Christmas and Reconciliation

Well, we made it through our 3rd Christmas here in Brazil. The temperatures were in the mid to upper 90’s and the humidity was worse than in Georgia. For real, it was. So, to say the least, it didn’t feel like Christmas at all (because it was so hot). MJ had all of her Christmas decorations up (which looked awesome) but when it’s 89 degrees ‘inside’ your house and you’re drenched in sweat- it’s hard to make your mind think it’s christmastime. We’re used to cold temps at Christmas or even the occasional snow: ) But there’s no chance for that here on the other side of the equator. Oh well...

But one great thing happened for us this year for Christmas. Our oldest adopted son, Marlon, came home for the first time in over a year and a half! 

If you didn't know he was gone and you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s a couple of blogs for you HERE and HERE.

MJ, Samanta, Marlon and Me after dinner Christmas Eve.

We hadn’t heard from him since he left home in July of 2012’. We had heard stories about where he was and what he was doing (and they weren’t good ones) and the kids would occasionally see him in town, but none of us had any real contact with him at all. Then, out of nowhere, I got a Facebook message from his girlfriend back in October and they wanted to meet me. I went and met with them and it went really well. He was living in a house on the same property as his girlfriend and her parents. He was also going to school at night and working for his girlfriend’s dad during the day. So, even though he wasn’t home with us, I was happy that he wasn’t out running the streets anymore and that he was trying to finish his education. 

Anyway, after that initial meeting, Me and MJ went the next week and met with them for lunch. It was good getting to get reacquainted with our son. We’ve been praying for a year and a half for Marlon. He’s made some bad choices but we believe that he isn’t beyond God’s reach, no matter what he does. So our prayer is that God will continue to pursue him and save him. 

The week before Christmas we received another message from Marlon’s girlfriend (Samanta) saying that he wanted to spend Christmas with us. We weren’t really sure how to respond because Marlon hasn’t seen any of his siblings up close in such a long time and we didn’t know if the holidays was the best time to do it for the first time. But after thinking about it and talking to all the kids we all decided to invite them over for Christmas Eve dinner. So Marlon and Samanta came and had dinner with the whole family. It was actually very nice having all us together again. We looked at old pictures and videos, we laughed and visited for a few hours... it was good.

Marlon and Samanta with Ana, Robert, Gabriel and Diogo- acting crazy (normal) before they went home.

But more important than Marlon being reconciled to us, his family, we want him to be reconciled to God. That’s our main prayer for all of our kids. Sure it’s great that we’re all together and that we all love each other but our kids making Jesus lord of their lives and following Him is by far the most important thing to us as parents. Just because they’re growing up in a ‘ministry family’ doesn’t mean jack. They’ve all got to make the decision on their own. And we’ve got to continually point them to the cross and pray that the Spirit of God pursues them and that He draws them to God. And we as parents have to keep praying until they give their lives to Him.   

Samanta, Marlon, Kevin (Maryssa's 'friend', haha) and Maryssa at a camp
we just held this past weekend for an orphanage from Curitiuba. 

We’re thankful for all of you who have been praying for Marlon. Please continue to do it and we’ll continue to update you on what’s going on his life: )

Passionately Following Jesus,

Jim

Relationships

To us, one of the most important things that we’re doing (besides spreading the Gospel which is paramount in everything we do) is developing real relationships with the children and teenagers that we minister to. And that can’t be done by just seeing them once and then moving on to the next group of kids. So we strive to be around the same kids numerous times over the course of the year. And we’re starting to see amazing results because of this ministry philosophy. 

One of the relationships we have is with a girl named Stefany. We’ve known Stefany for almost 6 years now. She was in the orphanage that we adopted all our kids from when we adopted back in 08.’ We would see her every year when we came back to the orphanage (usually during Spring break mission trips) and it always broke our hearts to see her there year after year. Our hands were full so there was nothing we could do as a family (adoption), which was very frustrating. But we kept in contact and developed a great relationship with her nonetheless.

Me and Stefany at the orphanage back in 2009.'

MJ and Stefany back in 2011' during a visit to the orphanage in Curitiba.

When we moved to Brazil Stefany was turning 15 and was being moved out of the orphanage and into another facility for girls 15-18 yrs. old in a different part of Curitiba. We still maintained contact with her though and MJ started corresponding almost daily with her via email and Facebook. Over the past 2 years we’ve been able to have her out to the camp, at church with us on Sunday and she’s even come with us to minister at another orphanage (actually she ministered with us last weekend at a camp). She tells us that she wants to work with children when she grows up and that what we’re doing has inspired her to do it. It’s crazy... here’s a girl, that even though we couldn’t adopt her like we wanted to, we didn’t give up and we’re still able to impact her life just like she’s one of our daughters. God is so good.

MJ and Stefany at an outreach we did back in December at an orphanage in Columbo. 

Matthew and I were at an orphanage a few weeks ago (that we had just done an outreach at) talking to the director. I was trying to get some feedback about our last event at his facility. When he began talking he said. “we were different from all the other groups that came to do things there.” He said, “the kids love you guys because you’ve developed relationships with them.” When he said it, it was a huge encouragement to me. It’s one thing to have God give you a vision for ministry but it’s totally different when you see how it’s actually working and you get to see the fruit of it. 

The reason I’m mentioning these 2 stories to you is because I think it’s important that you know exactly what we’re doing here in Brazil. Because ultimately it’s because of you, our faithful supporters, that we’re able to do anything here at all. 

Me and Stefany at a camp we just had for an orphanage from Curitiba.
It's amazing to see what an amazing young lady she's grown up to be.

I know what it’s like to give an offering at a church (or to make a donation to a cause) and you always wonder where/what your money was going to do and if it was actually going to make it to what it was intended for. Well, for us the answer is, “yes!” Over two years later, here in Brazil, our goal and mission is still the same;

“To reach the children and teenagers of Brazil with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Thank you for allowing our family to be here bringing the Gospel to these kids (as well as too many more to mention). We’re excited about what 2014’ is going to bring and we’re thankful for every one of you who’ve partnered with us and who allow us to do what we do: )

Love Ya,

Jim, MJ and the Whole Dunn Gang

The End of an Era

You may or may not know this but MJ was born here in Brazil. She‘s the youngest of 4 kids and her parents were missionaries (to Brazil) with Wycliffe Bible Translators back in the late 60‘s and into the late 70’s. They moved back to the States (NC) when MJ was in the 4th grade where their family continued working stateside for Wycliffe.

When MJ was 15 (FYI- we started dating when she was 16!) her and her family moved to Georgia where her dad served as the SE Regional Director for Wycliffe until he retired a few years ago. My father-in-law and my mother-in-law were great examples to all of us kids (the ones born to them and to all of us who married into the family) of what it looked like to faithfully serve God because they had done it consistently over several decades.

So, in 2009’ when they decided that they were coming out of retirement (not that they actually ever slowed down) to move back to the mission field here in Brazil. We were all blown away and in awe- all at the same time. I mean, here was a couple that had finally reached retirement age and had already lived a full life serving Jesus. In my book they didn’t have to do anything else for the Kingdom. And the way I looked at it,  they deserved to just rest, to go fishing, to visit with friends, to sit on their front porch and enjoy each other. They didn’t have to sell all the stuff they had acquired over their lifetime to move back to the mission field... but they did. 

They moved here to the Camp in January of 2010’ where they lived in what we call “Grandma and Papa’s House.” It’s a little house that sits on the hill overlooking the small lake we use for swimming here at the Camp. The house is small by US standards but the view is amazing. Me and MJ would always look across the small valley that separated our 2 houses and see them early in the mornings sitting on their front porch (in their robes) drinking coffee. It was great seeing them just relaxing in the mornings and enjoying life.

Here's 'Grandma and Papa's house. If you look real close you can see my father-in-law sitting on the porch.

This is the view from 'Grandma and Papa's House.

Even though I had the ideas for the camp, my father-in-law was the brains behind how to take the ‘ideas’ and turn them into realities. Everything from remodeling the Pavilion to how to properly construct  the obstacle course (which is one of the main attractions at the Camp now). And then there’s all the maintenance on the property. This place is a maintenance nightmare. As soon as you build something it immediately starts to deteriorate. None of the wood is pressure treated, the elements are brutal, and most of the building materials that we’re use to using in the States aren’t available here. So his knowledge of construction was invaluable. 

Then there’s the moral support that my father-in-law and my mother-in-law offered. It’s been amazing to have them to talk to, to get advice from, to vent to, to help with the kids, to just be there... But that’s all come to an end: (

Our oldest son, Michael, got married back in July and they went home for the wedding. They had planned on staying for 3 months then coming back at the end of November. But on November 17th we received the email that we all suspected would come but that none of us wanted to come. And, in the email, they explained that it was one of the most difficult decisions that they’ve ever had to make but after much prayer and contemplation- they decided that they weren’t coming back to Brazil.

They had decided to remain in the States. It was a difficult decision, but one that totally made sense to all of us. Let’s face it, bottom line- it’s difficult living here. Nothing is easy. The toll that it takes on you physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually is immense. The toll that it takes on all of us (and we’re all in our 40’s) is crazy-difficult. So to be in your 70’s and enduring this kind of hard living is unfathomable to us all. So the decision made sense. But it was painful nonetheless.

Here they are at our oldest son, Michael, and our new daughter-in-law, Sarah's wedding.

The void that it leaves for the rest of us who are still here is huge. Now, all the things that we depended on them for, are rolled back on to us. It’s been an adjustment, that’s for sure. But it’s done one thing for me that’s even bigger... and that’s the whole reason for this blog.

It’s made me thankful for them. Even though they’re not here anymore it’s made me thankful for them. It’s made me thankful for the example that they’ve been for Me, MJ, and our kids. And I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank them for all the help and support that they’ve given to us over the last 26 years that they’ve been in my life. And I want to especially thank them for all the help that they’ve been to us here in Brazil. We couldn’t have done all the things we’ve done here if it weren’t for the two of them. So, “thank you.”

Getting ready to go see the kids sing in a Christmas musical at a church in Jardim Paulista.

I know that we (all of us here in Brazil) feel a great loss. And this blog even seems like a eulogy- but they’re not dead, they’ve just moved. But who says that you have to wait until someone dies before you tell everyone how awesome they are!? Not me. We love and appreciate them and we just want them (and everyone else) to know it. And even though they live in the States now, the little house on the hill is (and always be) referred to as “Grandma and Papa’s House.” We love and miss you guys!

Jim 

Bringing Hope

His smile says it all.
One of the children that received Christmas presents a few weeks ago during our visit to an orphanage
 in Columbo with the Hope Epidemic and one of the Pastors from Graystone Church in Georgia.

A couple of weeks ago we were in several orphanages promoting something that’s very exciting. I wasn’t able to say anything beforehand because, until the meetings took place, we weren’t really sure what the outcome was going to be. But we were in these orphanages (ones that we already have relationships with) trying to initiate something that’s never happened here before. An orphan hosting program.

My good friend, Jono Long with The Hope Epidemic, was here the entire week trying to find orphanages that were interested in allowing American families to host children (from their orphanages) for 4 weeks in the United States. The program is working in Europe, China and Africa but has yet to be developed here in Brazil. 

The way that it works is like this:

A christian family will be matched with a child that is currently in the orphanage. They (the family) will pay for the child to fly to the US and live with their family for 4 weeks (typically during the Christmas season). The child will not only be able to experience a whole new world, but they will also be able to experience what it’s like to be in a family. But here’s the amazing part... 80% of all the children that come to the US on one of these hosting trips becomes adopted. Either by the family hosting the child or by someone who meets the child during the hosting process! And that’s the main goal.

When we presented the program to the directors of the orphanages, they were excited. It was amazing to see how receptive they were and how anxious they were to get the program started. It’s in the planning stages right now and will need to be approved by the judges here in our state, but the goal is to have the program in place within the next few months so that hosting can begin next December! 

Please pray for this program and that it will be a blessing to the children of Brazil.

The other thing that we were doing was launching a child sponsorship program. The way that this works is that a church is matched-up with an orphanage. Then the members of the church adopt the orphanage as their own for a minimum of 2 years. Families within the church are matched with a child and sponsor the child by giving financially (usually $30-35 per month), corresponding by mail/e-mail and then by taking missions trips to the orphanage to see the sponsored child (if possible for the family sponsoring). 

Although the orphanages here in Brazil are well structured, they lack the funding to meet all of the children’s needs. So the financial support, which is minimal by American standards, goes a long way to improve the lives of each child it’s designated for.

And here’s the cool thing, we (Hope and Life Brazil) are here in Brazil and are partnered with The Hope Epidemic. So we’re able to act as a liaison (and accountability) for the children and the orphanages to make sure that the support does exactly what it’s suppose to do- ‘go to helping the children.’ We’re very excited about being able to be involved in this amazing partnership with The Hope Epidemic.

If you or your church has a heart for orphan ministry but don’t know where to start or if you’ve been afraid to invest in any type of orphan care because you weren’t sure that your support was actually going to make it to the children, then I’d recommend that you contact The Hope Epidemic by clicking HERE to find out how you can get involved!

Passionately Following Jesus,

Jim

Thanksgiving and Remembering all the Manna

The kids helping grade and level the are that we are building an outdoor/open air classroom on.

Robert helping me cut some wood for the forms that were used for the posts (footers).

All the posts were harvested from the jungle. Each one weighs over 250lbs.

All the posts installed and braced.

Alympo installing bracing on one of the posts

The finished project before we put down gravel (as the flooring)

It’s Summertime here in Brazil and that means that everything is growing again at a rapid pace (vegetation, that is). And that also means that,... drumroll please.... “it’s weed-eater time!” Yessss! 

In case you didn’t know, we don’t have lawnmowers here, only weed-eaters. Not just us, but everybody. So that means that whether you’re on a maintenance crew for the government maintaining the grass on the highway roadsides, a grounds crew at a local park maintaining football fields, a homeowner cutting the grass at your house or some dude from America trying to maintain 110 acres in the mountains of Terra Boa... it’s all done with weed-eaters!? It doesn’t make much sense from a efficiency standpoint but it is what it is and I try to not be so critical of something that still baffles me.

Anyway, seeing how cutting acres and acres of grass with a gas powered trimmer is pretty mindless, although necessary, when I’m out there weed-eating I have a lot of time to think. And after I get past all the thoughts like, “why am I doing this” or “man, I’ve got way more important things to do” I take advantage of the time to pray and think about things. 

Today, after I got through all the thoughts that involve me feeling sorry for myself, I started thinking about spiritual stuff. I started thinking about the Israelites. Don’t ask me why, I just did. And I was thinking about how God provided manna (food) for them every single day for 40 years. Every day for f-o-r-t-y years! Have you ever thought about that? God sent food for them every... single... day. And it was something manufactured by God Himself and it couldn’t be bought at any store. It was special. And He provided it.

I know that they had to be super-excited at first. To think that ‘the God of everything’ was providing for them daily had to be something that made them feel like He really cared for them, right? And it had to be a constant reminder of the fact that God was their provider every day. But, at some point, the wow factor wore off and it became commonplace. It became ordinary. They even started to get tired of it. 

To me, when I think about it, that’s crazy! God is sending something to them every day and rather than being thankful- they complain. Rather than realizing the magnitude of what’s happening and appreciating the Father’s provision- they murmur. They wanted something different. It makes no sense.

And as I was thinking about how they reacted to what God was doing in their lives, I started to wonder if that type of attitude was in me as well. I mean, there’s no food appearing on the ground for Me, MJ and the Kids everyday, but He does provide for us every day. We have food, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, transportation... I mean, it may not be exactly what we want. Sure, it would be nice having a different house. It would be nice having a different vehicle. But really, we’re OK. 

He’s provided everything we need. Not everything we want- but everything we need. So for me to complain about what He’s provided (by wanting something better all the time) and not being content... well, it’s like saying, “you know what God? I don’t think you’re good enough to me. I don’t think what you’re providing is sufficient and I want more.” 

And, if that’s what I’m thinking (because I would actually never say that out loud), doesn’t that make me a lot like the Israelites?

So standing there (with the weed eater strapped to my back) I just began to thank Him for what He’s provided. I thought about all the things we’ve done over the last 2 years here in Brazil and it made me truly thankful to Him. Because even though things aren’t the way I’d want them (in my perfect little world) they are exactly the way that He’s provided for us. And for that I’m thankful: )

What about you? Do you tend to always want something other than what He’s provided? Are you thankful and content with what you have or do you sense that there’s a little bit of that Israelite way of thinking in you as well? It’s definitely something to think about (and if it’s there, it’s something to repent of).

Love Ya,

Jim, MJ and the Kids

PS- I don’t do all the weed-eating by myself. Matthew and Alimpio (our brazilian caretaker) also help. But it’s still painful nonetheless: (

Happy Hallelujahween-fall-harvest-trunk-or-treet-festival

This is the water racing down the hill during a rain storm a few weeks ago that dumped over 5" of  rain in only 1 hour.

OK, now that the holiday has officially passed, I just needed to say something (oh yeah, if you couldn’t figure it out, the holiday I’m talking about is Halloween). It’s funny to hear all the names that we as christians have labeled this particular holiday (just to make it more christian-user-friendly at our churches). It’s the same holiday, just a different name. Although varied somewhat, it’s celebrated pretty much the same as the way this celtic pagan holiday originated, but with a different name. So call it what you want.

Now before you start thinking that I’m bashing anyone who celebrated it, I’m not. At the  church that I served at for almost 10 years, I annually planned and organized what we called “Fall Festival.” We leveraged the holiday as a way of trying to expose our community to the Gospel. We promoted it as a free, fun and safe alternative for the families who lived in our community. It started out with about a hundred people but swelled into an event that drew 3-4,000 people each year. It was amazing. Amidst all the games, candy, prizes and such, we had Gospel music as well as Gospel centered ministry that happened from the main stage throughout the night. Over the years we had several hundreds of people accept Christ at this annual event. It was pretty amazing, actually. 

So, I’m not against trying to flip a pagan holiday by trying to use the day as a way to reach people who would never step onto the church property any other way. But, having said that, I noticed something different this year. What I noticed was that there were a lot of people (christians) on social media trying to defend the fact that the holiday (Halloween) was harmless and that it was actually a family friendly holiday that everyone should participate in- because it promoted family.

The thing that bothers me about that, is that it seemed like it was trying to persuade people to violate their conscience. Because let’s face it, some people have different convictions about things that are stricter than what yours or mine (our consciences) might be convicting us of. And it’s easy to try and defend ourselves by saying stuff to make us seem right and them seem wrong. Or worse, make fun of them, because they seem too ‘holier than thou’ and need to ‘get with the 21st century.’ But we can’t do that. It’s not biblical.

I’m not judging the people who were posting stuff because I’ve been just as guilty. I can remember several years ago a friend of ours had watched a DVD on the roots of Christmas and where it originated. After he watched it he got rid of his Christmas tree and replaced it with a ‘Christmas Cross!’ For real. It was a Christmas tree that was in the shape of a cross. It still had all the decorations and lights on it, it was just ‘cross shaped.’ It was hilarious. And rather than respecting his convictions I kinda made fun of him. Not nice, I know. But I did. I was such an idiot. But that was the old Jim, lol!

As the Apostle Paul was reaching the end of his ministry (at one of his trials and at the beginning of being in prison a couple years) he said in Acts 24:16, “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” He also told Timothy (1 Timothy 1:18-19) to, “wage a good warfare, by holding faith and a good conscience because by rejecting this some people have made shipwreck of their faith.” I could give several more examples about how important keeping a clear conscience is because the bible actually has a lot to say about it. It’s actually a critical part of being able to hear and see God (having a clear conscience).

So here’s my whole point... if my conscience isn’t convicting me of something then that’s good. I just need to walk in the revelation of what God has revealed to me through my conscience. But if someone else has different convictions, I need to respect that and let them walk their walk with God. I don’t need to try to change their minds by defending my position on whatever it is we see differently. So whether it’s celebrating Halloween, putting up a Christmas tree or letting my kids watch Twilight (heaven forbid, haha), I’ve got to follow my conscience and I’ve got to let my fellow brother or sister in Christ follow theirs. Because let’s face it, we could all come up with scriptures to defend whatever position we hold on whatever subject we come up with (that could defend both sides). But, when it boils down to it, we have to be led by our conscience as the Holy Spirit speaks to us individually. Because when we stand before Jesus one day, it’s just me and Him. And I’ll be rewarded for what I’ve done (what He’s asked me personally) whether good or evil (2 Cor. 5:10). So I have enough to worry about on my own rather than spending time trying to convince you to celebrate whatever holiday it is the same way that I do: )

Happy Holidays! (can I still say that?),

Jim

Professional Cock Fighters

Here's a shot of some of the neighborhood kids our kids on the front row during the last youth service at the pavilion.

OK. I slept pretty good Friday Night (unless you take into account having to get up every 2 hrs to use the bathroom... what’s up w/that?) only to be awakened early Saturday morning by MJ saying, “I really can’t understand what he’s trying to say but I think our kids killed his chickens or eggs or something!?”

She was referring to our neighbor who just came over to tell us that our kids had come onto his property while he was in Curitiba and committed some type of poultry crime. What? Seriously?

MJ could understand a little bit of what he said but not everything. So she got Me and Matthew up (Matthew- for his Portuguese, Me- so I could share in the embarrassment of what our kids had supposedly done). So, we got dressed and went to our next door neighbor’s house with proverbial hat in hand.

When we got there, he took us to the back of his property and pulled a huge rooster out of one of the numerous chicken coups that he had. This thing looked like it had gotten the crap beat out of it. Then he pulled another one out of another cage... and this one looked just as bad as the first one! He then explained (in Portuguese to Matthew) that while he was out of town a couple of my kids had come into his yard and let 2 of his roosters out so that they could fight each other. Say what?! My kids? You must be thinking about some other kids or something because my kids would never... oh, wait a minute. That does sound like something they could possibly do: (

So I sat there and listened to how the person who watches his property when he’s away heard roosters fighting and went to investigate. And, as he arrived just in time to separate the badly beaten and bloody roosters from each other, he witnessed 2 of my little precious boys running off in the distance.

The whole time I’m standing there in disbelief. Am I on an episode out of the twilight zone or something? I’m being told (in Portuguese) that my 7, 9 and 11 year old boys have begun a career in cock fighting and that they were able to escape the scene of the crime before they got busted. They’re just little kids. How would they even know that the roosters would fight? We don’t have roosters. We’re not from some backwoods town in West Virginia or something. We’re city folk.

So I apologized to my neighbor and hung my head in shame as we walked back to the house. What else can you do? Who would’ve ever thought that I would have to tell my kids, “no cockfighting kids! It’s not nice.” This is crazy.

They, of course, denied it. And to be honest with you I kinda believe them. Because as crazy as they are, to go onto someone else’s property is a little out of character for them. But who knows? It seems like there’s something new every day with them.

Anyway, this is one of those blogs with no spiritual meaning or message. I just wanted to write this down so that I could remember it later on down the road. With all the crazy stuff that happens to us, if I don’t write about it, it’ll be forgotten. Too much stuff to keep up with: )

Bewildered,

Jim