Blog 7
What an amazing summer this has been for me! An experience I will never forget. After the completion of my YWAM internship I spent 11 days in Porto Seguro, Brasil continuing the work that God has allowed me to be a part of for 3 years now! Porto Seguro is a city that is very dear to my heart. Because of my visa issues I was unable to meet my church there and work with them. God did however allow me the opportunity to work with another church that is just outside the Nashville TN area though. It was on this trip that God made himself clear to me in regards to my future with Brasil and what He was showing me this summer! I would like to share that with you being as brief as I can.
All summer one of the things that kept being brought to my attention was the desperate need for discipleship in Brasil particularly in the poorer parts. There were several homes I visited where bible studies were being held and the people did not even understand what I consider basic knowledge of the Bible. They do not know or understand why they believe what they believe. Most of these Christians do not have a basic understanding of what it means to be a Christian and the blessings that come from it. They are not plugged into a church and think because they no longer attend church they are no longer Christian. I have also spoken with other people involved in missions in Brasil and they feel the same way about the need for discipleship.
Evangelism in Brasil has caused an explosion of people coming to Christ over the past 20 years from a rate of 9% to 25% of the population being evangelized for Christ. Currently Brasil is on target to be the 5th wealthiest country in the world after the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, as many people travel from their countries to be a part of these events. It is important to equip the Brasilian people with the tools and knowledge necessary to spread the gospel not only to their own but also to those that will be coming to these events in the next 6 years. Not only that but with Brasil being one of the top 5 wealthiest countries they will also be able to afford to support and send their own people out to the mission field to spread the news of Christ to the World!
There are some future opportunities involving discipleship programs in Brasil that I will be looking into over the next few months. I am really excited about these opportunities because they line up with the need God has shown me this summer for Brasil! I ask for you to pray that God will direct me and that I will continue to trust in Him and surrender to His will as I forsake my own through this process. I will be moving home to Nashville on Aug 9 to live with my parents and hopefully find a short term job or internship there to get me through till January. If anyone has any job references in Nashville please let me know! If all works out there is one opportunity in particular that I’m really excited about that would cause me to be in Brasil for all of 2011. After that who knows what; maybe my master’s in Christian counseling, maybe more missions!
I’m finally at a place in my life now where I am content with how it is playing out! Even though I have no job, I have to move home, and the future is blurry I have never been at peace more than I am now! I will definitely say that the waiting does pay off and encourage anyone who is waiting on something to endure! When the waiting is over (and trust me it will be over) the joy and contentment that comes from it is such a tremendous and life changing experience. It can only come though from waiting on the Lord though so stop trying to control your life! Let it go, let it go, let it go! TRUST, TRUST, TRUST!
I could go on for pages but I decided to be brief. If you want to know more feel free to call, email, or facebook me. I do want to leave you with a verse that someone very special shared with me this summer that has become so special to me and I plan on making my life verse. It is Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Thank you for going on this journey with me! Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, wisdom, advice, love friendship, and financial support! It could not have happened without you! I will keep you posted on what the future holds! I’m so excited to graduate in December! PRAISE THE LORD IT IS HERE!!!!!!! GOD IS SOOOOOOOOO GOOD, AMEN!
Love, Hugs, and KISSES
~Rachael Prescott
P.S. My church is in Porto Seguro until Aug 11 working on the project they support faithfully, and annually. Pray for their protection and Godly guidance as He uses them to be His hands and feet!
