The Power of Prayer

This past week and a half I have spent at the home of a Brazilian missionary living in the jungle. I had been there before and have always loved being with him and his family! This trip was much different than the others I have been on. He wanted to show myself and Mark, who is also staying the same amount of time as I am, what daily life is like being a missionary. He did not want to show us how it is when you come for a couple days with a team, but long term what day to day life looks like. It’s much, much different than I had in mind!

We helped him and his wife out with their daily chores and projects. Some days we had more work to do than others, but all in all it was very good. They are in charge of a school and feeding program for some of the kids in their village, they come every Tuesday – Friday from 2pm – 4pm sometimes 5. I enjoy working with these children and playing with them. For some of them it is the only love and food they will have all day. Many of these kids do not get to have a childhood, but are in charge of taking care of their brothers and sisters and doing many chores that we in America do not do until we are older. It is such a blessing to be able to give them a few hours a day of just being a kid.

The biggest thing I have learned from this family is how lightly we take prayer in America. When we sit down to pray before a meal we say the same, mundane prayer every time. “God, thank you for this food, bless it to our bodies, and bless the hands that prepared it.” Sometimes I wonder if God gets tired of hearing the same old prayer 3 times a day. It’s more of a habit to us, than actually speaking with God. What a privilege to come before the Almighty God, to speak to Him, and to have Him listen to us!!

When this family prays, they pray with their whole heart. It is the most sincere prayer I have ever heard. When they pray before a meal it is not just the same old prayer over and over again because it’s habit. They are truly thanking God from the bottom of their hearts not only for the food, but for everything they have. They don’t have much, so what little they have they take care of and are so grateful for.

Prayer is a very powerful thing. God would not instruct us to pray if it was insignificant and meaningless. What an honor we have been given! My prayer life will forever be changed because of this family.

Thank you again for all your prayers and your support. I will be returning to this missionary’s house again on Monday for 4 days, then heading up the Javari River on a medical trip!!