Meu Nome è Christina: A Brazilian Introduction

Hello all,
As most of you know, LIFT 21 will be departing tomorrow for a two-week mission trip to Brazil. I will be taking over this little slice of the interweb while they are gone, updating you on their adventure. Some of you may know who I am and can assume my excitement in this new project of mine, but I suspect more of you have no idea who I am and how I'm connected to the LIFT program.

First, I am a graphic designer and photographer at CAMP-of-the-WOODS, the resort and conference center that the LIFT Discipleship Program is tied to under their parent organization, Gospel Volunteers, Inc. This is my eighth LIFT class I've been given the privilege to observe and interact with.

Second, last semester, LIFT 20 went to Nigeria. In a story that's entirely too long and only minutely relevant to this blog, I had the opportunity to go with them last November and act as their photographer. Since we've started a two-semester opportunity, we have 8 students from last semester doing LIFT again and subsequently traveling to Brazil.

Third, I love to blog.

In short, I am professionally and emotionally tied to this group. I love the students and my experience in Nigeria will give me an opportunity to understand their Brazilian experience better. Which means I can effectively communicate it with you.

This is a picture of LIFT 20 in Nigeria. Some of the students are missing, but it's the only group photo I ended up in.


So that is who I am. Now on to the more important stuff.

The plan: My goal is to update here more often than I hear from the group. In between actual updates, I'll be throwing in some random Brazil facts and maybe a Portuguese lesson or two. We'll have fun together, I promise.

The group leaves tomorrow morning; please pray:

• For sharpness of mind and the ability to place all their anxieties on the Lord as they pack.
• For their emotional preparation; that they would rest wholly on the truths of Scripture.
• For their spiritual preparation; that they would be walking by the Spirit and leaning on the Lord for wisdom and understanding.
• Pray Philippians 4:6-7 for them, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."