Faith like Potatoes

Hi everyone,
I hope everyone is good. Last week, I went to Bible study and we are studying the life of Paul in the Book of Acts. We spoke of the faith of Paul and the faith of the early Church. This study has been a real encouragement to me. Then we watched Faith like Potatoes. It was good to be reminded of simple truths of God's faithfulness and mercy. A recurring theme that God has taught me is total obedience and total reliance on Him. He is faithful even when I am not. I have also been doing a study through 1 Samuel-2 Kings for the last 40 days. Let's see...what did I learn...David was faithful and returned to the Lord after a season of sin...God choose to use His servant for the lineage of Christ. We must bathe everything in prayer and ask for prayers for his people. God carries out his justice and sometimes we need a good dose of reality and humbleness. Thank-you, O Lord, for your wisdom and your grace!

I will leave you with this from the Scriptures:

First, a prayer of Solomon:
I Kings 8:23-"He said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all your heart...v.30-Listen to the supplication of Your servant of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.'"

Second, a prayer from Elijah:
1 Kings 18:36-37- "At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O LORD, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Israel, today let it be known the You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, that this people may know You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.'"

Lastly, a prayer from Hezekiah:
2 Kings 19:15-19-"Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, 'O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear, open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.'"

O LORD, I pray, that we will get rid of our idols and worship, YOU ALONE, so that the ALL NATIONS might see YOU! BREAK US!!!

Amen!
Your Servant,
Nova

Clothing Sizes and Update on My Campout

Hi Everyone,
The girl who is sending me the video is moving this week so I have not received the video yet or any pictures. I hope to get them soon.

I lost a few pounds since I have been here so I decided to buy a new pair of capris because my other ones were too big. I bought a size 40! Okay, I realize that is not the US sizing chart but it is still a shock when you have bought a much smaller size number your entire life. On the upside, I weigh 61 kilos. That makes a girl proud. It is crazy, how much girls pay attention to numbers, isn't it? God made me the right size just for me. Thank-you for making the person You want me to be and in Your image!

Campout in Written Form

Hi everyone,
As you know, I went on a campout last weekend. It was great for my Portuguese and for relationship building. In the next few days, I am going to post a video of me telling my testimony in Portuguese to about 75 people. Also, I will post pictures of my campout. I spoke in Portuguese for about 10 minutes! Check out my blog in a few days!!! By the way, this video is very choppy at points so bear with me! I will translate what I said too for you. Also, I was able to share the gospel for the first time in Portuguese to one girl at the camp. I also had the opportunity to talk to several kids at the camp. Also, I will be helping a college-aged girl named Jessica with her English for the next few weeks until I leave for Belem in December. She will also be helping me with my Portuguese. It is not a formal class or anything but it will be fun to get to hang out with her.

Ate mais, (until later)
Nova

New Country, New Language, New Hairstyle, and New Social Security Number

Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. As you know, I am in a new state of everything in my life. So why not change my hair and my Social Security Number as well. Okay, I did not change my social security number but I got the equivalent in Brazil. First, I got bangs for the first time since I was 12. My mom says that it is not really all that different but still it is a change. I will post pictures soon. My hair is short too. Linette, the hairdresser in Brazil teases me just as much as you do but in Portuguese!

Now...here is a crazy story!!

If you remember, I went to Federal Police a few weeks back to complete info to get a Social Security number (CPF number) for while I am in Brazil. Well, the federal police would not allow me to send my card to the missionary language school but they would only send it to my permanent address. Well, I live in a house that rents out rooms to boarders or mostly to university students. The homeowner must not know me as well as I thought because when my CPF number came in the mail. She didn't know who Nova was so she threw that letter in the trash!!! The Lord was watching out for me! The maid knew who I was and was going through the trash and found the letter. She opened because she saw my name on it and realized it was for me. She gave it to my roommate to give to me. I thanked her so much!!! One of the missionaries, the language director spoke to the homeowner and explained the situation to her. Thank-you, God for always putting someone in my path to protect me and for YOUR constant PROTECTION! I even got to speak to the homeowner some more today in Portuguese. You know my every need before I know I need it and sometimes even when I don't realize it. Praise the Lord! Amen!!!!

My Church Campout and Prayer Request

Hi everyone,
I am going on a church campout over the holiday weekend. It will be on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It will be 3 days of total Portuguese. I am excited that I will be going on this trip because it is going to force me to speak in Portuguese the whole weekend. But also pray for physical strength and understanding. I am making progress in the language and I can hold on a conservation in Portuguese for about 2 hours. I will take my camera and I will post pictures of my campout. Until next time! Lord, thank-you for your external promises and You uplifting your servant. You constantly remind me where I have been and how You have delivered me. Thank-you for your forgiveness!!!! Thank-you for the honor of serving You in Your Work toward Your Kingdom!!! Amen!!!

Muito Prazer Book

Hi everyone,
I just completed book 2 of my language study. I passed my 2 hour oral examination. Okay, now I am tired. Continue to pray for understanding and strength. God, thank-you for being so good to me. All my studying and conversations have paid off! I love you, O LORD!

Tchau,
Nova

Brazilian Prayer

I am learning Brazilian Prayers in the second book of my study. Here is one prayer:

Senhor, nosso Deus,
Fortalece-nos com Teu poder. Pedimos-Te Tuas bencaos. Nos oramos em nome de Jesus. Amem!

Translation:
Lord, our God,
Strengthen us with Your power. We ask of Your blessings. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Lord,
We do need Your power and Your blessings. Thank-you for all You do in Our lives!
Amen!

In His Power,
Nova