Blessed Christmas!!!

Christmas is almost over, at least for me. Feel like task is completed, we had 4 Christmas lunches in 3 different areas where Restoration Ministries works in. There was 450 children sponsored, about 300 sponsors who had an oportunity to practice God's generosity and love, giving one set of clothing, shoes and one toy for each child. There was about 70 volunteers, a short team from Corvallis, OR and Pastor Tony from New Zeland, all those people serving by cooking, cleaning up, sorting out presents, seting up the eating area, decorating, leading small groups and having a good time with our precious children. 
We repeated the same program in all 4 lunches. Sang fun songs, had them seated in tables according with their ages, led short bible lesson related with Christmas and the skit Corvallis team did, about the 3 trees who dreamed of growing taller and taller so they could be closer to God and bear good fruits to feed the people and animals God had created.
For me, the highlight was see our volunteers seating at tables with a group of children, sharing about why Jesus was born and why those trees in the skit ended up not being used as they dreamed, instead they served as a manger, fishing boat and cross. It was a beautiful fellowship time with the kids, at got a chance to do that at Promorar Lunch, on Thrusday, Dec 15th.

I did it once cause I was helping organizing all that!  It was a lot of work, a lot prep, hours of planing, computer work, telephone calls, filed trips, meetings, shoping, etc.. On top of that, as I shared in my last post, we all have problems and struggles, churches and ministries are formed by people, and we are not different BUT as Corvallis team thought the kids:  Even though the trees were cut down and did not serve God in exactlythe ways they had imagined, God helped their hopes come true in even bigger ways. The same is true for us. If we follow God's path, even though it may be different from our own, we will travel far beyond even our greates dreams! God sees far beyond than us!

There were beautiful fruits past week that we were able to see and enjoy them but I believe there was many fruits that only the Holy Spirit witnessed, our battle isn't against flesh... Jesus was born on Christmas time, died and rose again, He overcame this battle and all we have to do is to wait until He rises in the clouds and take us to better place that no eyes has seen or ears heard, the things Jesus has prepared for those who wait in Him. Doesn't matter how long things takes, how bad circunstances can be, all the hard work we got to do, IN Jesus, the outcome is better them we can possible imagine, down here in Earth or in our future home with our Creator!

We did all this Christmas events counting on God's grace and it was wonderful time! Thanks for all of you who supported us in prayer!
As we say in Brazil: Feliz Natal e um Próspero Ano Novo! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Yea!)

In His Service, Tati

Down bellow are picture of one of the Christmas Lunch, at Promorar, on Dec 15th - 145 kids!

On the way to Promorar, a lots of gifts on those black bags and people were all underneath those! 

Setting up the place, we used a community center.

The same place, full of kids!!

Wellington and his dance team!!

The tree skit I mentioned!

Small group talks, it was kinda loud but it worked!!!

Praying before the meal and thanking Jesus for born and rise again!

Pastor William also led one group, we all got to serve the kids and have lunch with them!!!

Michael, praying with his group!

So delicious!!! Rice, farofa (seasoned with calabresa sausage and bacon), chicken and salad!

Getting presents time!! On The left, Paula, she graduate English with me couple years ago, and volunteered to help us out!

It was awesome, giving each child their present, hugging and kissing them and saying: "You are getting this present today, but the best gift ever already was given to you, Jesus!" all the volunteers did the same as they gave out presents!

AREN'T THEY SOOOOO CUTE?

Cleaning up!!!

Yes, Spiritual Battle do Exist!

Hello Friends!

Life isn't easy, is it? Bible never said it would be. So, ministry isn't easy as well, just as life. Paul says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms:. Ephesians 6:12. 
When we go to those slums to do children's program, we are invading the enemy territory, a place that once was described as "the devil playground" by an American pastor who visited our church in Promorar and saw a big line to buy drugs. As we go in to bring light to those good people who lives there and are kept captive by the powers of this dark world, the same dark powers raises against us. 
It doesn't happen just because we are doing ministry, it happens because Jesus is our savior and in Him we find salvation, in Him we are light to the world. The devil DO NOT want no one to find salvation in Jesus and be light.
Either we are lawyers, doctors, missionaries, volunteers, moms and dads, before being someone or something in the society, we have an identity in Christ, we are christians and devil will make whatever he can to stop us to live fulfilling life with Jesus. So...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Ephesians 6:18
Just as in life, problems and devil tricks happens in ministry. Please pray for Restoration Ministries, as we go in those dark places, devil raises against the minsitry, our lives and our families. Be aware of enemy tentatives in your and your family life and pray against it!!!


Life isn't easy, when we pray God does what we can't do to make our lives better and meanful...

Little Graziele, we've been taking hundreds of pictures from kids who come to Agita (our children's program) to include in the card that goes for each Christmas sponsor! 

Some of the kids I do bible study with,  at their house.  I'm also teaching English for them  after bible study. Please pray for them to be able to learn and keep English, they are slower in learning things...learning English will give them better jobs in the future! This is Tauane, Christna and Marcelo. Flavia comes once in a while, she is always cleaning the house for her mom and hasn't attended bible study that often. Tatiane (15) got pregnant and isn't attendending frequently as well. I included a new girl, Amanda (marcelo's sister, she isn't in this picture).

Pedro, he is Tatuane (picture above) brother. As I do bible study in his home, he is also exposed to the gospel, and his family as well. He will be one of the 440 kids to get a Christams gift. We have developed a strong relationship with his family.

Couple weeks ago, the "Chinese Church", who partner with us in many RM events did a celebration with us, invited RM for a BBQ to celebrate this friendship that came from the partnership with their church! It was a good time! Doing ministry for Jesus has connected people from everywhere, from USA to Brazil, from China to East of Sao Paulo (known as the ghetto area) even if the "chinese are within the same city"! God is Great and He is the one doing everything, we, as body of Christ, just have to get together, do and celebrate!!!


God bless you!
Tati