Joy Comes in the Morning

On a previously quiet Saturday in June 5 new children suddenly descended upon the Miriam Infant Home. Three of them were siblings, Jonatas (8 years old), Giovana (6) and Sandrinha (4) and they were not there of their own free will! They were brought to the Miriam Home by the juvenile authorities because there was an abusive situation going on in their home. The children arrived scared and sad; they really only wanted one thing - their mom!

The first nights were cried to sleep and more than once their days involved impromptu attempts to go home on their own. There were huge challenges for both the Miriam Home staff and three little ones who really couldn’t understand why they were taken from their family.

It is difficult for children to believe you want to help them when they don’t realize that the treatment they receive at home is not “normal”. It is more difficult to see the children step back into the same family when you’re not sure the situation has changed (the authorities returned Jonatas, Giovana and Sandrinha to their family two weeks later). It would be nearly an impossible job if not for God’s grace! By His grace we know that the power for the children’s healing is His Spirit - Spirit that is not limited by geography, family lines or the power of any earthly authority. By His grace we know that He loves these three children more than any person alive, and He put them in our hands to bless them. By His grace we believe that He will continue the good work that He began in the Miriam Home. By His grace we wait for the next Saturday surprise!

Depu huh?

I love words! Most of you reading this already knew that—I use a lot of them! I love learning where words come from, the stories behind them that give them depth and meaning. Here is an example for you,
I am officially on “Deputation”. Don’t worry, it is not a medication, I’m not sick. Deputation means to stand for or represent someone or an authority; just like a deputy represents the authority of the sheriff. I love that, it puts a whole new spin on the ministry I will be doing for next few months.

A lot of times when a missionary talks about doing deputation our minds translate that to the more familiar “raising support”. That isn’t a bad translation, but when you think of what deputation actually means, it is incomplete. Raising support brings to mind two activities: building a financial support team and a prayer team for our
ministries (both are vital) but there is more. I am not just raising my support team, I am representing, standing for someone and
something bigger than me.

In first (and last) place I stand for Christ, my Lord. I am His
Ambassador. That means, when I am speaking to Brothers and Sisters in Christ I have a responsibility to build up my family in the love of Christ. We are to stir one another one to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). When I speak to those searching for life I am able to point them to the one true source of hope - the same Living God who cares for the children of Brazil wants to love and care for them..

I also stand for AFLC World Missions. It is slightly intimidating
company. We have Brothers and Sisters Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. Young people are being trained in the Word of God, churches are being planted, the needs of the “least of these” are being met and God’s heart is being ministered to. It is important for our congregations to know how the world is being impacted, and I get to be a part of their hearing .

Finally, I stand for the Miriam Infant Home. I get to share with you the faces and the stories of the men and women who bless the little
children every day. I am able to bring young lives before you so that you are able to intercede on their behalf.

The work of deputation is really pretty thrilling when I think about all that it entails. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!