God's Love

From Boyd, a dentist recently returned from a trip on the Marco Polo

You can find God's love in so many places, but sometimes the world is spinning too fast and you can't stop the merry-go-around long enough to see His love. I found a way to stop this spinning and see God's love afresh. Amazon Vision Ministries was that way and a trip to Brazil showed me so vividly God's amazing love. It started simply enough with someone asking me to go on a medical/dental mission trip. I was ready to share the gifts God had given me in my dental skills, but I wasn't ready for the renewing of His love that I found each day. From the team meetings before leaving getting to know different people and observing their gifts in preparation and the love they had for the Father. From a dentist that wasn't going, and his amazing passion for our ministry and the fact that he put together three dental units together for our use. From a Team Leader whose passion for missions was so evident and was brought out in her beautiful spirit. And finally an amazing display in Brazil of God's love on all the people's faces that knew Christ for the first time.

As the people lined up for dental treatment there were smiles and hope. God blessed our work there and many received much needed treatment. I was so thankful for the skills God had given me and I knew I had brought my love of God with me. God, however, showed me that the most important thing we brought was our message and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The people we met were so receiving and loving. They had little, but in what they did have they found contentment and they found true joy when they gave their live to Christ. God's love was in the faces of all the people we touched. He taught me through this mission trip that His love is always there if I will stop, pray and listen for Him. AVM allowed God to open my ears and refresh my heart. He also taught me that everyone has a gift that can be shared. Step out in your faith and go on a mission trip and be ready for what God will do in you and through you.

Stories from being on the river...

From Jenice

When we were doing river evangelism, a guy was hollering and waving for us to come to their house. One our next stop, we did. It was a whole family and it ended up being a local Pastor of an evangelical church. He said he had about 20 people that attended his church.

One of the people he wanted us to talk to was his son-in-law. I presented the Gospel using the Evangecube to the young man and I knew he was under conviction but he did not accept Christ. We talked with the Pastor and his family at length and I felt sure their faith is grounded in Jesus Christ after our conversation.

At the worship service that night, this same Pastor told us that he had been praying for help to gain access into the river houses. Up until now, they had been closed to him but many that were closed to him had now accepted Christ and were opening to him! That WE were the answer to prayer he had been asking for. I was so touched that tears sprang to my eyes. That God loves these people so much that He orchestrated the circumstances to bring us there to help this Pastor and to know that God allowed us to be part of furthering His kingdom in that way!

From Chris

The Brazilian people were so hospitable in welcoming us into their homes as we drove up in the Jon boats. Not one person turned me away! I remember the special privilege of sharing the Gospel to four generations! The grandmother is 83 and blind, but she said, "don't worry because me hearing is really good!" They all listened so intently and when it came time to ask the question whether they wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, I saw a grandmother, mother, and two teenage daughters surrender their lives to Christ. The 18 month old baby that played with a ball in the background will surely also later know about Jesus' love. That's what going on a mission trip is all about.