News from Brazil
October 27, 2011
Joe Landreville is on an extended missions trip of three months to Brazil. He writes,
“One of my first tasks after my arrival was to renew my missionary visa. This process required a new application as the old visa expired as a result of not being able to come back sooner to Brazil. This was followed by a visit to the ESL computer school we helped to establish in the Congregational church in Volta Redonda RJ. Progress has been made in the establishment of this school and plans are underway to further promote it. I could also assist in finding a solution over the transfer of licenses for another school.
From there I went to the Missionary Baptist church in Santa Cruz in VR to see about their computers. I remained a couple of days while the computer tech connected with me. As I anticipated the computers were too slow. They had recently been upgraded to a blazing 512 KB from 256kb. The internet connection was just 300 kb. In order to do the language lab serious upgrade would have to take place. The church operated a seminary and had about 25 students in their missions program. Some had already done a two-year term on the field in places like Mozambique. About 12 students lived in the missionary house with the Pastor and his family. They held all things in common and shared all chores on a rotational basis. The school also was geared to practical service, teaching many social as well as Bible courses to the community. As a faith-based operation the school was free to all the students.
I was there to help with the computer lab and install language software which was not possible until after upgrades, but I remained as their guest, learning more about the school. I could see great potential for a language school there: first for the seminary students, then the children from the community that attended to learn English, and then for those in the community who would like to improve their knowledge. With a computer-based school and self-teaching software any of the 45 languages offered by the software company could be learned on site. With this knowledge of English, missionaries could teach in other countries. This can open doors in countries closed to missionaries but open to receiving teachers. I began an informal English class teaching conversational English to four students and it quickly grew to 15. Some made amazing progress and were holding conversations in a short time. It was strange to me, being from an apostolic stream, to teach in a conservative Baptist seminary. I had one direction from God - just love them and let His presence shine through me. Some were initially very cautious but all had servant hearts always wanting to do things for you. At first only two spoke English. One day, on our way to the supermarket conversing in English all the time, one of the best students told me that she had never spoken English before I came. After her graduation in December she would be heading to Argentina to begin a ministry to university students; it will be entirely a faith project.
I am currently in Joinville Santa Caterina preaching until Nov 10 before I head out to Goias to preach at a missions convention in a Baptist church, before returning to VR to check on my students.
I received invitations from Assemblies of God Churches and a large Baptist church. I asked the Lord about the invitations from the Baptist churches; He said just to love them. I guess that’s what happens after listening to Leif Hedland’s message on the Baptism of Love.
Folk would look strange at me walking around the seminary campus, small as it is, hands raised in worship to Him and quietly praying in tongues. Sometimes His presence just overwhelms me. I could feel the love of God beaming through me to them. We had lots of hugs and they had lots of questions, I prayed for those that were sick.
God is so good. What a blessing to know and to serve Him.”
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