Delays, re-routing, and sickness challenged the participants of the Brazil mission trip, sponsored by the Bloomington and Bedford (Indiana) Adventist churches, in July. Through the challenges, these short-term missionaries experienced blessings and unexpected miracles.

The saga started as our group's plane approached a landing strip in Brazil. A serious accident on the runway forced a detour to a small city in the middle of the Amazon. After a long wait in "Lost Town," our group traveled to Fortaleza (which means "strength") where the passengers finally found connecting flights.

Despite delays and difficulties at the airports, the group praised, laughed, sang, and prayed. The reason? We held a mission in our hearts. Actually, there were three mission groups on our flight. Although we represented different denominations, we all had the goal to serve and preach the gospel in a country that desperately needs Jesus. The participants believed our difficulties were due to the fact that the enemy of God was attempting to prevent the groups from reaching their destination.

Our mission: to build a 400-seat church in an extremely poor community in Brasilia, the capital, while lodging in the homes of the local people. In the evening, two members of our team (a church elder and a 20-year-old) preached the irresistible gospel to as many people as possible.

God's miracles started to unfold on opening night; the building filled with nearly 400 persons. This number grew to 500 in attendance, forcing local leaders to rent chairs and squeeze people into the already packed building. Even so, at least another 100 persons stood. The Vacation Bible School also grew in attendance from 50 to 100 enthusiastic children.

At the construction site, our group laid 12,000 bricks to finish the modest church. By the end of the week, 63 precious souls gave their lives to the Lord through baptism, including two of our own youth.

The Lord continued unfolding His miracles as we moved our "tent" to the Amazon River. Our medical team was able to provide medical and dental attention to more than 500 people. The trip participants divided into groups that took blood pressure readings, assisted the doctors, and distributed literature, clothes, and toys. We also held a Vacation Bible School at the four communities visited.

We wondered, Is this all possible due to our rough start?

Our 33 missionaries prevailed in prayer and accomplished our mission as we claimed the words of 1 John 5:14–15, "This is the confidence that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him."

Yes, indeed, God is working in Brazil. We were there; we saw it; we lived it.

Fernando Ortiz is pastor of the Bedford and Bloomington churches in Indiana.