Germany and Jesus Freaks...

you guys have to excuse me ´cause I don´t know how to work well with this blog thing...I don´t know what I did to post two times the same thing...and now all the things are in german and I don´t even know how to get it in english...oh well, hope you understand...
I have so much to write that I don´t know how to do it...I don´t wanna be boring, but I don´t want you to miss anything, and I also don´t want to speak about some things and not others...
I´ve been meeting so many people who impacted me since I arrived in Germany that I don´t wanna miss anyone...
Even before I stepped my foot in this country I knew God had stored great things for me here...it´s the first time now that I´m able to sit and write about it all...God just provided for me in Cologne a nice room just for myself with a computer and internet...it´s from a budist guy that is travelling with his girlfriend now, eh, eh, funny isn´t it...well, there´s 3 other guys who live in the house, all Jesus Freaks, pretty cool and sweet...a messy boy´s house :-), but homy !!!
o.k, but going back a couple of weeks ago, as I was saying, God gave me a love for the country in the first place...
I hitch-hicked from Hahn (that is far from Frankfurt, in the middle of nowhere)to the north-east, where Jesus Freak´s leadership meeting(willow freak) was going to take place, in Gotha... I got 1 car and 3 trucks and got near the place in the evening...from a little town I got a train to Gotha, where I arrived at night already...I looked for a place to sleep...I didn´t walk much far from the train station till I found some nice grass :-)...there was a building in the middle that looked like a library or so, but I didn´t care...I just wanted to take some rest and sleep...I was ready to close my eyes when I started to feel some drops of rain falling...I begged Jesus to stop it, but it didn´t work...o.k, I packed my things and went to look for a better shelter...maybe God had a better place...EXACTLY !!! I found a cool tent in a garden, in the middle of some buildings...looked perfect for me...under the shelter there was a table surrounded by long banches, some gardening stuff, and a little detail, 3 candles :-)so sweet... I just layed myself in one of the banches, put myself under my sleeping bag and had a wonderful sleep...I thanked God so much for His provision during that long day...but more was awaiting me next day...I woke up with some noise behind me...some gardeners were cutting branches from the trees..."Ups, I better wake up, maybe they need this place here" I thought, then a woman was passing by and noticed me..."Oh no God,I hope I´ll not get in trouble", I smiled and greeted...oh oh, she was coming closer...and she´s speaking deutsch...I kinda guessed, she was asking me if I slept there...I said "Yah"...she seemed worried and was asking me if I was not cold in the night...I was trying to convince her that I slept wonderfully, which I did, but she didn´t seem to accept that...then she asked if I wanted a coffe or tea..."weeeeell, Yah, tea."...I was hoping I was not totally wrong in my deutsch interpretation :-)...so I carried my bag into one of those surrounding buildings and I realized they were offices...she lead me to the kitchen (yes, she was offering me tea) where they had a big table and I set down while she was preparing tea...she called a young guy who spoke english and finally I could explain what I was doing there...and I also found out they were all tax collectors (it reminded me of something, eh,eh) more people were coming and they all end up knowing I slept outside in their garden...oh well...then, when I mentioned the "Siloah" eco-village, where I was going for "willow freak", they seemed to know the place...they seemed to know Jesus Freaks too, because the big summer festival, Freakstock, is near Gotha as well...so, Siloah was actually 20Km from Gotha...I asked them to show me in my map,but it was a small place, so the guy went to the internet and printed a map for me...I was feeling spoiled already, but those people were really glad to help me, so I asked if they knew which buses were going there...the guy called the bus station, but he found out there were none to Siloah directly...but then he remembered that he knows a guy in Siloah, to whom he collects taxes...Great! He called the guy and in few minutes he was there to pick me up...WAW !!! sorry to write all this so detailed, but isn´t God amazing ?!!
it couldn´t be better !!! Thank God for the rain :-)
so I got to Siloah tuesday morning and I would only meet with 24-7 guys on thursday arround 5p.m (24-7 and Jesus Freaks were going to meet on the same place ´cause Pete Greig was going to speak to both groups)...Siloah is just a beautiful farm and eco-village, with horses, cows, sheeps, play ground for children, clay and wood workshops, fruit trees, etc...sooooo cool...a dream for me, God was still surprising me more and more...I even got to sleep just next to the horses :-) in a nice wooden house (I could hear them in the night, so cool)...I also met the people who work as volunteers at siloah, mostly young people...really cool...and more was about to come...during breakfast, a girl called Aninha, started to speak with me and somehow told me I looked like an american indian(don´t ask me why, maybe my traveller leader pants) and mentioned the rainbow people...we imediatelly connected and I found out she was in rainbow before she became christian too, and she told me about this other guy that was there too who lived in a rainbow community for a year ...Johannes, he came too and we spoke more...that community is in Beneficio, south Spain, one of the biggest alternative communities, and I happen to know a few people who live there too...small world...they were both from a Jesus Freaks community in Friburg...I told them that one of my ideas inGgermany was to share with some Jesus Freaks about Rainbow and try to get a group to go to the european gathering in July...For my surprise and more excitement, he said that he heard about some Jesus Freaks wanting to go too... I just had one thought in my mind "- THIS MUST BE GOD!"...Yes, I was excited...next day I just fasted and rested trying to processe all this stuff...I was in awe...I had not enough words to thank God...and I was still feeling more was about to come...(for those who don´t know, rainbow people are my "heart people", "my tribe")
at the end of the day I end up meeting the 24-7 people...it was only 8 of them and I started to realize that was not exactly what I was expecting (not that I like big groups, on the contrary)...I didn´t need much to find out that was a more specific gathering of people who were already connected and I just observed trying to figure out what was my role there... (the thing is that Byron and Lisa were the ones who were supposed to be there, but Lisa said it would be cool for me to go instead)...well, the day after, I definitely realized I was not suppose to attend their meetings, I felt it was not my place,it was more a gathering of an organization or movement which I don´t feel I belong to...they were nice and so, but it was not the best timming and place to meet them...it was o.k though...
and so I join the Jesus Freaks who started their program that day in the evening...cool worship and cool people...
on saturday I had the opportunity to share with all about my trip and specially about the idea of going to the rainbow gathering...then I challenged all those who were interested to gather and speak more about it after...for my surprise we were 9 who gathered...we all shared why we were interested and it was amazing to discover that we all had the same desire, but we all felt lonely somehow... 6 years ago, when I was feeling discouraged about that vision, God told me that He was sharing the same vision with many others all over the world, He was preparing us, and that one day He would cross our ways :-)...I felt that promisse was coming to pass:-)...
it´s time...It´s God´s timming...He´s starting something...:-)...
After that meeting, I met another italian guy who heard from someone else about what I shared and told me he was also wondering when God would use him back in rainbow... I feel we all share the same love for them, it´s so cool...a girl from switzerland also came to me and told about a guy from her community who was almost becoming a budist monk till God told him clearly "NO", she says he will probably want to go too...still another girl from Berlin came to me and told me that she and her boyfriend want to go and she told me there´s a group from the USA coming to this gathering too... It seemed God had everything planned :-)...Not much work from us!!!
Waw, I have no words to describe that weekend...it was amazing to connect with so many christian freaks and hear about what they are already doing and what they are dreaming to do...
I only knew where I was going next on saturday night...A girl came to me and told me about a Huge festival where they use to go and have a stand there...she said it was a new age festival, but I found out later that is actually a Jazz Festival, but arround
the area we find many stools of many different things, food, handicraft,etc...and a lot of freaks just go to have a funny weekend...it sounded good for me...I had a ride
and a place to stay till the festival, so, why not...I went with Paulus, who is the leader of Jesus Freaks in Duisburg, Zanque(hope I´m spelling his name right) who lives next to Paulus and a couple, Thomas and Joana who are from another town one hour up north...all wonderfull people...
So I stayed in Duisburg in their community...they have 4 different flats already in the same block, and their vision is to have all the blocks :-)...Paulus live with York,in the same building there´s a couple with a beautiful baby I forgot their names
(I´m bad with that, sorry),Zanque is next to them,then there´s another sweet couple, Armin&Katharina also with a sweet little girl, Devina...they are expecting another baby soon too :-)...then they have others who live in the surroundings and they meet pretty much like a family... I really enjoyed my time with them all and had really good times speaking with Katharina who made for me a couple of times...
Then we went to The Moers Festival, just a few km from Duisburg, close to the Netherlands too...
It was fun to build up the tents and set up everything...there were a lot of people helping...one more time it felt like family !!! So, they had one stand in front with different literature in one side (which I didn´t understand ´cause it was all deutsch), then another stand on the side called "No hope in Dope" and had many information about all kind of drugs...the guy incharged of this one was a hippie from the 70´s, really sweet, with long and white hair and beard, he had a book with his own testimony and he just spend most of the time seated in his chair and talking to all those who would like to talk about drugs...then people could go inside and buy some cheap second hand close, and behind all this we had a few more tents, one with "Kika" (that table soccer game) which punks loved, other to chill out, other with tables and banches for us to eat or seat with people, other was a prayer tent for us (we had different hours for different groups to pray during the day, or just for those who would like to set apart for a while) and a big tent where they put a small stage where different bands played worship and it was there also where people could get some coffe or tea for free...there was pillows all over the floor, carpets and some low tables for people to chill out too...this was the place where we had our morning meeting before starting the day when somebody would give a message and so...in the evenings this was the place also where there was some worship and testimonies and many people would come...
well, I can´t tell all the things that happen those days...it was tiring, but totally worth it...I had the chance to get to know better some more Jesus Freaks like Franzisca, Catrin and Danika,Anja,Norbi,Kathrin and Jo,Maren and Frede (both couples would go to rainbow too),Gigi and Maria, and others (I´m bad with names, but I´m seeing the faces)...Oh, and Judith...one more special encounter...she has a heart for rainbow people too...she just came one day with other friends and left the day after...we just spoke for few hours maybe, but I felt so connected with her...I´ll meet her in rainbow for sure...she just finished her DTS (youth with a mission school) in South Africa and she´s wondering what to do next...a precious girl I can tell...
I had a special encounter with another girl called Marie, she came from Mastricht, where she study arts, and she was wondering about all the Jesus stuff...I had wonderful times with her, just listening, talking, walking arround the huge park between "stoned" and drunk people...but above all sharing hearts...maybe she left with more questions than answers, but she surely was impacted by a bunch of freaks about whom she said "they are just too nice"...
oh well, it was all great...maybe try checking www.jesusfreaks.de/duisburg to see pictures...
After that I came with the crew of Köln (Cologne), where I am right now...I spent the first nights in a caravan facing the river Rhine and the city...so nice...another dream...I had a van just for myself and I had a good time of rest after such busy days...
waw, I never thought I would be able to describe so much of these days, but I did...I´m glad..now I need to sleep...it´s almost 2a.m. here and I spent almost all day answering e.mails and so...
Love you all...
Shantii, Shantii
Baba

Emma and Louise

Waw, so many things I want to share with you...
I didn´t even have more time to write about Emma and Louise whom I met in England and
who impacted me so much with their passion for God, for people and for justice in the world...they are both part of an organization I mentioned already, called SPEAK, and I suggest you to check their web site www.speak.org.uk
After spending a couple of days with them in London and having a wonderful time with them and Jesus in a Trance party...well, it was not only a trance party, there were many bands playing, including one african band, hip-hop sessions and others,also many organizations and movements who promote peace and justice in different ways were there too..."Speak" was invited, and of course, together with "Speak", Jesus is invited too...so we went...Louise had the brilliant idea of having a kind of prayer and meditation tent, yes, right in the middle of the party..."ecological meditation"
they wrote, and inside people could read some cool texts from the Bible, like the Vine and the Branches, the vision of the throne of God and so...we don´t really know what God spoke to many people, but we had cool conversations with people who not expecting to hear about God in that place...they put paints and squares of fabric for people to write a message for the G8 summit that is going to take place in July in Edimburg, and they had also other informations about their campaings for justice and fair trade...
it was day light already when we left the building(well, it´s under a bridge actually)...it was very fun !!!
This was really a good ending in England...Emma and Louise, definitelly God´s warriors, going where not many christians go...they revived the warrior in me too, they challenged me to be more active...I thank God for their loving hearts and their determination to do His will no matter what...they are challenging people who will challenge the world, and they are challenging the church also, not to be still and apathic to world issues...

Rest of time in U.K

O.K, I'll be leaving the U.K. tomorrow morning and I'll still connect with this christian community in Camden this afternoon (in an hour actually)...they are called "gloriousundead" and they are mostly punks and goths...
But I'll speak about it after I met them...
So, After Harpenden I went to York to visit a sweet friend of mine, Sharon...I met her in Portugal in a youth camp, King's Kids, where I was helping...she's Australian, but went early to China...she studied in a portuguese school in Macau too and she speaks japanese too (besides english, portuguese and chinese)...waw, I have no words to describe my time with her...it was so refreshing and pleasant...we spent most of the time speaking about Jesus...she reflects His presence in such a sweet and childish way...I love it !!!
during this time I stayed at the house she's staying too...Sarah is another beautiful person I met, she lives in the same house together with 2 other girls...Sarah is christian too and she just have this big heart to serve others...
York was a nice town, placed in a beautiful place and full of different spiritualities...it seams to attract a lot of seekers...
I was with a couple from Youth With A Mission who are pioneering a new training school there for young apostolic leaders...they were really nice and friendly, with 2 beautiful children...I found out that I'm gonna be with him at the Jesus Freaks' gathering next week 'cause he's one of the speakers...small world !!!
After 4 wonderful days in York, mostly with Sharon, I went to Leeds where I was expecting to connect with the people from SPEAK, that organization that was at the Target Europe Conference too...I contacted another girl I met at the conference, Kai, and she would meet me at the bus station...but geting there I found out that the SPEAK office and Emma, the girl I wanted to connect with, is actually in Manchester, not so far from Leeds, but still... But God knew all about it :-), He really wanted me to meet Emma, oh yes He did...she happen to be in Leeds that night for a concert, and she was at the same place I was going to have dinner together with Kai...waw, so many "coincidences"...so, I end up having a wonderful dinner and fellowship in this house with pretty interesting people (also discovering to BE church) and after the concert Emma went to grag me and she drove to Manchester...
Well, I have to leave to another posting as I'm running out of time here...

Love all...
I really appreciate those who have been replying with encouraging words...

Shantii

Baba

scrolling notes on Target Europe (part III and last)

well, I hope I can do this, but I really wanna finish scrolling my notes on the conference Target Europe...specially for those who have been following it...sorry that is taking so much time, but being on the road is not easy to find a place to sit and relax while you type...I'm actually in a internet cafe in Kentish Town Road, Camden, London...and I also want to write later about the rest of my trip in England...but I'll make another post for that...O.K., I'll keep scrolling my notes on the conference (forgive my english mistakes by the way) :

GOD HASN'T GIVE UP OF EUROPE...
HE DIDN'T FINISH HIS WORK
- we need to be set apart from the system & GOD WILL BREAK THE OLD MINDSET.
with our mindset changed we will go in the power of the Holy Spirit -> THE SYSTEM WILL NOT RESIST... :-)

Next day we spoke about African countries and how we have a huge dept towards them...
(I'm just thinking now that usually we speak about Africa's dept towards western countries, but it's so the oposite)
THERE'S A URGENT AND DEEP NEED OF FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION...
God spoke personally about this to me, as I am both portuguese (or european if you prefer) and Angolan (African)...actually God has been speaking that to me in different times...I believe a lot of bad stuff can be broken in the spiritual realm through repentance, forgiveness and prayer...both for Portugal and for those countries which were colonized in our past...the church specifically need to have a great role on this, 'cause initially the portuguese ships went discovering new lands so that the Gospel could be spread...even the first thing they would put in the land to mark their presence was not a flag, but a cross made of stone...if we get to go to these countries and watch how the church is there, we 'll realize that we didn't took only the Gospel, but we also imposed our culture...most part of christian communities in Angola and Cabo Verde(that's what I've seen) have so little expressions of their own culture...simple things like the worship style and the gathering format, but so important...well, I could say so much more on this, but I won't take more space here...
I just feel to share very breefly and experience of a pastor and a reporter in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a month after the Tsunamy...they found out that those people hated portuguese because of what they did in the past (also in the name of Jesus unfortunately)...they even say that the tsunamy was a curse from the portuguese who were there exactly 500 years ago...they actually had to ask Holland for help to kick the portuguese out of there...soon they felt convicted of our national sin and they had to do something about it, so they went to look for some local churches...they attended 2 gatherings, one with 2000 people, other with 200 and they had permission to ask forgiveness for our past...there was brokeness in both places and a pastor even confessed that till that time he hated portuguese too... God even gave them the opportunity to ask forgiveness to a budist leader (the second most important) who received it... God does turn bad things into good if we are willing to submit to Him and humble ourselves...
we need to be aware of this things 'cause God wants to bring healing to the nations through us...

Back to the conference now...they even mentioned a meeting that took place in Berlin in 1984 which gathered 14 different nations to decide the borders in Africa...the interesting and sad part of the meeting was that none of those countries were Africans...how weird is that !!! for more info e.mail

There was also a girl called Louise from an organization called "SPEAK" who shared about their work and how we as christians have the obligation to speak for those who cannot speak and change things in the system that are not according to God's will...they basicly organize campaings exposing different social unjustices as they also pray for changes...(I'll speak more about it in another posting)for more check www.speak.org.uk

there was still someone sharing about finances, and how that is so much part of the battle...
- the enemy is trying to keep us poor and keep us from the duties that we have, the priviliege that we have to care for the poor (that's a key to release more finances)
- Finances are under atack

Money represents God's blessing in our lives ( this doesn't mean that we are under God's curse when we struggle with money, because we do)
when we give our lives to Jesus and confess Him as our LORD, this means He is Lord of our money too as well as all other areas...so we lose the right to do what we want with our finances...instead, we become stewards of all that He gives us: time, money, gifts, talents, etc...all for the sake of others...
If we're faithfull He will give us more...
We have a lot of needs: water, oxigen, food, etc...God allowed these needs in our lives so we may recognize we're totally dependent on Him to provide...
THERE ARE ONLY 2 THINGS WE CAN TRUST IN:
- Our own hands (give me, give me...save, save, save...)
- Jesus (who gave His life for me when He had everything)
Jesus says to us "-I'll make sure you'll have all that you need, but trust in my character...I AM FAITHFUL !!!
so, we can trust God when we have needs...

THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO NOT TRUST THE SYSTEM OF THE WORLD...
We need to be good stewards of the money God gives to us.
THERE'S A SEASON OF CHANGES ABOUT FINANCES TOO...GOD IS GONNA CORRECT SOME THINGS...
WE(CHURCH) HAVE BEEN TAKING MONEY FROM PEOPLE BUT WE'RE NOT USING IT HAS WE SHOULD...WE ARE NOT GIVING TO THE POOR...

In Europe we are used to apostles we plant churches and then settle down being supported by those churches...it doesn't necessarily need to be like that...an apostle, pastor, prophet, evangelist and any other christian can have a regular job if that's God's way...
Paul was building tents at the same time he was planting churches and training other apostles...in fact, he was renting himself a house where he was having his meetings with his co-workers...aCT 20:33-35
SO, WE WILL SEE A CHANGE ON THAT ALSO...APOSTLES WORKING AND EVEN SUPPORTING THEIR DISCIPLES...
Paul did all things in the name of Jesus...preaching, teaching but also working and serving the local community...
AT THE SAME TIME, AS WE DO THIS, GOD WILL RELEASE FINANCES AS NEVER BEFORE...NOT FOR US TO BECOME RICH, BUT FOR US TO HELP THE POOR AND SUPPORT OTHER MINISTRIES...
Nee 13:10-12
The problem is that we've not been good stewards...because THERE IS MONEY !!!

- SOME ARE MARKED TO BE GIVERS, GOOD STEWARDS...
- SOME HAVE TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF SHAME ABOUT FINANCES (NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE PROMISSES OF GOD)...
- SOME ARE UNDER THE WORDLY SYSTEMS...
- SOME WILL BE BLESSED IN THEIR JOBS IN SOCIETY...
- SOME ARE DOING REAL PIONEER WORK, IT'S THEIR CALL TO SERVE THE LORD ...
THERE'S WAR TO CUT THEIR SUPPLIES...WE NEED BREAKTHROUGH IN FINANCES...THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE ENSLAVED BY THE "CHURCH"...WE ARE NOT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY...WE NEED TO HAVE TO RIGHT MEANING OF WHAT IT IS TO SUPPORT SOMEONE FINANCIALLY...
(finish my notes here)
Well, I have to say that while this guy was sharing about all this, I was feeling really rich :-) ...not that I have a lot, but I miss nothing (that's my definition on being prosper)...
in the end we raised up an offering, both to cover our expenses of the conference and to give to the poor...
But I just felt I should give an offering to switzerland in the name of Portugal...I believe we need a lot of insight about finances in Portuguese church (mostly because of some "churches" who preach a lot on "prosperity" and turn people to the wrong focus of the Gospel)...we (portuguese) usually are the ones who receive help from other european countries, and I believe we have been trusting that too much...we don't consider giving, because we are a "poor country" among other european countries...so that was the reason I felt to give an offering to switzerland, one of the richest countries in europe, also mentioned during the conference...I went to the guy who was sort of leading the gathering and told him what I was feeling...he directed me to a swiss couple and I explained what I felt...before that I asked the Lord how much should I give(I had some euros for my trip) and he told to keep 20 euros...so I looked in my purse and realized I had 70 euros...so my offering was 50 euros...As I said, I explained the couple that they should offer that money to someone else (it was mentioned also that Switzerland has been retaining money more than giving, so that would be a profetic act for them as well) and then I prayed for them...they prayed for me also and I was touched when they started to ask forgiveness for the way they mistreat portuguese people there, giving them the worst jobs and so....waw, I knew that but I was far from thinking about it...in the end she also shared with me that 10 minutes before I went to them they have given their last £5 trusting that God would provide...Waw, isn't God amazing...the guy went on saying that after they give those 50euros, God will give 10 times more again :-)
YES, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD'S...IT'S A BIT WEIRD AND CRAZY, BUT IT WORKS BETTER !!!
This wasn't over...the day after I got a lift with a friend who lives in London and guess what...God told her to give me £100, also in a prophetic way, releasing finances in the Portuguese nation... WAW, what else can I say...
with that money I could also bless people along the way...actually, I gave more than I kept...but anyway, I didn't need all, I missed nothing :-)...I'm not saying this to bost of myself, but to glorify God's faithfullness and the truth of His word...I'm not giving so I can receive either, because I know God will give me what I need anyway...I'm just really thankfull for the way God has been providing for me, and it's so cool to trust Him...I went through financial struggles many times, I'm one of those in a pioneer situation wandering how should I do it... but God has never let me down...HE IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME !!!
Thanks for the patience of reading...I know I can get too detailed sometimes, but I just see God in every little thing and we should praise Him for that :-)

Shantii, shantii

Baba