Hello from Brazil!

As written by Jim Ramsay of The Mission Society:

"You’ll be happy to know that every one made it on time to the airport in Atlanta, we had a safe and uneventful flight to Rio, all the baggage made it, and we arrived at our training center around 1:00pm local time as planned. Thanks for your prayers – it is always a relief to see all people at the departing airport, then all baggage at the destination! Everyone was understandably pretty tired, but no sickness or major issues. Really muggy when we came out of the airport in Rio, but we assured everyone that it would be cooler in the mountains where we were headed.

The kids were good as gold (at least as far as I could tell) – they slept, chatted, or read on the 2-hour bus ride from Rio to where we are in the mountains near the city of Teresopolis. It was a windy road, but thankfully no one complained of motion sickness. We stopped half way here for a break and a chance for folks to sample some Brazilian treats – pão de queijo, cheese bread, is a favorite.

It is a beautiful setting. The weather is a mild about 70 degrees here today, although it’ll likely drop into the 50’s in the evenings and maybe even colder. It is winter here, after all! Everyone is resting up this afternoon – we’ll kick off the training this evening with some fun activities."

Leaving for Brazil!

I leave San Antonio at 3:43 PM on the 2 July 2009 and arrive in Brazil at 8:25 AM on 3 July 2009. Sounds like sleeping on the plane.

"This will be our third year holding training along with the Brazilians in this spot. It is a lovely location – about a 2-1/2 hour drive into the mountains from Rio, near the city of Teresopolis. Being out of the Atlanta heat for 18 days of the mild Brazilian winter has some appeal! It is a very safe location. We’ll be joined by about 25 Brazilians who will also attend the training. Our purpose for holding this in Brazil is twofold. One is that it gets our missionaries trained cross-culturally in a cross-cultural setting, so they are actually experiencing much of what we are teaching. It also has served as a way for us to help the Methodist Church of Brazil as it creates its own practices for sending Brazilian missionaries into other countries to serve.

We certainly appreciate your prayers – for this round, prayer for safe travel, that all documents are remembered and in order, and that all participants will come with open minds and open hearts, leaving the cares and concerns behind for these two weeks and really able to learn and experience what God has for them there."

As written by: Jim M Ramsay, Director of Field Ministry

The Devil did NOT make you do it!

"When we find a promise in the Bible, the only appropriate response is to claim it. When we find a commandment in the scripture, we should obey it. When the Bible tells us the truth about who we already are and what Christ has already done, there is only one appropriate response--and that is to believe it."

"We are all responsible for our own attitudes and actions. Satan simply takes advantage of the opportunities we give him. We have all the resources and protection we need to live a victorious life in Christ. If we're not living it, it's our choice."

"Satan is NOT your judge; he is merely your accuser. Yet if you listen to him and believe him, you will begin to live out these accusations as if they were a sentence you must serve."

The Bondage Breaker, Neil Anderson