This video———yes it depicts sights and faces of familiarity and fun for me over the past 8 months, but more so, it is my God-given heart, desire, and prayer for all of those who watch this video that you would see and praise the global wonders of our God.  From people like “A” one of the 300 spoken believers out of millions of people in a specific North African country, to the growing church among north Africans in France, to the hope and love being poured out and seen on the smiles of the desperate war-torn and oppressed families in Uganda, to the first baptized believer of the “A” people in Brazil, may this video leave us “lifting our eyes to the hills” giving praise to the ONE AND ONLY GOD who WILL and IS bringing all people around his throne singing WORHTY is the LAMB who was slain, ALL GLORY HONOR AND POWER BE HIS!!!! Let us join together with our global family praising the God who has given us life and salvation!!!

Thank you all for your partnership in your giving, encouragement, and prayers!!!  Live expectant of His glory proclaimed, His character revealed, and His promises fulfilled!!

So it has now almost been 2 weeks since I have been home. I think I am just now getting to the place where I am feeling comfortable and getting use to the environment (sights, sounds, smells, TASTES) of the states again.

As I look back on the past 8 months of my life, it kind of seems like a dream. Riding camels in the Sahara, seeing the magnificent Louvre, camping out next to the Nile in a safari park with lions, elephants, and crocodiles all around in Uganda, and jumping into waterfalls while macaws fly overhead in Brazil are only a few of the indescribable experiences I will never forget; BUT…these were JUST experiences….and as God laid on my heart before this journey even began, Missions is not an experience but a lifestyle. In one of my first blog posts after arriving to Brazil, I wrote of the deep, driving purpose the Lord has laid upon my heart for my time there and really for life in general——that I would live in expectation of His glory proclaimed, His character revealed, and His promises fulfilled!!!!

In respect of and response to your partnership in giving, encouraging words, and most importantly through the power and protection of your prayers (Philippians 1…”through the working of the Spirit and the prayers of the saints….”),  I want to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and tell you just a few of the stories giving GLORY TO GOD for the things He has accomplished and is accomplishing all over the world!!!!!!!!

Northern Africa——-There is a church growing despite severe persecution.

France———More and more Muslims are taking interest and opening up their heart to hear the truth of the Gospel.

Uganda——Thousands of young people are finding hope and direction. The young Congolese woman trapped in her 4^th marriage, looking for love, heard the story of the woman at the well, and opened her heart to overflow with the Love of Jesus.

Brazil—— My life was transformed as I heard  the testimonies of

                                “G”—-His tribe (“D”) was nearly extinct because of alcoholism. He was the first to believe and make Jesus his Lord. When I think about the words of God that every language will be worshipping around his throne, and that this man “G” was the first one to give praise, honor, and glory to Jesus in the “D” language, it leaves me speechless. For 2000 years, since the resurrection of Jesus and the command to take the gospel to every people group, God has been waiting to hear the worship of a follower from the “D” people, and  here was “G” right in front of me, the man who gave God such an incredible sound of glory! “G” and his family are now praying for direction and confirmation after recently been given the opportunity to be missionaries themselves to another tirbe.

And the story of ……

                                “E”, who at the moment of hearing John 3:16 in her own language, realized God didn’t only speak Portuguese but understood, spoke, and even created her language, opened her heart and life to the forgiveness, love, and power of God. She is now sharing the truth and teaching other tribal people, and even working daily on the translation of the bible into her language.

These are only a few of the stories that leave me speechless and encouraged by the power of God in our world. He will build His church just as He promised. He is receiving praise and glory from those in the most remote areas of the world and they KNOW Him too!!

I am currently working on a video with pictures and videos from this 4 countries 8 month journey the Lord led me on this past year. I hope to have it done in the next week and will be sure to send you all a link!

Thank you all again for your vital partnership!! Almost all of the stories I could share from the last 8 months would be testimonies of Gods power that I have seen from all over the world. Nothing was really anything that I did or He did through me, most were stories of what he has been doing in the lives of His people, and I am humbled, grateful, and filled with a desire to be obedient and faithful in declaring the His glory that I have just seen and experienced among the nations!

“LET ALL CRY HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!!  Revelation 4:8

Until All Have Heard,

Chris Biddix

 thanks to Mr. Chang for the great photos!!!

At the moment I am writing from Santiago as we begin our ‘dis’orientation or debriefing. It is great being back with those we were sent off with. Special shout out to the JENKINS—our friends and source of guidance and encouragement throughout this process!

I am praising Him that my last week in Brazil was filled with being able to spend so much of my time with my friends there as well as make several new ones. The alcohol project is an incredible thing to watch and participate in. Through dramas, testimonies, and small groups, this project opens a huge door to hearing and understanding behaviors, values, and beliefs of the indigenous. It was great to see our friend from the “AP” people stand up and share his testimony, as well as seeing several students meeting and conversing with the visitors.  Special thanks to the Ridge family for sacrificing so much and pouring into us this past semester!

A great praise was the specific one from the X people was there all week, and is very interested in returning as a student. There were also 5 other people from his area, that came, only one of which is already a believer. The gospel was landing on new hearts and minds this week!! Please be praying for what their eyes and hearts to be open, as is it obviously very difficult for someone to understand the gospel, the beliefs of those who follow Christ, when there is NO background knowledge. These visitors are from some of the most unreached and difficult places to enter. We praise HIM for the opportunity they had to come. Also please pray for M, the other believer among them. He has been a believer for almost 2 years now, and really wants to come and study at the school, so let us join to pray that doors would open to see his discipleship continue.

To think that 4 months had really just gone by, saying goodbyes to the students, our host family, and the MK’s(the youth group) was a little strange. It is has been such a blessing to be here and see and declare what God is doing here.  He has burdened my heart for the least reached groups since I was 17. To get a long term view, guidance, wisdom, a deeper burden, and the opportunity to meet and even pray with some of these groups has been such a privilege.

I am deeply humbled in leaving. God has really showed me so many weaknesses in my life that can and will affect my life, especially in a cross-cultural setting.  The story in Luke 10 of Jesus at the house of Mary and Martha is one that hits me hard. Sometimes, I feel like I have to DO something, I need to be serving and taking care of all that is wrong around me, instead of doing that which is “better” and sitting at His feet. Ignoring reality and circumstances which were causing frustration, as not to be a bother and to walk in contentment, God has revealed my pride, lack of communication, and low teachable spirit. Thankfully, he completes the work He started in us, and his power will be made perfect in my weakness!! I am overwhelmed in his peace, and am so grateful I was able to leave Brazil with that feeling.

I will definitely be writing again soon on the several things I Have learned and the direction God is giving after this incredible internship!!

I thank God for the opportunity to be used by Him and see the work of his hands, and I ask you to join me in praying that He will continue to “finish” the work of faith in these people groups of Brazil as well as the incredible team there He is working through to reach them!!

Debriefing in Chile, here we GO!!

Until All Have Heard,

Chris Biddix

The first believer of the “AP” people being baptized!!!! His wife and 3 of his daughter were also baptized today!!

Buried with Christ in baptism..RAISED to walk in NEWNESS of life!!

So as for my first thanksgiving away from home and family….

Interesting fact: In Portuguese “peru” means turkey—therefore we see that in English and in Portuguese the word for this tasty thanksgiving bird is also the name of another country….who made up these words?

A few of our afternoons this week were spent making sure there would be no more live chickens left in the coop and all would be frozen and ready to cook before everyone left the campus after graduation. New experiences = holding chickens down after their heads are off is difficult, their necks can really shoot some blood and the de-feathering part is just meticulous. The indigenous women are sure to take every part too. Let nothing go to waste, I guess.

The conference this week has brought in a lot of visitors from various indigenous groups. Its great meeting our family in Christ around the world! Ethan and I helped some with the lady teaching the kids in the morning. Now I can go home with a good share of children’s church songs in Portuguese. Haha

I asked “N” the other day how he was feeling about going home after graduation. He said he was afraid. He didn’t have strong Christian friends back in his village. Several of the students graduating are feeling the same thing. They spent most of the past 3 (or more) years of their lives here. Here at the school they have had friends to help them grow, they have been removed from a lot of the temptation in village life. Some even found freedom in Christ here from drugs, alcohol, and animism, and now they are about to return to those places. With that burdening my heart and hearing their words, Ethan and I got some ice cream and me them the other afternoon. As we chowed down on some “servete” and they enjoyed their great taste and fun of eating sunflower seeds Ethan had received in the mail, we shared with one another our favorite verses and passages of scripture that provide encouragement. We also prayed together afterwards. It was great time of fellowship and encouragement just giving each other advice on how to remain strong once heading back home. I made some bookmarks for them to put in their bibles with their names, “Deus vai ficar”(God will remain) and Psalm 139:7—“Where can I go from your presence? Where can I flee from your presence?”

Many times advice given is, “Remain with God, read your Bible, pray, minister!” Yes, those things are important and a flow of our relationship with Christ, but more importantly I wanted them to remember that no matter what happened, God was not leaving them. HE WILL REMAIN. His spirit and presence is with them, is with us, ALWAYS. And in hHs presence there is fullness of Joy, and in His spirit there is strength, freedom, and a “whole lotta fruit”!

Last Sunday, was great treat for us when we were surprised by the kids with cards they had made for us, And this week alone, we’ve been given several gifts. It’s really reminding me that my time here is almost over, and soon I will be really missing these friends.

Last night was game night and a great time of fellowship and fun through relays and such. It ended well with the campus tradition of celebrating a birthday by throwing the student in a water tank.

Today was also an incredible morning, as more than 20 were baptized!!!! These were students who got saved this past year. Some incredible moments were seeing parents come in and help baptize their children, as well as seeing the first followers of Christ be baptized of the “A” people!!! It’s incredible to see the promised Saviors church being established among all ethnic groups, just as He said!!

Also yesterday I realized that its now almost been 8 months that I have been out of the States, and I haven’t been sick ONE DAY!!!! THANK YOU LORD, and thank you friends for all of your prayers for my health. HE has truly been faithful.

Another praise!!—-This guy from the “x” people, as of now should be here today or tomorrow!! He is the first professing believer of his people group. It’s really a great story on how this has all worked out from his salvation, him coming to the conference, and his interest in attending the school! Please be praying for him, that his heart would be burdened to grow in his faith and attend this school next year! Also continues praying he arrives!!

Needless to say may Jesus receive this  Shout out holla praise for all He has done, is doing, and will do!!!

This week please be praying for ‘celebrating freedom’ conference going on. This is an incredible program which will be led by indigenous to those here attending training them and providing them with resources to help their villages bring freedom from the alcoholism and use these recovery groups for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting!

From the west, people will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the LORD drives along.——-Isaiah 59:19

Until All Have Heard,

Chris

Please be praying that a group from the “X” people will be able to make it to the conference, as well as others. Difficulties can arise here easily for people not to be able to make it. Many of these people groups don’t have a body of believers among their own people groups or come from places very difficult for outsiders to enter. The conference is a great time of encouraging them in their faith and providing an open door for them later to attend the disicpleship school. Please pray that God would would work in the hearts of the many visitors here now attending the conference—for a deeper understanding of the gospel and HIS love and deisres for their lives. As well as for those here considering attending the school.  But at this time specifically for these difficulties with getting the “X” people to be resolved.

FOR HE DESIRES TRUTH IN THE INNERMOST BEING….psalm 51