It's my birthday! I'm sitting at my desk in Portel, looking across the park at a huge banner about celebrating Jesus! How blessed can I be? Jesus is the reason I breathe, and my town will be honoring Him next weekend with music, worship, and praise.
I was born in 1945, halfway between V-E Day and V-J Day, at the end of World War II. Did you know that World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history? Between 50 million and 85 million people died in that war, including 11 million in the Holocaust. The USA became a super-power in the world, and the United Nations was formed. Did we learn anything?
I grew up in an innocent, patriotic time. Not everyone had a car (I remember our first one), not everyone had a TV (another first I remember). We knew our neighbors, and played hide-and-seek, Red Rover, and hopscotch with the neighborhood kids.
I remember learning about the first computer (ENIAC), which took up 1800 square feet! Who could have imagined that today I would be able to hold one in my hand?! We've come a long way, baby! I am ever so grateful for technology that allows me to see and talk with my family a continent away. But at the same time, it grieves me to watch people react with hatred towards each other, and the media play on our emotions. With all this instant awareness of everything that happens in the world, you'd think we could see the futility and damage of hate.
I don't have any answers for the world's turmoil, but I know the One who does!
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth." Colossians 3: 1-2 NLT
There is another reality, the very real existence of the triune God...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And one day, Christ promises to come back for us, and rule with us, in the new heaven and the new earth. Then we shall know and experience true love in all its fullness. This reality I trust!
About Me
- Patty Fultz
- Portel, Para, Brazil
- After over 40 years as a Christian, God called me to serve in Brazil as a missionary...a dream I had for 10 years, since my first visit to the Amazon. I am single again, and I have 2 wonderful children (and a terrific daughter-in-law), 9 grandchildren, and 2 great-granddaughters.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Where Have I Been?!
Catching up...
I haven't shared a new post to my blog for over 3 months! The reason is because my internet has been spotty or nonexistent all this time - very frustrating in the 21st century to have no ability to communicate with the world!
3rd world problem: an internet provider comes to an isolated town like Portel, sets up towers, equipment, etc. and begins to sell internet service. Within a very short time, the vendor has sold so many subscriptions that the internet traffic begins to bog down. When I arrived in Portel in February, the sole internet provider had been mandated not to sell any more subscriptions! So I have been visiting friends with WiFi whenever I needed the internet for my mission work, and only doing essential things.
Today I have internet at home through a USB D-Link modem, which sometimes works for several hours at a time...and sometimes doesn't work at all for a month or so :)
So...what have I been doing? Traveling - a lot!
I began working with our Water Filter Project in April, editing and publishing the stories of families who receive a new water filter. In May, we delivered 90 filters to families along 3 local rivers. In the picture above, Louro is explaining to a family how the filter works. This project is dear to my heart, because of the immediate health benefits of clean drinking water.
Also in May, I was privileged to attend the national Intervinha conference in Brasilia. This year, Vineyard Brasil was released as an independent Association of Vineyard Churches. Most of our Vineyard pastors, as well as international visitors, attended the conference. Phil and Jan Strout from the US, John and Evelyn Mumford from Great Britain, David Ruis from Canada, all came to bless our churches in Brazil.
And finally, in June, I traveled to Macapa by boat to spend a couple weeks with a mission team from Vineyard Church of Delaware County, my home church. We had lots of fun together, and the team blessed the missionaries and the Brazilian church groups in Macapa and Serra do Navio.
Now, at last I'm "home" in Portel, recuperating from all the ministry and fun! Today is a typical day for me:
I haven't shared a new post to my blog for over 3 months! The reason is because my internet has been spotty or nonexistent all this time - very frustrating in the 21st century to have no ability to communicate with the world!
3rd world problem: an internet provider comes to an isolated town like Portel, sets up towers, equipment, etc. and begins to sell internet service. Within a very short time, the vendor has sold so many subscriptions that the internet traffic begins to bog down. When I arrived in Portel in February, the sole internet provider had been mandated not to sell any more subscriptions! So I have been visiting friends with WiFi whenever I needed the internet for my mission work, and only doing essential things.
Today I have internet at home through a USB D-Link modem, which sometimes works for several hours at a time...and sometimes doesn't work at all for a month or so :)
So...what have I been doing? Traveling - a lot!
I began working with our Water Filter Project in April, editing and publishing the stories of families who receive a new water filter. In May, we delivered 90 filters to families along 3 local rivers. In the picture above, Louro is explaining to a family how the filter works. This project is dear to my heart, because of the immediate health benefits of clean drinking water.
Also in May, I was privileged to attend the national Intervinha conference in Brasilia. This year, Vineyard Brasil was released as an independent Association of Vineyard Churches. Most of our Vineyard pastors, as well as international visitors, attended the conference. Phil and Jan Strout from the US, John and Evelyn Mumford from Great Britain, David Ruis from Canada, all came to bless our churches in Brazil.
Now, at last I'm "home" in Portel, recuperating from all the ministry and fun! Today is a typical day for me:
- Woke up, showered, made coffee, spent some time with the Lord.
- Laudiane, and her niece Rosie, came at 9 and cleaned a little while I worked.
- We read and discussed Romans 12:1-2, then prayed together.
- I did some more bookkeeping for the mission base.
- Later I will have lunch with Richie & Christie, Allison & Rona.
- Afternoon nap; shower.
- Visit a few of my neighbors.
- Eat a light supper, check FaceBook and email.
- Read for a while, shower, go to bed.
Depending on the day of the week, I am generally available in the mission office each morning, lunch with friends, visit people in the afternoon and evening.
Soon I hope to be helping facilitate an Alpha Course here in Portel, which I pray will bring some new people to Christ.
Please pray for me when God brings me to your mind...
- Physical and emotional health
- Financial support
- Opportunities to tell others about Jesus
- No more accidents...I've had 4 falls since I arrived in Brazil!
Monday, February 22, 2016
Danger?
So, I've been mulling this over for 24 hours...do I post about my latest adventure, or not? My family might worry more, but God should be glorified...
Yesterday morning, I went for a walk along the beach to spend some time with the Lord. Along the way, I stopped to take pictures of the flowers that are everywhere here, and posted the pics to Facebook for my dear friends to see.
As I began to walk home, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to pray for protection, so I did. No big deal, what could happen on such a beautiful morning?
I had noticed a teenage boy on a bicycle, throwing rocks at a mango tree to get the mangos to fall. I kept walking, said good morning to a few people I saw in their yards.
About two blocks from Richie's house, that same teenage boy rode by me on his bike a couple times, then turned around and confronted me. "Give me your cell phone!" he said (it was clearly outlined in my pocket...duh!). My very out-of-character response was a resounding, "NO!!"
Coming closer with a threatening demeanor, he repeated, "Give me your cell phone NOW!"
Me: "NO! In the name of Jesus, leave me alone! Lord, help me!" (Nao! Em nome de Jesus, sai de mim! Senhor, me ajuda!)
And the boy turned away and left me alone!
In truth, my cry of, 'Senhor, me ajuda' was a cry for a neighbor I had seen to come out and chase the boy away. I had enough faith to use Jesus' name, but also hoped some person would come to my rescue. But the Lord heard my cry, and instead of sending someone to help, He turned the boy's heart away from his intended assault.
Glory to God, who loves me and protects me in my ignorance!
Yesterday morning, I went for a walk along the beach to spend some time with the Lord. Along the way, I stopped to take pictures of the flowers that are everywhere here, and posted the pics to Facebook for my dear friends to see.
As I began to walk home, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to pray for protection, so I did. No big deal, what could happen on such a beautiful morning?
I had noticed a teenage boy on a bicycle, throwing rocks at a mango tree to get the mangos to fall. I kept walking, said good morning to a few people I saw in their yards.
About two blocks from Richie's house, that same teenage boy rode by me on his bike a couple times, then turned around and confronted me. "Give me your cell phone!" he said (it was clearly outlined in my pocket...duh!). My very out-of-character response was a resounding, "NO!!"
Coming closer with a threatening demeanor, he repeated, "Give me your cell phone NOW!"
Me: "NO! In the name of Jesus, leave me alone! Lord, help me!" (Nao! Em nome de Jesus, sai de mim! Senhor, me ajuda!)
And the boy turned away and left me alone!
In truth, my cry of, 'Senhor, me ajuda' was a cry for a neighbor I had seen to come out and chase the boy away. I had enough faith to use Jesus' name, but also hoped some person would come to my rescue. But the Lord heard my cry, and instead of sending someone to help, He turned the boy's heart away from his intended assault.
Glory to God, who loves me and protects me in my ignorance!
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
A New Missionary's Morning Adventures
Good morning, friends!
So today is Wednesday, and the Bouthillier family is busy with home school, building a new wall around the yard, etc. So I decide to have a tiny adventure...and go out on my own to buy something I need. Understand this is an adventure because I'm not yet familiar with my new town, and many local people won't understand my accented Portuguese :)
I walk to the road beside the river, where I find a moto-taxi. I tell the driver I need to go to a farmacia (pharmacy). I hop onto the back of his motorcycle, and away we go. When we arrive at the pharmacy, I pay the driver R$3 (about 60 cents US) and go inside. A few minutes later, I walk out with my anti-itch cream...Wahoo! Success! They understood what I needed.
After looking around at some other small stores, I decide to go home, so I flag down another moto-taxi. Whoa! This motorcycle is very high...I can barely get my short leg over it! Oops, I forgot Richie's address, so how can I direct the driver? Aha! I have the address in my phone. Another success!
Are you getting the idea? A new missionary looks and feels pretty dumb most of the time!
Next adventure...a moto-taxi driver who is a friend of Richie's stops by to introduce himself to me. It's a good idea to develop a friendship with a driver, says Richie...he will learn where I live and usually be available when I need him. Guiu is very polite, and explains that his wife is a Christian :) Richie mentions to him some apartments that I'm interested in seeing.
A few minutes later, Guiu is back to take me to see the apartment! The guard has a key, he says. But when we arrive, the guard says he does not have keys, only the owner has them, and she will arrive in an hour. Back home again, disappointed. After lunch, I will call Guiu, he will check that the landlord is there, then pick me up again.
So that's a typical morning here in Portel for me. Hope you enjoyed this peek into my new life.
So today is Wednesday, and the Bouthillier family is busy with home school, building a new wall around the yard, etc. So I decide to have a tiny adventure...and go out on my own to buy something I need. Understand this is an adventure because I'm not yet familiar with my new town, and many local people won't understand my accented Portuguese :)
I walk to the road beside the river, where I find a moto-taxi. I tell the driver I need to go to a farmacia (pharmacy). I hop onto the back of his motorcycle, and away we go. When we arrive at the pharmacy, I pay the driver R$3 (about 60 cents US) and go inside. A few minutes later, I walk out with my anti-itch cream...Wahoo! Success! They understood what I needed.
After looking around at some other small stores, I decide to go home, so I flag down another moto-taxi. Whoa! This motorcycle is very high...I can barely get my short leg over it! Oops, I forgot Richie's address, so how can I direct the driver? Aha! I have the address in my phone. Another success!
Are you getting the idea? A new missionary looks and feels pretty dumb most of the time!
Next adventure...a moto-taxi driver who is a friend of Richie's stops by to introduce himself to me. It's a good idea to develop a friendship with a driver, says Richie...he will learn where I live and usually be available when I need him. Guiu is very polite, and explains that his wife is a Christian :) Richie mentions to him some apartments that I'm interested in seeing.
A few minutes later, Guiu is back to take me to see the apartment! The guard has a key, he says. But when we arrive, the guard says he does not have keys, only the owner has them, and she will arrive in an hour. Back home again, disappointed. After lunch, I will call Guiu, he will check that the landlord is there, then pick me up again.
So that's a typical morning here in Portel for me. Hope you enjoyed this peek into my new life.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Going back to Brazil!
Oh my gosh! God has invited me to serve with Him in northern Brazil once again! Of course, I said yes! I will be leaving February 5, 2016.
It amazes me that He would allow me to go back, this time to a newer base in Portel, Para, hundreds of miles from my old base in Altamira.
I will be serving with Richie and Christie Bouthillier, who started this base of the Xingu Mission www.xingu.org.
As I prepare to leave, I have so much to do in just a month...
It amazes me that He would allow me to go back, this time to a newer base in Portel, Para, hundreds of miles from my old base in Altamira.
I will be serving with Richie and Christie Bouthillier, who started this base of the Xingu Mission www.xingu.org.
As I prepare to leave, I have so much to do in just a month...
- Pray a lot, for guidance and peace.
- Pack what I will take with me (2 suitcases and one carry-on for all my worldly goods!)
- Store or give away the rest of my "stuff."
- Recruit a prayer team (and financial support team).
- Teach my neighbors to use Skype.
- Spend as much time as possible with grandkids.
- Say tearful goodbyes to my family and friends.
- Pray a lot!
As I get ready to leave, I hope to write more. I invite you to follow my blog.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
My Need for Worship
Just now I was listening to a podcast of Michael Hansen preaching at my home church in the USA on the subject of worship...what it is, what it isn't, why we do it, etc. I was convicted about what he called "our natural resistance to worship" and the self-focus or fear of man that can rob us of the joy of worship. (Listen for yourself at www.vineyardcdc.org/resources.shtml - it's a great message!)
As I listened, I was wishing Michael could come down here and preach the same message at our church (Igreja da Vinha Mirante - Mirante Vineyard). Our people haven't been very engaged in worship lately.
Suddenly, God gave me a vision of all these people I love (me included) wrapped in a sort of sleeping bag/snake costume. Each of us was zipped inside this costume, unable to move, unable to worship. We need God to unzip the snakeskins and set us free!
Then I heard a bird singing, and saw flowers blooming, and children playing, and thought, "How natural it is for God's creation to worship Him!" Make me a natural worshipper, too, Lord! Set me free!
As I listened, I was wishing Michael could come down here and preach the same message at our church (Igreja da Vinha Mirante - Mirante Vineyard). Our people haven't been very engaged in worship lately.
Suddenly, God gave me a vision of all these people I love (me included) wrapped in a sort of sleeping bag/snake costume. Each of us was zipped inside this costume, unable to move, unable to worship. We need God to unzip the snakeskins and set us free!
Then I heard a bird singing, and saw flowers blooming, and children playing, and thought, "How natural it is for God's creation to worship Him!" Make me a natural worshipper, too, Lord! Set me free!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saying goodbye again...
We had our ups and downs while they were here...love sometimes hurts, but it's always worth it. Rich Mullins once said, "Quite often, we extend love to people because we want to change them." He believed we ought to love for the sake of love, with no expectations. He said, "Even if a person fails to respond to our love, our kindness, or our forgiveness a thousand times, we are called to keep on loving."
The few times that the girls and I were at odds over rules of the house, I know I heard Abba Father say, "Just keep loving them." So that's what I did, and they will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. For them (and many others I love), I pray with Paul:
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-18 NLT
Now, Father, who's next? Send more of your precious daughters for me to love on, please.
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