tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50446382422612436112024-03-12T21:40:45.751-07:00Greg in the AmazonI'll be stationed in Manaus, Brazil living among an Amazon River Community for the next 2 years.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-80872796665565106272012-01-26T22:13:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:57:25.624-08:00Communified for Three MonthsThank you, Thank you, Thank you for the prayers!<div><br /></div><div>Let me first apologize for not having updated my blog in three months. Please do understand that where I am at internet is scarce. In our community there is no internet, or computer for that matter! Then when we go into town once a month sometimes the internet works and sometimes not - sometimes they open the internet cafe and sometimes not.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, let me give a brief summary of the past three months. Jailson and I finally arrived to our community on November 1st. The people in the community are fantastic, and from the first the day they have taken us in and brought us with them and taught us their lifestyle and culture. These first three months have been extremely busy. We eat a lot of fish, with the occasional monkey or alligator. We drink a lot of juices - my favorites being of pineapple and sugarcane! And we work. We cut and carry wood, uproot and peel manioc, make farinha, go fishing, clear people's farms with machetes, make pajuaru, and cut the weeds in our the community, once again, with our machetes. There is always work to be done, and we always try to have the same mindset as Paul when he said, "<i>We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.</i>" We have learned a ton and really enjoyed where we are at.</div><div><br /></div><div>So how about the spiritual? As we work we try to teach the Bible. For example, while fishing we try to tell a Bible story about fish such as when Jesus called the fishermen to be fishers of men. Or while working in the field we tell about the sower who threw seed on the side of the trail, on the rocks, in the thorns, or on the good soil. Once we have developed relationships with the men we ask to study the Bible with them. We have done Bible studies with a few of the men; however, there is one that is always wanting to study more and really has a hunger and thirst to learn about the Bible. We also work with the kids once a week teaching them songs, telling Bible stories, and reciting Bible verses. Praise God that doors are opening and people are hearing His Word. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our only problem is that there already is a church in the community - it is called the Catholic, Apostolic, Evangelic church of the Cross. In a nutshell they believe that worshipping the cross of Christ will save them rather than worshipping the Christ of the cross. They actually believe that the cross in front of their community will turn into a stairwell to the heavens when Jesus comes back and only those who have these crosses will be saved. They turn to spiritualistic healers when sick instead of God. They also have tons of rules prohibiting many things in the community, showing they do not understand the freedom we have in Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we have been teaching God's Word - never shying away from telling the truth. Sometimes our words are well received. Sometimes they are not so well received. However, we keep on speaking and trying to continue in order to teach what the Bible says. </div><div><br /></div><div>So pray for us. Pray first off that God would open the eyes of these lost people.</div><div>Pray each and every day that we would follow God being obedient and dependent on Him.</div><div>Pray for good health so as not to interfere with our mission.</div><div>Pray for the president of our community. He is the leader and a very respected man. He currently has a problem with his leg. Pray that God would work wonders in the life of this man both physically and spiritually knowing that if he converts the whole community would be more open to hearing about Christ.</div><div>Pray for travel safety.</div><div>Pray that God would already start raising, from the community, men to continue the work when we leave in six months.</div><div>Pray that God would be glorified in everything.</div>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-90708712100269948062011-10-27T19:50:00.000-07:002011-10-28T19:07:19.567-07:00It's Community Time!<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cusuario%5CCONFIG%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabela normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, my first three months in the interior have already come and passed, and my partner and I are now getting everything ready for our next three months.<span style=""> </span>In a nutshell, the past three months went like this: In July we were in a community finally doing what I was sent to Brazil to do – evangelize and disciple an unreached people group!<span style=""> </span>We were doing Bible studies in houses and in tree shade.<span style=""> </span>It was going perfectly.<span style=""> </span>Then August came.<span style=""> </span>On August 1st we were told to leave the community and not return.<span style=""> </span>Needless to say, we felt confused and lost leaving the community that day.<span style=""> </span>So for the majority of August my partner and I were praying for direction and looking for opportunities.<span style=""> </span>We returned to the community once or twice a week – to talk with the president there.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes he was nice and talked with us, other times he was a lot more stern with us.<span style=""> </span>However, at the end of the month, he still would not allow us to do our work there.<span style=""> </span>So, September was the month of traveling.<span style=""> </span>We visited 8 different communities in three different trips.<span style=""> </span>We were looking for a community that would allow us to live with them and fulfill the great commission.<span style=""> </span>Praise God, we found one!<br /><br />This brings us to this month, October.<span style=""> </span>At the beginning of the month we returned to Manaus to talk things over with our leadership.<span style=""> </span>After much prayer we decided that this community that accepted us is a door that God hás opened – it is our community.<span style=""> </span>So, my partner and I packed our bags and are now back in the interior waiting to go live in our community.<span style=""> </span>We’ve got a few people to see and few things to buy, but we’re hoping to be in our community come next Monday or Tuesday.<span style=""> </span>My partner and I are anxious to finally be living in a community, fulfilling our calling and doing what we are here to do – to tell people of the love and grace of our Creator God, of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and of the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.<span style=""> </span>We will be living with them, fishing with them, hunting with them, making farinha with them, climbing açaí trees with them to make a delightful juice.<span style=""> </span>We will be working with the children to teach them the truth of the Bible.<span style=""> </span>We will also being doing Bible Studies in homes with the men and women.<span style=""> </span>Pray that we can show the people of this community the love of Christ – that what we preach and what we do would agree.<span style=""> </span>Pray that God would work wonders in this community and that young missionaries and church-leaders would rise from this currently church-less community.<span style=""> </span>Pray that each and every day my partner and I would work hard for the sake of the Gospel.<span style=""> </span>Pray for salvation and transformed lives.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The other day we got ahold of the president of this community on the phone.<span style=""> </span>My partner simply said his name and the president told us that they are waiting for us and already have a house for us to live in!<span style=""> </span>Praise God!<span style=""> </span>We are very excited about the adventure that we about to be beginning.<span style=""> </span>Pray that we can adjust to life in a community.<span style=""> </span>Pray that we can love these people – that we can seriously love them and be burdened for their eternal, spiritual state.<span style=""> </span>Thank you all for the prayers.<span style=""> </span>Here in a month or so I should be back in the city (our plan is to return once a month to buy some rice & beans and send an update to our leadership) and I will try to get on the internet to give an update.</p>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-87715097335021199962011-07-14T17:27:00.000-07:002011-07-14T18:23:40.126-07:00Pray for me, Please?Why, hello there! It appears as though internet does work here in the Amazon! Me and my partner, Jailson, arrived here in Santo Antônio do Içá at about midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning. Santo Antônio is a city of about 30,000 people. We're living here in the city until we get permission to move into one of the nearby communities. We've had a busy 5 days since we got here. Sunday we ran around town and preached at different churches. Monday we went fishing - we scored about 20 fish and 2 pretty bad thunderstorms in a little unstable wooden canoe. The highlight was catching Piranhas in the nets and then trying to pull them loose while, clearly, being careful that they don't leave their mark on your hand! Tuesday we went and visited our (potential) community. Pray that God opens doors there! It was so wonderful to sit down in the houses of some of the people there and make some chit-chat. Of course, while there my mind was running wild as I looked at each person thinking - "Could he be a church leader here in a year?" or "Could she be a missionary here in a year?" Pray for big things! Wednesday we helped one of the pastors here in town run some errands and what not. Then today, we made it back out to the community and had a wonderful time talking with two brothers who each were probably about 35 years old. We told them we would return there on Sunday and asked permission to do a little Bible Study with them. They accepted! So, this Sunday could be the start, or on a prayer of faith perhaps I should say will be the start, of God doing big things here!<br /><br />So, having mentioned prayer, let me give some prayer requests! While reading through some of Paul's letters here recently I decided to note each time he said that he was praying something for someone or was asking for prayer for something. I decided that if Paul was praying something over the churches that he was planting, it wouldn't be a bad idea to pray them myself or if he was needing prayer in some area I'll be needing it too. Then I decided I'd pass them along so ya'll, also, could be praying for the same things. So, in order of Bible reference, here they are:<br /><br />2 Corinthians 1:11 - <span style="font-style: italic;">You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.</span><br /><br />Ephesians 1:15-21 - <span style="font-style: italic;">For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in</span> this age but also in the one to come.<br /><br />Ephesians 6:17-20 - <span style="font-style: italic;">...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.</span><br /><br /> Philipians 1:9-11 - <span style="font-style: italic;">And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.</span><br /><br /> Philipians 4:5-7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. </span><br /><br /> Colossians 1:9-12 - <span style="font-style: italic;">And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.</span><br /><br /> Colossians 4:2-4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.</span><br /><br /> 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.</span><br /><br /> 1 Thessalonians 5:25 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Brothers, pray for us.</span><br /><br /> 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 - <span style="font-style: italic;">To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.</span><br /><br /> 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.</span><br /><br /> 1 Timothy 2:1-2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.</span><br /><br /> Philemon 1:4-6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.<br /></span><br />I know I already threw a lot out at ya'll, but one more text - and I apologize, it's a big one! In this text Paul does not explicitly say pray for me in this or that, but it is his departing words as he left the church leaders of Ephesus. Obviously not everything that he says would pertain to me. However, pray that I conduct my life in such a way as to be able to have the same mindset and say some of the same words that he says:<br /><br />Acts 20:18-35 - <span style="font-style: italic;">You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="woj">'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'</span>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-33423740907183285092011-07-05T11:09:00.000-07:002011-07-05T11:52:00.529-07:00There's No Place Like Home...And I'm back from training, and leaving tomorrow at 2 for the interior. Though most likely the boat will be leaving much later than 2 - probably more like 2:30 or 4:10. But anywho, let me quickly explain how training went these last 2 months.<br /><br />It was not quite as rugged as I though it would be. We purchased a lot of food and had a lot of churches donate boxes full of rice and beans, so food-wise we were secure. We did some fishing, but rarely were we dependent on our catch for that day or that weeks food. Having said that I did learn to fish using two types of nets - one the kind you throw and one the kinds you set in the river and wait for fish to entangle themselves. We had a period of about 2 weeks where they locked the bathroom doors - meaning that all showers were in the mighty Amazon and all potty breaks were in the jungle! I won't go into much detail on that one. We also cooked and cleaned with the river water - making coffee out of it leaves a pretty bad taste in the mouth. For just drinking water purposes, we did have a filter. I learned that gas and fire don't mix very well - nearly losing two of my toes. We did a lot of canoeing, gardening, volleyball and football. About half of the time we cooked over an open fire, which only serves to complicate washing the dishes!<br /><br />But Spiritually I learned a lot more. We had to memorize 20 Bible narratives. From as long as the creation account of Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 to as short as the blind beggar being healed in Luke 18:35-43, we hid 20 of them in our hearts. Then we took these narratives on the weekends to a nearby community called Nossa Senhora do Livramento. There we did a lot of door to door evangelizing using these stories. We would walk up to people and simply ask, "Can I tell you a story?" Then we would tell about Jesus and talk about it afterward. It was very encouraging to see God at work there. I would say that in the 5 weekends we went there, the 6 of us were able to see around 15 people come to know the Lord for the very first time. Our first Sunday there, I would say there were about 10 people in the church. On our last weekend there were about 25. Praise God! We had services in people's front yards, around their pick nick tables and up on top of hills overlooking the river. One weekend we did a kid's club - and against my will I was the leader of the kid's club! When it started at 3:00 we had 2 kids. When it ended at 5:00, 40 kids walked away having heard the Good News!<br /><br />This training definitely was a blessing and I now feel a lot more prepared to go into a community and start from the ground up. I learned a lot about what it means to really depend on God and hear His voice. Nothing I can say will cause a person to turn from sin to Him, but my obedience and the power of His Holy Spirit can change a heart of stone to one of flesh. Pray!<br /><br />So what is the big take away? What is the big idea that I learned these last two months? Home and Hope. It's funny. When I was in the community, I couldn't wait to return to our training camp. When at the training camp I couldn't wait to return to Manaus. While in Manaus, I think of and can't wait to return to Texas. I even had a dream a few nights ago that Manaus got a Whataburger! I've had some hard days and I've really had to ask myself a lot these last two months: Where is my home? And where does my hope lie? And it is this hope that gets me through the hard days. My home is not in Manaus. My home is not in Clute, Texas. My hope is not in returning. My hope is not in eating a Honey Barbecue Chicken Strip Sandwich. My hope is not even in talking with my friends and family. My hope is firmly rooted in hearing my God say, "Well done my good and faithful servant." My hope is constantly set on the eternal joy and rest I have awaiting me in the afterlife. My home is in heaven - the better country that the men of faith looked forward to. This is the sure and steadfast anchor of my soul as the writer of Hebrews puts it in chapter 6. I've cried. I've longed to have heart to heart conversations in English with my friends who know me better than I know myself. I've longed to hug my family. I've had days where I just felt spiritually dry. On these days I ran to God - my refuge - and found strong encouragement. I have learned so much these last 8 months (almost 9 now) here in Brazil. I've learned to depend on God. I've learned to find joy in His presence and not in the things of this world. I've learned to cherish His Word as the fountain of all treasures. And I've learned that the eternal far outweighs the temporary, fleeting things. And I know that the next year that I have in front of me will only be harder. But as hard as it becomes and I know that reward in it will be grander.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-40511495417935850582011-05-01T10:57:00.000-07:002011-05-01T11:26:42.540-07:00It's Training Time!Due to internet complications here in Manaus and the fact that this past week has been incredibly crazier and busier than I originally thought it would be, I've got about 5 minutes to explain the next two months of my life.... So here we go!<br /><br />I leave first thing tomorrow morning for my Amazon Race Training. It is two months of training all in Portuguese. The majority of days, I think, will be spent in 'classes' of about 7 or 8 people. We will be talking about Theology, Missiology, Anthropolgy, Storying, Culture, Mechanics (in case a boat were to break down in the middle of the river!), and a hint of jungle survival. Where we are going for training, there is a water well and electricity, but from what I understand, we will not be using either one of those very much in order to prepare for more 'rustic' conditions. So we will be carrying out a water filter and will use river to water to drink, wash clothes, wash dishes and bathe. I'm incredibly excited to see what the next two months have in store. All the other missionaries for the project have arrived. Besides myself, there are 3 guys and 2 gals. This means that I have met my future partner for the next year, though I'm not sure which of the 3 guys it will be!<br /><br />A few specifics that I do know- Yesterday we spoke at a local pastor's meeting. After we were introduced the pastors all came on stage and circled around us and prayed for us all as we embark on our next life adventure. After this, someone who was at the meeting, payed for all of us Amazon Racers to go a Pastor's Conference that will be at the very end of May. Some church is flying in two speakers from the US (they both currently work at Southern Theological Seminary in Kentucky). This means that right at the midway point of my training, which as I said is all in Portuguese, I'll get to here some Americans preaching the Bible to me (which will then be translated into Portuguese by a local pastor who speaks English). This, I'm sure, will be incredibly refreshing and good practice for the ol' Portuguese as well!<br />Also, we're getting to day a 4 night, 3 day jungle survival training. It'll be through the local military. We'll sleep in the middle of the jungle and eat whatever we can get our hands on while learning some of the basic techniques that they use in the jungle. SWEET!<br />Most weekends we'll be doing little 'trips' to some of the ribeirinho communities surrounding the training site. During these trips we will be doing evangelism and discipling as we practice what we learned the previous week - a lot of storying! Pray that we would rely on God and that people's lives would be changed as their hearts are opened to the gospel.<br /><br />That's about all the time I've got. Thanks for the prayers. I'm internetless till July!Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-82916813755972608382011-04-01T10:56:00.000-07:002011-04-01T12:12:22.584-07:00Past Month and a HalfAlright, so I've been super slow in updating since I got back from my trip to the interior - in fact I've been to Peru and now back for a week since getting back from the interior. I've sat down to update this at least 4 times now, and the fact is, I just don't know where to start after over a month in the interior. So let me start with just an overview list:<br /><ul><li>I traveled about 1300 miles by boat on the Amazon.</li><li>I saw some of the prettiest sunsets I've ever seen - I tried uploading some pictures here on the blog but it was taking forever.<br /></li><li>I saw plenty of Toucans, Macaws, Monkeys, Snakes, and Freshwater Dolphins.</li><li>I ate alligator, chicken feet, piranha, açaí, fruits that I have no idea what the names are, fresh Brazil Nuts and lots and lots of fish and rice!</li><li>I made this food called farinha - it's a big deal down here!<br /></li><li>I played soccer, a lot.</li><li>I preached 7 times - in Portuguese - for as long as 40 minutes one time!</li><li>I took apart the engine of a Rabeta - it's the preferred way to get around the river, an engine that you connect to your canoe.</li><li>I also got to pilot a rabeta for a good two-three hours on our way back from a community one day.</li><li>I heard a lot of Eminem and Rihanna, Hey Soul Sister by Train, and some classic Linkin Park (my favorite).<br /></li><li>I was a translator for a group of Americans for about 4 days.<br /></li><li>Then I went to Peru for a training where I ate all the American food that I've been missing these last few months - Donuts from Duncan Donuts, Chips, Salsa and Fajitas from Chile's, Chicken from KFC, and Pizza from Papa John's.</li></ul>So what exactly did we do?<br />We first went to a town called Alverães. Our stop there was only supposed to last about 2-3 days in order to talk with some missionaries there - unfortunately boat schedules aren't always the most reliable and we were stuck there an extra week before heading out to Santo Antônio do Içá. We stayed there for two weeks. We visited a few river communities while there, and met some current American missionaries that are also living out there. Then we headed out to Tefé, which is right next door to our original destination of Alverães. We were here during Carnaval, which is more or less like Brazil's version of Mardi Gras. We met an American team there and did a whole lot of evangelism. As I said earlier, I was a translator for the group! Then we came back to Manaus. I was here for about 4 days and then I went off to Peru for 5 days of training and, as I said, eating!<br /><br />Prayer<br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!</span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="verse-num" id="v19067004-1"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!</span>" Psalm 67:3-5<br />Pray these verses over the people in Santo Antônio do Içá.<br /><br />That's the quick of my last month and a half. I could go into more specifics, but I know that people a lot of times don't like long blogs, and a lot of the stuff we did was very Brazilian, I wouldn't know how to succinctly explain it all.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-48839623664524560952011-02-08T14:14:00.000-08:002011-02-08T15:13:34.187-08:00And I'm Off!First off let me confess of a habit that I've developed since coming down here. It involves eating pizza. A few years back a wise man (Aaron Sanders - you can pay me later) talked me into putting a little Bull's-Eye BBQ sauce on my pizza. I thought it was strange, but I tried it, and I liked it. When I got down here I noticed that Brazilians like to put not barbecue sauce but ketchup and mayonnaise on their pizzas. My first response was, "Nope, No Way, Never!" But then I stayed here for another 3 months. And to be honest I like it! Ketchup and mayonnaise actually taste good on pizza.<br /><br />Now that I've got that off my shoulders, let me tell you my plans for the next month or so. As I said in an earlier blog, I'm no longer doing my training here from February to April as originally planned - instead I will be doing one research trip (or if I have time two) up the Rio Solimões. So what will we be researching on these research trips? Well I'm glad you asked. Plain and simple, we're looking for river communities (think ~200 people living a very basic lifestyle) to send future missionaries. Our purpose in these trips is to find river communities where the Gospel has still not been brought. Some communities already have churches that are thriving, while some are not even open to Christians living with them. We will be stopping at three different river municipals (think ~10,000 people living in a more 'civilized' town on the river) in order to find out about the conditions of the river communities surrounding them. Hopefully, and God willing, we will be able to meet some people from these communities while we are staying in the municipals in order to find out more information about the spiritual state of their community. If things go real well, we'll accompany them out to their community to see for ourselves the possibility of sending American and/or Brazilian missionaries out there to evangelize and church plant. Does that make sense?<br /><br />What makes this trip really special for me is that one of the three municipals where I am going is most likely where I will be living, full-time, come June. So when we stop at this municipal, we're not just looking for hypothetical purposes, but I'll actually be looking for myself a home! While in the municipal we'll ask about some surrounding Ribeirinho communities to see if there is any one community in particular that appears to have a real need for a missionary and that will be willing to accept some missionaries in the future. As you could imagine, I am very excited to be living out on the river - and even more excited about knowing a lot more details about what exactly my job will look like having gone to where I will be spending a year doing missions work.<br /><br />So, when does this start? Well, tomorrow! I'm leaving tomorrow, and will most likely be returning somewhere around March 15th or so. So this trip will give me a little over a month of solid Brazilian culture and language (no Americans on this trip, so I'll be speaking only Portuguese!).<br /><br />So, please pray!<br />Pray first off that God would lead us to people to talk to and communities where they still know nothing of His sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Paul says in Colossians 4:3, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.</span>" Pray for this foremost - that God would open up doors for His people that He created to know Him and worship Him.<br />Pray for my language. I praise God that language is going well. I've gotten many complements that I'm sounding "more Brazilian. This could mean that I actually sound Brazilian, or it could just mean that I sounded terrible when I first got here! At any rate, pray that God continues to give me His grace in communicating with people around me. I've been told to be prepared to preach while I am in the interior - in Portuguese! Pray that language would not get in the way of God's Word being taught, and of God being worshiped.<br />Pray for peace of mind! I'm being thrown into a lifestyle completely contrary to the 'normal' American lifestyle. Pray that I would adjust and enjoy doing life differently.<br />Pray for safety for myself and the Brazilian who I will be with. At one of the municipals we will actually be teaming up with some Americans from Florida, so pray also that they have safe travel.<br />In the end, just pray that God would be glorified and that we would be His faithful servants.<br />I most likely will not have internet until I return in March, so thanks for the prayers, I'll definitely be needing them.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-85451948310428402792011-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:002011-01-25T21:58:04.568-08:00Two StoriesI haven't updated this in a couple of weeks. I've been trying to wait until I found out some specifics for next month, but that hasn't happened yet. So I figured I would write about two stories from the Bible that have made me think a lot when I last read through them. They're both from the Old Testament with one being one of the most famous stories from the Bible and the other being one that I think I was never told. They both have a current theme though - which is the glory of God to be known amongst all peoples.<br /><br />The first story is the story of David and Goliath. Reading it this time through, I didn't see it so much as a fight between David and Goliath, or even Israel and the Philistines, but rather a fight between the God of the Israelites and the gods of the Philistines. We see that Goliath challenges the Israelites and they react in fear. They've forgotten two important words of encouragement that were given to them before entering the promised land. The first, found in Deuteronomy 7:1-2, is that God would give victory to the Israelites in the promised land so that they might inhabit the land. The second, found in Deuteronomy 31:6, is to "<span style="font-style: italic;">Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="small-caps">Lord</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.</span>" They were to be strong and courageous because God would give them the victory. But, how do we find the Israelites in 1 Samuel 17 when Goliath steps forward to "<span style="font-style: italic;">defy the ranks of Israel?</span>" "<span style="font-style: italic;">Dismayed and greatly afraid.</span>" In steps David. David seems to remember when the rest of Israel forgets. He makes it known that Goliath is not simply defying Israel, but "<span style="font-style: italic;">the armies of the living God.</span>" He puts God back into the equation where He belongs. Knowing that it is the Lord who delivers, he says, "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Lord... will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.</span>" It's always about God. It's not about David and his own strength, it's about the God of Israel, the Lord of Hosts, the God of Creation. Then comes my favorite part. It's the answer to the question, "Why?" Why is God going to deliver David from Goliath and Israel from the Philistines? David says that it is so "<span style="font-style: italic;">that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.</span>" Love it. God was not just interested in the Israelites for the sake of the Israelites. He was using them that His glory and power and truth may be known throughout the whole earth!<br /><br />The next story is one that I don't believe I was ever told. It's found in 1 Kings 18 & 19. It involves the death of 185,000 soldiers, so I really don't know why I was never told about this story as a Junior High boy! Before getting started we need to know that Assyria is a very powerful nation, has just taken over the northern kingdom, Israel, and they are knocking on the door of Judah seeking to take it over as well. Hezekiah, one of the most God-fearing kings that Judah had, is the current king of Judah. The story starts with the leader of the Assyrian army, who is speaking on behalf of the king of Assyria, threatening the Israelites, or rather, the God of the Israelites. After mocking the Israelite army for being small (18:23), he then boasts that no one - not even God - can save the Israelites when the Assyrians attack them (18:29-30, 33-35). Hezekiah is scared knowing that the Assyrians are a strong force. So how does he react? He doesn't run away, or try to fight in desperation. Rather, he turns to God. The prophet Isaiah encouraged Hezekiah that God would defeat the Assyrian army. Then the king of Assyria sent messengers once again to Israel saying: "<span style="font-style: italic;" class="hltmp_129602011464001 yellow highlight_1765158">Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="hltmp_129602011464001 yellow highlight_1765158">Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar</span><span style="font-style: italic;">?</span>" This Assyrian king is belittling Israel's God to the false gods of the other nations they had conquered. He says that Israel's God will not be able to deliver them. So Hezekiah prays. Just like David, Hezekiah has confidence in God and knows that God will fulfill the promises He made to deliver the Israelites. So just what exactly does he pray? "<span style="font-style: italic;" class="hltmp_129602029702501 yellow highlight_1765166">So now, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, are God alone</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span>" Here we see it again. Why would God provide victory for the Israelites? That ALL the kingdoms of the earth may know that the God of Israel is the only God! So did God deliver? Of course, in a miraculous way! The Bible tells us in 2 Kings 19:35 that the angel of the Lord (who some believe to be a preincarnate Christ) went out that night and struck down 185,000 of the Assyrians! That's a LOT of people! Needless to say the Assyrians ran away. And why? That ALL the kingdoms of the earth may know!<br /><br />I love these two stories. Maybe it's just because I am now a missionary, but every time I open up my Bible I see that God's purpose from Creation to Revelation is that ALL peoples would know Him and worship Him as the only true God. Pray that God would use me to make His glory known amongst the Ribeirinhos of the Amazon Basin. Pray that I, like David and Hezekiah, would be faithful and obedient to God that He might use me for His purposes.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-12057917929402733092011-01-09T11:40:00.000-08:002011-01-09T12:20:09.727-08:00New Year - New PlansOne of the "Missionary Quotes" they gave us at training in the states was: "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not break." This new year has brought in some new plans for me down here in Manaus. Maybe not new plans, so much as delayed plans! The original scenario had me doing three months of language training here in Manaus. Then I would start my two month missions training in February with me going out to live on the river sometime in April. This has since changed for a number of different reasons.<br /><br />So, the new plan! I am almost done with my language training, just about 2-3 weeks left of it. Come February I will not be heading to training as originally thought. Rather, I will begin a two month voyage all over the Amazon basin! The key word here is flexibility, because the plans are still not set in stone for February and March (and potentially a little spill over into April). However, the basic course for now will be for me to spend the first 2-3 weeks with my roommate going up the Rio Negro here in Brazil to do some research. Our goal would be to find some locations for future Amazon Racers and to find out a little bit about the Evangelic presence in the Ribeirinho communities where we will be stopping. <br /><br />Then, when I return sometime around mid-February, I will be going out one more time, but this time for a month and a half up the Rio Solimões with a lady named Ioli - a Brazilian who is one of the leaders of the Amazon Race project from the Brazil side. Our first stop will be a little town located right next to Peru. We will likely spend over a week there doing the same type of research mentioned above at some of the River-Communities surrounding the city. From there, we will ride a boat back to Manuas, stopping along the way at 3-4 other communities to do some more research.<br /><br />This will bring me to April, where I will have 2-3 free weeks and, drum rolls please, MY PARENTS ARE COMING! I'm so excited to get to show them my new home, and introduce them to some of my new friends here. Not to mention I'm super excited to just be able to see them again and hug them and talk with them - face to face, not computer screen to computer screen! Then, in the beginning of May, my two month training will start. Then in July I will most likely be heading out onto the river to live in a Ribeirinho community and tell some people the Greatest News that they could ever hear.<br /><br />So, the next few months are going to be very different from the last few months, and very different from the original plan - but I know that I am right where God wants me and if he'd rather me do some research trips first, then I'll gladly do some research trips first!<br /><br />As far as specific prayer requests go, first off is the language. Praise God that the language is going very well. Last night at church I honestly understood a good 90-95% of what the pastor said. Praise God that it's no longer one stream of Portuguese that all runs together, but I'm actually to a point now where it has slowed down and I can understand the words that are being said. I'm able to have some more extended conversation with some of my friends. I'm not anywhere near fluent, I still have a lot more to learn. So pray that I will continue to add to the vocabulary and be able to talk about deeper things and eternal things.<br />Continue to pray also for some of my friends that I am making playing basketball. The one I had blogged about earlier asked me last Thursday if he could come with me to church on Sunday (today). I was extremely excited that I didn't have to even bring it up. Unfortunately, he just called me to tell me he was going to go play basketball instead of coming to church with me tonight. But, continue to pray for him and others that I am getting to know. Pray that I could learn the Portuguese needed to communicate Christ to them. Pray that my lifestyle and attitude would reflect Christ even when I don't necessarily know that language. Pray that God would open their eyes and heal their hearts for the sake of His name and His glory. Pray that I may have boldness.<br />Pray that the time I have left here in Manaus would be meaningful - that I would live my life with purpose in learning Portuguese, getting to know Brazilians, and, most importantly, becoming more and more of a disciple of Christ each and every day as I grow in my knowledge of Him and obedience to Him.<br />Pray for the trips that are coming up - that God prepares peoples hearts and that Chris and Ioli and I have opportunities to share Christ's love as we conduct these research trips.<br />Thank you all for your prayers!Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-12275355608322032372010-12-29T19:19:00.000-08:002010-12-29T19:59:47.166-08:00The Most Important Lesson I Ever LearnedOne time I listened to a Francis Chan sermon titled something along the lines of "The Most Important Lesson I Could Ever Teach." I was expecting some mind blowing truth that would cause me to see everything in a new light, that would change the way I live, the way I think, the way I feel. I was expecting him to tell some story from the Bible that I had probably already heard but bring new truth to it that I had never seen. I was expecting something revolutionary. He says at the beginning of the sermon, "If this were the only lesson I ever learned it would be enough." And then he gave it to me. I have forgotten a lot of the scriptures that he used in the sermon and all the illustrations. I've forgotten the jokes he told, but I remember the most important part, the most important lesson. The lesson was how to read the Bible for himself! How to spend time alone reading Scripture and studying Scripture for himself.<br /><br />When I first heard this sermon, I agreed with it. Of course I agreed with it! It was not quite what I expected, but it was good. Then I learned how to read the Scripture for myself! When I first heard the sermon, I had never read all the way through the Bible. I had never opened up to Genesis 1 and finished in Revelation 22. I heard his sermon, but I didn't really understand it. I didn't grasp it. Then I went to missionary training this past July. Each and every day I was bathed in the Word of God. Whether by my own reading or by the talks of other men and women, each day I spent anywhere from 1 hour to 5 hours studying and meditating and memorizing Scripture. This was when the passion for the Word of God began.<br /><br />Then when I arrived to Brazil, I decided to read through the Bible. This last summer I read through the Old Testament, reading through all the books that I had never read before. But I decided when I got here that I wanted to read through all the pages of the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation I wanted to get a grasp of the Bible in its entirety. So, mid-October, I started reading Genesis. Then I moved onto Exodus and so on, reading from 10-15 chapters a day. Today I started Romans. And oh, how thankful I am for the Word of God - the Bible! I know I've quoted this verse on this blog before, but once again, a verse that I love is Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; in your <span class="criteria">presence</span> there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Every time I open open up my Bible, I am spending time in the presence of the Creator of the Universe, the Sustainer of all things! And in this there is fullness of joy. I could not begin to describe how sweet the times have been while I have sat in the presence of our God. I couldn't even tell everything that I have learned and what all God has showed me for the very first time. I do know that my passion for reading the Bible has grown tremendously. To find God in Scriptures, to hear His Words and understand a little bit more of who He is, what He has done and who I am is humbling, refreshing, and purpose giving.<br /><br />I am so thankful for the Word of God. Here - where all the singing and preaching is in Portuguese, and I go to church and fight to even understand half of what the pastor is saying - I have learned to find joy, and strength, and peace within the pages of Scripture. I have learned to worship Him in what He has done throughout history and for the promises that He gives us even today. And what a great lesson it is. I am so thankful for guys like William Tyndale, who literally gave his life that I might have the Word of God in my own tongue. To be perfectly honest, when I first heard that Francis Chan sermon, I kind of looked past it. But now that I have learned to treasure God's Word, it is that life changing lesson that I was expecting. It is what gets me through each and every day here with out family and American comforts. In reading through the Bible I have learned more each day about depending on God. And in Him, there truly is fullness of joy! Thank you God for Your Scripture!Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-1555962786658127342010-12-14T18:10:00.000-08:002010-12-14T19:48:51.796-08:00Basketball BuddiesOne HUGE praise that I have, is that I have found a group of guys who play basketball at an outdoor court about 5 times a week. It may sound a bit unspiritual for basketball to be a point of praise, but a praise it is! It allows me a chance to meet some new Brazilians, to practice my Portuguese and learn new 'sports-related' terms, to get out of the house and have something to do, and to enjoy playing a game that has, more or less, been a big part of my life up to this point.<br /><br />Anwho, I was playing on Friday night (I believe my team won 5 games and lost 1 for those who wanted to know) and as I was leaving one of the guys caught up to me and we started talking. We ended up going to a Shell gas station convenience store (yes, they have those here!) to get some Guarana Bare (a drink like coke made with seeds of Guarana that has a lot of caffeine). After that, we hung out a little bit more. He speaks a little English, but I understand his Portuguese a lot better than his English. His mom is Catholic, he believes in God, but he does not go to church or have a personal relationship with Christ.<br /><br />We played ball together again last night (Monday), then caught the most recent Narnia movie afterwards. He is really nice, he even invited me to come celebrate Christmas with him and his family on Christmas Eve.<br /><br />Be praying that God would use me to get him involved in a church and to have that first encounter with the God of Creation! I have started memorizing the Roman Road in Portuguese so that maybe I can start talking to him a little bit about Christianity. Pray that I could learn some of that 'religious jargon' in order to talk to him about our Creator and our Saviour.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-8780901780276932552010-12-03T11:15:00.000-08:002010-12-03T11:43:06.845-08:00Pork and CheeseWhere has all the time gone? I started my missions training at the end of July, and it is already December!? Time has flown by. I've been here in Manaus now for a little over a month and a half. Thank you for all of the prayers and messages that I have been receiving. It is definitely encouraging to know that people are thinking about me and lifting me up before our Heavenly Father. Thank you! A lot!<br /><br />The main question I have been getting from people is what have you been doing? So let me give you the average week so you know more or less what my life looks like right now. Monday through Friday I have language training from 9:30 - 11:30. My language teacher and I have a book and usually we spend one hour going through some book pages and one hour talking (in Portuguese), or going through Bible stories to learn some of that 'religious jargon.' This morning we actually made some 'creme de maracuja' which, I believe, would translate into passion fruit cream!? It was like a fruity pudding made out of passion fruit - very delicious! Then the rest of the day is up to me. Usually I'll spend an hour or so studying more Portuguese, an hour or so studying my Bible, and some time watching TV in Portuguese to continue working on listening comprehension.<br /><br />Last night my roommate and I went down to Ponta Negra, which is a popular strip along the river here, to do some storytelling. I memorized the story from Matthew 4 of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to be 'fishers of men.' After I told the story to one guy, I asked him if he had any questions. He asked what it meant to be a fisher of men. My first thought was, "I don't know if I could really explain this in English, how in the world will I do it in Portuguese!?" But, I explained as best as I could talking about discipleship, then I let my roommate, who is fluent, finish it up for me! It was a good time last night and I think we are going to start going down there to tell stories on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We met one guy last night who started crying when talking about his life - be praying for him. He's a vendor down there and hopefully we can talk with him some more next time we head down there.<br /><br />The weekends are usually somewhat busy. I go to a church here named Nova Igreja Batista. They have a singles service on Saturday nights that runs about 700 and a normal service on Sundays that runs about 2500! Pretty large! But I like the people I've met there and we usually end up hanging out before services and after services.<br /><br />So far so good. I'm definitely feeling ready to go to training and start doing the 'real' work that I came here to do, but first I've got to patiently be working on that Portuguese and learning that culture. Ya'll can be praying that I would have this patience to be content where I am and give 100% to language learning. Also, pray that I continue to have opportunities to be with Brazilians and learn the language by hearing them and talking with them. And last, but not least, next Saturday I will speaking at a youth service at a different church, so pray that God would give me the words to say. Thank ya'll!Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-33835444708279894502010-11-07T10:35:00.000-08:002010-11-07T11:17:55.957-08:00Greg - 1 ; Piranhas - 0Before telling about my time here in Brazil thus far, I heard a quote today listening to a John Piper sermon about William Carey that is worth putting on here. William Carey is often called the "Father of Modern Missions" because in a time (late 1700's) where there were very, very few missionaries he and a group of friends started the Baptist Missionary Society and he himself went to India to be a missionary. As I said, there were very few missionaries, so he went with no training, no guide, no mentor, no nothing... except God, who is in Himself the greatest trainer and guide. He answered a call in his life to go where people had not gone, to go to a land full of non-Christians in order to fulfill the Great Commission. Before he left he and one of the mission society co-founders, Andrew Fuller, exchanged these words,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Andrew Fuller: "There is a gold mine in India; but it seems as deep as the centre of the earth; who will venture to explore it?" </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">William Carey: "I will go down, but remember that you must hold the rope."<br /></span>You must hold the rope! And that is exactly what I am asking from each and everyone of you reading this blog. I am here. I am in Brazil. I am in my gold mine, so please hold the rope. Remember me in your prayers and remember the lost Ribeirinhos of the Amazon in your prayers as well.<br /><br />Whew. Well, it has been a crazy 3 weeks and I do apologize for not updating my blog sooner, but internet time is limited here and I have been using what little of it I do have to e-mail and skype with my parents, which I'm sure no one would object to! I got here late, late Friday night three weeks ago. The following weekend was a little orientation. Then Monday I got to go out into the 'Interior' of the Amazon! A fellow American and I went to a Ribeirinho community. It was great. We packed our backpacks, jumped on a hammock boat (think of a normal river ferry with hammocks strung EVERYWHERE, and you sleep and eat on the boat until you reach the desired destination), and set sail for 2.5 days of boat travel. We got to the community and it was very much what I had imagined. For those of you who have been to Laveasar, Cambodia, it was very much like that village. A slow, simple life that centers around fishing and relationships. All the houses were built up on stilts because of the flooding during the rainy season. I enjoyed practicing what little Portuguese I know on these people, and they would laugh and correct me and then the American I was with would fill me in on what I said wrong. We spent one night out there then jumped on a boat back to Manaus and made it back on Saturday morning. It was a nice little flavor of what is to come here in 5 months or so. It will be a difficult lifestyle for sure, but it will be very worth it. I am excited about what is to come.<br /><br />But, that is what is to come. Let's talk a little about the here and now. These last two weeks have been all about language. Portuguese, as many of you know, is very, very similar to Spanish. I've never been fluent in Spanish, but the couple of years I did have in high school are definitely paying off. A lot of the sentence structure and grammar and verb forms and tenses are the same. For two hours a day a language teacher comes to my little house here in Manaus, and we practice what I know and I learn some more. Then I practice it. I practice it with the American and the Brazilians that live here in the house I'm at. I practice it at the market, on the streets, at church. I watch Brazilian TV and movies and listen to Brazilian music. I'm trying to immerse myself in it as much as possible so I can grow that vocabulary and train my ears to hear and understand what is being said. <br /><br />I've been meeting a lot of Brazilians through my language teacher and through church. We stay pretty busy on the weekends hanging out and going to church. This last Friday we went to a circus. It was like Cirque du Soleil, but a lot worse! Yesterday we went to a graduation for the 5 people that just finished their Amazon Race training and are about to be heading out into the interior, this morning we went to a wedding (supposed to start at 9:00, it started at 10:15, gotta love that Latin American timeliness!), and then tonight I'm going to church with my language teacher. As I said, I'm meeting people, and it has been so awesome to hear some of the testimonies and see how God is at work in people's lives here in Brazil. <br /><br />All in all, I am loving being down here. It's different, and sometimes I just want some Air Conditioning or Papa John's (they have pizza here but it's terrible!), but definitely I have been enjoying it. Here are some prayer requests that I would ask you all to be lifting up on my behalf:<br />- That everyday I would be founded in God's Word and in living for Him. This is number one. More important than language, and more important than getting to know the culture. Pray that I would grow in my relationship with Him each and every day, that I would be sensitive to his voice, and that I would obediently follow him wherever He leads me.<br />- That I would be fluent for the purpose of communicating Christ here in Brazil. This is what the next three months are about for me. Practicing, studying, memorizing, speaking, and reading in Portuguese is a big part of each day. Pray that God would give me His grace in communicating with Brazilians. My Portuguese has already gotten a lot better just since getting here (Big praise!), but just ask that I would continually understand more and more, especially when people are talking fast, and that I would be able to speak more and more each day. It is a process, so pray for patience in that too!<br />- That I would be surrounded by good, Godly, Brazilian friends. I love the Americans who are here, and I am really grateful that they are here in my transitioning, but just pray that more and more I would be surrounded by Brazilians, being encouraged by there life stories, and learning more Portuguese from them. I have already met quite a few, as I mentioned before (another big praise!), but pray that I get more and more opportunities to spend time with them throughout the week.<br />Thank you all so very much for being my support and having my back while I am here in Brazil. I hope to be putting pictures up soon on my Facebook and, if I can figure out how, on here as well. And just a reminder, if you have any prayer requests that I can be praying for, please e-mail me amazongreg@gmail.com or Facebook me and I would love to be able to pray for you as well. I'll try and update this a little more regularly while I am here in Manaus!Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-14428909694106028912010-10-15T01:08:00.001-07:002010-10-15T01:31:09.131-07:00It's here...Well, it is currently 3:07 AM [early] Friday morning. My plane leaves Houston in about 9.5 hours. I won't be back on United States soil until July 2012. How crazy is that! I don't even know how to feel or what to say. I have no clue what my life will look like in a week. What I eat and where I eat, who I hang out with and how much we'll be able to communicate, where I'll go during the day and what I'll do. I'm trying to have as few expectations as possible so as not to be disappointed when what I thought would happen doesn't happen. Blessed are the flexible for they will not break, right? Well, we'll see. All I know is that I am super excited about living in a different place. I know it will be difficult at times, but it's an adventure and it's where God has called me, so I'm going.<div><br /></div><div>I've been getting quite a few questions about the immediate future and what I'll be doing, so here is a rough outline of where I'll be and when. </div><div>- For the first month I'm there I will be just hanging out in Manaus. I'll get a head start on language and maybe do a little traveling with my supervisor on the river. I should have internet during this time so I'll try to update this blog and do some facebooking, but no promises on anything.</div><div>- In mid-November I start formal language training. I'll be living in a house of sorts in Manaus and a tutor will come to me each day. I assume he will be there in the mornings and early afternoon and then I will go out and practice what I am learning in the late afternoon and evening. This will last a little less than 3 months.</div><div>- At the beginning of next February I start jungle survival training. I don't really know what this will look like, but I do know that it sounds really cool and really intense! I will be learning how to live in the Amazon Basin, which I assume means learning which plants to eat or not eat, which bugs to eat, which plants are good for medication, how to make a shelter, how to fish Amazon-style, how to avoid mosquitoes, etc. </div><div>- Then [finally], next May I believe I will for the first time go to a people in need of the Gospel. And that starts my 3 months in and 2 weeks out process.</div><div>Hopefully that clears some gray area so you know where I'll be and what I'll be doing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Prayer! So, here are some ways that you can be praying. I'm sure these requests are elsewhere on the blog, but these are the ones that I think are most important at this time. </div><div>Pray for safe travel. </div><div>Pray for an open mind that understands a new culture instead of deeming it 'wrong.'</div><div>Pray that God would give me His grace in learning a new language as quick as possible.</div><div>Pray that God would lead me to young Christian men in the city of Manaus that I could grow close to and depend on through the transition of moving to a new place.</div><div>Pray that my eyes would be open to the lostness in Manaus and that wherever I am I would be a light shining in darkness that causes others to give glory to God.</div><div>Pray that I just fall in love with the country and the people.</div><div>Pray for safety.</div><div>Pray for strength.</div><div>Pray that I would remain rooted in the Word of God. That I would look to Him as my rock, my shelter, my fortress, and my foundation. Pray that He would be my source.</div><div>Pray for the people of Manaus. That God would open up their eyes and their hearts to the truth of who He is and His grace.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you all!</div>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-68068328706871766842010-10-07T08:52:00.000-07:002010-10-07T10:20:51.057-07:00God is FaithfulAs I reflect over my time at Field Personnel Orientation (I'm back at home as of September 23rd), I can think of one verse in particular and one theme that we find throughout the entirety of Scripture. This verse is 2 Corinthians 2:14, "<i>But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.</i>" As I prepare to leave a week from tomorrow I am constantly reminded of how inadequate I am. I am not worthy to be a missionary. It is humbling that God has chosen to use me. What is encouraging in the face of this is the fact that God leads us in triumphal procession. It's not about me going and telling people about Christ, it's about me following God where he has led me and worshiping him through missions. It is not about what I can do for the kingdom of heaven, but about taking part in God's story and his work that has already begun in the Amazon basin. I'm not perfect and I'm not worthy and, really, I'm not capable. But God is! God leads us in triumphal procession. And God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of himself everywhere. Praise God! He does use us, as the verse says, but it's him spreading the fragrance through me; it's not about my own strength and my own words, it's God's!<div><br /></div><div>We see this same theme through Scripture:</div><div>Genesis 14:20 tells us that God delivered Abraham's enemies into his hands.</div><div>Exodus 14:30-31 tell of God's mighty power to save the Israelites from the Egyptians.</div><div>Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us that God goes before us and he will always be with us.</div><div>Joshua 23:3 tells us that all the victories of the Israelites in Canaan under Joshua were because God fought for them.</div><div>1 Samuel 17:37 is David saying that just as God delivered him from a bear and a lion God will also deliver him from Goliath.</div><div>2 Kings19:35 tells of God striking down many enemies to defend Judah on behalf of his great name.</div><div><br /></div><div>All through the pages of the Bible we see men who are faithful to God being led by God as he is faithful to them. How refreshing to know that God works for us and in us and through us for himself. As I leave not too long from now, I know that God is guiding me and that he has already prepared the way. "<i>But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.</i>" Thanks be to God!</div>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-25052971413791222322010-09-01T15:09:00.001-07:002010-09-09T17:31:05.724-07:00Prayer & PeopleFirst off I wanted to say thank you to everyone for your prayers. Prayers for me. Prayers for Brazil. Prayers for the specific people on the Amazon that I will be working with. I could not say thank you enough. I don't want it to be a one way street though. As I have said before, God has been teaching me a lot about prayer; therefore, my own personal prayer life has been growing. So, if any of you reading this blog have some prayer requests that you would like for me to be lifting up please e-mail them to <a href="mailto:amazongreg@gmail.com">amazongreg@gmail.com</a>. I would really like to know how I can be lifting you up before our Creator and Savior.<br /><br />I have to give a 10 minute presentation on my people group tomorrow. In researching for this I have learned a lot about their history, culture, daily life, and religion. So, I figured I would put on here what I have found out so that you can be praying a little more specific for these people.<br /><br />They are called the Ribeirinhos (hee-bear-a-nyos) - which literally means 'riverine' in Portuguese. They are the river dwellers. The majority of them have settled along the Amazon from other parts of Brazil. One wave of them came during the Industrial Revolution. With a growing need for rubber to make the assembly lines and products, men were drawn to the rainforest to tap rubber, hoping to get rich quick. The process was hard, and conditions difficult. Money was hard to come by, so many were never able to make it out of the Amazon. The next wave of people came to settle the Amazon during World War II. With a need for rubber in the war, men in Brazil were told to either fight in Italy or go tap rubber in the Amazon. They, again, were promised wealth and prosperity in going to be rubber tappers, or Rubber Soldiers as they were called. Just as before, the work ended up being harder than expected, money was scarce, and returning home became impossible. Also, these men were in danger of sickness and death caused by malaria and yellow fever, wild animal bites, and malnutrition. They, along with the men from the first wave, ended up marrying local (often times indigenous) women, and lived permanently on the Amazon.<br /><br />Most likely, the people in the community that I am going to will be descendants of these former rubber tappers. Most make livings from fishing, rubber tapping, or fruit collecting. The people themselves are diverse. Because of their history, some have blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin while others (descendants of former slaves) have dark hair, brown eyes and dark skin. There are between 2,000,000 and 6,500,000 Ribeirinhos spread out into 30,000 communities of 50 - 300 people each. Their culture varies due to their mixes of Amazonian, European, and African peoples. They are apparently extremely hospitable. However, they face very difficult lives. One man who visited Ribeirinhos said that every house he came across had at least one person with malaria in it. The same man said that not a single house had anyone who had been formally educated for at least a year. There is often resentment and sometimes violence between indigenous groups and Ribeirinhos over who gets to fish on what parts of the river. Also, because of commercial fishing, it has become harder to catch fish at all on parts of the river. One Ribeirinho said that as a teenager he could catch some lunch in 5 minutes and get on with the day. Now it takes him a full hour to find some fish. Not to mention the same problems mentioned earlier that the Rubber Soldiers had when they originally came. Pray for their physical well-being, that God would heal them and protect them. Pray that God would send people out to proclaim the Gospel to these Ribeirinhos that they might not die having never heard the truth of a Creator God who loves us and gave His Son for us.<br /><br />And lastly the religion. According to one website they are 87% Christian. This sounds good, but in reality very, very few of them are practicing, Bible-believing, born again Christians. Many of them say they are Catholic, though this is most often mixed with an African tribal religion called Orixa. They believe in a god, Oludamare, who created the world. Then they believe in other lesser deities called Orixas. Each individual has his own Orixa that controls their destiny and protects them. They mix these religions by calling Oludamare "God" and by worshipping the Orixas as "saints" and “ancestors.” In fact many of them wear crosses and worship in cathedrals though the Catholic subtleties are covers for this Orixa. From some websites I read they even justify the worship of these Orixas and God by saying that Jesus is the Son of God and He is the only way to the Father - they say that these Orixas are lesser deities; therefore can be worshipped in addition to Jesus. Pray that they would see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the only mediator between us and God. There are no other deities and no other ways to eternal life but following Him and Him alone. Pray that God would open their eyes to this fact.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-54470451022053892942010-08-29T18:59:00.001-07:002010-08-29T19:39:21.304-07:00Not in Lake JacksonAs I go through my days here in Virginia I am reminded constantly that I am not in Lake Jackson anymore. We don't have nearly as many mosquitos up here, though there are ticks. There are hills! And not just hills but mountains. Yesterday a group of us went and hiked Old Rag Mountain (<a href="http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/OldRag/">http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/OldRag/</a> scroll down for pictures). I seriously don't think I've gone hiking on a mountain since Jr. High, and it was so much fun. For the most part there is a lot less humidity up here, though we have had some pretty humid days. It gets fairly hot during the afternoons, but cools down big time at night. Sometimes leaving the gym in a sweaty shirt at night makes for a really cold walk to the dorm. There are the inside jokes and Hot Rod quotes that I turn to say sometimes that I then remember no one will get. Sometimes I just want to go to the beach, but it's 3 hours away. A movie ticket costs 10 bucks! It was $4.50 in College Station and $5 in Lake Jackson. Not to mention missing the friends and family. The food is pretty good here too, but it's nothing like mom's home coooking! It's definitely been a fun month of getting to live in a different location, and it's hard to believe that it's half-way over. I'll be back home this time next month getting ready to move a lot farther away then Virginia!<br /><br />I know I put this on just about every blog, but it's been incredible what all God has done in my time up here. It's a combination of some really awesome people coming to speak to us all day every day and an environment where there are few distractions and reading the Bible and prayer is a priority. The Bible is full of hidden jewels and I think that my understanding of God, His love, His grace, His glory, His righteousness, and His Word have changed quite a bit since I got here a little more than a month ago. Look up the Hebrew meaning of the word "worm" in Psalm 22:6 and it'll give you a bigger appreciation for God's creation. Watch this video <a href="http://vimeo.com/5428141">http://vimeo.com/5428141</a> to get a slightly different perspective on the stories of the Bible. Read this article <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1541_Did_Christ_Die_for_Us_or_for_God/">http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1541_Did_Christ_Die_for_Us_or_for_God/</a> by John Piper and I think it may shift some thoughts about who man is and who God is and what salvation is all about. <br /><br />All in all my time here has been filled with sweet time spent in group fellowship and personal devotion before my God. I hope that regardless of what distractions may come my way, when I leave in 4 weeks, my walk with God will be my source and my strength.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-22845324390665935402010-08-15T18:18:00.000-07:002010-08-15T19:14:30.159-07:00Planting a ChurchIt's crazy to think that my time at training is already a fourth of the way over. I overheard someone saying this the other day, and thought it to be very true: I came here thinking I was ready for the mission field, once I got here I realized how unprepared I really was. This last week was wonderful. We started the week talking about different cultures and the real importance of learning the culture and the language in order to communicate within their context. So please be praying that I can pick up Portuguese and a Brazilian lifestyle quickly. Toward the end of the week we focused on the actual process of church planting. My view of my position as a missionary totally changed these past couple of days.<br /><br />At first I thought I would be doing a ton of evangelizing, I mean, that's what missionaries do, right? And I will be doing evangelism, but the real goal is to plant a healthy, self-supporting and self-governed church that then reaches out to the community around it. We looked a lot this last week at the book of Acts and studied how Paul and his partners went into cities and associated with the people. My job will be to find people interested in the Gospel and teach them the stories of the Bible. Assuming they believe and become Christians we start a church. Then my job will be focused more on equipping them to go out and spread the Gospel to their neighboring comunities who then will go out and spread the Gospel to their neighboring communities and so on. So pray not just for people in my future community to become Christians, but to become Disciples of Christ. Pray that they would take ownership, and that by the end of my two years in Brazil they would be a church with no need of an outsider from the USA. Sounds a bit ambitious, and really, really big, God big. <br /><br />Which is why prayer is absolutely needed in every little bit of where I'm going and what I'll be doing. Just as God went before the Israelites and won all of their battles if they'd obey, so I need Him to go before me and prepare hearts and win spiritual battles for any of the river community people to know Him. Here is a verse where Paul has the same mindset, "<em>But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledfe of him everywhere</em>." (2 Corinthians 2:14)<br /><br />So please do pray that God would open the eyes of the people to whom I am going. Pray that God would raise up men and women to take the Gospel to the surrounding communities. Pray that I would be an obedient messenger accurately proclaiming the truth that they need to hear. Pray that I would be able to teach these men and women about the character of God, and pray that I would be able to equip them and prepare them to do ministry of their own. But pray most of all that God's hand would be in this. He alone can bring people unto Himself, and He alone can send people out with their faith on a solid foundation. So pray, beg (like the persistent widow of Luke 18) that He would already begin preparing people for His Gospel. Thanks.Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-39584323338865576962010-08-08T17:06:00.001-07:002010-08-11T12:14:06.572-07:00EvangelismThis should not be news to anybody, myself included, considering that I am here to be trained as a missionary, but there is a big push for evangelism. We have to 'evangelize' to someone at least three times per week. We are in class all day (which the classes by the way are great!) and then in the evenings I've been able to focus on digging into the Word, praying, and of course playing some basketball/frisbee/soccer. Because most of us stay on campus Monday through Friday, they allow us to evangelize to other people that are here for training. It's kind of funny in and of itself to be sharing the Gospel with those who are called to go out and share the Gospel full time, but it's for the purpose of allowing thoughts to move from the brain into words out of the mouth. Anywho, Saturday we had an opportunity to go out and share the Word. We went to a Caribbean music festival downtown. Armed with Bible tracts and partners we walked around looking for people to talk to. My partner and I quickly split up thinking that it would be best to cover more ground. For me personally I'd rather engage in conversation by myself rather than having someone else looming over my shoulder... a little less aggressive I'd say.<br /><br />In the hour and a half I was there I talked to three people in particular. One guy I talked to was named Donny. He and his family were Christians and we ended up talking for about 20 minutes. I told them about what I was soon to be doing in Brazil and they told me they'd be praying for me, then they told me all about their involvement in their church and how they share the Gospel in their workplaces. It was a real good conversation. The next man I talked to was named Charles. He and his wife run one of the little shops there in the town square where the music festival was being held at. We ended up talking for about 40 minutes- mainly about the history of the city and all the sights to see before I leave. To try and make things a bit more spiritual, I asked him if he attended church anywhere in the area. He told me that he attended a Baptist church on the west end of town, but then he stumbled over his words trying to remember the name of the church. He said that he doesn't know the name of the church because he has been going for so long that he just doesn't bother to look at the signs anymore! I took it to mean that he seldom goes, so I told him that I'd be going to Brazil and emphasized the fact that I was going to be teaching that Jesus is the only way to the Father and therefore the only way into heaven. He knodded his head, then started talking more about historic downtown. Having had a nice conversation I wished the man and his wife well and proceeded to walk around for a couple minutes. Then I met Lawrence, a city worker. Lawrence informed me that he grew up Baptist, but he hated how they made you put money in the offering plate. And he especially did not like the fact that most Baptist preachers drive nicer cars and own nicer clothes than the people in their congregation. I tried convincing him that that was not always the case, but then we moved onto more serious things. When he was 16 he became a Jehovah's Witness. Not really knowing too much about Jehovah's Witnesses, I asked him a few questions about his beliefs - about salvation, about heaven, about Jesus. Unfortunately I couldn't talk to him for too long because we were meeting to leave at a certain time. I feel like we made some progress, and I left him with a tract explaining salvation and eternity.<br /><br />Now why do I tell you about this? First off, pray for Lawrence. He needs to know about Jesus. He needs to believe in the God of this universe and Jesus as his Son, who paid the sacrifice to forgive us of our sins. But I also tell you this because it's made me step back and think. Three weeks ago, if you would have asked me how to measure spiritual maturity in a person, I think it would largely have been based on Biblical knowledge. Criteria would have been quiet time length and how many times said person has read through the Bible. A good prayer life would have worked its way into the equation, as would theological perspective and backing. I probably never even would have asked about evangelism practices. But as I look through the pages of Scripture this is so opposite of what the Christian faith is all about. So many passages tell of God's love for the nations and His desire to see them be saved. Look at the very life of Jesus. Time with His Heavenly Father was very, very important to Him. I don't in any way intend to undermine quiet times. They are important and essential in becoming more Christlike. However, the New Testament is full of stories in which Jesus was telling others about the Kingdom of God. He was telling people about being born again, about the living water from which you will never thirst again, and about the need to give all you can for the sake of the Gospel. Once again, I'm not saying that evangelism is more important than daily time with God. Jesus spent long periods of time by himself in prayer. I'm saying that personal time with God and evangelism are two aspects of spiritual maturity that shouldn't be separated. Praying and meditating on Scripture is just as important as telling others the Good News of the saving grace of JesusChrist. The sad thing is that for so long I have overlooked this dimension of being a disciple of Jesus. I mean, what were Jesus' last statements? The last thing Jesus says in Matthew is, <em>"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." </em>And in Acts we find Jesus' words to be somewhat similar, "...y<em>ou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."</em> As I look at these two passages that record some of the last words of Jesus I wonder how I could have lived so much of my life as a follower of the man who said these words with relatively no practice in these words.<br /><br />So, I ask that you would pray that I may have boldness. I ask that you would pray that God would give me a heart for the lost people in Brazil as well as the lost people all around me. The church in Acts was marked by their boldness and they kept praying that they would be more and more bold. Pray that I may deny my flesh and walk in the Spirit. That I may do things out of my comfort zone for the sake of the One who sacrificed all.<br /><br />Someone told us today a pretty good little saying. Paul knew only two days. He knew today. And he knew 'the day.' He knew the present, and he knew eternity. I pray that my today's would be lived in light of the end day, that God would welcome me into heaven saying, "Well done my good and faithful servant."Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-31969037493041363142010-08-04T15:12:00.001-07:002010-08-04T15:53:21.959-07:00RefreshmentPsalm 16:11 says, <em>"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."</em> I think the main reason it's taken me so long to write anything on this blog is because we do so much here that I don't even know where to begin to communicate what God has been teaching me. So, if I in any way seem a little scatterbrained, just bear with me.<br /><br />I read this verse in Psalms this morning, and I think it so wonderfully explains my time here so far. We've stayed pretty busy going in and out of classes from 8:00 - 5:00, but the evening times and morning times have been so full of what's important. I've been able to keep the main thing the main thing, and that's putting God first. And what a joy it is to put God first rather than letting the flesh try to compete with Him. It's just been refreshing. I've been able to spend so much time reading the scriptures, and it really does revive the soul. It makes me wonder why I didn't spend much time reading God's Word and Praying back at home. I think the answer is simple - Distractions. With the Internet, and TV, and Movies, and you name it right there at the house, it's easy to simply forget about God and give Him second place. While here, it's been so much easier to really focus on what's eternal. Peter, John, and Paul all called themselves bond-servants of Christ and the Bible says that we are the same. The Greek word there is Doulos. A definition of Doulos is one devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests; a slave. According to this definition, if we are followers of Christ, then we are slaves of Christ, and if slaves of Christ then we should be so devoted to obeying Christ in our lives that we disregard our own interests.<br /><br />One of the weirdest things about this is that when we finally do give Jesus the reigns, there is no regret. At the surface level it doesn't sound fun to be anybody's slave. It's not exciting to forsake our own desires in order to follow someone else. But for some reason, when we stop holding on to our lives too tightly and follow Jesus every step of the way, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Instead of watching SportsCenter I've been reading my Bible, instead of wasting time on facebook I've been praying. And I can tell you that it has been an incredible week, just sitting back letting God fill me with more and more of himself. There is no regret in living for Him.<br /><br />If I could ask you to keep on praying though then I would greatly appreciate it. Keep on praying for the lost along the Amazon River where I will be going. Pray that God would begin opening their eyes to the Truth. Pray that when I get there God will have already been at work among them even if they don't realize it till I get there. Pray also for me. Pray that God would continue working on me, molding me into the obedient follower that I must be before He sends me out. Thank you all so much for your prayers, He does hear them!<br /><br /><em>"That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..." Acts 3:20</em>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-69966442667212887632010-07-26T22:45:00.000-07:002010-08-08T17:05:23.963-07:00Off to TrainingTomorrow... Actually in 4 hours I will be leaving Lake Jackson/Clute, Texas to go be trained. As I have read the books that have been given to me in order to prepare for this adventure I am about to undertake I have constantly been reminded of how little I have depended on God throughout all of this. As a human being and as a man I like to think that I am capable and competent enough to do anything that I put my heart to. I know it's pride, but it's just that way I think. In all honesty, I think that even if I never stop to pray I could 'get through' the next two years. However, I don't want to just 'get through' these next two years. I want God to show up in huge and mighty ways. In Habakkuk 1:5 God says, "<i>Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.</i>" I hope that God does things that are unthinkable and unbelieveable. I know that these things will not happen though, unless I learn to rely on Him and live every moment for Him and not for myself. <div><br /></div><div>I guess what I'm getting at is the idea of prayer. I have not taken nearly enough time to just sit before the Creator and Sustainer and let Him give me hope and vision and joy as he prepares me for where I am to go. I definitely believe that God answers prayers; however, if anyone were to actually look at my life, they would never know it. It's not a priority. I've heard stories of the "Heroes of our Faith" who spent hours in prayer each and every day. They were sensitive to God's calling and leading throughout their days.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the books that I have been reading is called <u>Church Planting Movements</u>. As the title suggests, it is about planting churches that plant churches that plant churches. It's about a movement - a revolution that changes the thoughts and beliefs of entire people groups as it rapidly spreads throughout landscapes. One of the quotes is as follows, "Prayer permeates Church Planting Movements... Church Planting Movements are steeped in prayer." I love those verbs - permeates and steeped. Prayer is everything in missions. If we expect God to act then he expects us to humbly approach His throne.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I want to ask you to pray. Right now. Tonight. Tomorrow morning. Or even all the above! Pray for yourself that you would be sensitive to God's leading in your life today! Also, pray for my mission trip. Most likely, the reason you are reading this is because you have already been praying or want to know how to pray for me as I go. So let me give you a few thoughts from the book I mentioned previously.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>1. Pray for the missionaries</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>I hate to put myself first, but it's the order it's in in the book! As I go to training I have no idea what training holds. I know that I will be extremely busy and probably tired. I know they will try to get us out of our comfort zones as we prepare to move into an entirely different culture. I'm fairly positive that they are going to stuff our little noggins with an information overload that will be hard to keep up with. Pray that I grow ever closer to our Savior each and every day. Pray that God uses this time to refine me (which often isn't easy) into the man I need to be as I approach the time to leave for Brazil. Pray that God would show up in incredible ways at Orientation.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>2. Pray for the lost people group.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>The people that I will be going to may have some prior knowledge of the Gospel. However, if they have any it is very faint and most likely mixed with some sort of spirit worship that many would associate with villages in remote locations. As I said in a previous blog, I won't be done with training until April or May of next year. But it is never too early to start praying for lost souls. Pray that God would open their eyes to see His glory and the hope that He offers. Pray that they would actively receive it and willingly spread the news throughout their region.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>3. Pray for the new believers.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>I have no idea what will happen when the first group of people turn to Christ. The rest of the community may treat them the same, or they may be ignored and harmed. Pray that God would grant them His strength to be bold. Pray that they would persevere as the faith becomes their own and they proclaim it to others.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>4. Pray for new workers.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Pray that as men and women come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, they would become missionaries. The goal would be for them to become church planters and evangelists. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just pray! To be honest I have no idea what's in store for these next few months, but I do know that the best way to prepare is to pray. So join me in lifting up the men and women along the Amazon River to our Lord.</div>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5044638242261243611.post-59074334623972263012010-07-12T09:38:00.000-07:002010-08-09T17:55:46.695-07:00A Fortnight Away<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Let me start off with a story I read from 2 Kings 7 last night. It's one I have heard, but one that hit close to home since I leave in two weeks for training. It's a story about 4 lepers. While sitting outside of the entrance to the city, they say to one another, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go..."</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> So they rise up and go to the only place where they even have a chance of living, to the camp of the enemies - the Syrians. As they were headed down to the camp of the Syrians, God made these lepers sound like a great army coming to fight. Because the Syrians feared that a mighty army was coming to besiege them, they fled. In their fear they left everything behind them. "</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them."</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> They just found immense treasure and everything they needed to stay alive, as this was what compelled them to approach the Syrians to begin with. But they hid it. They kept it to themselves. Remember, there was a famine in the city, and upon finding all that the Syrian army had left behind they chose to hoard it for themselves rather than share this great news with the others. Then they realized what they were doing. They said to one another, "</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. Let us go and tell..."</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> So they went and told the king's household. Then, all the people went and plundered the camp of the Syrians and were able to have abundant amounts of food and drink.</span></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">While reading a commentary on these verses I found a quote from Charles Spurgeon, "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If the only result of our religion is the comfort of our poor little souls, if the beginning and the end of piety is contained within one’s self, why, it is a strange thing to be in connection with the unselfish Jesus, and to be the fruit of his gracious Spirit. Surely, Jesus did not come to save us that we might live unto ourselves. He came to save us from selfishness." </span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i></i>I have been blessed greatly by the family that God has given me and the friends that God has surrounded me with. Most importantly I have been blessed by God by being able to call myself a son of God, to receive an inheritance greater than anything the earth has to offer. Therefore I cannot keep it to myself. Just as the lepers went and told the nation of Israel, so I must go and tell.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Many of you know that I am headed out to training here in two weeks to start my two months of training. After this I will be heading down to Brazil sometime between mid-October and mid-November. At that point I will go through another 5-6 months of training. Then I will start my missions job. Amazon RACE - Radical Approach to Church planting and Evangelism. I will be paired up with a native Brazilian. We will canoe down the Amazon River in search of a particular river-community that will be our new home for about a year and a half (not a year and a half straight though, we will be there for 3-4 months then back to the city of Manaus for 2 weeks, then in the river community for 3-4 months, then back to Manaus for 2 weeks...). As the Amazon RACE name implies, my job will be to develop relationships that lead to Christ-centered conversations that will lead to discipleship that will lead to church planting that will lead to sharing the Gospel in surrounding river communities. I am definitely excited about the next two years of my life. There is absolutely no telling what God will do inside of me and around me. Clearly, at this point I need prayer, and lots of it, so here are some things you could be praying for:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- That I would learn more about God and depend more on Him and less on </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">myself each and every day.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Language learning, I have been told that this is one of the most important </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">things at this point.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Visa, that the visa process would be pain free and not delay me in going to Brazil.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">- Last, but definitely not least, that God would prepare the hearts of those I am </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">going to be ministering to and that He would use me to bring people to </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Himself </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">that at this point have never even heard of Him.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thank you all! I am so excited about this.</span></span></span></div>Greg Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00144200151564774633noreply@blogger.com1