Busy times!

First picture: Me painting some bookshelves in the library.

Second picture: Dave, Steve, and Bill planning the putt-putt course plan of action.

Today was a very busy day! We had so much going on it's hard to process it all. The activities started bright and early this morning with a 7 am soccer (football) game. For those of you who don't know the time difference, this is 6 am Indiana time. For the Americans playing, this was very early! What it meant for Dave and I was that we heard lots of activity because our room and balcony overlooks the soccer field. I was impressed, as I knew I would be, with the skills of the men playing soccer. Most of the players were pastors and their sons from churches around the area.

Then, we had breakfast. Let me just stop and say that the food here is FANTASTIC! Everything is flavorful. We have fruits and veggies with every meal (Yes, mom, I'm having my no-thank-you helpings of everything...haha). I have yet to be disappointed. Things are so colorful and the flavors are so rich! Yum... Anyway...back to breakfast. :) Pastors from all around the area and their families came and ate with us. It was a neat time of fellowshipping, even though I didn't understand most of it.

After breakfast, it was time to work. Dave and a carpenter named Bill started work on the putt-putt course they are building. Tele, the pastor, hopes to use it as a ministering tool for young people in the area. Come play putt-putt, hear the word. It's neat, really. Anyway, they started laying out the forms. Then, they filled gravel in the parts where the forms, though they were level, had gaps because of the uneven ground. They really would appreciate prayers as they have nine holes to make forms for, pour concrete that is mixed by hand, and have the hazards all by Friday! This is going to take a miracle for sure! But, we know God is all-powerful and able to do amazing things!

I (Rebecca) began gathering up things for painting. Last year, the carpenters came and built nice, sturdy shelves for the library as well as rolling bookcases for many of the classrooms. The paint they used last year didn't fit with the humidity and atmosphere. So, that means they all needed to be repainted. So, many of us cleaned, moved books, climbed through windows because doors were locked and the key couldn't be found, and eventually PAINTED! LOL....doing things at a slower pace is sometimes challenging but things can be learned along the way. About lunch time, I started to have an awful headache. I actually woke up with it but since I frequently get headaches, I just took tylenol, forced the liquids and moved on. However, this one was not so easily placated. I ended up having to lie down for a while. I didn't bring any of my migraine medicine because I haven't been taking it for personal reasons. Now, I'm wishing I did. However, I was able to get the headache to a dull roar, eat lunch, rest for a bit longer, and then finish out the work day. Then, I went for a quick swim in the pool, which helped cool me down.

Another part of the group was in a pastor's conference with all the pastors that came. Some presented, others just listened and participated. It's always hard to determine how things went in an international setting, but the feeling seemed to be that everything went well.

After resting for a bit and showering (pee-yew!) we had a wonderful dinner and fellowship time of games. Then, as we are heading to bed, the day is cooling off with a wonderful light rain. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow, visiting 3 churches. I am excited to experience more of the country and encourage the pastors in their home churches. Please pray for safe travel, wisdom and clarity for those preaching, and for my headache (which is till clinging on) to go away. Thanks for all the encouragement you've all sent my way! We really appreciate the support, more than you know! God bless you all and good night!

The trip here...

I am feeling much more rested, so I can share more about the trip, now. First, there were several opportunities where the Lord showed his hand on our trip. We were delayed by about 45 minutes in Indy. We don't know why. However, the pilot "hauled tail" to use a DJ phrase and got us to Atlanta at almost the same time we would have originally arrived. This was good because as soon as we got to our gate, they began boarding!

Second, DJ and I were able to get an emergency exit row which meant twice as much leg room. This was a blessing! The flight was really long for me. I only slept in spurts, even though I took a sleeping pill. I was so tired but I just couldn't stay asleep. I found myself envying those stretched across three seats snoring! :) But, the Lord provided a rest day today so it worked out fine.

Third, when we arrived, DJ discovered he had forgotten his phone on the plane! We knew we couldn't go back and everyone around us that could help spoke only Portuguese. I was really praying. Well, I got through the paperwork phase faster than the other two and our pilots were coming through at the same time. I went up to one and told him of our predicament. He and another pilot stayed with me until we found someone who could help. This lady was walking towards us with a bag and she heard what we were asking. She said, "What row were you sitting in?" I told her and she pulled it out of her bag! Praise the Lord! We were so thankful!

Lastly, we all made it fine through customs. The guy made me open my bag and show him the computer monitor I was carrying in my travel chest I was the only one stopped. We were really thankful because the lady in front of us had to unpack all her bags!

Upon arriving, we drove an hour through the countryside. I was amazed by the differences and the similarities. In the US, when we came upon houses and neighborhoods, they were all symmetrical...almost identical. Here, if there is one building, there's one hundred all stacked on top of each other, carving out the hillsides. We didn't get to take a picture of these yet but we will try before our time is up. We also saw sugarcane, fields and fields of produce, and lots of people.

Our compound is wonderful. There is a pool and an international school in the same building as our room. Our room is nice and private with a bathroom and one of the only balconies! It has something else we're really thankful for...an airconditioner! Wow! The Lord has really blessed us.

Today, after lunch, we went out to the trees at the front of the compound and found we have tiny monkeys living in the trees there! I didn't have my camera but promise to try and get a picture of them before we leave!

We are told our schedule is packed from tomorrow until Monday so we are thankful to be able to rest today. Pray for our health, that we don't get sick. Pray for our hands to be willing ministers. Pray for us to be used by the Lord. And pray for us to be witnesses for the Lord! Thank you for partnering with us!

We arrived!

Praise the Lord, we arrived safely. We had some near complications but the Lord showed his hand! I will post more details later this evening. I am pretty fuzzy still. Thankfully, they gave us today to rest and recouperate. Check later this evening for more details and pictures! :)

Our bags are packed...

Our bags are packed, we're ready to go! Yay! It seems like the time has flown and we leave tomorrow around 5. Please be in prayer for our traveling mercies but also for the team members that will be flying back the day we arrive.

We have some praises to report already. I (Rebecca) was talking to one of the wives of a team member already down in Brazil and their flights down went very smoothly and they breezed right through customs. This was a concern as they were taking over-the-counter medicines and weren't sure how customs would handle it. Also, the time they have spent down there has been blessed. They really feel the Lord's hand in everything and are just so excited to be a part of his work. I can't wait!

This will be our last post stateside...the next one will be in Brazil! Yay! Keep checking and look for pictures, too! :)

David and Rebecca

Thank you!

Thank you, for those of you who have let us know you will be praying. We are overwhelmed with the response and ask that you continue to pray for us as the Lord brings us to your minds.We fly out at 5 pm on Thursday and will arrive 6 something am on Friday morning. I (Rebecca) am more than a little nervous about an all-night flight. We will try to post nightly to our weblog to keep you updated.

If you haven't joined our facebook group "Pray for our Brazil Mission trip" but want to let us know you are praying, please drop me an e-mail or comment on this post. You don't need to tell us but it's always nice to know we are being lifted up. Thank you for partnering with us. We look forward to telling you amazing things!

In His Service,
David and Rebecca Johnson

Prayer

We were honored and challenged today at church as the message was on praying for harvesters of God's word. The message was on Matthew 9:36 - 38. We were challenged to go out into the world, see the needs, and have compassion on those that are hurting. We also were challenged to pray. Pray that the Lord calls workers, pray that he use us as he sees fit, and pray that people who are called will answer. Then, Pastor Hubert called us up and prayed over the team members. One thing I forgot to ask is to pray for health! This is vital so that we can serve the Lord in Brazil without anything being held back.

We appreciate your prayers and support. We are getting excited but ask that you cover us in prayers as we prepare.

Welcome!

This blog is designed for people to keep up with our trip, share how things are going, give prayer requests, and possibly post some pictures while we are in Brazil. We have been told we will have internet access while down there but will not have cell reception. So, this will be our best way to keep everyone updated.

Today we had our packing meeting. We met the rest of team members. There will be 14 people going to Brazil in three different trips. Some will stay 3 weeks, some will stay 1 week, and we will be there for 12 days. The first group leaves on Tuesday. The medical team leaves July 2. We will leave July 9 and participate in construction projects and an English camp.

We have some prayer requests to pass along. 1) There are several team members that are nervous about the flights. We will have a total of 12 hours in the air. This is a lot of time! There are several team members who have never flown OR never been out of the country. Pray for peace while we are in the air. Also, pray for smooth transitions between flights, trouble free customs, and safe flights. 2) One team member has not yet received his visa. He is a member of the team that is leaving on July 2. Pray he receives it. 3) There is a lot of confusion as to what is to take place in the English language camp and possibly VBS. Pray there is understanding between the team members and the locals. Pray for the language barriers to be broken down and pray for flexibility for all parties involved. 4) Pray for the family members left behind. This is hard when some family members go and others have to stay behind. Pray for comfort and confidence that all is going well. 4) Pray for the people we will come in contact with. We want to be the fragrance of the Lord and we want the people's hearts to be read to receieve it.

We are very excited and thank you for praying! We look forward to posting more as things come along. Please check in frequently.