We started our journey by feeling that we should go right from the airport, we didn´t know that the only exit from the airport was right, and suddenly realized it was not going to be an easy hike as we were heading down the highway in the blazing sun. After a while a car picked us up, and took us in to city centre, dropped us off and we started heading down the highway again where a van picked us up and took us on the way to Copacabana. From there on we walked to the closest beach and it was not really close, we were crazy tired. We haven´t eaten the whole day and were struggling with jetlag. Before it got completely dark we didn´t have a place to stay for the night yet. The domestic airport was nearby and we had a crazy idea to have a nap there for the night, after being escorted from a backroom where we weren´t supposed to be, we were finally allowed to crash at the back of the terminal. One of the lovely ladies working there blessed us with dinner and coke which was awesome!!!
The next day we headed off to Flamengo beach to worship and pray and spend time in the Word. God showed Marguerite a picture of a red feather and she went to a person standing behind us that was riding his bike. She started speaking to him (he actually understood English a little bit) and as she tried to explain to him where she got the feather he asked if we had a place to stay. He gave us his address and invited us to his apartment. We spent the whole day at the beach waiting on God for divine appointments. We got the chance to speak to two men that didn´t believe in God, one being very open, sincerely looking for answers and the other very set in his ways and debating emotionally. Jean started playing his guitar and a random guy came and asked if he can play with him. He could understand a few words in English and you could really see the love of God in his eyes. He had a lot of worship music to share with us, bought us lunch and blessed us with 20 Real.
We never found the feather, it was the reason we found Fernando...
That evening we went to the address we had. The moment we arrived the security at the front desk knew who we were and gave us a message from Fernando saying that we are very welcomed in his home. He arrived later that night and showed us the very very very small flat that he opened to us. His heart has so much more space than the size of his apartment as he was willing to care for us as long as we wanted to stay. God blessed us with very nice food and even chocolates, cookies, cool drink and coffee everyday. He also blessed us in giving us a chance to stay at one of the most famous beaches in the world in the shadow of the Christ statue, with the chance to see some of the city and to visit art galleries.
The first night we realized Fernando has a sensitive heart and that bombarding him with turn or burn would push him away. We were guided by Holy Spirit to tell of God´s love not by words but by acts. We spent the whole time there hanging out with him and getting to know him. We also had the chance to pray for him in intercession and encouraging words. What was very special to us was that he said that he could feel the presence of God more and that he realises that God loves him, no matter what.
It was sad to say goodbye as we grew to love him a lot. And he became a friend that we would always keep in our heart.
Love
Elzette, Marguerite and Jean