GoD iS sO gEnErOuS...& hE uSeS gEnErOuS pEoPLe...

This is the second time I'm going to type this... last friday I was just uploading the last photo and...everything was gone ...

I have no idea of what happened...but anyway, that doesn't stop me from writing it again...defeating technology by patience and perseverance ... especially because I want to praise God in this post...
so yes, God is generous...and God uses generous people... I was thinking about that on thursday during my trip from Porto in this beautiful car ... I still can't believe I actually have a car... a convertible car for a farm, it almost sounds like a joke, but it´s not...

At just the right time, because now we will start picking olives and I had no way to carry them... This is not exactly the kind of car anyone would carry olives in, but well, it will have to work... maybe in smaller portions...

Paulo, my brother in law gave me the car... just like that... he was about to sell it because they didn't need it anymore and it was one more expense and I just asked if I could use it until it´s sold... and he simply said " You want it? You can keep it !"...

he even fixed something that was broken and gave it a complete washing up before he handed it to me... Paulo is an amazing person... This is just the way he is ! And Edna, my sister as well... they are not only generous, but they are so hospitable with so many people that come and go through their house... actually, most of those who come here through Porto airport end up staying one or more days in their house... and everyone gets impacted by their friendliness, hospitality and generosity... they already have 2 extra "sons" living with them, Nico, from Angola and Juran from Italy, besides the 6 cats and 4 dogs... and they just had twins ! It´s a full house all the time... I hope they also receive from all those who pass by, and that doesn´t become too much for them to handle... When I visit it seems like everyone is helping...

I'm so thankful myself... they've been a blessing to me in so many different times...
All this made me think about many other circumstances when God blessed me... and I'm only referring to material things, because if I would mention all the others this would be a never ending post... 

I can't help but be in awe and gratitude for all the things God has been giving me...
like this laptop I'm using now and the mobile internet...I remember 2 years ago just saying in one e.mail that my communication was not so good because the computer I was using was almost "dying"...a friend replied and said "why don't you share with your friends and raise some money to get a new one?!"...and he was the first one to give some money... I never thought about that...How could I just ask for money to buy a new computer?!! well, but I did it...and in one week I had all the money... God is generous...and God uses generous people... What about the iPod that I'm charging now too?!! well, that was a funny one...I had a friend coming over and he had an iPod...I just thought in my mind..."Hmm, that would be great to have in the land"...believe me or not, next day I got a package from my sister... she was sending me her old iPod..,isn't that amazing ?! it took me almost a month to figure out how it works, but now it's a blessing in the land... it´s our "sound system" !

The craziest story you might know already...how we got this land ...well, how God provided 30.000 Euros in 5 weeks...
All this is crazy to me... these are things that I never thought I could afford, and I never even dared to ask for... first because I don't have any savings account (saving what anyway), I don't have rich parents, and I never buy anything on credit... thank God!
God is generous...and He uses generous people... And I'm so thankful to all those who have been participating in my life through their money...people that believe I am supposed to be who I am, and do the things I do...
I´ve been living like this for almost 10 years now, and God has always been faithful... giving me even more than I could think I could ever have...

I remember one day when I was in Lisbon... Those were the "not so wealthy days" of my journey (well, not that much has changed since)...I was counting every cent to buy the essential food I needed... I was renting a room mainly because Byron and Lisa were supporting me every month and I would rent 2 rooms to students to cover most of it... 

I remember it as if it was today... I was coming out of the train, it was a hot summer day, and a desire just came to my mind : " it would be so good to have an ice-cream now" ... For me that was an "extra" need, a luxury, and I couldn't afford to have "extra" needs then... I didn´t have a job, I was receiving money from people, so I shouldn't have more than the essentials... These were my thoughts then... and that's when God taught me a lesson... I felt a voice saying : "- Go buy an ice-cream for your own pleasure, please"... it was almost like a command... and then God started to speak to my heart... "- you are not my slave, you are my child and my friend... and I like to give you good things and satisfy your heart´s desires"

So I went and bought myself my favourite ice cream...

Not having a job is not because I don't want to or I don´t like working... I do work, but mostly volunteering...  I don't have a 9-5 job because God wants my full time to be available to serve other people...
I learned to be ok with that, because it´s not easy in this society to try to explain it...There are times when the pressures of society make me feel bad about it...
For some people it's even preferable and more secure to have a 9-5 job with a paycheck at the end of each month to do what they want with it... and that's ok , if it's ok for them...
As for me, I gave all my time to God and God gives me things and money for me to be at service  and also for the things I want to have (I don´t think I have many needs)

when Jesus said :" -...do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' But seek first God´s kingdom and Justice, and all these things will be given to you as well." ... I believe in this promise.

I just want to end up giving thanks again to all those who've been participating in my life with finances...This is a lesson I learned with one of my mentors, Marcos Azolin (already with the Father in Heaven now), when I was struggling about "living by faith" asking other people for money...he told me "- but you will not ask people for money, instead, you will give them a chance to participate in your life and what God is doing through your life"... and that changed my perspective since then...

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles...you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received... the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
(Philippians 4:11-20)