Today (Thursday, June 26) is our last full day in Brazil. Our team is heading to the beach, and I have decided to stay at the house this morning. I wanted some time to reflect on the past 17 days and prepare a sermon for tonight’s celebration service.
It’s almost overwhelming trying to think about all I have experienced since I have been in Brazil. I know that God’s sovereign hand brought me here, and, honestly, I truly believe I have been impacted more than I have had an impact.
I’ve been impacted not only by the people in Brazil but by the team of college students that I am leading. These students are incredible. They have challenged me and encouraged me all along the way.
I will miss them greatly when we arrive back home. I am glad to count them as friends but more importantly as family: brothers and sisters in Christ.
I am also very thankful for the Reese family, Eric, Ramona, Gloria, and Alicia: an International Mission Board (IMB) family that has opened their house and served our team with incredible patience and grace.
I know it cannot be easy to open their home to 13 people for 19 days. They have shown us their love for the Brazilian people and for the Gospel. We are so blessed to have been a part of their lives and ministry during this time. Please remember them as you pray.
I am very much looking forward to seeing my beautiful bride, my girls, Petey, my friends, my church family and everyone at AUM Baptist Campus Ministries.
I know that many of you have been praying for our team, and I want you to know that God has heard your prayer. I’ve watched as God has redeemed hearts and watched where men have continued to reject Christ.
I’ve been in dangerous situations without a hint of fear because I knew God had sent me there. I have seen so much brokenness that my heart still hurts.
However, I am reminded that we have the same brokenness back home; we just know how to hide it better. We all have the same basic problem: We are sinners that need to be redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for His glory alone.
All in all, as we return to the states I can honestly say that I will never be the same. However, even as I write those words I am filled with apprehension because I know how easy it is to fall back into the same patterns of life. I hope that you will pray for me that I will never forget what God has graciously allowed me to experience over these past few weeks.
I am so very thankful for everyone who has made this mission project possible: my family, Rick Lance, Mike Nuss, Chris Mills, the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, the IMB, Greg Idle, the Brazilian home mission board, and all the Baptist churches that give through the Cooperative Program.
With your commitment to the Cooperative Program, I have the privilege of serving as a state missionary, having shared in Brazil the Good News that because of His love for His people Jesus Christ died in our place to give life to the lifeless, redeem His people, give hope to the hopeless for the glory of His name.
State Missionary Lee Dymond serves as Baptist Campus Minister at Auburn University at Montgomery
