E-TEAM Brazil News Archive 2009 All in awe of Him

June 18th, 2009

Pictures: 1st is us outside the church van getting ready to go downtown; 2-5 are our first church service and mingling with the national Christians; 6-9 are from our plane rides; 10 is from us waiting to load up in Sao Paulo

Stories from all team members--

Wow... Since we landed in Sao Paulo late tuesday night and drove here to Campinas we have seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted so many wonderful things. All the people here are so welcoming and open to us. I am in awe of what God is doing for our team and also what God is doing through our team. So far we have done our mime once and sang mighty to save at church last night. Also Christian gave her testimony. It is amazing to think of how everything we have done so far is just the very tip of the iceburg. I am really looking forward to the rest of the trip and I am excited about what God will be doing through us.
Lovin it, Dustin

Oi! So we’re sitting here in the Miami Airport! It’s so ridiculous that we are already here and in 2 hours we will step onto the 7 ½ hour flight to San Paulo! I miss my family and friends quite a bit but so far this experience has taught me so much. I learned to feel and trust so much more than I ever have. When we look around even in this airport and we see so many people in the world facing so much and destine to go to hell. It’s hard to face that we can’t help most of them but maybe in Brazil we can hopefully touch some of them. But anyways I love you momma, daddy, and Lil’ Ros! Epalm, Vlay, and Kris can’t wait to see ya. Keep praying for God to move in and through us! See you in 2 weeks!
- Cheyenne Brooks

SUP sups people we are at the Miami Airport……. I rode on a plane for the first time it was crazy or it was for me… we have a 3 hour lay over at the air port here I have really been praying that God would use me and give me the right words and that my Evangelism would grow stronger there was a an on the plane that was setting across from me he was going with his brother to Cayman cause that’s where they are from they are going to see the family that stayed but they are traveling for track and field to be in the Olympics but we started talking and some how we got to GOD they are both saved but needed reinsurances and they found that through GOD using me the names are Cara and Carlos…… Cara is on fire for GOD now and Carlos is feeling stronger in his faith………… YAY……. keep praying that the people will be open and GOD will use us as he wants… …. We are in Brasil now they are so open and speaking is fun.
-Zachariah Remington Evans

Hey Family!!!!! I just thought I should let you guys know that I want to move to Brazil permanently. It is so amazing here! We arrived in Sao Paulo (San Pablo) at 10:00 Tuesday night. We had an hour delay because there was something wrong with the plane. We didn’t leave the airport until 12:00 and we didn’t get to Campinas until 2:00. I tried to sleep on the car ride over here but driving in Brazil is very different from driving in California. I was too afraid to fall asleep. I honestly still can’t believe that I am in Brazil. It looks just like San Francisco. The food so far is really good (I haven’t tried the beans yet ) We had orientation yesterday morning and we went sightseeing in Downtown Campinas. I rode the city bus and let me tell it was worse than any rollercoaster. Last night we performed at the Ouro Verde Free Will Baptist Church and sat in the service. I love it here. The people are so friendly and I have lost count of how many people have kissed me since I have gotten here. My host family used to live in San Jose, California so I can relate with them a little. I hope you are all having a good time without me. I miss all of you guys. I’ll see you in two weeks!!
<3 Ellie!
P.S. Church Folks!! You don’t know what long is until you sit through and E-TEAM class for three hours on a hard wooden chair. Give my dad a break!!!!! ;)

Dear People, Everything is amazing here in Brazil. The family we are staying with is so nice. Denize, their mother, is trying to teach us some Portuguese. God is amazing in how He works. He gave me the opportunity to give my testimony at church last night. We sang Mighty to Save, I gave my testimony, and Audrey, Amy, Dustin, Cheyenne, and TJ did the mime. Zach, Ellie, and I will participate tonight. We go to go to downtown Campinas yesterday. We rode the bus to and from…what a ride! We went to the Catholic Cathedral and walked around. I got my mom and souvenir already, but I’m not saying what it is because it’s a surprise. I have been going through some stuff, but I’m giving it to God. Well, that’s all for now. I love you, mom, dad, Caleb, Josh, grandma, and grandpa. Be praying for our team for strength and courage.
Love always, Christian

Oi! We are all having an amazing time! I know that personally I couldn’t have asked for a better team or country to come to. The people here in Brazil are so loving and welcoming. Cheyenne and I are staying with a woman named Martha and her two daughters, Lud and Miih. They are genuinely and sincerely good people and are keeping me from getting too terribly homesick. We went a little sightseeing in downtown Campinas and went to a church service. I was blown away to be in a service where people all around me were praising the same God, but in a totally different language. I’m anticipating big things to happen on this trip and I can already see God working. Please keep us all in your prayers!
Ciao, Ciao – Audrey (Scarlet)

Hey everybody! Training week was great. I have an awesome team and awesome leaders. We arrived in Brasil two days ago. It is amazing. The people here are so friendly. We went to a church service last night. To see their faces as they worshipped Christ, I will never forget that. It is so cool how our God can understand everybody no matter where you are at. We are going to watch Brasil and USA play soccer. Go Brasil!! They will probably win anyways. I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for us.
Much love, TJ Foster

Oi! Tudo bem? Yep, that’s about all the Portuguese I know. However, I will be working on it and will be practically fluent by the time I get back to Nashville (at least that’s how I hope things will turn out) haha. Anyways, not being able to communicate with people can be frustrating because I really want to get o know these people, but God has shown me that some things speak louder than words. Once of the reasons I came on Eteam was to witness to other people and I am trying to do that in the mime and the way I act, but as Dr. Eagleton told us this morning, it’s like a 2-way street. The people here can influence us just as much as we can influence them, if not more. In our first service so far, a little girl came to the front to sing. I would guess her age at about 10 or 11. When she opened her mouth to sweet, little girl voice I expected her to have was not there. Instead, I heard a mature, powerful voice. Not only was she just plain good, but I could tell she meant every word she sang, even though I have no idea what those exact words were, I understood. I understood that she was singing to the same, awesome God that I have sung to. I just one day, God has already taught and challenged me so much.
Thank you for your prayers, Amy

Hello to all my family and friends! We are having an amazing time here in Campinas. We have a great group of teenagers and feel blessed the Lord connected us with them. You have probably gotten the gist of what we’ve been doing from everyone else’s update. The family we are staying with is so nice and helpful. I’m grateful the Lord placed me in their home. We are eating amazing food and drinking great coffee and juices. Please keep praying that we, as individuals and as a team, will bring glory to God in all that we do.
Ciao, Jennifer

God is good. I am amazed at how God is working not only in Brazil, but in my personal walk with Him. My prayer coming into this trip was that God would show me “how good I have it in my life.” God has answered my prayer loudly. However, He has also shown me something else that I was not expecting. He has shown me how I need to be more like the people here in Brasil. For example, the family that Jennifer and I are staying with has treated us with respect and hospitality that we have not seen in America. I have stayed with many families all across America and no one has ever treated me better than the family has here. I pray God’s richest blessing on them for their kindness.
I was completely scared about the language barrier. I did not know who I was going to communicate with the Brazilian people. However, I have found that God is the same in every language. They talk, worship, and serve the same God that I do. I think sometimes in America that we think we are the only country that has God. Trust me, He is here. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be here and I pray that God will continue to reveal Himself to me and that He would receive the glory that He deserves. God bless you all and I want you to know that I love you and that I will not be the same person when we meet again.
Big D