The Story of Benjamin -- July 2008

Dave Hoselton

This is a story about Benjamin, who lives in a small village, one of thousands, along the flood-swollen Amazon River. Benjamin listened politely as one member of our Mission Team (of four) from Florida explained the Gospel to his family using an Evangicube. Our translator, Marcia, had explained that we came from the “other” America to tell them about Jesus.

His father, who was not present, which is not unusual, may be “working” or simply not there. If the adult men are present, when we ask the mother if we may come in and tell them a story about Jesus, once we are seated on the floor, usually the men have mysteriously vanished? Once in a while, we notice them standing outside in the hot sun, listening through gaps in the bare single board wood walls. You see, it is not “macho” to “need” Jesus in Brazil. When questioned, sometimes the men tell us they are “good men” and/or know Christians in their village that do “bad” things. We try to clarify whenever possible.

After we read Romans 10:9-10, Benjamin’s sister and mother chose to accept Christ, but Benjamin (age 21) wavered. I had watched Benjamin closely as one of our Florida Team and a Christian Brazilian translator shared the Good News. I believe I saw a desire in Benjamin’s eyes to accept Christ.

Carefully we told each of the family members that their decision is only something they can personally make. We are cautious not to pressure them and in the end, Benjamin says “No.”

We left a small tract, written in Portuguese, and showed Benjamin how to pray to accept Christ after we depart. Perhaps the visiting pastor, who comes by once a month, or another team will fill in some gaps we have missed. I Corinthians 3:5-7.

Hopefully his sister will read to his illiterate mother from the small Portuguese Bible we left. Benjamin may learn more by listening to his sister reading their new Bible to Mom.

We hope and pray that Linie (age 18), Benjamin’s next door neighbor who accepted Christ earlier that day, will encourage Benjamin to choose Christ.

Perhaps Benjamin will say yes to Jesus, perhaps not. Pray with us for Benjamin, Linie, and other adult males along the “River.”