Bad Intestinal Infection and some Insight from Habakkuk--We must live by FAITH!

Anna snapped this picture when I worshipping the Lord. By the way, I didn't know it.

The hospital food was interesting.

Cindy, Erna, Linda, and Anna all cranked this for me!

This IV holder was much better than the chain and paper clip I had in the emergency room.

Anna and I

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well. I am doing much better too. Praise the Lord! I was in the hospital for 6 days with an intestinal infection. So, I asked myself, Lord, what are you trying to teach me through this? The answer: God is testing me to see if I am going to be on guard at all times and not let Satan attack me at one of the greatest times of my life..on this mission to Brazil! Also, that I must walk by faith. I remembered an interesting story in the minor prophets about the life of Habakkuk.

Some background information on Habakkuk:
He was probably a part of the Levitical choir. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. It was written around 650-627 BC or a little later. The Chaldeans were approaching Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim. He prophesized after the destruction of Ninevah.
It was about the time when Jerusalem was seiged by Babylon.

Scripture verses that are quoted from Habakkuk 2:4: Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:12, and Hebrews 10:37-38.
Habakkuk was complaining to God about the approaching Chaldeans and he prophesized about the coming destruction of the Chaldeans. He saw the terrible things that were happening to Judah. Despite the destruction, Habakkuk knew God was in control by the third chapter. He praised Him and His majesty. It is interesting to see what Habakkuk said in chapter 1:12:
"Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. You, O Lord, have appointed them to judge; And You, O Rock, have established them to correct." He has assurance that despite this attack that they will not be killed. We must have faith when the enemy attacks! Are we looking at our surroundings? Are we being observant? Is God trying to get our attention? 1:5 Am I living by faith alone? 2:4 His knowledge of glory is filled on the earth 2:14 In wrath remember mercy 3:2...O, Lord it is You I fear! Lord, you are my strength and you were The ONE who put the sun and moon in their places! I exult You, O Lord! 3:11;18-19

Lord, You are my strength in the midst of a testing and trial! Even when it seems that the enemy is approaching, I will rely on Your promises and what You have done in the past! Your majesty, power, mercy, and glory are my Rock in the storm.

Please Pray for:
1. Renew Health
2. Prosthetic Problems and how God is leading
3. Direction for the rest of my term
4. That I will glorify God in every decision I make

I love you, O Lord!
Being observant!
Amen!
Nova

One More Video and God's Word

Hi everyone,
I have a total of two more videos I want to share but I am going to only load one today. Check back tomorrow. Also, this is what the Lord has been teaching me lately. I am continually humbled and thankful for what He has done. I have been reading through 2 Corinthians in my quiet time lately. These verses spoke to me especially: "Now, this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed, as it is written, 'HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.' Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through the many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Lord, I thank-you for this ministry and how you are impacting the saints around the world. You gave me abundance and I cannot express my gratitude in words! I PRAISE YOU FOR THE INCREASE! Thank-you for this worship experience with fellow saints in Brazil. Lord, I pray that you will draw Brazilians to yourself.

In the video, you will see two wonderful teenagers named Bethany and Rachel. They have grown up here in Brazil and they are missionary kids. They will sing the song in English and Portuguese. They were great translators for us on the mission trip.

Now, the video:

Changed forever because of Him,

Nova

A Video from the Mission Trip

CHECK BELOW-- THERE ARE MANY NEW POSTS, VIDEOS, AND PICTURES ON DIFFERENT DAYS!!! I am only posting one video today because it takes several hours to upload a longer video. By the way, I learned how to use Windows Movie Maker! Thanks, Dad!

May God bless you!!!

Amen!

Nova

More Pictures of the Mission Trip

Paint Talk done by another missonary-man, fear, struggles, peace, God, life, love


Nova and girls at the school

Entrance to the school

Signing Autographs for the children

Our Hotel

Sao Miguel do Guama

Sao Miguel do Guama

The couple received Christ (pink shirt and blue shirt)

Man cutting open a coconut

He is putting in a straw

Cindy and Leah are about to drink their coconut juice

Erna and Nova

I shared the Gospel in Portuguese to these girls.

Sao Miguel do Guama

Brazilian Landscape

More Brazilian Landscape

Two Precious School Girls

Introduction to My Testimony

Acai Tree

June Festival

June Festival 2

Group Photo at Mission Church

Giving My Testimony in Portuguese

Group Picture of all the Missionaries

Fellow Amputee

Fellowship Hall at Church

Crystal and Maria

Anna and Nova

Nova and Crystal

Nova and Claudia

Paul and Carol

House Visit where we shared the Gospel

American Team from AL trying coconut juice

I will post some more videos soon!

Amen!

Nova

Parrots, bugs, Waterfalls, and Termites OH MY!

A pond near the waterfall


A termite nest



A parrot near our hotel

The bottom of the waterfall and a bridge crossing to the other side

A huge bug

Another bug--but a video! Can you believe this bug? Natalie picked it up too! IT IS SO LARGE!

Some Pictures and Videos of the Mission Trip

I am going to post three videos about my bus adventure. First, the men are waiting to push the bus. Second, they are pushing the bus without the women's weight in the back of the bus. Third, the women are in the back of the bus weighing it down. They tried 10 times to get the bus out the sand. We almost wrecked into the tree several times and the women were on the bus at the time. The three pictures are:

1. The bus stuck in the sand

2. The tree we almost hit

3. Lunch anyone? This is how lunch is prepared.