Missionary Report from Olho d'Agua
"God Working in Me"
Report by Larissa Lorrayne
Volunteer Missionary, Missionary Vacation Project
Olho d'Agua, Paraiba, BRAZIL
January 7-27, 2019
Missionary Report from Olho dAgua.
I’m Larissa Lorrayne, 21 years old from the city of Mossoró in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. I participated in the 70th Missionary Project of JUVEP (Youth Evangelical Paraiba) in 2019 to Olho D’Agua, Paraiba
Before going deeper into describing the trip, I would to share a little of what happened before. My desire to participate has emerged since the January 2018 Missionary Project. Two church friends participated and shared their experiences with me. Since the beginning of last year, I was determined to participate in the Project.
As the month of September 2018 arrived, registration for Missionary Project 70 began. I along with two friends planned to go. And soon, one more person decided to go, followed by another one. This closed our group of five people that would go from church I attend. We each had to pay for the trip, about $R850 (or USD $250). In the three months that followed, we sold snacks at the services, did bazaars, received financial aid from some of the church’s brothers, and the Church of the Nazarene (church we gathered) helped us with half the amount we needed to bear all the costs.
Meanwhile, as we sought in prayer for the salvation of the city of Olho D’água, I asked God to give me some directions of His will for me. I clearly remember Him telling me that in that place I would be broken, only to be shaped by according to His will, and so He did.
The Journey Begins
On January 6, 2019 we left Mossoró for João Pessoa, the city where the JUVEP Base is located. It was a six-hour journey in the morning. By January 8th, 130 people from all corners of Brazil had arrived at JUVEP’s Base Camp. We started the training, receiving study material to guide us during the training. We were educated about the Plan of Salvation, the predominant religious culture, country culture, prayer and intercession, evangelism, and other relevant issues so that we could do our best for God. It was three and a half days of training and we got to know the fellow servants who were gathered there.
It was also a time when I called on the Lord to sustain me during the challenges we were about to face in the mission field. God knew all about where we were going, and I needed His power to enable me to do the work. His power was necessary, as I felt unable to fulfill His will for me. Since then I have been able to put into practice God’s word which says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast even more joyfully in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Off to the Mission Field - Olho d'Agua, Brazil
On Friday the 11th of January, we left for the city of Olho D’água (PB). After a six-hour journey, three buses entered that city to fulfill the Lord’s promise of that place. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all people.” Mk 16:15. On the first night we went out to see the city and the inhabitants. My heart warmed and I was eager to share the Love of God that we enjoy.
The next two weeks were intense.
Our home in those days was a public school in the city. Most of the days we were in the city. Our routine was intense: private devotions, whole team meetings, small team meetings, couple meetings. Then home visits, worship programs in various town squares and worship services in homes. There were special schedules with children, with teenagers, and with new converts. We worked pre-discipleship, fought spiritual battles in prayer, undertook projects that benefit the population. We did special evangelization at some sites, distant villages, and showed the Jesus movie. God gave us many strategies to reach the people in the city of Olho D’água, Paraiba.
God Working in Me
We deceive ourselves if we believe that God’s greatest purpose is for us to speak of His Love to the local people. God’s primary focus is to treat us! God Working in Me. I left Mossoró with that theoretical understanding, but I was not prepared for what God had planned. Well God exposed my weaknesses to me. And then made me deal with my weaknesses. So weak. I was the child in my small team of two. Now, I have a lot of experience with children. When I tried to talk about God’s love based on my experiences, not dependence on the Holy Spirit, he frustrated my plans. The greatest learning I would to acquire on this missionary journey was to depend totally and completely on the Holy Spirit. God Working in Me.
The Holy Spirit gives us talents to use as an instrument, not as an anchor. When I had tonsillitis and could not go out to evangelize, He showed me that I gave up very easily. If I envied the “spirituality” of others, He showed me that the relationship He builds with His children is unique and individual. When I entered the Prayer Room many times just to cry, He showed me that I am being shaped to live His purposes. Yes, He spoke of His love for other people, but He showed me that His Word is a two-edged sword, transforms the evangelized, and transforms the evangelist.
When He declared that He is real, He showed me that I was rescued to spread this truth through the love He has for me. I learned to thank Him for small and “insignificant” things. And I loved him even more because he gave me the privilege of being able to meet my brothers who will sit next to me at the Father’s table, brothers adopted with a blood price. This is the Blood of the Lamb.
Enduring Memories
The difficulties were many in a general way, doors in the face, oppression of the Catholic church, infirmities and other things. The testimonies, the miracles, the joy of salvation, the seeds planted, the fruits, are much more than we can imagine. Maybe we will only see the dimensions of this in eternity. Here on Earth I rejoice to know that I was and am only an instrument in the hands of God.
A piece of my heart stayed in Olho D’água. God Working in Me. I support the children that I discipled in prayer; they are being shaped to be disciples of Jesus, and just as I told them when I said goodbye. I say that I hope one day Jesus will give me the honor of seeing them serving Him, but if I do not see them on this Earth, I want to see them in eternity.
Improvised baths, inflatable beds, intense sunshine, heavy rains, scales to aid in cleaning, in the kitchen, washing, prayer scales, illnesses, spiritual battles, new friendships, singing, weeping, laughter, brokenness, deepening of the Word, tiredness, walks, and love that overflowed in us and through us, and flooded the backlands of Paraíba. My needy Northeast, people so brave, God loves you!
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 God bless those who read this!
Larissa Lorrayne
Mossoró, RN, Brasil
Brazil Church of The Nazarene
Missionary Report from Olho d’Agua, Paraiba, Brazil
