Last day

Today was our last full day in Brazil but it surely didn't disappoint. We were able to visit Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer in the morning before heading out for the day's work. It was incredible to be able to slow down and take in all of the beauty that this place holds. 

In the afternoon, we visited a school an orphanage, and held a sports clinic at our partner church. If you know me at all you know that the orphanage was my favorite part of it all. I loved getting to love on society's unloved and unlovable. It's such a beautiful picture of the gospel, and every chance I get to do so I catch another , deeper, glimpse of the Father's heart. These are His children. Beloved and treasured. Chosen and valued. His. I pray that I never forget these moments and that I never live my life outside of the lessons these moments teach my ever-learning heart.

Let them come

I spent my morning giggling and playing in a classroom full of three year olds. Again, Jesus knew I needed this. A little glimpse of unaltered and innocent joy. We blew bubbles -aka they spat in my face while trying to blow bubbles-colored pictures, played blocks, and crawled around the forts we built. It was all too fun, and I may have enjoyed it more than they did. I want to laugh and sometimes even cry like they do. It's so real. 

Later in the evening we held another sports camp and then went to our partner church for their weekly prayer service. I honestly expected the normal prayer service, but this needed up being something so special. All the kids came up to the front and we were able to lay hands on them and pray. This would have been a touching an impactful moment in and of itself, but it only got better. As I finished praying over the first two children and was making my way to the next I heard little voices behind me. When I turned around I found the two sweet boys I had just prayed over praying for each other. Wow. Tears, lots of tears. They get it. They understand how powerful prayer is and that one of the best and most significant ways they can love someone is to pray for them. I just love how Jesus speaks through children. It's no wonder he said, "let the children come" because as far as I'm concerned, they have taught me far more than I have taught them in the past two weeks. 

BABIES

Today I held babies. TWO OF THEM. Praise the Lord, I've been waiting for this for a whole week now. It's strange not being able to love on bunches of babies everyday. I mean, I even do that in America, so it has been extra strange to not have that here. I've been longingly waiting for a mother to walk by with a sweet little munchkin. Even praying that He would bring me just one to squeeze and kiss all over. I'm sure Jesus feels this way about us sometimes. I'm sure what I have felt is only a fraction of the heartache that He feels as He waits for us to come home into his arms. I've never really thought about it this way until today. I'm sure that every mother in the world understands this kind of love, but me, I've never felt/understood this before. What a beautiful glimpse I have caught of the Father's heart. I love it. I love this. I love that His love is constant. My Jesus is love Himself, and is as sure as the sun that daily chases away the night. 

Moments like this

You know those moments when Jesus  moves so clearly in your life/the lives of those around you that you can kind of do nothing except praise him? Yeah, one of those moments happened today. After we finished our evening sports clinic we gathered all the children and shared the gospel like we always do, but this time children responded. I found myself sitting on a hard, concrete, multipurpose court surrounded by children making decisions for Christ. In all honesty, it felt like the whole world stopped for a moment. THIS is what we came for. Not to sign autographs, run sports camps, or even hold a bunch of children, but for this. To see lives transformed by the love of Jesus Christ and decisions made for eternity.I am convinced that this is what heaven looks like. People from all different walks of life, cultures, countries, continents, and socio-economic classes declaring the goodness and Lordship of our King. What a moment. It is here that  I am astonished by the fact that Jesus chooses to use me, to use us, when He could so easily do it on His own. He loves me enough to let me play a part, even if it's a tiny part, it is more than I ever deserve. He is good. 

It's the little things

I thought I was tired yesterday....haha this is a whole new level of tired. Between the heat, humidity, and all day sports clinics we are pooped. The beauty of this is that every single tired moment today has been intricately woven with grace. This morning Jesus blessed my heart by bringing three little girls who did gymnastics to our morning program. I honestly did little to nothing except for flip around and giggle with those three, sweet, girls. At the end of our time together I did my best to piece together my broken Portuguese  and invite them to the afternoon clinic. I expected them not to show simply because 1. I didn't know if they understood me and 2. They were pretty preoccupied with their friends and the excitement of the morning. But...THEY CAME!!! We had another four hours to laugh, play, dance and sing together and I loved every second of it. My Jesus is so good to give me a few hours of " comfort" in a time that is filled with firsts and slightly uncomfortable situations. I am so thankful He cares deeply about the smallest and silliest parts of my life. He sees me and he knows me.  How great that is.

Also- this evening I played my first ever,real, soccer game. I was terrible and just ran around, but hey, you've gotta start somewhere. 

So worth it

Today was nothing short of exhausting. We spent the morning at a local private school loving on some teenagers. It was definitely a new experience for me, and the language barrier was quite significant, but the Lord used that part of the morning to prepare my heart for the rest of the day.  After we finished our program at the school we headed back to the church we are partnering with to plan for our afternoon basketball clinic. Again, I was expected to lead/participate in a sport that I literally know nothing about. Similar to my experience at the school earlier in the day, I was forced to completely rely on the Lord. As funny as it sounds, this is not something I am used to. I rarely am completely incapable of even beginning to tackle the task that is before me, but in the past few days I absolutely have been. I have found that it is in these moments that Jesus moves in my heart the most. He is enough-more than enough. He is sovereign over language barriers and my lacking sports abilities. He can and will still move in my heart and the hearts of these children. It's just so cool. After we finished the clinic we ran back to the hotel to eat and shower before heading back to the church for their Wednesday night program. In all honesty, I was so exhausted by this point in the day that I couldn't imagine being able to give anymore. Of course, Jesus took hold of this moment and spoke softly to my heart, " I am worth it all. Eternity is worth it all. These children are my children and they are worth it all.  Your energy, your time, your money..it's not really even yours to begin with. It's mine that I have entrusted to you, how will you steward those resources today?" In that moment I had a choice to choose joy,serve well, and point others to the only One who is worthy OR throw myself a pity party and miss an opportunity to literally be the hands and feet of Christ. With little to no second thought I choose the first option and had a wonderful evening. This isn't to say that I was exhausted or that my feet hurt any less, but that my heart started to believe that Jesus was worth it. All of it. 

First day full of firsts

Today was a day filled with firsts.

 My first time having strange Brazilian cake for breakfast. My first day exploring Maceio, Brazil. My first time eating lunch at a Brazilian subway. My first time drinking 1.5 liters of water in one sitting. What felt like my first time being outside- holy cow it is HOT with about 100% humidity. My first time teaching a sports clinic to a bunch of little Brazilian boys...and one girl. My first time learning to correctly, and still terribly, kick a soccer ball. My first time eating Brazilian BBQ. My first time going for a run on a Brazilian beach.

This day was jam packed with first times, language barriers, and sweaty children....and I loved every second of it. In all my discomfort and first times I had ample opportunities to say "yes" to Jesus. Yes, I will follow you today. Yes, I will love these children. Yes, I will eat this food that is slightly scary so that I can be fueled to love your people well. Yes, I will go run around in the scorching sun. Yes, I will laugh with and enjoy the company of my fellow teammates. 

I pray that my life song today sang a loud and resounding "yes, Lord"

He is good.

Houston-->Rio-->Maceio

WE MADE IT! 

As we embark on this two week journey my heart's prayer is that the Lord would daily reveal little glimpses of His heart to me and to His people here in Brazil. This isn't about me, us, Baylor, or Christians. It is about Jesus Christ, the one who came to redeem all people back to himself. It is only about Him. I desire to have eyes to see and ears to hear. I want His love to be my love. I want love , His love, to take me to hard places with people. I want to laugh, cry, and grow with people of all ages. I want to see His love give life to the broken and void places. I so long for each mother, father, child, grandmother, and grandfather to come to a saving knowledge and understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for them. 

He is life. He is love. He is good. He is enough- more than enough.

Please join me in prayer for Brazil, my team, and all the people we will encounter in the next two weeks.