Vitor's Story
My name is Vitor Freitas. I was born in Brazil. I lived there until I was 18 years old. I was not a
Christian growing up. I always wanted to go to the USA, I loved to hear anything about the USA. I finally went to the US as an exchange student in 1996. I lived a life detestable to God, in sin, but I didn’t know at that time for I was “lost”.
I wanted to go to the northern states to experience the cold weather, snow and ice. Somehow I ended up in Bonham, Texas. I didn’t mind, I was going to the USA, my dream! I made some friends, some in which I could see the difference in them but I just didn’t know what yet. Later on come to find out that they had been praying for ME! One friend in particular was a girl I liked. I remember to this day, as I was living a worldly life, I didn’t feel like I could even DREAM to date this girl.
She invited me to a youth conference, I said “Yes, I want to go”. Why not, right? I would get to hang out with her, and maybe have a chance to get to “know” her. Well, my plans didn’t happen. All she wanted to do was sing praise to the Lord, worship, and listen to the speaker. What a waste, I sat there for 3 days, regretting I was there… until the last 5 minutes. God got a hold of me. He BROKE my heart! In just a few seconds I saw my life flash before my eyes. I saw all the bad things I had done, and for the first time I saw how unworthy I was and God showed me that I needed HIM! I was crying, when this girl asked if I wanted to talk, she explained that I needed to repent and invite Him into my life. That very moment I gave my life to God! Of course I prayed in Portuguese, to her surprise,but God knew exactly what I prayed.
I had fallen in love with that girl, Amanda, and before it was time to go back to Brazil we got engaged.
I’m just a sinner, forgiven by His grace. I’m not perfect, but striving to be like Jesus. At one point I thought, “Wow, I can’t wait to share this with my country, what a change He can make in their lives too”. I was a new believer, and I knew it was going to be hard going back. I wasn’t sure how my family was going to take it, they knew the “old” me and I had to walk the talk for them to see the “new” me. I felt alone, just me and Jesus… I had to make new friends because my old ones weren’t going to help my walk with God.
Six months went by and Amanda came to meet her new extended family. I moved to USA in 1998. I went to college in SOSU. I married Amanda in 1999. Our daughter Lilia was born in 2008. We visited Brazil every 2 years, throughout the visits we met people, who were in need, God had placed them in our lives to eventually call us to serve Him there. Well, 15 years have gone by and He has shown us exactly where He wants us to serve Him.
I give Him all the glory, praise Him for not giving up on me, thank Him
for wanting to use me. Mar-07-2013
Christian growing up. I always wanted to go to the USA, I loved to hear anything about the USA. I finally went to the US as an exchange student in 1996. I lived a life detestable to God, in sin, but I didn’t know at that time for I was “lost”.
I wanted to go to the northern states to experience the cold weather, snow and ice. Somehow I ended up in Bonham, Texas. I didn’t mind, I was going to the USA, my dream! I made some friends, some in which I could see the difference in them but I just didn’t know what yet. Later on come to find out that they had been praying for ME! One friend in particular was a girl I liked. I remember to this day, as I was living a worldly life, I didn’t feel like I could even DREAM to date this girl.
She invited me to a youth conference, I said “Yes, I want to go”. Why not, right? I would get to hang out with her, and maybe have a chance to get to “know” her. Well, my plans didn’t happen. All she wanted to do was sing praise to the Lord, worship, and listen to the speaker. What a waste, I sat there for 3 days, regretting I was there… until the last 5 minutes. God got a hold of me. He BROKE my heart! In just a few seconds I saw my life flash before my eyes. I saw all the bad things I had done, and for the first time I saw how unworthy I was and God showed me that I needed HIM! I was crying, when this girl asked if I wanted to talk, she explained that I needed to repent and invite Him into my life. That very moment I gave my life to God! Of course I prayed in Portuguese, to her surprise,but God knew exactly what I prayed.
I had fallen in love with that girl, Amanda, and before it was time to go back to Brazil we got engaged.
I’m just a sinner, forgiven by His grace. I’m not perfect, but striving to be like Jesus. At one point I thought, “Wow, I can’t wait to share this with my country, what a change He can make in their lives too”. I was a new believer, and I knew it was going to be hard going back. I wasn’t sure how my family was going to take it, they knew the “old” me and I had to walk the talk for them to see the “new” me. I felt alone, just me and Jesus… I had to make new friends because my old ones weren’t going to help my walk with God.
Six months went by and Amanda came to meet her new extended family. I moved to USA in 1998. I went to college in SOSU. I married Amanda in 1999. Our daughter Lilia was born in 2008. We visited Brazil every 2 years, throughout the visits we met people, who were in need, God had placed them in our lives to eventually call us to serve Him there. Well, 15 years have gone by and He has shown us exactly where He wants us to serve Him.
I give Him all the glory, praise Him for not giving up on me, thank Him
for wanting to use me. Mar-07-2013
Amanda's Story
My spiritual journey began when I was 6 years old. My family was attending a revival and each night I felt burdened, of course not fully understanding at the time, but burdened none the least. Saturday morning, following the week of revival, my mom was baking cookies and I felt a desperate need to talk to her. I explained to her what I understood from the revival and I prayed sitting in her lap. I vividly remember, the more I prayed, the more I cried. I was so happy, so excited, so relieved from the burden I had been feeling all week. I immediately wanted to call our current pastor and share the news. I was soon baptized. So there it was, I was a follower of Christ at a young age.
I remember always having an excitement and interest in studying God’s Word. I can’t recall a time I wanted to be away from God’s people, His church, His teachings. But I do recall a heavy time in my life where I doubted because I didn’t have a “good story”. I was 19 or 20 years old. The Power Team was in town and many local churches teamed together to make it all happen. I volunteered as a counselor each night. I was passionate about helping people meet Jesus. Nightly we would hear the stories of the members of the Power Team; they sold drugs to numerous, some had served prison time for multiple murders. Stories of such nature caused me to think of my past. I looked back and saw nothing in comparison. I feared being the “always attended church” person who thought she was saved. I could not see a drastic moment in my life where I did a 180` and life was different. This bothered me. I prayed earnestly. I talked with local pastors. I wanted to hear, “You know you are saved there is nothing to worry about”, but of course none were willing to say this without clarity from God. I continued to pray and seek God. In time, He allowed Ephesians chapter 2 to slap me in the face. As I read Ephesians 2 and I understood that I ultimately had no part in my salvation, I was so humbled. I realized that it was God alone that called me, He awoke me to understand my need for Him, He did more than send His son to take my punishment upon Himself. He provided salvation and He called me when I didn’t even know I needed Him. I realized that He was my “good story”. He is my testimony. He chose to save me from the life of drugs and alcohol. I never felt tempted into the life of partying and trying to falsely fulfill because He saved me from it. HE IS MY STORY!
I was so humbled and ashamed when I realized this. I am thankful God loves me and reveals my need for Him, to awaken me when I was not looking for Him, to love me when I was dead in my sin, and to send Jesus the sinless Savior to be righteousness for me.
Even more so now, as we embark in faith, what a humbling privilege to serve our Lord as we follow Him to the impoverished in Brazil.
I remember always having an excitement and interest in studying God’s Word. I can’t recall a time I wanted to be away from God’s people, His church, His teachings. But I do recall a heavy time in my life where I doubted because I didn’t have a “good story”. I was 19 or 20 years old. The Power Team was in town and many local churches teamed together to make it all happen. I volunteered as a counselor each night. I was passionate about helping people meet Jesus. Nightly we would hear the stories of the members of the Power Team; they sold drugs to numerous, some had served prison time for multiple murders. Stories of such nature caused me to think of my past. I looked back and saw nothing in comparison. I feared being the “always attended church” person who thought she was saved. I could not see a drastic moment in my life where I did a 180` and life was different. This bothered me. I prayed earnestly. I talked with local pastors. I wanted to hear, “You know you are saved there is nothing to worry about”, but of course none were willing to say this without clarity from God. I continued to pray and seek God. In time, He allowed Ephesians chapter 2 to slap me in the face. As I read Ephesians 2 and I understood that I ultimately had no part in my salvation, I was so humbled. I realized that it was God alone that called me, He awoke me to understand my need for Him, He did more than send His son to take my punishment upon Himself. He provided salvation and He called me when I didn’t even know I needed Him. I realized that He was my “good story”. He is my testimony. He chose to save me from the life of drugs and alcohol. I never felt tempted into the life of partying and trying to falsely fulfill because He saved me from it. HE IS MY STORY!
I was so humbled and ashamed when I realized this. I am thankful God loves me and reveals my need for Him, to awaken me when I was not looking for Him, to love me when I was dead in my sin, and to send Jesus the sinless Savior to be righteousness for me.
Even more so now, as we embark in faith, what a humbling privilege to serve our Lord as we follow Him to the impoverished in Brazil.
