Matthew 7:24-29 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
April here in Rio de Janeiro brought torrential rains. This, in turn, caused landslides, flooding and the overflowing of rivers. Many people lost their houses with the landslides, and sadly, many people were killed. The city was in chaos.
During the heavy rains and a black-out (no electricity), a song popped into my head from my childhood Sunday School class about those who build houses on rock and sand. My time in the Word that day was redirected to Matthew 7:24-28 and subsequently Luke 6:46-49. That afternoon, Hannah came home from school where she had learned some interesting facts about some of the landslides. A nearby city that was most affected by landslides and had the most deaths from the rains, had built their houses on the top of mountains of garbage!
Wonderfully, we have seen God at work in amazing ways after this crisis! We have seen Brazilians pulling together like never before! People are donating food, clothing and money! We see truckloads of necessities being delivered! We have even been turned down with a car full of food and clothing and water because there was no more room to store supplies!
God has also used this to make some awesome connections for us! We have a new relationship with a public school. Celivre Recreio (Community Evangelical Free Church of Recreio) has begun teaching classes for 4 hours a week there. Jeff and I have come alongside them and are teaching English with a young man named Marcio (a young man that Jeff is mentoring). Other classes include reading, writing, health and hygiene and sewing. It is wonderful to see the joy that serving brings in the eyes of Celivre teachers, as well as in the eyes of the children that are being taught!
God has also used this to further existing relationships! We returned to Rio das Pedras to bring food, clothing and water and pray with our friends there. How awesome to see our friend Paula's strength and faith in the Lord and spend time with her in prayer! How awesome to see Sabrina again and give her a big hug! Please pray that she will return to the church.
Also, please pray for divine appointments as we show the love of Christ to students and teachers...pray that each of us can reach one!
More later......
Diane (for the fam)
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