Brazilian Retreat

Just returned this evening from a retreat with Brazilian believers in the state of New Hampshire. People came from Canada, the Boston area, and even the state of Virginia. Wonderful time of one on one, small group, and large group edification. Good food as always. The only thing missing was Guarana. Played tennis for about the third time in my life with predictable results. Fortunately my partner Juliano made up for my lack. Juliano and his wife Mariana are strong believers.
Had the privilege of meeting and talking with a fervent brother named Marcelo, who shared a powerful message from the Word Saturday evening about the Kingdom of God. God had given me a word about six days earlier on the alien and strangers' theme that was the subject of my last post. It is a poignant truth for those who are experiencing this in the natural.
Also had an opportunity to encourage a brother who does blue collar work that there is no shame in it in the eyes of God. Many of the apostles were fishermen, Paul made tents ( Acts 18:2b-3) and Jesus, God's own son was a carpenter. If they did manual labor surely it is not something for us to look down upon. On the contrary, we are told to work with our hands in 1 Thessalonians 4:11.