An hour and 25 minutes in the Kornfield-Brazil household

1:45PM - I'm hungry. Time for lunch. Dad isn't eating lunch today because he had breakfast, which he doesn't usually do. I usually eat around 1:00, but I had breakfast late, so here I am. I finish a couple e-mails, send a couple of chat messages to friends who have gotten in touch letting them know I'm leaving for a bit, glance at my messy desk. The blue-glass cross I bought at a friend's garage sale yesterday is waiting to go up in the guest room. I go to look for nails. Find that the place I want to put it is hard cement and my feeble attempts with a hammer aren't going to cut it. Call my Dad. He says we'll have to use the electric drill to make the holes. I offer to have the pedreiro (Brazilian construction professional who usually works independently and is contracted and paid informally) do it next time he's here (he has several jobs pending for us). My dad sighs with relief. I just need to remember to call Manoel, the pedreiro, and find out where he's been. Lunch! I head to the kitchen. 2:15

I pop some left-overs in the microwave. While its heating, I start putting Brazilian tea bags in the "new" tea box I got at the garage sale. They don't have names on them individually, so I cut out pieces of the boxes in which they came to identify each kind. Food's hot. Just need to run to the bathroom and get my novel from upstairs. Reading during lunch sounds nice - relaxing. There are a bunch of things from the garage sale waiting on the stairs to be taken up, though. I grab an armful on the way and put them away in their respectful spots. Then, having taken care of my other business, I head back downstairs. Food's cold. 2:23.

I turn on the microwave again and remember I wanted to ask my dad if he's up for paying for fixing a couple of pieces of wooden furniture in our house that have fallen into disrepair. "Sure!" he says. I just need to remember to go up to the top of the street sometime and ask someone from the carpenter shop to give me a quote. Of course, all my neighbors say that shop is ridiculously expensive. Maybe they'll give me a break... besides, I don't know any other wood-workers. Of course, my neighbors probably do. If the people at the top of the street are expensive, I'll have to ask around. Geogea (the lady from down the street who comes to clean once a week, a good friend who is spiritually hungry and has started going to church with me, also the mother of 5 darlings ages 11 months to 11 years that continually bring me great joy) might know someone.

Meanwhile, my dad is counting his book stores (he constantly takes his books, my mom's books and other books he especially likes from Christian editors with which he has partnerships to sell at events). I remember that I've pulled several books out of the "books for sale" bookshelf in the family room (near the office) because people were asking me about them and I wanted to provide details. I go and get them. My dad sighs - he'll have to change some of his numbers. "Rachel, didn't we have more of this one?" "Yes, they're in a row behind the one's you're looking at." "No they're not, I don't see them!" "Yes they are, they're just lying down so that they could hold other's up." "Well, you can't put them lying down, I can't see them that way." "OK, Dad, next time I won't." Back to the kitchen. 2:28. Hungry! Miraculously the food is still hot. Yum. Finished off with delicious Brazilian coffee. 2:42. Time to go write the post I made up in my head during lunch. That novel never got opened. 3:10 PM, Monday, Nov. 9th.

Wonderful Christian paradoxes

Have you ever found it refreshing to just sit down and write about wondeful things? Well, here's a few I've been thinking about recently :).

Wonderful Christian paradoxes:

Unchanging mercy that is new every morning

Sovereign God who knows exactly what is best for me and gives me complete freedom to do His will :)

Love that never changes, that is angry at injustice and intolerant of sinful pride

Truth-telling humility that is more bold than any anger, obstinacy, obsession or haughtiness.

A beautiful God of anger, of love and of truth.

Discovery and bewilderment hand in hand - love.

One hundred percent concern for the here and now and for the hereafter.

Dealing with day to day details while focusing on the splendor and eternity of Christ and his coming.

What else... add your own!

Love,

Rachel

Wow... its been almost a year since I posted. I've discovered that if I don't do it right when the inspiration hits, no matter how much else is happening, it doesn't happen. Well, the current inspiration is that of two songs by Keith and Kristyn Getty that have meant a lot to me recently. I wonder if its possible to attach MP3s here? Hmm, not that I can figure out. If anyone knows how, I'd love to learn!

Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder

I've seen days melt into nights in circles of lights,
I've watched a spider spin a star between the window box flowers,
I've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh, and a story form within.

Don't let me lose my wonder.
Don't let me lose my wonder.

I saw her broken dreams inside but helping others fly,
I saw his eyes without a doubt though other lights faded out,
And though her calling roared such graciousness flowed
From the vision of her soul.

A baby cried through the dark beneath a jeweled spark,
I knew Your voice upon the hill and heard my lostness still,
I found my home in the light where wrong was made right
And You rose like the morning star.

Ah, the one below exists on youtube, although the recording on the "In Christ Alone" CD is better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fodnd3fE4mQ

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

Jesus draw me ever nearer

As I labour through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I'll follow, though I'm worn.

May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart's testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.

Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go -
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.

Keith and Kristyn Getty are also the authors of "In Christ Alone" and countless other beautiful and faith-building songs which I highly recommend.

Blessings,

Rachel

Karis got out of the hospital today! Hurray!!! So much new life.

Gosh. I'm exhausted. in an odd way. emotionally, i suppose. not so much that i can't deal with what is going on in my family. just enough that i can't deal with much else. i guess i have to accept that for now. later, everyone.

Hey folks!

Since I've started sending out monthly prayer/news letters by e-mail, I'm going to start using this blog for more of what most people use blogs for - thoughts, prayers, feelings, recollections - and not so much just for ministry stuff. If you are interested in receiving my prayer letters, though, please let me know at rachel.kornfield@gmail.com.

Right now, I'm feeling a little tired. Pretty soon I need to go get dinner ready because 5 people from my dad's ministry team are visiting this weekend for a retreat. It's been a good day, a lot going on, good conv. w/ my mom. It's been hard recently finding time to get together with my discipleship/mentoring group. I need to work on that. I've also been working on getting a doctor's apointment scheduled... I haven't been to a doctor for... um... years and my mentoring group has been getting after me about getting a general check-up. Nothing's wrong as far as I can tell, but I suppose it's a good thing to do occasionally.

It's funny how fun and tiring it is at the same time to have my dad's ministry team here. I love them - they're wonderful people - but it's a lot of work hosting them... although I shouldn't complain, I haven't done hardly any of the cooking or cleaning these last days - we've paid someone to help. Maybe it's just the fact that it is a lot of people :). Sometimes I'm such an intravert, but I also don't like living alone. Go figure...

Anyway, this is short, just to get me going on blogging again.

Love,

Rachel

Dear friends,

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have written! Things here in Brazil are pretty crazy buzy, but going well! Many of you received the intercessors e-mail I sent out, letting you know I was preparing for another Promifé (for more information about what that is, see my January post)! Well I'm back! Here's the news:

It was a wonderful week. It is always exciting to see a group of people passionately seeking God and His will together. With a record 215 participants, we were able, for the first time, to create three distinct evangelism groups, focusing on different sections of the city of Santa Rita do Passa Quatro. I had the privilege of co-leading one of these groups.

The city of Santa Rita has a population of about 26,000 residents. We quickly discovered some of the challenges the town faces: strong Spiritist and Catholic populations; high rates of drug and alcohol addiction; and one of the highest suicide rates in Brazil today. According to Moody Bible Institute, Spiritism is the, “science, philosophy and religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, by means of mediumship, with those who live by the spirit world.”[i] As Christians, we know that there are only three type of spirits active in our world: angels, demons, and God’s Holy Spirit. Brazilian spiritism, one of the most prevalent religions in this country, opens people directly to be possessed, oppressed and used by demons. I believe it is due to the prominence of this religion, more than anything else, that spiritual warfare is such a blatant part of Brazilian reality. Unfortunately, Brazilian Catholicism has merged with Spiritism to the point where involvement with one often signifies involvement with the other. Santa Rita contains one of the largest Spiritist centers of Brazil, which is visited by people seeking help from the world-over. Visible spiritual warfare occurred during our week there, but God used the situation to reassure us of His power and strengthen our dedication to Him.

So what did God accomplish through our week in Santa Rita?

1) We were able to have significant conversations with adults and young people in 353 different homes in the city, bringing words of hope and purpose through the Gospel. As a result of this door to door work and the mass evangelism in the evening, 356 people accepted Christ. Many more were prayed for and encouraged in their spiritual walk.
2) We organized a VBS that reached 475 children, 425 of which accepted Christ.
3) The evangelical churches of Santa Rita grew in unity through our example (the 215 Promifé participants represent at least 15 churches and 4 denominations), thus being strengthened and equipped to better face the challenges of their city.
4) Twenty-seven evangelical pastors and leaders from the town received encouragement and strengthening twice during the week through afternoons of leadership training.
5)A council of pastors from 7 different churches in the town agreed to participate in the follow-up work with those who were saved or were considering a decision.
6) Over-all around 2000 people heard the Gospel, and 781 children and adults accepted Christ!!!
This is such a tiny summary of what God did, but unfortunately, to tell you about all of it would take weeks! Thank you for your prayers, and praise God for His good works! I would be happy to answer any questions - just write me at rachel.kornfield@gmail.com.

Blessings,
Rachel

[i] Taken from the pamphlet The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error, compiled by Keith L. Brooks and revised by Irvine Robertson; published by Moody Bible Institute in 1976.

Hi friends!

I'm safely back in São Paulo after an eventful three weeks in the US. During that time, I got to:

1. See several friends graduate from Wheaton College
2. Celebrate my sister Karis' graduation from Notre Dame
3. See my mom and sisters' summer apartment in Pittsburgh
4. See my brother's new job location and apartment in DC, and hang out with his girlfriend (whom I hadn't met before)
5. Hang out with various friends and supporters in the Chicago area
6. Do a "Brazil Night" - an evening of sharing about my ministry, and providing yummy Brazilian snacks - in the Chicago area. If you're interested in seeing the power point I presented at this even - with lots of pictures - please let me know! rachel.kornfield@gmail.com Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to attach it to this blog.

Thanks to all of you who contributed to this special time!

Monday my dad and I leave for his yearly "dream team retreat."

Blessings to you all!

Rachel

Plans for these next few months

So... I just wrote an update about this last week (if you haven't read it, you should!), and now I should write one about the future, because a lot is coming up!

This month is the calm before the storm, although it's not feeling very calm. Being gone from daily activities for a week leaves one with a lot to catch up on!

Here's my schedule for the next few months (TAKE A DEEP BREATH... and plunge):

• May 5-8 - helping put on the Sepal Annual Congress - an event that serves over 1000 Brazilian pastors and leaders
• May 9-29 - in the US for Karis' graduation and support raising! I'd love to see any of you who live in the Wheaton, South Bend, or DC area!
• June 2-6 - participating in a major MAPI planning retreat known as the "Retreat of Dreams"
• July 12-20 - Promifé!
• July 22 -Aug. 8 - back in the US with my family (probably. My parents will both be there living with Karis and Val in Pittsburgh while Karis recuperates from hip replacement surgery. Our house in São Paulo becomes a lonely place with them gone!)
• Aug. 9 - 16 - in Guatemala to celebrate the publication of the Ixil New Testament, the completion of my grandfather's life project
• The rest of Aug - not sure yet whether I'll be in the US or Brazil
• September - if all goes according to plan, back in Brazil for another 10 months of missionary service - pray with me about continuing to support me during that time!
  

Meanwhile, back here in São Paulo, my involvement with ministry continues... even from afar I will be:

• Writing studies for the teenagers' small group for my church
• Working on the MAPI website
• Working for the Sepal digital department

Technology does amazing things. Unfortunately, while I'm away I will not be able to:

• Actually participate in the teenagers' small group
• Participate in CEVAP
• Participate in the structuring of the youth ministry at my church
  

God has already begun to provide people to take my place in these ministries while I'm gone. Pray that he would continue to provide and consolidate their participation. Pray also for his grace amidst a rather hectic and crazy schedule - that I might truly be able to enjoy and be fully present at each place while I am there. In the end, of course, we can make whatever plans we want, but God decides what will actually happen! I trust him to guide me day by day, week by week, and month by month.

God bless each of you!

Rachel

Last week in a São Paulo slum

Hi friends!

I figured I should tell you about last week, because it was a pretty unusual, big event! I spent Mon-Fri in the Northern end of my city (about an hour and a half drive from where I live in the Southern end) helping to translate for a short-term mission's team from South Dakota! The trip was organized by one of my Sepal team members, Val Gill. It was a cool experience - seeing the way God is working through a church/preschool in one of the poorest neighborhood's in São Paulo, and being able to contribute to something that was blessing them! The church (which is actually still in the construction phase) looks out over a slum and a group of government high rises that were built several years ago to replace a lot of the slum shacks. It was sad and sobering to get to know more about people's lives in that area, but here are some things God has been doing:

1. When the church opened the preschool in 2000, there was an average of three shoot-outs a day in the immediate vicinity. Kids and parents would often barely escape them on the way to or from the school. The church began to pray that God would bring "peace that passes all understanding" to the neighborhood, and one day a whole set of undercover police men showed up and managed to take away most of the gang members. Since then, the whole area has been much safer.

2. A huge fire destroyed most of the slum a few years ago. Hundreds of people were left homeless, and the church provided them with food, shelter, and hope. As a result of that occurrence, and the continual services the church/preschool provide to the area, all those involved are held in high respect in a neighborhood where respect even for your own family is relatively rare.

3. The preschool was originally happening in three small houses on a plot of land donated by a friend of the pastor's. However, the buildings were barely functional. Through old business associates, the pastor has gained grant after grant allowing them to tear down the old buildings and create new church and classroom space. They went into the project without a cent to their name, and God has already provided several million reais (Brazilian currency - currently a real is worth about 50 cents). And get this - none of the donators are Christians! While we were there, the vice-consul of the Japanese embassy here in São Paulo visited to see what the project was like and make a final decision about whether to donate all of the furniture necessary for the church and school, including a couple rooms of triple bunkbeds for visitors.

4. The leadership of the project discovered that if they provided full scholarships for kids to go to the pre-school, people did not respect what they were being offered. But if they charged SOMETHING - be it R$ (reais) 50, or some labor at the school or on the construction project, each month, people began to take what they were offering seriously and really appreciate it. This has once again created relationships of dignity and respect between those who work at the school/church and the neighborhood.

5. A little boy at the preschool was born with a huge head and a tiny, malfunctioning body. One day, God told one of the workers at the school that he wanted to heal the boy. They prayed for him, and he was completely healed. I got to meet and play with the little boy. If you saw him today you would never know there had ever been anything wrong with him.

These are just a FEW of the miraculous stories we heard about the way God is working in that neighborhood. As I studied sociology at Wheaton, we talked often about how the coming of God's Kingdom transforms not only individuals, but the context in which they live. I never before had seen this reality in such dramatic, clear ways as I did last week. May God's name be ever praised, His will be done, His Kingdom come.

I pray that all of us would turn to God when circumstances are beyond us, and as a result, be able to rejoice in the work He does.