Seven weeks in Brazil is now over. It feels like I was there for a lifetime, and at the same time it feels like I never left Houston. But I did. And I'm not the same person now as I was before I left. I don't know if I can explain exactly what is different, I don't know if the right words exist. I don't know if I will be able to describe what has happened these weeks in Brazil in a good enough way to make you understand. I probably won't. But I will try. I will try to share my experiences - the things I did, the people I met, what God showed me - and my prayer is that God will use it to change you to, so that when you have read it you won't be the same either.

I am so incredibly thankful for the time I got to spend in Brazil. Everything hasn't been good, everything hasn't been easy, but I'm thankful for the hard days to. Maybe especially for the hard days. Especially for the days when I was too weak to do anything, when I had to rely completely on God's strength. Those were the days when I saw Him the most. Those were the days where He changed me the most. When I only had Him.

Before I went to Brazil I was scared. I didn't know what would happen, what I would do and see, who I would meet. I didn't know if I would make it, if I would be able to do anything at all. I felt overwhelmed, scared and very very small. I'm glad I did, because it made me realize that anything good that came out of my time in Brazil would be completely from God. Completely in His strength, completely by His grace, completely out of His love. And he did many good things. Many good things... We have an amazing God! Each day I've seen it more.

Even though I didn't know what would happen in Brazil, He did. I experienced again and again how He walked ahead of me, preparing the way. He had a purpose with everything, even when I felt that things went wrong He was in control.

Many times has He taken me back to Isaiah 40-45. It talks about who God is, and who I am. Isaiah 41:14 has especially spoken to me. It says:

"Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."

I'm small, but He is great. I'm weak, but He is strong. I'm confused, but He is in control.

I'm just me.

He is God.