It has been encouraging for me to see how God has been working throughout the week. God has been using the other members of our team to show me what He had planned. I kept wondering what type of work we were supposed to do; however, I have come to realize that our work here is to build upon existing relationships and build new relationships both at the orphanage as well as with others in the city. The Brazil mission teams have stayed at the same hotel the last eight years. This year we have continued to build relationships with the employees of the hotel. They keep seeing teams from Frazer return each year and each year there are new employees here that are learning why we are here. We continue to build relationships with members of the church and start new relationships there.
As the week has progressed I have gotten to learn some more things about the orphanage and the children that are or have been there. As an individual that was adopted as a young child, I can relate to some of their stories. Because I can relate to some of their circumstances, I realize that my purpose here is to build my relationship with them and help them understand that they are loved unconditionally by God. I have come to understand that my purpose on this trip has never been intended to do physical construction projects but to build up children for the kingdom of God and what matters most is the relationship. Everyone that has crossed my path in Brazil needs to know that they matter to God and are important to Him.
It’s all about the relationships – that’s the purpose!
Mike W.