International Scripture Blitz in Brazil - March 2012

What a fantastic blitz! Final numbers are yet to be confirmed but because of your prayers and God's generosity in answering them, Scriptures distributed are likely to be in excess of 1 million! This was very much a team effort where the International team joined a team of devoted and hard working local Gideons and Auxiliaries. Many lives were saved as members took advantage of the many God-given opportunities to share the Good News of the Gospel. I was personally involved in one case involving eight students and a second involving three manicurists and a Japanese Gideon who was having a foot massage! Strange but true!

Despite the cruelly hot and humid weather in Brazil, with God's help the team managed to keep up with 13-15-hour days of distribution, mainly outside the entrances of High Schools, Colleges and Universities. We worked in many different areas, from the slums to the wealthier areas within the three cities of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Porto Allegra. We prayed for super-human strength and endurance, and God answered us – He is so faithful!

God kept us going with many encouragements, bottles of water and the super Brazilian food and hospitality showed to us by the local Gideons, family and friends.

Thanks to all who prayed - your prayers were answered. The team gelled very well, we found good ways to work with the local Gideons, we achieved our purpose and things went fairly smoothly at home for my lovely supportive wife, Lindsey. Without her help I would not have been able to take part.

God has also shown me a few things about myself, and ways in which I need to change, so this has been a great but humbling learning experience also.

Graham Beckett, Reading Branch