semana trez em Lisboa, Portugal
- Ash
- May 2, 2016
- 5 min read
April 24th – May 1st
I cannot believe that I just entered into my last month in Portugal. Here am attempting to make this last month the best one yet.
But! On another note, this past week was the best one yet!!
On Sunday, Callie and I went to Graça, a baptist church in Lisbon that we hadn’t been to yet, with Tiffany and Sonny. It was such a nice service, one of the missionaries with the IMB, Steve Marlin, spoke and it was the first sermon I’ve heard since I have been in Portugal that I understood 60% or more without using a translator! So, to me that is huge! Sunday afternoon continued as we went to Encontro, the church plant that the Prewitt’s have started. For the first time since Encontro started we had more Portuguese than Americans!! A Portuguese family attended, Zé spoke on the Good Samaritan and it was an all around good evening.
I wanted to share a post from Mike Prewitt to show just how exciting Sunday’s Encontro really was:
Mike Prewitt
April 24 at 9:30pm
I want to share a huge praise with all who have prayed and dreamed with us about our Bible study group over the past two years. We are planning on moving to another area of Lisbon in the next two months. Because of this we have sensed a need to transition this group from our home to a new location. 4 months ago Zé's mother gave us the keys and alarm code to her pre-school which is at the epicenter of where we have wanted to plant a church. We have had some pre-launch events there and now are having events every other Sunday afternoon. We plan to go to weekly in June. Tonight Zé storied the Good Samaritan, then we answered questions in small groups at tables. The event lasted 2 hours, folks spoke at tables for almost an hour. We had 11 Portuguese, one was a new family that came because someone invited them. They want to come back. Another young lady brought a friend after coming the last time. Most are not yet believers but they are opening up and asking questions. They are interested. Thank you for praying for us. We are grateful for all of you who have in one way or another walked with us for the last several years. God is good, and He is at work.
This, again, is a huge praise for all of us and I am super excited to see where Encontro continues to go and how believers continue to capture the idea to push it forward.
After Encontro, the Prewitt girls (Elaina and Carolina) spent the night at our apartment. It was an evening full of pizza, icecream, laughs, popcorn, movies, and late night talks.
Monday, we were able to meet up with Bethany and Jonathan for mentoring and training time. It was nice to meet with them and discuss what we had been up to that week and, of course, see baby Isabella.
Tuesday Callie and I returned to the GBU nucleu where Ricardo led a study on Matthew 12, focusing on the unforgivable sin. It was so well done and Ricardo did an amazing job! It was so nice to study the Bible intently and dive in to scriptures with Portuguese students. After, I had the opportunity to eat lunch with Diana and Ricardo to discuss how we could, together, reach students for Christ on the campus of Universidade de Lisboa. It was an amazing conversation and I am excited to start doing Soularium with them on campus this week!
On Wednesday I met up with Rosa, a stinter with CRU, and had coffee. It was an encouraging conversation and it was nice to spend time with Rosa because we barely see eachother with our different ministries. After Callie and I had lunch with Raquel and Pedro. It was our first real opportunity to train students to do what we do. We went through a Bible study with them using a method called the Three Thirds, taught to us by Bethany and Jonathan. After we showed them Soularium and Perspective cards again and asked them to begin preparing to go out and practice Soularium and Perspective cards with us the following week. We meet with them on Wednesday, be praying for amazing opportunities for them to share their faith and for boldness. Wednesday evening, we had an amazing game night with Sara and João. We introduced them to pulled pork and played six different games (including Catan in Portuguese). It was a really really good time.
Thursday was a day with Jesus to say the least. Callie and I spent an afternoon at a café preparing a Bible study that we will lead with Bethany and Jonathan next week, It was just a time to spend with the Lord and it was greatly needed. After we attended English Group and got into some amazing spiritual conversations.
This weekend Madison and Anna came to visit!! I would go through everything we did, but it would make a suuuuper long post. So, I’m just going to skip that part!
But a prayer has been answered!! Callie and I got to meet with Cristiane on Friday for a Bible study where we deeply discussed what it meant to repent and believe, be praying for Cristiane as she continues to grow closer to making a decision for Jesus.
Sunday night, we attended a church in Barreiro, where Cristiane lives, in hope that she could begin going there with a couple of seminary students that we know. We are hoping for Crisitane to meet them Thursday.
We have three and a half weeks left in Portugal; everything we do and every conversation we have is crucial, please pray for boldness to share and for hearts to respond to the Gospel.
Like I said, my time in Portugal is coming to an end so these last couple of weeks will be very busy. I will try to keep you all updated!!
See you all soon!
Love,
Ashton
Praises:
-An amazing BDG with Ricardo and Diana
-Raquel and Pedro’s training
-AMAZING WEATHER
Prayer Requests:
-Cristiane; that she will connect well with the seminary students, begin going to the Baptist church in her town, that she will make a decision for Christ
-Pedro and Raquel; for boldness this week as the go out and do Soularium with us
-Madelana; that we can meet this week to continue to train and disciple her
-Encontro; that many students and families will continue to attend and that many will come to Christ through these services
-that Callie and I can end our time here well
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