A Glimpse of Heaven
My first mission trip to Criciúma, Brazil.
It was truly just a mere glimpse of Heaven.
When our young adults pastor announced this trip last August, I went up to him and told him I would no doubt be going to Brazil, not knowing how much our Heavenly Father was going to impact my life through it. It would have been enough, but the Lord did more.
We all have the knowledge that our God is the creator of all things, from every cascading mountain to every single piece of hair on our heads. We know that He exists beyond our lives in Chandler, Arizona, yet often we forget His omnipresent existence in the lives of believers across the world, that souls have experienced the same God on different sides of the globe.
I got to not only increase in knowledge of this reality but experience it tangibly. It is hard to put into words what the Lord did through my time in Criciúma, Brazil. I am filled with overwhelming awe seeing what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in the lives of His people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
If I had to break it down, I’d express my takeaways as unity in Christ displayed, the glory of God overwhelmed, following Christ simplified, and the mission of Jesus heightened.
Unity in Christ Displayed
The second we landed in Brazil, we were welcomed as Christ welcomes us. It felt like I had known these people a lifetime, and we instantly connected. I have been told countless times that you could share no commonalities with someone, but if you have Christ, you are unified. And although I trust that and have felt small moments of that truth, until Brazil, I had never truly experienced it. This is what we mean when God says we are one body in Christ. One cross. One Church. Two nations. One Christ. We did not even speak the same language, yet we were able to glorify our God, the God of both Phoenix, AZ and Criciúma, Brazil, together. I will see these people in Heaven one day. Even if I never make it back to Brazil, I rejoice that I will praise my God once again in Heaven for eternity with the people I met on this trip.
The Glory of God Overwhelmed
The Lord has graciously unveiled and transformed me from one degree of glory to another in a way that will forever change me. I had my “Mary” moment. So often I find myself as Martha, busied by the world. But not here. I found myself at the feet of Jesus, kneeling before the King. I couldn’t get low enough on the ground. My tears anointed the floor, and I asked my Savior, why me? He does not need me, yet He rejoices in using me. He wants me to be a part of His majesty. He has revealed to me the beauty of seeing others as souls, unveiling a deep love to share Christ.
Following Christ Simplified
Know Jesus. Love Jesus. Be more like Jesus.
It’s that simple. We so often overcomplicate our faith. The Brazilian people have overwhelmed me in their simplicity. They live the reality that when Jesus saved them, they surrendered and gave Him their lives. So their lives are now His, and He takes them where He wants them to go. It is that simple. Know Jesus. Love Jesus. Be more like Jesus.
Mission of Jesus Heightened
Jesus is all that matters. Jesus is literally all that matters. We have been saved by the blood and body of our Lord Jesus. Within that reality, our job and calling is to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That is our life’s desire. To make disciples. Too often, we get consumed by all the other weeds of the world, and we lose focus so fast. Don’t lose focus. Stay fixated on Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith. There are people in Southern Brazil praising our Lord Jesus in reckless abandon just like us. And there will be people from every tribe, tongue, and nation joining us in the hymn of Heaven. Don’t lose sight. Go make disciples. Ask people about their story. Tell people about Jesus. Pray over them. Love them as Jesus has loved us.
Two tangible takeaways from me as I return to my normal life:
The power of asking about someone’s story
Not merely settling for the normal surface level conversations, but intentionally asking for someone’s story and allowing for deeper conversations about Jesus.The power of living available
I desire to talk slower, walk slower, eat slower, and move slower through this life. It is a good thing to have a plan, but like Jesus, the Spirit moves and often disrupts our plans, and I wish to be available to the Spirit’s leading in my life. I want to make room for the Spirit and be ready to move where the Spirit calls me to.
I will never be the same because of this trip to Criciúma, Brazil. I knew when the trip was announced that I was going to be a part of it, but I did not know the width, height, and depth of the goodness God was going to bring. It would have been enough, but He did more. The mere gift of my salvation would have been enough, but He did more. Now my life continues to exist to bring glory back to His name for the glory of His name and the advancement of His Kingdom. I went to Brazil on mission, and I return to Arizona on mission. Brazil needs revival. Arizona needs revival. The world needs revival. May I be found faithful where the Lord leads me, boasting of nothing but Christ and Him crucified, until I see Him face to face.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:3–6