On
5th July 2004, a group of 8 people left the comfort zone of Ballee
Baptist Church, Ballymena and headed for Santa Cruz, Brazil. For a period of 3
weeks it would be our duty to work alongside Billy and Agnes Jones – taking
part in children’s clubs, Bible study and prayer meetings, school visitation,
crafts and tract distribution.
This
would be my first time to go abroad as part of a team so I was nervous and
excited all at the same time but was looking forward to the trip with
anticipation as I had heard so many encouraging reports from the trip last year.
As
I set off on the journey I had various fears - I was heading to unknown
surroundings, I was going to meet people who would be speaking a different
language, I was leaving family and friends and would have to cope with the
extreme heat. It was good to be able to stand firm on the promises of God that
He will never leave me nor forsake me and that He will stick closer than any
brother.
It
was at the first meeting that all my fears were allayed and I was assured that
the people of the Paraiso were going to be such an encouragement and blessing to
me. Both the non-believers and believers showed me true love in various ways
from the moment I met them. The happiness was shining in their eyes and they had
so much time to give to each one of us. This really challenged me as I thought
back to how I react to people at home. Do I only love those of a similar
standing to me or is my love shown to everyone? Do I have time for everybody or
am I too busy rushing through life?
What
can I say about the time I spent with the children? I could sum it all up in two
words …… totally amazing. To look at their little lives that were etched
with hardship – the friendship, love and care they showed was heart breaking.
They had very little of this world’s possessions but wanted so much to give
their everything to us as a marked of appreciation.
Again this challenged me – why when we have more than enough we grumble
… these people have very little, live simple lives but are bubbling with
happiness.
The
team went out to Brazil with the aim to plant the seed of the gospel into the
hearts of boys & girls, men & women. This was done faithfully and when
I
arrived home it was a blessing to hear of salvation visiting the Paraiso area.
As we learned in Portuguese, ‘Deus e tao bom’ - God is so good. We can only
continue to pray for the Lord to increase the harvest in His time.
What an experience I had in Brazil this summer. I can only give thanks to God for His goodness and can sing with the hymn writer, “To God be the glory, great things He hath done”
Extract
from ACRE Magazine
Team
members: -
Stephen
Irons (Team leader)
Pamela
Livingstone (Co-leader)
Noel
Bell
Karen
Livingstone
Julie Irons
Julie McCullough
Laura Irons
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| Sarah,
Agnes, Billy & Rebekah Jones, missionaries with ACRE Gospel Mission in
Santa Cruz
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Team leaving Belfast City Airport on 5th July 2004 | A group of children with some of the team; they all love getting their photo taken! | |
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| The
team helping the people from the church to hand out Gospel Tracts and
Invitations to the 5-Day Bible Club
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A typical side street in the Paraiso area | Chorus time at our first children's meeting; after the meeting we made crafts with the children | |
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| A
family that attend Billy's church in the Paraiso. Adriano (right) gave his
life to the Lord 4 weeks after the team came home.
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The team helping out at the market witness; singing, testifying and preaching | The team with the Mayor of Santa Cruz; Stephen presented him with a plaque of Ballymena | |
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| David,
Christine, Esther, Joshua and Caleb Bell outside their church in Sao
Bento. They are missionaries with ACRE Gospel Mission
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Left-Right: Marcello, Abrio, Concecao and Maria. Abrio gave his life back to the Lord during the team's ministry | Believers in a small community close to Santa Cruz | |
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| Linda
handing over a gift of jumpers and teddies to a lady for the local
children. These were knit by a lady from our own fellowship in Ballee.
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Stephen preaching and Billy translating at a meeting in Coloniel Ezekiel | The final day of the 5-Day Bible Club at Billy's church. Approximately 120 children were in attendance | |
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| Children
in a school where we visited - Pamela told the class the parable of the
lost sheep and we answered questions about life in Ireland
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Candidates from the local churches for baptism in the nearby reservoir | Pamela outside the creche where we held a 3-Day Bible Club | |
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| A lady receiving blankets for her newborn twin girls. These items were also knit by a lady from Ballymena. | The team singing at our farewell meeting. We sang in English - God Sent His Son | ||
E-mail Diary
07/07/04
Just
a short email to let everyone know that the team have arrived safely.
Everyone is well. The 3rd flight was quite crushed but Stephen's knee is
holding out well at the moment and he would appreciate continued prayer for this
as the schedule is so busy. All the luggage and tracts have also arrived
safely. Arrived in
Julie
Irons is going to the hospital tomorrow to meet the medical team. The team
are also going to the school tomorrow (Wednesday) and others are looking for
them already.
Praise
God for safe arrival.
Pray
for the team as they adjust after their long journey and launch straight into
meetings and visitation.
Pray
for school visits as this is a new opportunity.
09/07/04
Tonight
(Thursday) the team will be going to a general assembly of the schools in the
area where Stephen will be speaking to approximately 180 teenagers. Some
of the team will then be going to Sao Bento for a radio programme. The
rest of the team will be doing visitations for the Childrens Outreach.
On
Friday afternoon the team will be visiting the school where Linda will be
speaking. Then in the evening there will be Womens and Childrens Meetings.
On
Saturday morning the team will be going to the
On
Wednesday the team had lunch with Dr Tom Geddes. He was a great
encouragement to them all.
Gifts
taken to
Julie
Irons is getting on well at the hospital and is with a different medical
team each morning.
Stephen
rested his knee on Thursday morning - it is very stiff. Billy and Stephen
went to visit the man whose house the team had painted last year.
Temp
31 degrees in the shade.
Please
remember the
10/07/04
Just
an update to let you know how things are going. School visits have gone very
well. Wednesday were school classes, Thursday night - 140 teenagers
- question and answer session. Friday morning speaking to the younger children.
School classroom visits include telling the same story to up to 5 classes
separately - classes don't join togther for these.
Friday
night Women and Childrens meeting at church. The team are also using
crafts for the Childrens outreach and Womens meetings which are going well. Friday
night mens meeting was taken by Noel and Stephen and was an open air - David
Bell translated - a few unsaved at meeeting. Stephen and Noel were asked
to sing together at this.
The
They
have come across a few of the children from last year's meetings and would hope
to see quite a number next week when the Children's Outreach begins each
afternoon.
Quite
a few of the team went walking this (Sat) afternoon, but it is very hot -
hotter than last year. They had an audience with the Mayor today and
he remarked that often when people come to help, they are looking for something
in return and he appreciated that this was not the case with the team.
They are going to a Conference tonight which is about 20 mins away - this
meeting is being taken by the Bennetts but the team will probably be asked to
sing.
Radio
interview tomorrow (Sunday) at 6.00am for Stephen, Billy and Pastor Soares.
Stephen (Pariso) and Noel (Main church) will be speaking at the morning
meetings. Billy and Agnes will be translating.
The
team have so far taken part in evangelism and door to door visitation in
preparation for the Childrens Outreach. Billy and Agnes are pleased
to have the team back with them and everyone has accepted them so well.
Billy says they have been blessed already by the team's presence and are
looking to the Lord for salvation blessings.
Points
for praise - the team have been well received and are working well together.
Points
for prayer - Continued help with the meetings
Continued health for the team and Stephen's knee
Help for Billy, Agnes and David Bell as they translate.
15/07/04
Radio
programme on Sunday morning went well. Both Stephen and Noel had good
meetings on Sunday morning. In the afternoon, Pamela took the creche at
the Children's outreach and in the evening Noel spoke in the Paraiso and Stephen
spoke in Sao Bento. Sao Bento had their Breaking of Bread
service in the evening which is only held once a month and it was quite a
long service compared to home.
Monday
- Julie I and Karen spoke in the school to an English class - class asked
questions in english about our culture. The afternoon children's outreach
went well, 53 children attended and good behaviour. Pamela spoke at this
meeting.In the evening, Noel spoke at the Bible study and prayer meeting and
there was a good number there. Once again the meeting went well.
Julie I helped with the delivery of a baby at the hospital.
Tuesday
- Stephen and Linda went with Pastor Soares to a local radio station. The
team were able to listen to this at the house. Children's
outreach - 63 attended, good behaviour and Noel spoke. At night, the girls from
the team went to an informal farewell for the Bells. The local 'madeira
cake' went down well. Wednesday - Pamela and Julie McC went to the school
in
David
Bell is going to see the judge next Wednesday morning - then he has to take the
papers to
The
music train which comes each summer has only been out in the
evenings - not in the afternoons to distract the children from the outreach.
Points
for praise - team unity, less pain in Stephen's knee, sense of God's presence
Points
for prayer - Billy and Agnes as they translate
Salvation
Continued health and strength for the team as it is very hot
18/07/04
On
Wednesday night, Stephen, Linda, Julie M, Karen and Billy went up to
Coronel. Before arriving there, they stopped at a little village where 7
or 8 Christians meet in a school. These people had come in early from
the fields to meet them. These people were very grateful for people
coming from
Thursday
morning was very wet and they had to cancel the creche meeting in the morning
but the Children's outreach went ahead in the afternoon. Thursday
night was free - their only free night so far - with no more planned.
Friday
morning - Stephen, Pamela and Billy went to the Radio Station at
There
were 105 children at the Children's outreach on Friday afternoon.
On
Friday night, Stephen, Noel, David and Christine Bell took part in the meeting
at Sao Bento.
The
rest of the team took the Children and Women's meeting. As part of these,
the children and women did craftwork and this was enjoyed by everyone.
Saturday
morning - Noel and Billy went to the market where Noel spoke. After the
market meeting, the police sergeant Jamie, showed Stephen around the town's
new police station. He is not a believer but his wife is and he has said
that he will come to the Wednesday night meeting as he is on duty until
then.
Saturday
evening was the official farewell to the Bells. This was held at Pastor
Soares's church and there was a very large crowd. David and Billy spoke at
the meeting and the team sang - others took part from the different churches.
Sunday
- Noel spoke in the Paraiso. Stephen did not speak at the main church as
the election of deacons was taking place . Most of the team went to a
Baptismal service this afternoon and Stephen and Linda went with Agnes to the
Creche. Stephen speaking at Paraiso this evening.
A
girl who helps Agnes call Comfesun's (sorry about the spelling) husband (Abrior)
(spelling again!) has come back to the Lord. He made a decision 25 years
ago but knew he was not living as he should and recommitted his life in the
meeting last night. He is in the Navy and is on leave for 1
month.
Points
for praise - Numbers coming out to the meetings.
Abrior coming back to the Lord
Continued hand of God on team
Points
for prayer - Meetings as they continue
Wednesday
night (Farewell meeting) as this will be an emotional meeting for the team
Lord will work in hearts of children and adults and bring about salvation
Continued health of the team
23/07/04
On
Sunday evening Stephen spoke in the Paraiso where there was a good crowd.
Monday
morning Laura and Karen went to the school
On
Monday afternoon the team went to take the Children's outreach in a new area.
This area is very poor. There were over 100 in attendance, but the children's
attention span was very short as they were not used to Church.
On
Monday evening Stephen spoke at the Bible Study and Prayer Meeting.
On
Tuesday morning Stephen visited the local Chief of Police who is a believer.
Stephen told him about the work of the CPA at home. He was very interested in
this and would like to set up something similar in
Praise
God for another new opening for Billy and Agnes. On Tuesday afternoon
Karen spoke at the Children's outreach.
Tuesday
evening the team went to Pastor Soares's house for tea. Afterwards in the
main Church Noel spoke and Pamela testified.
The
rest of the team went to the school.
Wednesday
morning Stephen, Julie I and Agnes went to the General and
On
Wednesday afternoon Julie M spoke at the Children's outreach. There was again a
good number of children and they listened much better than on Monday and
Tuesday.
Wednesday
evening was the farewell to the team in the Paraiso. Praise God one lady
trusted the Lord as her Saviour (her daughter had got saved last year).
Stephen
and Billy had an opportunity to speak to Pedro (young footballer met by last
years team). He seems very concerned-please pray that he will put God
first in his life and trust Him as his Saviour.
On
Thursday the team travelled to
The
Pray
for the seed which has been sown in many hearts .
Stephen's
knee on the journey home