We have a lot to rejoice in looking back on this last year and all that the Lord has brought us through. In February we had come to the end of a six month waiting period for receiving our visa to come to Brazil. The Lord miraculously provided this visa for us February 11th, and by the 18th both of us finally started off on our mission for Brazil. This time of waiting turned out to be a major blessing in our life, and we have since seen how the Lord used this to bring everything into action in his perfect timing.
During the eight months that we were able to stay in Brazil, we were able to learn a lot and see the hand of the Lord move in a lot of situations. We were also able to be active in working in three different local congregations with youth and children’s ministry, leading in worship, preaching, and assisting in camp ministries. We also had the chance to work in the revision and construction of a training material for the church body in Brazil for the instruction and education of Free Lutheran doctrine for the churches here.
During this last month of October, we have really had a great month to finish in. We were able to have Nathan’s dad come down and spend two weeks with us here in Brazil, traveling and promoting the Ambassador Institute to the churches here. In that time, we were able to visit the churches in Londrina, Maringá, Curitiba, Campo Mourão, and Foz Igauçu to spend time ministering with them and talking with the pastors. We also attended and had the Manual Evangelico presented at the AILLB Annual Conference here in Brazil and the Manual was preliminarily approved by the board. We look forward to the Lord continuing to use that which we have worked on and labored with even past the time that we will be spending here.
The ministry in Brazil is very strong in many areas. The members of the churches are very open about their faith and it was refreshing for us to see this after coming from a culture that is not nearly as open about what they believe. The people here have a strong desire to make the church body here grow to its full potential. This is very evident with the active involvement that the people have in their local congregations. The desire to be involved in Sunday School, Youth Group, Bible Studies, Camp Ministries, and Evangelism all are a reflection of this. Though the ministry here still needs missionaries, with the leaders of today and looking to the leaders that we see tomorrow, we feel that the ministry here will do nothing but grow stronger as long as Christ is kept at the center and they are continually looking to Him and His Word.
We look to the book of Nehemiah, as the Israelites had finished building the broken wall of Jerusalem in fifty-two days. In Nehemiah 6:16, it is said of the Israelites that “they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of [their] God.” For the both of us, as we come to the end of our time here in Brazil, we truly have the same perception of the ministry here. Without the help and power of the Lord God Almighty, we would not have been able to accomplish that which we have done. We praise God for His work, His faithfulness, and for His provision for us during this time. May the Lord also continue to show you His faithfulness as He has shown it to us. We want to thank you for your prayers and support during our time here, knowing that this would not have been possible without the prayer partners we have in you
Our next needed prayer request would be for our 39 day trip home leaving November 1. For blog updates during our trip, please continue to follow us at www.preachandteachbrazil.wordpress.com where we will be posting updates along the journey. There, you may also find our itinerary of the trip which will be posted.
Only Jesus,
Jon Nelson and Nathan Olson
