Tell your story!

Those who've been to Brazil have told me that Rio de Janeiro is two world right next to each other. The very rich, and the very poor. In preparing for this trip, I've been praying a great deal about "what do I have to say to these people?" I feel like coming from middle class middle America, how can I relate?

This morning I was reading in Acts 21 & 22. Paul has been arrested, and is being taken away. He asks the commander if he can speak to the people. What really jumped out to me is what Paul says. He doesn't talk to the people about where THEY are at. He speaks to the people about what has happened to him. It's HIS story that communicates the gospel.

Each one of us have a story. it's OUR story. It's the story that God has given us to share his love and truth. While I may have insecurities about being capable to speak to people from another culture, I can be secure in the fact that God has given me a story. When I tell MY story, HE will open the doors!

I know just enough Spanish to get myself in trouble. I've always thought that would help if I were to go to a Latin American country. Well, in Brazil, they don't speak Spanish, they speak Portuguese. I'm not sure if this is accurate, but to me it sounds like a Spanish guy and a French guy got together to come up with Portuguese. I wont say my spanish skills are wasted, but I'm trying to get some Portuguese in my arsenal.

My good friend Manoel is from Brazil. He's been kind enough to spend some time teaching me key introductory phrases that can be beneficial for the trip. Would you also pray for me that I would remember these phrases? It may not seem like a big deal, but in the reading in Acts 22:2 today it says, "When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater." It's not a matter of being able to impress anyone, just trying to build a bridge to connect.

Obligado! (Thank you)