So it was really fun to have an opportunity to adventure with God yesterday to a place where we didn't know anyone or what to expect, and to just ask him to do what he wanted to do and to connect us with whoever he wanted to. We went to a small community on a mountainside about 30 minutes outside of Fortaleza. They were listed on the website as an unreached people group so we went to investigate :) A man who gave us directions at the gas station in the town nearby said, "watch out for the arrows." Which was funny except he didn't smile or laugh when he said it... but thank God, he was joking. The people we met were very hospitable to us. We weren't totally sure if it was ok to enter, so we just kept asking people on the side of the road as we went, "are we there yet, is this it, how do we get there, and is it ok to drive in further to visit...".
When we arrived, we saw a church building, and were surprised! Weren't expecting that. The church has about 30 members, 20 from one family, and the rest from outside the reservation. Its planning to close soon. A lady was there cleaning and let us come in to tell us about the community.
Then she introduced us to a 76 year old woman, Deuzete, who had an amazing conversion story and a mango orchard :) She had lived there her whole life. And about 15 years ago, was dying of throat and lung cancer and tuberculosis. Her daughter tried to convince her to come to church to get prayer, but she said, "No, I hate believers!". But she was healed, and now her whole family are believers. And she is fearless. She took anointing oil and prayed around a big tree where the village preforms rituals, one day before they were going to have rituals there. And then they were all mad at her because they couldn't connect with spirits there! But she said, "If my God is for me, who can be against me."
She showed us around her property and we picked 5 sacks full of mangos and other Brazilian fruits that I can't spell. And she said, next time you come you can put your tents here, and we will have so much more to give you. She was excited that for the first time a group of missionaries might come to her community.
They told us where the chief's house was so we went to meet him. His wife, Luisa, welcomed us in immediately. And talked to us, mostly looking at the ground, telling us about their community. She and the chief, Daniel, don't really have an active faith. They both claimed to believe in God in a general sort of way. Their native religious leader just practices macumba now. (which is an african witchcraft/ idol worship which is common in Brazil) And she was crying because thats not even native, nor the drugs that people have brought in. Really it sounds as if they have sort of lost their identity. And that their is almost no witness of the living God and real relationship with him there.
We prayed with the chief before we left, for rain so that they can plant their crops (its been a super dry year in this state). And he welcomed us to come back anytime.
So we will pray for heaven's strategy for these people! And can't wait to see how God wants to introduce himself. It seems so crazy to have this little group, that no one has really gone to, right by a huge city full of many believers and all kinds of religion. Like this tiny little forgotten people. But they are not forgotten! The light of the world is coming to them.
It was a simple and wonderful beginning. A door cracked open... What a blessing to participate. Love will flood that place. Thanks for praying for us!
Andrea
