March 1st 2010

Last week we gave away two of the church chairs to a family of five. It was a bit unusual but they only had three chairs in their house and there are two more children who stay with them every weekend. We sit on benches in the main church hall and we have about 20 - 25 blue plastic chairs in the store cupboard. We haven't missed the chairs yet. We also gave them a big box of food and some clothes. They have attended every meeting since and last night both parents knelt at the mercy seat. It is not exactly organised social work but when people come to the Salvation Army Hall in Sao Miguel Paulista and ask for help, we help them in the best way we can.
So, how did I get here? I had no idea when I gave my life to God at the age of 12 that I would one day live in Brazil. Although, I had a feeling it was something that would change my life forever, which is why it took me so long to do it. I had been going to the Salvation Army Sunday School in Basingstoke since the age of 3. My Auntie G. took me with her and when my sister was old enough, she came too. Several times a year the Sunday School leaders would give the children an opportunity to come to the front and pray and give their life to God (ie become a Christian) but I had resisted for 9 years. Then, one Sunday afternoon I was happliy ignoring God's voice calling me to follow Him when something shocked me. We were coming to the end of the prayer time and Mrs L, the Sunday School teacher at the front of the hall, was saying, 'I know there is someone here who should be at the front praying'. I was shocked. How did she know? Of course, I can look back now and realise that after 9 years the Sunday School teachers all knew that I wasn't a Christian and must have been tempted to give up all hope that I would ever make a commitment as I was heading sulkily into my teenage years. However, God used that moment to give me the big push. I turned to my sister who was 4 years younger than me and asked her to come with me. She said, 'No', and I thought that I would stay in my seat but instead I got up and knelt at the Mercy Seat. Two seconds later my sister, C, was kneeling next to me. Mrs H (my favourite Sunday School teacher) came and knelt between us and as she put her arms around us she said, 'I am so glad you have decided to do this'. For the next 6 years I tried to be a good Christian but my prayers seemed to just float away unanswered and I just couldn't seem to find the joy and peace that I was supposed to have. Then, at the age of 18, I had an amazing encounter with God. I repented of my sin, found salvation and was filled with the Holy Spirit. What a difference that made!
And now, 27 years later, here I am living in Brazil with my husband, P, and my little 4 year old boy, A. We arrived here on 1st August and immediately took up our appointment as the Commanding Officers of Sao Miguel Paulista Corps, in the Eastern part of the city of Sao Paulo, Brasil.
I have started this blog so that I can talk about my life here in Brasil for those people who are interested. It will make my e-mails a little shorter...! I am also going to set up a Facebook page for Sao Miguel Paulista so that I can illustrate my stories with photographs and videos and give an update of the work that is being done here.
Well, that's enough for today. My husband has just phoned to say that it is getting dark (at 6pm) and I should come home now. He's probably right. Thank you for reading my first blog!