Hey,
Yes, it’s already that time again. Christmas and the New Year are coming round the corner and I, too, have made it back safe and sound to Germany.
The second half of my time in Brazil has continued to be amazing. Our course with the Missão Ekklesia had more practical parts by which we also had the chance to impact the people from the Favela (a more simple neighborhood). Especially in this difficult time, for the people we could bring hope and love. And we had the chance to pray directly for some of the drug dealers. At the graduation of the course we heard testimonies of how the participants have been influenced through the course. It has been an encouragement to see how the understanding of the day by day mission has been increased.
I am personally very happy about one of the women in the course who has started to do something for the girls. While we are having the boys for football at a school, she is doing crafts with the girls and then they can all together hear about the good news.
After many tries, we finally made it to the beach. It is quite
surprising that we could live so close to the beach and yet not be able to find the time to go there. My ministry partner always said how important it is for him that we also have some time of fun! But after all, I have to say that the ministry itself was fun and has been a source of energy that was sufficient. For that reason it hasn’t been bad at all that we haven’t made it to the beach a lot! In my time I could also learn to dig after the true source of life and through that, it all wasn’t so hard.
Sundays, like many other days, have been reserved for preaching. It is quite tiring and a lot of work. But it is an amazing experience to sit down and experience God’s faithfulness week after week. He gives new ideas and thoughts and is always there in all the preparation and on the day of the delivery as He gives peace and speaks through me. I am so thankful that in the whole time with all these sermons he has been faithful again and again! He is a God who can do and does a lot of things but there is one thing He surely never does, He never leaves us alone!
And what’s next?
This question I have asked myself and I get to hear over and over again. And the answer is quite simple… I don’t know, yet. Until January, I have had a few conversations about some options. And I am sure that until then, nothing will be for sure. However, I have a wonderful peace. I know that I will continue in ministry and that it will be good. At the right time the right doors will open up.
It’s a little hard to write about my pros and cons of different options here, as that would go beyond the scope here. For that reason, I would just ask you to pray for me at this point. And if you want I can try to explain it to you personally!
Now I would like to greet you with this hope:
J
esus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12I wish for you that you can recognize more and more the true light that leads us out of our daily darkness, that we don’t have to sit in the dark anymore!
A blessed Feast of the Light and a good start
to the year 2017!
Lots of Love,
Raphael
