Jim Winzeler in Brazil

(Note from Rachel, Living Stones coordinator and daughter of Jim:)
I've been asking my father to write down his experience in Brazil with Living Stones. He has been dragging his feet about this, which surprised me, because of the obvious impact that it made in his life. After going to Cajueiro Claro, he and Pastor Flavio came up to me with big hugs and tears.
"Rachel," He told me, "All your writing and pictures didn't even explain 20% of how it really is. I've been hearing about this for nine years, and now I finally get it."
Even though my father was only in Brazil for 8 days, and most of that consumed with wedding preparations, it meant so much to him and the children (who had been looking forward to meeting "Rachel's dad" for months). I will not be able to explain to you how much it meant to me. Yes, short-term mission trips are expensive. And if you want to explain your way into not going, you will find a way. But some trips are just made to be.

From Jim: Someone asked me what they would pray for me while I was in Brazil. I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t been accustomed to praying/being close to God for quite some time. “I want to be able to fit in,” was my reply.

Little did I know, but God would answer that prayer in more ways than one.

I had no clue what to expect in Brazil. My main concern was just getting there safely—I just knew the plane would crash: how could God have any other thing planned for me, considering the way I had withdrawn from Him the past several years? Besides, maybe it was the easiest way out—I wouldn’t have to be around and depend upon other people.The last thing I wanted was any new or different situation. Going to Brazil would make me face my depression and despondent way of existing.  

God had prepared a place for me to “fit into” in Brazil, where he would draw me out of my self-imposed exile. From the welcome reception at the airport and the wonderful sight-seeing tour of one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen (Olinda), to the International school, where I would call home for the next 8 days, God began his work of restoring His life in me.

 (Olinda)

God used this trip in several ways. First, He re-opened my spiritual eyes, ears, and heart to Him. I cannot begin to list all the ways He revealed Himself to me during this trip. Suffice it to say that He started to draw me back to Himself, and that is continuing on to this time.

Second, the wedding of Caid and Rachel. All the preparations, all the places to go, all the people to meet who were and are a part of Rachel’s life and now Caid’s, and the privilege of being a part of the wedding itself.

Thirdly, being able to go to two of the communities where Living Stones ministries meet. It cannot be put into writing the dichotomy of the beauty of Brazil’s scenery as the backdrop to the places where spiritual needs were being met. The three hours of interaction that were being given to these children on a regular basis results in hope for the children—physically, mentally, and spiritually, these children were being touched by the people who had been called by God to provide for them.

And therein I have the answer to why it’s taken me this long to write this down—I found that I was in the same place as these children at Living Stones—needing to hear that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The Living Stones ministry is about providing a place where children who are born into a place on earth where (as the human eye can see) there is no hope of a productive life, can be shown the true meaning of a life of abundant living, of eternal life, of living the life Jesus created for them.

Isn’t that why I was there? To rediscover the meaning of life, to discover again the life of Christ? Isn’t that the ministry that we all need to be involved in? To receive from Him and then to give to others that which we’ve received? It’s just so much easier to see in Brazil. The contrast of not having, versus the “having” in the USA. But each one is in the same position, we both are spiritually in need, which can only be met by someone sending and someone going.

May each one of us have our “Brazil” to awaken us to our total need to the Lord Jesus and then to go and tell others of the One who is their Creator and through whom they can discover the meaning of life.