Warren's words,
"Life is a series of problems: either you are in one now, you're just
coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than
your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than
He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on
earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in
character, in Christ likeness." I believe Norma understands these
words better than most of us. We can focus on our problem or we can
focus on our purpose. Norma has found her purpose, and God has
strengthened her character, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him
and other people. The Brazilian people really identified with her
and took her into their hearts. We were so proud of her! Kathy
Hancock
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One
of the many more special experiences that I had in Rio was the day
I went out with Ron Burney, Ayala (interpreter) and some members of the
church. As we went out walking in the community, we stopped and
Ron witnessed to two young ladies and they both accepted Christ.
Thank you, Jesus! One of the girls was pregnant and, after the
prayer, Ayala asked me to place my hand her stomach pray for her baby.
God blessed me in such tremendous ways... by allowing me to be there and
to experience seeing His work and being a part of it, and giving me the
words for the prayer. There are really no words to express what He
can show you and express in your heart if you will allow Him. But
that is only if you are willing to open your heart and allow Him to truly
be your Master. Pam Smith 
When
we left the church today (Thursday), I was amazed! It was 4:30 on
Thursday and there was already a significant number of patients waiting in
line to be treated on Friday... that's 16 hours until the clinic opens!
So tonight as I eat dinner, or go shopping; as I take a shower and get in
bed, I'll think about those people waiting in line. 
