0:00:04.070,0:00:06.950
<i>When Renato was called[br]to be an Adventist volunteer,</i>

0:00:07.310,0:00:10.299
<i>he imagined serving[br]in remote, exotic locations,</i>

0:00:10.461,0:00:13.191
<i>such as those he heard about[br]in mission stories as a kid.</i>

0:00:13.979,0:00:17.320
<i>He was surprised[br]when God sent him to a city instead.</i>

0:00:19.929,0:00:22.508
<i>Thailand is far[br]from his home country of Brazil,</i>

0:00:22.915,0:00:24.990
<i>and Renato quickly learned[br]about the mission needs</i>

0:00:24.990,0:00:26.804
<i>in big cities such as Bangkok.</i>

0:00:27.216,0:00:29.379
In the very beginning,[br]I got a little bit disappointed,

0:00:29.379,0:00:33.990
because that was not the idea I had[br]of working the 10/40 Window.

0:00:34.386,0:00:36.720
I thought I would be teaching[br]in a bamboo school,

0:00:36.720,0:00:38.470
in the forest, in the jungles,

0:00:39.160,0:00:43.109
but I realized that challenges[br]are everywhere,

0:00:43.109,0:00:44.711
<i>and they are so intense.</i>

0:00:45.343,0:00:48.187
<i>It is hard to serve[br]as a missionary anywhere.</i>

0:00:48.977,0:00:51.710
<i>Working in cities such as Bangkok[br]can be difficult.</i>

0:00:52.150,0:00:56.430
<i>People are often busy, isolated,[br]and seemingly in need of nothing.</i>

0:00:56.658,0:01:00.042
<i>Their lives are good the way it is.</i>

0:01:00.310,0:01:03.133
<i>They're healthy.[br]They have beautiful families.</i>

0:01:04.079,0:01:06.630
<i>There are many wealthy people[br]here in Thailand.</i>

0:01:07.007,0:01:08.450
Why do they need Jesus?

0:01:08.730,0:01:09.772
That's the question.

0:01:09.772,0:01:11.390
Why do I need something else

0:01:11.600,0:01:15.827
if I have everything[br]a successful human being can have?

0:01:16.733,0:01:21.230
We know that a life without Jesus[br]is a meaningless life.

0:01:21.480,0:01:22.992
<i>Despite the challenges,</i>

0:01:22.992,0:01:24.660
<i>Renato has made it his mission</i>

0:01:24.660,0:01:27.427
<i>to foster positive connections[br]with the people around him.</i>

0:01:28.134,0:01:30.384
<i>To volunteer is not just about suffering</i>

0:01:30.384,0:01:32.836
<i>and dealing with challenges[br]and difficulties.</i>

0:01:33.319,0:01:37.040
<i>Somehow, even if we don't deserve it,</i>

0:01:37.596,0:01:42.811
<i>God promotes hundreds of opportunities[br]for us to enjoy life and be happy.</i>

0:01:44.085,0:01:47.611
<i>Renato's primary role as a volunteer[br]is teaching grade 4 English</i>

0:01:47.611,0:01:49.587
<i>at Ekamai International School.</i>

0:01:50.110,0:01:52.588
<i>Teaching has allowed him[br]to bond with his students</i>

0:01:52.904,0:01:54.233
<i>and learn about their lives.</i>

0:01:55.131,0:01:59.198
<i>95% of the kids in my school[br]are not Christian,</i>

0:01:59.963,0:02:03.836
<i>so worshipping in the morning for us[br]is really important.</i>

0:02:03.836,0:02:08.016
<i>From 7:00 to 7:20 AM[br]we have the worship session,</i>

0:02:08.016,0:02:09.769
<i>and that's my favorite moment of the day.</i>

0:02:10.680,0:02:13.530
<i>After class, Renato is involved[br]with other ministries,</i>

0:02:13.530,0:02:15.185
<i>such as visiting people in prison</i>

0:02:15.185,0:02:17.747
<i>and gathering resources[br]to support refugees.</i>

0:02:18.160,0:02:21.581
<i>Renato's experiences[br]as an Adventist Volunteer Service</i>

0:02:21.581,0:02:24.787
<i>or AVS worker have impacted him in a way</i>

0:02:24.787,0:02:27.190
<i>that will remain with him[br]for the rest of his life.</i>

0:02:27.645,0:02:31.809
<i>I'm pretty sure that nobody[br]that goes to any country</i>

0:02:31.809,0:02:33.135
<i>to serve as an AVS</i>

0:02:33.522,0:02:36.627
<i>will come back home[br]the same way they got into this.</i>

0:02:37.139,0:02:38.794
<i>It's a life-changing opportunity,</i>

0:02:38.794,0:02:40.974
<i>and by the grace of God,</i>

0:02:41.180,0:02:45.659
<i>the work here in the missionary field[br]has changed my life in a very good way.</i>

0:02:46.850,0:02:49.724
<i>As we refocus our attention[br]to mission in the cities,</i>

0:02:50.230,0:02:52.298
<i>please pray for workers such as Renato</i>

0:02:52.298,0:02:54.787
<i>who share the light of Jesus[br]with those around them.</i>

0:02:55.620,0:02:58.350
<i>If you would like to learn more[br]about service opportunities,</i>

0:02:58.470,0:03:00.480
<i>visit</i> vividfaith.com.

0:03:00.910,0:03:04.390
<i>Thank you for supporting the mission[br]of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.</i>