TCA Day 3

TCA Day 3

Bucuzal, Paraiso

Today, the whole team was really really encouraged by the receptiveness of the villagers to the message of Christ and the healing, love and community He brings.Through many one-on-one conversations, group meetings, and classic TCA student craziness, the people of Bucuzal and Paraiso truly felt the love of Christ.

At Bucuzal, it was very special for many of the students because it was one of the villages TCA went to last year on the spring break trip. I (Nancy Turltetaub) was so ridiculously excited to go back to this village because one particular little girl really touched my heart last year. I pray for Isabelle regularly and her picture is hanging in my room. It was so cool to see her again (in the exact same shirt as last year!) and how God truly loves and protects every one of His people.

At Paraiso, our team was so encouraged through many of the different conversations and group times with the Brasilians. After spending an hour talking with three teenage girls, one spefically came to Katy Clements thanking her for talking and engaging in conversation with them. Another woman that Angie Azevedo got to spend time with said that she had been praying for months for God to send people to encourage her in her own personal walk with Christ. As Mrs. Azevedo, this Brasilian woman and one of our precious, hard-working translators prayed under a tree, she said that she truly felt God "hugging" her. Sometimes we all wonder about how much these villagers really want us to come to their village and hearing how excited some were to have us there, was truly a blessing from God.

A couple other special stories...

In the eye glasses ministry, Dr. Ku and Dr. Beebe were able to provide glasses to an 11-year-old boy who had never been able to see past his hand. They said seeing his face light up was incredible. To us Americans, it was crazy that he had never been able to see the ridiculously beautiful place he lives for 11 years!

During the women's meeting, one woman shared how 3 months ago she lost her 3-year-old child to cancer. As she shared her story, the entire group...both the Americans and the Brasilians...were brought to tears at this precious villager's story. Karaline Coats was able to love on her as she shared her story, and Taylor Landry got to relate with her through sharing how she lost her grandfather to the same kind of cancer.

This afternoon, Clarissa and I (Gracie) were a little discouraged feeling like we hadn't quite had the opportunity to talk with any of the villagers on a personal level. A few minutes later we noticed an 18-year-old girl named Daniele sitting off by herself. Daniele has a 16-month old baby, and the father is out of the picture. We grabbed our translator, Nadyr, and went to talk with Daniele. At first she seemed uninterested and indifferent, but as we continued to talk about our struggles in our own faith and walk with Christ, she began to grow more receptive to what we were saying. Forty-five minutes later, after discussing prayer, loneliness, and repentance, Daniele had something to say. She then told our translator Nadyr that she wanted us to pray with her to accept Jesus! Clarissa and I were overwhelmed and overjoyed to get to experience God opening Daniele's eyes to His love. Clarissa then gave Daniele a salvation bracelet and explained what each color meant in the story of Christ. Daniele told us she has an entire Bible in her possession, and we encouraged her to continue to read it although it is hard to understand sometimes. We rejoiced in the fact that even though we may not ever see each other again on Earth, we will be together one day in the most perfect, glorious place.

On the whole, it was an incredible day, but please continue to pray for our team's strength, energy and confidence because the heat and Satan can take its toll! God is continuing to work in this area of the Amazon even as we leave each village. One of the main goals of this trip is to encourage the missionaries here as they often feel isloated and lonely in this very hard lifestyle. The missionary's (Vanderlei) wife, Erika, had a baby at 40-years-old (Emmanuali is now 20 months and adorable), and she suffered with loneliness during this time. She always talks of how important our encouragement was to her last year because it is so needed... especially the daily struggles of ministry...as a wife and mother. Our work here is not a one-day deal, but it is God using us to both love the Brasilian villagers and encourage the dedicated missionaries in this area who will continue working with these same villages when we leave.

We hope all of you who have taken the time to read our perhaps too-lengthy blog are safe and enjoying the beautiful creation surrounding you in Dallas...even though it is not quite like the Amazon :) Thank you for your prayers and support; it is felt and greatly appreciated by all of us here. Remember your prayers are powerful and effective! (James 5:16)

Clarissa Pavey, Nancy Turtletaub and Gracie McCormack