Brazil, from questions to reality

August 2012, I stood in the middle of the field at the summer camp I work at, filling cardboard boxes with garbage bags full of water. I had a red cape on my shoulders and was talking with my friend, we were talking about missions trips, she the previous year had gone to Argentina, I being born into a very missions focused family had always wanted to go on one. When suddenly I had the urge to go on one that year. It came out of no were, but God said "Nathan I want you to go on a missions trip." Did I know where, when, or even how? Not a clue.
That following year I started it off with this thought constantly running through my head. "I want you to go on a missions trip." I remember countless walks to school asking Him out loud "WHERE! WHEN! HOW!" November rolled around, the first weekend of which is my churches annual missions conference. And again that voice called to me, and again I cried out.
After that weekend my dad was approached by an elder from the church, he had been looking at going on a missions trip with CBM (Canadian Baptist Ministries). He asked if my dad thought anyone would be interested in going on a trip with him, funny that this was the same time God was calling me to go on one eh? And funny that out of no where my dad asked me if I was interested. The moment he told me I heard that voice again "YES!"
Almost a year from when He called me to go, I found myself in the back of a VW car, next to a guy who I had met only hours before. I looked around, red dirt filling the air, sun beaming down, and feeling like junk after a total of  10hrs in the air. God had brought me to Brazil. And He used it to change and work in me.

The next 2 weeks were ones that I will never forget. I can not tell you everything. Well I guess I could but you would be reading a book not a blog at that point. But I'd just like to share a couple of my experiences with you and my thoughts about what happened and where God had lead me. 
The first night in Brazil was my most treasured and favourite memory of life and will probably stay in that position for a very long time. 6 hours after arriving in the little town of Augus Lingas, we went to our very first Brazilian church service. A small rectangular building, with a massive mural painted at the front and red stained lawn chairs, but looking past that I saw something beautiful, something I will never ever forget. About fifty people fit in there, ages 3-70 but no matter the age all had faced pointed up, hands held high, and voices crying out as loud as they could to the Lord. I had no clue what they were saying, but I did know one thing, that they were worshipping Him. I will never forget looking around and thinking "wow, this is what it means to have brothers and sisters around the world, this is what it means to have a spiritual connection, I have no clue what they are saying God, but I know it is for you!"That night opened my eyes to how incredible this trip was going to be.

For two weeks I was going to live, interact, work with, and spend time with 6 other people, 4 of which I had never met before. However as time went on, I began to love these people, I would joke with them, laugh with them, eat with them, pray with them, and grow with them. It made me realise, that I not only had grown to love these 6 people but everyone we interacted with. I had met so many people, 90% of which could not understand a word I said, and I could not understand a word they said. But they smiled and enjoyed our company. I remember the last day we spent in Brazil, Joyce, the missionary we lived with told us that the people here had enjoyed us so much. That they initially loved us, and were so thankful we had come.
Looking back on those two weeks, I learned so much, God worked through Georgie, a man who could not speak a word of English, but yet spent so much time with us and was our friend. He worked through the kids we played with in the dirt field throwing a beat up Frisbee and making bracelets out of beads, He worked through the woman who cooked us lunches, He worked through everything. And now as almost a year and a half has passed since that sunny day when I first heard His call, I thank Him for the amazing journey and growth He took me on.
I may never see any of those people ever again, until one day in heaven, but I still love them for who they are, I love them for they are my brothers, sisters, friends, and family.

   

Air brushing, Eye drifting, and Porn Surfing

 surfing
 http://bemalleable.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/sincerely-one-of-many-girls-who-care/

Being a guy who has struggled in this world for many years I appreciate Anna's sincerity, honest, and truth. I know first hand how hard it is to keep on facing ahead. The issues of an addiction to lust is not being addressed nearly as much as it should be. It is one that is real, that Anna clearly shows here in her blog post.
So I doubt Anna will ever see this, I doubt she will ever read this, but thank-you so much for this, believe me when I say that you have helped me in saying this! May God continue to bless you Anna, and may He continue to use you to encourage all those around you.
God bless,
Your brother in Christ
-Nathan