Tu és fiel, Senhor

As the wedding procession began last Friday night at Oitava Igreja Presbiteriana de Belo Horizonte (the Eighth Presbyterian Church of Belo Horizonte, the city’s largest Presbyterian church), strings and flute played the familiar music of a well-known Brazilian hymn, Tu és Fiel, Senhor. We know the hymn by its English title, Great is Thy Faithfulness. The Portuguese translation of the chorus is “You are faithful, Lord, you are faithful, Lord. Day by day with unending blessings, your mercy sustains and guards me. You are faithful, Lord, you are faithful, Lord.”

The wedding was beautiful, a blending of American and Brazilian traditions that was rich in celebration, joy and commitment. Aline and Alessandro have now begun the adventure of marriage, and we pray that God will bless this new union and we look to his faithfulness as the source of its strength. “O casamento deve ser honrado por todos.” (Let marriage be honored by all), Hebrews 13:5.

I meditated on God’s faithfulness throughout the remaining days of the trip, reflecting, certainly, on the joy of the wedding and the new marriage, but also on all that God has done in and through our partnership for over seven years.

Sunday’s worship service at Jardim América, especially, brought deep, tearful, joy as we praised God together in a sanctuary we, IPJA and Park Presbyterian Church, had built together.

For some the names have little meaning, but others, sixty or more of us, can picture the scene: I sat with Paulo and Mara and next to João Bess towards the back of the sanctuary. On the small chancel Itamar played bass guitar as Sergio played drums. Leonardo and Joãozinho played acoustic guitars and Ludmila and Rogerio (from Projeto Nova Vida) led singing. Cristine was the liturgist, and her prayers were as powerful as ever. Looking around the room, I saw so many friends – Ademar and Vivi; Eli and Cristina; Luiza, Eduardo and Frederico; as três irmas (the three sisters); Edvan and James; Senhor Daniel; Kelly, Joice, Lisamara and Thais; Antonia Bahia; Josilaine and Rubinho; Karina and Luciana; Lucas, Matteus, Fillip and Rodrigo; Alessandra, Gladistone, Jade, Jussan and Natan; “Big Du” and “Little Du”; Gilson, Romero and Carlos; Adriano and Natalia; Davyane, Ana Carolina and Adriano.

These names are but a sampling; there are many more. Each of these named persons is one whose life has been changed and will never be the same again because of the Belo-Beaver Partnership.

For seven years our faithful God has been about the business of building relationships between Americans and Brazilians, each beloved and each named. And, amazingly, through those relationships, the Kingdom has come closer. For some of us, Americans and Brazilians, the changes wrought through the partnership are dramatic – a commitment to Christ that had not been there before, an education completed or a business started, freedom from addiction. For others it is the quiet joy of having experienced the love of Christ through the touch and encouragement of a friend from the other side of the world.

We have seen our lives changed as we have reached out in Jesus’ name to the children of the favela.

Tears of joy. Friendships that will last a lifetime. Tu és fiel, Senhor.

We’ll be talking soon about summer 2008’s Brazil Mission trip. Please pray now about God’s call and claim on your time next July.