UPDATES FROM THE FIELD: BRAZIL
Olá e boa tarde! Hello and good afternoon from São Paulo, Brasil!
It is an honor to be able to send an update to TW. We love and appreciate you all so much!
Our ministry here is really focused in 3 different areas. I would like to give you a quick update on what God has been doing.
SAMPA CHURCH-
Sampa has been meeting in our new location, a shopping mall movie theater, for a little over one month now. We feel like we are beginning to create some sense of 'home' and creating some momentum. This past Sunday we had 8 first time guests! Bob and I were able to meet two of the families and talk with them after the service. They found us by googling 'English speaking church'. (Just some perspective-Sampa is one of 3 English speaking churches in a city of 20 million). We have a somewhat new family that has really stepped up to help us. Iris on the Hospitality team, her husband, Antonio, with the Visuals/Set-up, and their teenage daughter, Kamilly will help us with Sampa kids. This is a huge blessing. Also, we will be starting up our Sampa Kids Children's ministry on June 5! This is a big step. We haven't had anything for kids since before Covid. We now have about 8 baby-11 year olds. We also have about 7 teenagers! Sampa has never had anything for youth. The teens will help us with the kids, but please be praying for someone to have a desire to start a discipleship/mentor/once a month event for youth. God is doing some amazing things and we feel so encouraged!
Bob has been doing a series on Forgiveness. I have been talking with Andrea who has been really struggling with someone who hurt her and her son. She shared some of her story with me. Just last night I texted her to see how she was feeling this week, and here is her reply. (She knows little English and probably used Google translate, so it may sound different, but that is also the beauty of her heart and God working). "I am better, prayed for God and confess bad feelings...and about the other, I am gonna wait in God. After talk to God I am feeling joy that a sometime didn't feel". THAT IS SUCH A GOD-THING! God is speaking and people are hearing!
IBTE-
IBTE is the Christian non-profit that helps kids/teens who live in a poor, crime, drug area of the city. Sampa partners with them on many projects, and Bob and I go there weekly and teach some conversational English to the teenagers. They just had a big 15 year celebration! They sent out invites and had music, the ballet girls danced, the choir sang, the teen worship team sang, and the teens that work in their program put so much together for this party. It was very special. Several German supporters came over for the event. God really uses IBTE to not just feed these kids, but give them some stability in their lives, some mentors, love, life skills, affection, discipleship, tutoring, and fun. When I think of Jesus saying, 'let the little children come to me', I think of these kids. They bring us such joy!
GRADED SCHOOL-
Bob has coached varsity boys basketball at Graded going on 6 years. He had his best season yet and it was so much fun and quite a celebration for the boys and the school. Now the season is over, just with one or two 'flexible' practices a week. The great thing God has been doing here lately is allowing us to grow our relationships with the Graded staff. We were invited to a birthday party for one of the teachers Bob knows last weekend. We got to spend a couple of hours eating pizza and cake with 15 other coaches and teachers. It was an amazing opportunity. Many of them asked about the church, about where we meet and how big the congregation is, as well as talked about coming one day. It was a TOTAL GOD THING! Cezar, another coach that Bob is getting to know, has been asking many questions about the Texas team that visited, about church, and asking Bob for advice. It is so cool! We get to see many of these people and parents on Monday at the Athletic Banquet. It is all about these God-moments. It is why we are here.
You know sometimes as a missionary in a foreign place, it gets lonely. We have all felt like we aren't seen from time to time. Lately, this story, this scripture, this thought has come into our minds and pressed upon our hearts in the exact moment when we need some encouragement.
Genesis 16:7, " The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert..." Maybe you have felt like you've been in a desert and God always brings a little spring your way just when you need it the most. Genesis 16:13, "You are the God who sees me, for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me'". It may be difficult some days, but God sees us, God sustains us, and God is always with us and for us.
Thank you, Well Community for loving us, praying for us, partnering with us. These things would not be possible without your involvement. You are here with us. God is using you in Brasil!
Hugs from São Paulo!
Martha and Bob Robbins
