November 2007

Early tomorrow morning, I’ll be loading a bus with 32 of my friends on our way to the Brazil! I can’t tell you how excited I am! I am confident that God is going to do an amazing work. My prayer is that lives would be transformed - including my own, as God is glorified!

When we arrive in Brazil we will make our way to a boat that will be our home on the Amazon River for the time we are there. We’ll eat here and sleep here (in hammocks) for about a week.

We will be spending time in Parintins a city known for holding a famous pagan festival. The city has really been built around that purpose. As I think of this place and of the people who devote their lives to these pagan gods, I am reminded of how easy it can be to fall in love with an imitation of beauty when you’ve never been introduced to the real thing. They have given their lives to a lie and are now held captive by evil. We now go “to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners…” I am confident that God is very much at work and that we are now joining in something that He is already blessing. I pray that our presence will draw attention to the presence of the Most High God and that men, women, and children will come to know Him “so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastation; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61)

We also will spend some days in the village of Barreira where there are currently 5 believing families. We hope to encourage them and to begin paving the way for a pastor who will soon be going into the village to plant its first church.

You can be sure, I’ll be sharing many stories when I get back… In the meantime, prayers will be needed as this is a place where there is very evidently a battle going on for souls!

I recently discovered this artist…

www.brookefraser.com

You can hear some of her songs if you go to her videos page.  It’s all great stuff, but I love the first two!  Here are the lyrics to one that I just listened to about 7 times in a row.  I’m so thankful that my God is changing me and that I am made of different stuff than when I began… Check it out!

Shadow Feet

Walking, stumbling
On these shadow feet
Toward home, a land that I’ve never seen
I am changing
Less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when I began

And I have sensed it all along
Now fast approaching is the day

When the world has fallen out from under me
I’ll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in you

There’s distraction
Buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it’s easier to stay
But I’ve heard rumours of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

When the world has fallen out from under me
I’ll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in you
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in you
When time and space are through
I’ll be found in you
Copyright Brooke Fraser

We live in a time of busyness!  It sometimes takes sickness to slow me down so that my body can get the rest it needs (as has been the case this past week).  I’m finally getting better and now face a crazy intense “to do” list!  I leave for the Amazon in 6 days and must write 30 pages of papers in the meantime… plus go to class, meetings, work, etc.  And of course, I can not neglect continuing to prepare spiritually for what God has for me to do on this trip! 

I’m glad to have been recently reminded through my time in the Scriptures that God is a giver of rest!  In fact, only in Him can true rest be found. 

Today I was grabbed by a phrase in Hebrews 4. “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…”  Strive to enter rest?

Websters defines strive as “to devote serious effort or energy” and rest as “freedom from activity or labor” or “a state of motionlessness or inactivity.” 

At first glance they seem like two things that do not belong together!  But we are told that we need to strive to enter rest! 

As I continued thinking on it, I realized it does make sense … we always have to do a lot of preperation before we go on a vacation.  Getting to a place of rest takes work… whether we’re talking physical or spiritual…

Spiritually, rest comes through Christ.  We cannot have it if we do not believe.  Knowledge and faith in Him lead to believing actions … and rest. 

I have 30 pages to write… but I have rest as I walk with Jesus and strive to know Him and please Him in all I do. 

Family has always been very special to me.  I currently live far away from mine and though I am blessed to have a wonderful family of friends here, it can be hard to be away from my “real family” at times.  As I’m sure you are all aware, So Cal was recently hit hard by fires.  My family (mom and brother, grandparents, cousins) and friends had to evacuate their homes as the fire approached in various parts of San Diego county.  It seemed as though little was safe.  I spent several days on the phone and watching news updates online - feeling helpless and wishing I could be there with them. 

At times like that, being away is hardest and the further away you are the harder it can be.  My brother Ben was in Iraq and was dying to get home.  We (family and friends) were all very well convinced that he was actually in Australia for two weeks of R & R; however, that was all a scheme he had cooked up in order to surprise us.  He’s home now, in San Diego, for just a few more days.  He was able to stop off here for a few hours on his way… I was very happy to see my little brother.

 

I suppose he’s not so little anymore…

… though I must point out that the hat does make him appear taller than he really is.  Sorry, it’s not a hat… his cover does make him appear taller than he is. 

It’s strange how little brothers turn into big brothers as time goes on.  This little brother of mine takes good care of me and whether he’ll say so or not, still loves me even though I had a little accident with his precious car.  (It’s fixed now!  And it looks soooo pretty and perfect!  I intend to never hurt it again!)

I’m very proud of both of my brothers!  One of my greatest joys in life is being their sister. 

My other brother still is littler than me - though not by much and not for long!

 

This was taken in July… I expect that he’ll be about my height by Christmas or shortly thereafter.

 

 This is him with one of his buddies and some pro skaters (Buster Halterman and Willy Santos).  I act like I know who they are but I have no clue really.  He’s the cool one.

Anyway, Ben will be heading back to Iraq early next week… keep him in your prayers!  And thank you to all who prayed for the fires in CA and for my family specifically.  Everyone is fine although it did come close and hit others we know, our family’s homes remained safe.