Olá!

Somehow, and I'm not really quite sure how it's happened, but I've already been here a month! As expected the time has flown by but either way it has certainly been a good month. I can't possibly tell you all about the swimming trips, Children's Day, language study and the many random situations I have found myself in, in one newsletter so I'll give you some snippets and insights instead.

In a typical week here I will in the evenings attend three different cell groups, two as a leader and one as a member. Each group is different but the format is the same... Give lots of hugs, sing, dance and clap; listen to the message and pray for each other at the end. After this we have snacks and drinks and then during the final song, whilst singing we give everyone more hugs and say some very extended goodbyes.

I thought when going to help plant a new cell group at a farm in the middle of nowhere I knew what to expect; but I was wrong. It occurred to me after a few minutes of being there that there weren't going to be enough chairs for everyone, I then realised that these people didn't even own Bibles! So amongst sleeping dogs, chickens, piglets, a lame cat, some creepy toads and a random armadillo we worshipped and prayed and strained to read the Bible from the one light around for miles. It was different and it was tiring but I knew this was something special to remember when at the end we prayed, but we didn't just pray, we prayed for miracles.

On a separate pastoral visit to the same house in the daylight we were told by the lady living there how one of her cows was sick. Given she was already very poor we prayed for the cow and miraculously it was healed! Having once been chased by 50 cows I really don't like them.

Alongside the cell groups every Saturday I run a football outreach program for young people in the town. It is still early days but I am confident God is going to do something amazing with this group. It's a real joy to get to know the people who come and establish friendships with them. As I go about my everyday tasks in town they come over to say "Oi" (Hi) and I am reminded of the importance of my role here and the opportunity that there are to change lives.

So far we have introduced praying before we play and a time of prayer with the other Christians involved prior to leaving. It is already proving to be a really encouraging time with the only problem being we have too many people turn up. In some ways it's a nice problem to have!

Whilst the focus of my time is here is working with the young people in the church I do have some involvement with the slightly older folk here too. I have on two occasions been given the opportunity to preach in church with the first talk an Olympic themed message on 'Supporting One Another', the second was an evangelistic message on the 'Cross of Life' after which one person gave their life to Christ and nine others committed to following Christ no matter what the cost.

I have also personally seen three other people (increased to four part way through writing and seven by the time I had finished writing this newsletter!) also give their life to Christ. And all this has happened in the space of a month-before the church here has even actively begun its 'evangelism'.

Two of my four language teachers aren't Christians yet, but to talk about my faith with them is second nature. One person is helping me read the Bible and the other is helping me translate my testimony. This in itself is an answer to prayer because my life in the UK is one big Christian bubble and it is great to see God at work. The other friends I have made here are a great support network and it is a real blessing to encourage and be encouraged by them.

Whilst enjoying a much needed day off on my birthday I took the opportunity to watch Night at the Museum 2, towards the end of it Teddy Roosevelt (a talking museum exhibition) closed with a quote. God really spoke to me through this reminding how blessed I am to be here and to be doing what I am doing. It said...

"The key to happiness is doing what you love, with the people you love."

And praise God because I have the privilege of doing both!

All glory to God!

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Thank God for:

• The quick adaptation to Brazil life.
• The encouraging experience being here has been so far.
• For the many good friends I have made here so far.
• The Portuguese learning is going well.
• That I feel settled and comfortable here.

Pray for:

• Healing and protection from the many knocks, nicks and scratches I am constantly getting.
• The energy to concentrate in church services and the various groups I attend.
• Myself and others that we would continue to be gracious and accepting of each other as I learn, grow and inevitably make mistakes.