I Almost Didn't Go

Hey Guys!

Today we're gonna hear from one of our student leaders. Dean and his wife Monica are one of our main student leaders on Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Nights. It was amazing to see God work in their family in this trip. Here's Dean's testimony:

Dean Berkley

I just want to start by saying that God is so faithful and amazing and His timing is so perfect. Satan was attacking me from every angle to keep me from going to Brazil, even up until a few hours before we were to go to the airport. I was ready to throw in the towel and just stay home but my awesome wife convinced me to come to church Wednesday night and let God handle the problems. I am glad I listened to her because I really felt God working in me and by the end of the night I felt such a peace about going on this trip. The amazing thing is now that we have gone and come back I realize why satan was trying to keep me here.

Easter Sunday’s evening service was so powerful. When Pastor Jim got up to speak you could really feel the anointing in the service. There was such a sweet spirit in the air that night and we were privileged to see God restore hope and healing to a church that was on the verge of just giving up. Pastor Bart admitted to us that he had thought about quitting more than once but now he has a new passion for Villa Zumbi. God really spoke to me that night about not giving up on anything but to just trust him wholeheartedly. Living Hope Church of Villa Zumbi really needs our prayers lifting them up daily. There is definitely some strong spiritual battles taking place there but we know that our God is victorious and He will prevail and Villa Zumbi belongs to God.

Wednesday morning God opened another door for us to minister to some of the elderly in Villa Zumbi. We actually went to the park to play with the children but no one showed up due to the colder weather. There was a community center inside the park where the elderly were holding a meeting. According to our interpreter the elderly there are not thought of much and left on their own. When we walked in the door they were so excited that we took time to come see them. We were able to pray over each one of them for specific healing and they were so grateful for what little time we were there. One of the women in the group invited us to come to another meeting in another town the following day so we went Thursday morning and prayed with another twenty men and women. We gave a call for salvation and 12 of them accepted Jesus into their heart, God is so amazing. We also prayed with each one for specific healing and after doing so we were introduced to the woman who was over 36 of these community centers for the elderly. She was amazed that we took time to come do this and now she has invited us to come back and go to as many of these centers as possible. It is truly amazing how God can open doors that we can’t even imagine exist. I will never forget this time we spent praying for these dear men and women. God has really been working with me in getting out of my comfort zone and just depending on Him to direct my steps. I would like to say thank you to Jim and Mary Jane for being obedient to God and taking us on this mission trip. It has truly blessed me and I am asking God to never let me go back to my old self but to just let Him use me for His glory.