E-TEAM Brazil News Archive 2009 Have You Ever Felt Like a Rock Star?

June 21st, 2009

Have you ever felt like a rock star? I never really thought about being a rock star until I came to Brazil. We went to a local Christian school last Friday and did our program for the students there twice. We performed for one group, ate lunch, and then performed for the next group. After each program we had a time where we mingled with the students and I bet you we signed 50-100 autographs. It was really interesting. At one point I was down on one knee signing an autograph for a little girl that was somewhat short and I looked up and there were probably 20 students in a circle around me. This was somewhat humbling. As I knelt there and signed each notebook, the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me that it was still all about Him. We may have signed a bunch of notebooks that day, but that was not the reason that we went to the school. Before each performance I got the opportunity to tell them that we were there to tell them more about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. One of the coolest parts about being at that school (besides signing autographs) was what they did for us during the closing of the final performance. Each student that was there and the person who was in charge of the assembly all raised their hands towards the group and prayed a pray of dedication on us. I have never been so dumbfounded in all of my life. We get the idea in our heads that God is going to use us to minister to the people here, but I left that school Friday feeling more ministered too. God is great! He knows just what we need when we need it.

We have got a busy next couple of days ahead of us. First of all, Pastor Ken has given me the opportunity to speak at church tonight. I am grateful for the opportunity, but somewhat nervous. In Brazil, they have Sunday school in the morning, but their main service is on Sunday evening. They are expecting a large crowed because “the Americans are here.” God is in control and I trust that He will do with me what He so chooses as long as I yield myself to Him. Second, Monday and Tuesday of this next week we will be doing our program several times. Monday, for example, we will be doing the program 8 times beginning at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday begins at 7:00 a.m. as well. Pray for us that God will give us strength to make it through these next couple of days. We want to give our best to Him so that He may receive the most glory. After all, He is the one of deserves all the glory. Wednesday and Thursday we will be going to visit two more of the area churches and Friday we will be going to some local schools to be conversation partners with those students there who are learning English.

God is so good! I want to thank Him for giving us this opportunity. I have been praying that God would show me how good that I have it in my life. I want to thank Him for answering that prayer, but He is also showing me that I don’t do enough with what He has blessed me with. For example, the people that Jennifer and I are staying, along with a student from the team, have treated us better as strangers in their home then I think I treat people I know who come to my house. I know that this sounds extreme, but I am not kidding. Life here to these Brazilian people seems so simple. It is all about family, church, and work. It has been good for me to take a few steps back and “evaluate” (thanks James Evans!) what my life is really like. Now the hard part happens. I must apply what I have learned, which involves getting rid of things in my life that I think I can’t live without. However, I serve a big God who holds the world in His hands. I pray that God would arrest my heart and that He would give me the strength to do what needs to be done.

We love you all and hope that things are going well for you in America. We look forward to seeing you in a week or so. God bless!
--Derek

Pics: 1st is us singing at a preaching point in a home in downtown Campinas; 2nd is the youth from area churches getting ready for a youth service; 3rd is some of the team playing Uno with some nationals; 4th is doing the mime at a local Christian school; 5th is Pastor Kenneth so stressed from E-Team that he decided to feed himself to the elephant...just kidding!; 6th is some of our team scouting out the wildlife