Join My Support Team!

Serving in Brazil

A follower of Christ trying to live life on mission.

JOIN MY SUPPORT TEAM!

Would you consider supporting me through prayer and financial support?

How you can pray for me:

• Knowing God more deeply
• Transitioning well as I move to Rio
• Using my gifts to bless others
• Transformation of Rio and my heart

How you can give financially:

1.   ONLINE.

• Go to karischurch.org
• Click the INVEST tab.
• Click GIVE.
• Fill in your information, find my name (Eric Papp - Missionary to Brazil), and enter the amount you want to give. Online donations are tax-deductible, fast, and easy. If you would like to give systematically (weekly/monthly) please email me and I can help get that set up.

2.   MAIL A CHECK.

To make a tax-deductible donation, make checks payable to “Karis Church” with “Papp – Brazil” in the memo. Mail to P.O. Box 572, Columbia, MO, 65205.

I am asking for gifts of $50, $100 and $500 to complete this mission.

Living in this part of the world is expensive. I need to raise $17,000 to be able to move this Fall. While this is an overwhelming task, I trust that God will provide all that I need to make this move possible.

I am blessed by having family and friends who are so supportive of all that I do. Without you, my opportunities to spread the love of Christ would be limited. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial support are the main reason I can step forward in faith with opportunities like this.

In many ways, this is the most challenging endeavor I have taken on. I thank you for all the support, encouragement and prayers you have offered me. I look forward to having you on my support team!

• suppport
• brazil
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• Eric Papp
• Serving in Brazil

Frailty

Frailty

by George Herbert

LORD, in my silence how do I despise
What upon trust
Is styled, honour, riches, or fair eyes;But is—fair dust!
I surname them gilded clay,
Dear earth, fine grass or hay;
In all, I think my foot doth ever tread
Upon their head.

But when I view abroad both regiments,

The world's, and Thine;
Thine clad with simpleness, and sad events;The other fine,
Full of glory and gay weeds,
Brave language, braver deeds:
That which was dust before, doth quickly rise,
And prick mine eyes.

O brook not this, lest if what even now
My foot doth tread,

Affront those joys, wherewith Thou didst endow,
And long since wed

My poor soul, e'en sick of love;
It may a Babel prove,
Commodious to conquer heaven and Thee
Planted in me.

The Lord Will Be Gracious

Isaiah 30 has been a chapter that I found myself coming back to again and again this week. Each time I was gripped by a different verse and truth within this chapter. Each time I approached this text I was doing so with a different lens, some colored with hues of baggage, praise, longing and expectation. After a long night at the hospital, I had a chance at the end of my shift to read for a bit. For whatever reason Isaiah 30 caught my eye. As I read I came to verse 21 that spoke of direction. And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. That was enough for me to think about. I even tweeted it. And timely it was. That same night, I was at a friend's party, we were celebrating freedom and his exoneration after spending 16 years in prison on a wrongful accusation. A friend stood up after being asked to share a brief word, an effort to bring the night's focus higher, onto the Lord. He shared from Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. The Word spoke tenderly to my heart, as a father speaks to his son or daughter, my Father spoke to me. It took a few minutes to realize that I had read from the same chapter earlier that morning. The intimacy and precision that God employed to speak tenderly to my heart was powerful. I'm a cryer and a few tears of joy did find their way down my face. That moment was pivotal, for it had been a difficult night, feeling slightly out of place and distracted by thoughts, my attention was refocused on my Father and in that moment, everything was right.

Tonight, the Lenten season begins. Again, I read Isaiah 30, and again I read with new eyes. Lent is a time to be with Jesus in a special way. It is a time of prayer and fasting and...following. But who or what I follow is a decision made in and in-between each moment of life. I want to follow Jesus; to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and finally to victory over death...but my heart is still so divided.

I truly want to follow you, Jesus, but I also want to follow my own desires and listen to the voices that speak of success, pleasure, and acceptance. But you are calling me to be attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life. Your voice speaks from behind me saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when I turn to the right or when I turn to the left. But I come from a rebellious people, and I know how deeply I resist choosing you. I am Israel that verses 9-11 speak of. For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

Even so, the LORD is gracious! It is in light of this that I again read verse 18. Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Please LORD, be with me in every moment and decision to follow you. In verse 20 you give this promise. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 

And the response that comes from choosing Jesus is powerfully seen in verse 22. Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”

"Be gone!" God's mercy is greater than our sins! Lent is a time to break down idols and to direct our attention to our loving LORD. This new life is found through Jesus Christ alone. Return and rest in the LORD.

happiness

I have been feeling unhappy.

I miss the sun. Strange, right? I normally avoid the sun as much as possible, because we don't normally get along too well. Working overnights has changed that. I crave sunlight and literally can't seem to get enough.

I miss a girl who made me very happy. Sometimes that hits harder than others, but it's been fairly regular. I miss feeling 10 feet off the ground and feeling secure. 

I miss people. I'm tired of being asleep when the sun and my friends are awake. I'm tired of being awake when the sun and my friends are asleep. For this season, it's necessary, but I pray for not much longer. 

I miss my family. Having them within 3 hours and not being able to see them is every bit of frustrating. Like ships in the night, we seem to miss each others' calls and texts and faces. 

I miss good perspective. Lord, help.

I am told that I am made in your image, God.

Sometimes I am not so sure. 

I am petty and selfish and want what I want, now.

But if what they say is true, I am created for you.

I am made to worship and live for your glory, not my own.

Made to serve you and others, not myself.

I am finding that when I try to put my happiness ahead of obedience to you,

I violate my own nature and become, ultimately, miserable. 

Matthew 16:25 helps me understand a seeming paradox.

"Whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Jesus, if I seek my own happiness more than I seek you, I will have neither;

if I seek to serve you more than serve happiness, I will have both.

Please pull this life-choking, self-centered weed at the roots.

Make room in my heart for more of you.

I am beginning to feel happy.

Not Your Typical 24 Episode

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 4:00 A.M. AND 5:00 A.M.

I turned the corner and entered a patient's room. Stunned, my eyes laid witness to an elderly man, unbeknownst to his sleeping roommate, walking around without a single stitch of clothing. This was not the first time, nor do I believe it will be the last, for this particular crossroad. I have unknowingly developed a formula for how I respond to such interactions. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's get some clothes on you, sir (or ma'am)" seems to be my typical response. Disbelief --> some repeated interjection --> and a rush to politely clothe. 

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. AND 9:00 A.M.

While drinking a delicious Aztec hot chocolate, I write my thoughts about my first oncology practicum shift of my last semester in nursing school. I am almost done with school...really. Weird. Exciting. Unknown.

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 9:00 A.M. AND 6:00 P.M.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 7:00 P.M. AND 9:00 P.M.

Homework.

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 9:00 P.M. AND 10:00 P.M.

I receive a phone call from a friend with very sobering news. The dad of a very young friend is moving out. I don't know whether to be happy or sad...so I am both. The effects of this are unknown and weighty. I pray, "God, will you surround with your fatherly love, those children whose lives have been scarred, who have wounds that need healing, that they may learn that even if all others fail them, you really can be trusted? Transform pain into forgiveness, Jesus. You alone can bring healing and restoration. You alone are our hope."

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 1:00 A.M. AND 3:00 A.M.

As I read a book about marriage, instead of getting excited about the future, my spirit rejoices in the beauty of the gospel. Amen! I am excited for the future, but more so because I know that God has designed marriage to bring us closer to himself. This mystery is profound and I am thankful for eyes now that are allowed to glimpse into the riches and grace to be had, if God so wills.

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE

BETWEEN 4:00 A.M. AND 5:00 A.M.

I type away at a keyboard and contemplate going to sleep. Yep, it's going to happen. Well, goodnight/good-morning.

I AM WHO I AM.

The book of Genesis begins by showing us how God formed the world for himself. Similarly, the book of Exodus begins by showing us how God formed Israel for himself. And he did this for a great reason. "...for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise." Isaiah 43:20, 21.
The forming of Israel into a people was a new creation. That they might declare my praise. 


Today I want to declare the praise of God. Lord, please make it so.

Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
(Exodus 3:10-22 ESV)

This passage falls just after God, in a burning bush, reveals himself to Moses. Here, we see God revealing his promises and purposes to Moses; purposes that Moses does not initially understand, or agree with, for that matter. Moses questions his own ability or worthiness, and in turn, poses a question to God. But God does not answer Moses' question in the way he asks, but instead says, "I will be with you" indicating that his presence with Moses is essential to what God is calling him to. God found this answer to be sufficient for Moses...and often for us. God's presence gives honor to the worthless, wisdom and strength for the weak and foolish, makes the greatest difficulties dwindle to nothing, and is enough to answer all objections.


Moses inquires of God's name. God readily answers with what he would now be known by.  I AM WHO I AM. Let it suffice, that he is who he is, who he ever was and ever will be. He is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word and nature, and does not lie. God wants Israel to know that this is the God who has sent Moses to them...I AM has sent me to you.


My heart begins to beat faster and tears form in the corners of my eyes. My vocal cords tighten up. And a smile emerges on my face. I AM.


I AM the bread of life...                         John 6:35, 48, 51
I AM the light of the world...                 John 8:12, 9:5
I AM the door of the sheep...                John 10:7, 9
I AM the good shepherd...                    John 10:11, 14
I AM the ressurection and the life...      John 11:25
I AM the way, the truth and the life...    John 14:6
I AM the true vine...                              John 15:1


Jesus said "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." John 5:46


The same hand that now fetched a shepherd out of a desert, to be the planter of a Jewish church, afterwards fetched fisherman from their ships, to be the planters of the Christian church, that the excellency of the power might be of God. Praise be to God!


Thank you, Lord, for your Word and for Jesus, THE Word! May I declare your praise the rest of my days!

Jesus Will Build His Church.

While trapped in isolation gear consisting of a yellow plastic gown and blue gloves, I began to read and to sweat. Drinking coffee probably didn't help my temperature regulation, but I can say with certainty that I needed it to stay awake. Let's just assume I stayed awake for the duration of my shift. I did have several hours to read, and read I did. Some from Matthew, Isaiah, Acts, Genesis, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Timothy, Philippians, Romans, Revelation...

Jesus will build his church. This is clear. It has been God's aim from before the foundations of the Earth were set. In a stifling room, confined to a muggy apron, I read with keen eyes and an impassioned heart. Walls within my heart have come down that I didn't know I'd built. Praise God! Life is flowing through my veins and my heart is beating with excitement, my mind races with thoughts much to big to think. God drew near tonight. My heart rejoiced at truths in his Word that speak love loudly. These truths also speak love clearly and simply. Truth leaped from the pages and a renewed vision and purpose welled inside my heart and mind.

Jesus will build his church. My heart stirred in such a way tonight that words merely hint at the joy I am feeling. Caught up in excitement I told myself, "Self, get a tattoo tomorrow morning, lest you forget again what God has placed on your heart." Now, I'm still thinking over the tattoo idea, but the message God placed upon my heart, through his word, is clear and reorienting.

Go, Eric, disciple the nations. These are my people, whom I love. Teach all that I have taught you. Wield the sword of the Spirit mightily, for darkness is dying. My Son will build his church. He will not be stopped. And behold, he is with you ALWAYS, to the end of the age. Pray earnestly that more laborers be sent out into my harvest. Go, my son, go and disciple the nations. Live with eternity in focus, live with this purpose and passion. Eric, these are the things I am passionate about and already at work doing. Join me in this fight of faith. Love me and love my people by going and discipling. Make waves for my Kingdom.

Lord, I echo your saints, if you'll teach me your Word I'll proclaim it for the rest of my days.
This was a significant, sweaty, joyful night!