Brazil update

I just opened up my mail and found my Visa from Brazil!!! So it is official, I will leave for Brazil on July 14th. I also have received word that I have a family to stay with while I am in Brazil! This is great news, since it will help with expenses and I think it will add to the experience. God has continued to lead me in this trip and work out all of the details. Please join me in praying for the following things:

-praise God for how He has provided and directed this trip so far
-pray for the family I will be staying with
-pray for the Church in Brazil
-pray for my interactions with the people and that the Lord would fill me with love for the people of Brazil.
-pray for my safety traveling and staying in Brazil

Thanks so much for your support!
Kristin

BRAZIL!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I want to share with you an exciting opportunity that I have this summer, I am going on a solo mission trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for three weeks! I am so excited to get to meet the people and serve in Rio! God has put it on my heart for a long time to see more of the world and experience the love He has for all people. I had been praying about going on a mission trip for a long time and nothing seemed to be working out. Then I talked with a couple of pastors at my church and they shared about a need in Brazil working with their friend and his ministry. I began to pray about this opportunity and asked the Lord to help workout all of the details if this is what He wanted. Over the last several of weeks everything has fallen into place. In just about a three-week period I have worked out most of the details for the trip. God has really had a hand in all of this.

Last Sunday in church during the worship time I asked God to speak to me about the trip. During the song Hosanna I felt overwhelmed with passion for going to Brazil. Part of the song goes like this “Heal my heart and make it clean; Open up my eyes to the things unseen; Show me how to love like you have loved me; Break my heart for what breaks yours” And that is my prayer for this trip: for the Lord to teach me how to love more, for my heart to break for what breaks His. I want to live my life with my eyes open to what the Lord is doing and learn to walk more in His ways as opposed to mine. With all of that said I ask that you join me in that prayer. Praying that I open my heart to all that the Lord wants to teach me and also pray for my safety in a foreign country.

While in Brazil I will be working with a ministry called Peoples´ Central Institute. They provide medical care for some of the worst parts of Rio, Brazil. Don’t worry I will not be performing any operations! They also have a youth center for the kids in Rio. I will be helping them with some computer work, corresponding with some English speaking countries, and helping them raise money for their ministry. I also will get to hang out with the youth at the recreational center they have and maybe even play some basketball with the youth! I also hope to get to speak to some Bible study classes.

Finally, I would like to leave you with a scripture that has recently reminded me of the Lord’s power and greatness and below that are the lyrics to Hosanna (by Hillsong) that I mentioned above. I love each one of you so much!!! Also, if you want, save the link to this blog because I hope to update it while I am in Brazil.

Love,

Kristin

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:28-31

Hosanna by Hillsong

I see the king of glory

Coming down the clouds with fire

The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes

I see his love and mercy

Washing over all our sin

The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna

Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation

Rising up to take the place

With selfless faith, with selfless faith

I see a new revival

Staring as we pray and seek

We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity