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<i>When Renato was called
to be an Adventist volunteer,</i>

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<i>he imagined serving
in remote, exotic locations,</i>

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<i>such as those he heard about
in mission stories as a kid.</i>

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<i>He was surprised
when God sent him to a city instead.</i>

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<i>Thailand is far
from his home country of Brazil,</i>

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<i>and Renato quickly learned
about the mission needs</i>

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<i>in big cities such as Bangkok.</i>

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In the very beginning,
I got a little bit disappointed,

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because that was not the idea I had
of working the 10/40 Window.

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I thought I would be teaching
in a bamboo school,

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in the forest, in the jungles,

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but I realized that challenges
are everywhere,

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<i>and they are so intense.</i>

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<i>It is hard to serve
as a missionary anywhere.</i>

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<i>Working in cities such as Bangkok
can be difficult.</i>

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<i>People are often busy, isolated,
and seemingly in need of nothing.</i>

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<i>Their lives are good the way it is.</i>

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<i>They're healthy.
They have beautiful families.</i>

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<i>There are many wealthy people
here in Thailand.</i>

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Why do they need Jesus?

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That's the question.

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Why do I need something else

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if I have everything
a successful human being can have?

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We know that a life without Jesus
is a meaningless life.

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<i>Despite the challenges,</i>

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<i>Renato has made it his mission</i>

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<i>to foster positive connections
with the people around him.</i>

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<i>To volunteer is not just about suffering</i>

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<i>and dealing with challenges
and difficulties.</i>

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<i>Somehow, even if we don't deserve it,</i>

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<i>God promotes hundreds of opportunities
for us to enjoy life and be happy.</i>

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<i>Renato's primary role as a volunteer
is teaching grade 4 English</i>

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<i>at Ekamai International School.</i>

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<i>Teaching has allowed him
to bond with his students</i>

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<i>and learn about their lives.</i>

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<i>95% of the kids in my school
are not Christian,</i>

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<i>so worshipping in the morning for us
is really important.</i>

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<i>From 7:00 to 7:20 AM
we have the worship session,</i>

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<i>and that's my favorite moment of the day.</i>

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<i>After class, Renato is involved
with other ministries,</i>

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<i>such as visiting people in prison</i>

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<i>and gathering resources
to support refugees.</i>

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<i>Renato's experiences
as an Adventist Volunteer Service</i>

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<i>or AVS worker have impacted him in a way</i>

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<i>that will remain with him
for the rest of his life.</i>

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<i>I'm pretty sure that nobody
that goes to any country</i>

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<i>to serve as an AVS</i>

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<i>will come back home
the same way they got into this.</i>

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<i>It's a life-changing opportunity,</i>

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<i>and by the grace of God,</i>

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<i>the work here in the missionary field
has changed my life in a very good way.</i>

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<i>As we refocus our attention
to mission in the cities,</i>

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<i>please pray for workers such as Renato</i>

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<i>who share the light of Jesus
with those around them.</i>

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<i>If you would like to learn more
about service opportunities,</i>

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<i>visit</i> vividfaith.com.

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<i>Thank you for supporting the mission
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.</i>