The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 NIV
(In case you missed it, this is a series recounting the mission experiences I had in Brazil in years past.)
Each afternoon, as I walked through the village of Colonia on Governor’s Island, in Rio, Brazil, I passed by a familiar house. I commented to my group that I was sure I had been there before. The house appeared to literally be falling apart. It was not easy to forget. Still, we kept passing by. I was not setting my own schedule.
The last day we were in the village, our planned visit was to that home. Just as I had thought, there was a woman in the house I instantly recognized. I ask her if she remembered us from last year and she said she did. I asked her what she did when we were in her home. She smiled big, pointed towards Heaven, and said “I accepted Jesus as my Savior”.
That afternoon we shared the Good News with her family and two daughters and a son-in-law prayed to receive Christ. (I counted twelve people in the two room home, including children.) The entire time, our friend, the grandmother we met last year, kept pointing towards Heaven, praising God.
When I went to leave, I asked if I could pray a blessing upon the home. The grandmother smiled again as said, “God, has already blessed me this year, since I came to know Him. I have been able to remodel my home.” She was referring to a portion of her roof she was able to repair. Now it no longer gets wet in the bedroom when it rains. Maybe this next year she will get to finish the roof on the rest of the house!
I was humbled by this woman’s approach to God. As I reflected on what she said, I realized it was not the roof for which she was most thankful. It was the peace she now had with God. Last year I remembered that she hardly smiled. This year she couldn’t keep from smiling. God had come into her life with and through the power of Jesus Christ. She is changed! And, she will never be the same!
Neither will I for having met her!
For more of my thoughts, check out my personal blog at
http://www.ronedmondson.com where I write on issues such as marriage, parenting, church and leadership.
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I may not see in front of me, But I can see for miles around when I look over my shoulder, and Lord, it`s clear. You`ve brought me here, So faithful every step of the way. What can I do but follow you, For You are the Way, the Truth, the Life, And You`ve promised never to leave me, My Savior, my friend, From beginning to end. 
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