Wednesday: A pepper plant, eye glasses, a soccer ball, and the gospel...

You might think that’s an odd combination. What could the connection be and what does any of that have to do with the gospel? 

Well, actually everything... these are just a few of the things that AMO uses to help meet needs, build relationships and share the gospel with the precious people living in the favelas. 

As we continue to serve this week in São Paulo, God continues to amaze me more and more. 

This morning several of us headed back to the gardens here on the ranch and we continued our planting and harvesting work from earlier this week. 

Today we planted corn, onions, herbs, squash and green peppers as well as harvested a rather large pile of carrots. These crops play a vital part in providing food and nutrition to the amazing people here on the ministry site as well as the people living in the favelas.  

Providing food for the people ministers to the physical need of so many, while laying the foundation for the greater spiritual needs. 

 We also had team members helping with construction and Chevene taught a class for the AMO staff in the afternoon. 

After lunch we loaded up and headed back out to the favelas where we went visiting and inviting people to church. 

We had the opportunity to go into several homes, pray with families, and share soccer balls with children. The children were so excited to receive this small gift and it will serve as a reminder of the free gift of salvation that only comes through Jesus.

We concluded our evening at the church with a full house! We had a great night of worship, discipleship and fellowship. Afterwards the adults that needed eyeglasses could go downstairs and pick out a pair of donated glasses. It was exciting seeing them trying on their news frames! 

All these things, from vegetables to glasses are making an impact and as a result of meeting needs, building relationships and showing compassion, the gospel is changing lives. 

The needs here are overwhelming. Yesterday, as I sat out on a patio area that overlooked a section of the favela, I became overwhelmed at the sight before my eyes. It’s hard to put into words and describe what my brain was trying to process. Even pictures lack the ability to truly put things into perspective here.

There is so much hurt, so much desperation, incredible suffering and so much need. The good news is we have a solution and that is Jesus! The truth is no matter where we live, whether Paducah, Brazil or anywhere else on the globe, our need is the same...we need Jesus.

In wrapping up this long, exhausting, glorious day, I would just like to say thank you to all those that have donated goods, services, or money to make this trip possible. Your valuable resources are being used in the best manner to make the most impact. Thank you again....

In Matthew 11, John the Baptist was in prison and he had been hearing rumors on the street about the Messiah and the miracles being performed. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he’s truly the messiah or should he be expecting someone else to come along later. Jesus replies back to them, "Go tell John what you’ve seen and heard. The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them."

I’m a witness and I have watched God do amazing things here this week. Continue to pray for us as we finish our work here and head home this weekend. Pray for the AMO team as they daily minister in the favelas and pray for the people of São Paulo that they would follow after God with their lives. 

Blessings! ~ Tim