amazing love

hungry eyes & hungry heart,
existance in a world apart
so much pain & so much fear
but shead they not a tear

lonesome faces, sit & stare
open ears, yearning to hear
a beautiful sound
of acceptance, of love…
so with the softness of their cheek
close against my own
I carefully whisper:
“He loves you
so much more
than you shall ever know”

desperate hands & eager hearts
simply longing
for a tender touch, a loving embrace…
& tight in my arms, I wish
I would never
have to let them go

beautiful eyes, innocent and wide
but behind them I know
behold a darkeness untold -
a hidden story,
a terror, a fear…
each of these, provide I not cure

little hands, little feet
tiny fingers, tiny toes
skinny arms, skinny legs…
& little bellies swollen
from a hunger
so much greater
than any I have ever known

these images, these scenes
these momories remain inside of me
etched in my heart,
it breaks me apart…
you made me to feel
a glimpse of your love,
precious little hearts
held tight to your own

in view of your love
I can only wonder, only stare
that as I love them
& feed & care -
my hands are not my own,
my heart, my love, my tears…
each of these are yours
that you have shared with me

& as I share that piece of you,
I find that these little hearts
have given me
a bigger gift
than they shall ever know

…
these are my random thoughts, rambling emotions, and desperate attempts to verbalize and express an experience that I have found is impossible to adequately relay… but God blessed me with an amazing glimpse of his love for these precious little lives… I would like each of you to know that God was working through you and he used you down in Sao Paulo, Brazil just as I know that He used me as well. my prayer is that His work will be continued through me and you, in the lives of the Brazilian children on into the distant future. I thank the Lord for gifting me with your encouragement and support and gifting me with this incredible experience.
con amor da nos Cristo, Christina McGee

 

We’re back….

Well, jet lag is definitely still a factor but I’d fly back in a minute. Why does it seem that a trip like this ends and you are anxious to get home and see loved ones….yet you really don’t want to leave.
As we wrapped up on Monday, lots of tears were shed in our group and from the people we had worked with at Restoration Ministries. Goodbyes were difficult….not just because God had worked so powerfully in our group through the trip….but wonderful friendships were formed as we ministered together with these awesome people. We are already looking ahead to planning another trip for next summer. I really want to go sooner…
During the last weekend, we ran another camp…this time for 7 – 10 years olds (or thereabouts….a few younger…a few older). Same format as the weekend before but these precious little ones seemed even more needy of hugs and attention. Maybe I feel that way because of one of the little boys I particularly bonded with.
Tevas (a nickname….actual name is Nathaniel)….is 8 years old…more the size of a 6 year old here. I don’t know why he picked me to cling to for the weekend…or maybe I do….it was God working in both of our hearts. Tevas’s story is that sometime in the last year his father, a drug dealer, got out of jail and 3 days later, 30 men came to the house and dragged him up on the roof and shot him. Tevas saw it all. In the weeks afterwards, he would tell the Resoration Ministry workers that his goal in life was to grow up, become a drug dealer so he could get rich and buy lots of guns and then go kill all the men that had killed his father…he knew who they all were. Some time later, he showed up one day saying that he was both happy and sad. When asked why….he said “happy because one of the men who had killed his dad had been killed”….but “sad because he hadn’t been the one to kill him”. This from an 8 year old. Soon after that, Restoration Ministries staged a soccer tournament….now we’re talking no uniforms, not very good equipment….just lots of encouragement and fun. Tevas’s team won and he was so proud. After that, there was such a turnaround in his attitude. Recently he has changed to telling the ministry staff that he doesn’t want to kill those men anymore….he just wants to be like the staff. One of the main staff members that actually lives in the same favela where Tevas lives says that when he goes to her house….he never wants to leave. She said that Tevas’s mom now brings home men all hours, day and night, for prostitution purposes and he sees it all. And there are also 2 younger siblings in the house.
Anyway, during the weekend, he was constantly at my side….craving hugs and giving them back. When it came time to leave, we were both crying. Now…he speaks no English and I sure haven’t learned much Portuguese. Yet I looked at him and in English just said: “Tevas, I just wish I could take you home with me”. He “un-hugged”, jumped on our group bus, sat down in a seat and crossed his arms and said: “Estados Unidos” (United States)….as though he had understood me perfectly. I really wish there was some way to bring him here. He is so sweet and precious and smart. Please be praying for this little life and his younger siblings (I haven’t met them). I’ve posted pictures of him here along with others.
Anyway, on another subject, the music room/studio was not completed but we did make a lot of progress. And on Monday, one of the other team members and I went out and helped purchase the rest of the supplies that were needed to finish up. They had not gotten as good of an exchange rate as they had hoped when we sent the first funds for the project….so they were surprised and very grateful when we were able to help them get what it will take to finish the job.
Our team finished strong (but tired) and left knowing that God had done a good work, both in us and in what we were able to present to the children that we reached in Sao Paulo….and also, prayerfully, we were an encouragement and help to Restoration Ministries. If you wanna check out their work, you can find information on the World Venture website (under Paulo and Ireni Mota) or on their website: www.themotas.org. Neither site have been updated very recently. On the Motas personal website, they refer to both boy’s and girl’s safe houses. The boy’s safe house closed a while back and the girl’s safe house is closing very soon due to lack of funds. This is very very sad because there are kids who would and should be benefitting from this kind of intervention. We worked closely with one of the young men who used to live in the boy’s safe house. After being a drug dealer at a very young age, he has made such a turn-around of his life and just glows with his love for God and his heart for service. His younger sister is the last current resident at the girl’s safe house and will soon have to move back home….not a good environment. Tevas is another example of someone who would thrive if he had the love, structure, encouragement and example that he could receive if he could live at such a place. Please pray that they find funding to start these homes back up.
Enough for now….I hope that other’s will post their “post-trip” thoughts on here. Thank you for all who supported our group in prayer while we were gone and in finances before we left. We couldn’t have done it without you! God bless…..

 

A few pictures from Brazil!

 

Love, joy, pain, sorrow… Laughter, tears, hellos and good-byes… An emotional rollercoaster, this is what this trip has been. So much has happened, so much has been said, so much has been done… So many children I have met and yet each face and each story has been permanently etched into my heart and will never be forgotten.

That is all from me for now… Your sister in Christ, Christina McGee

 

Amy´s Thoughts for Wed.

 Our time is going very well, I am not doing the painting in the music room, we decided against it, but the construction is coming along very nicely.  Our work in the favelas has been awesome.  Our arms are constantly full of children, older kids walking arm in arm with us… Our hair is ALWAYS touched and our cheeks kissed 1000´s of times a day.  We feel very loved.  They run to the bus at the different stops, like they were waiting for us.  Crowding around the opening door, they call us “Aunties” and “Uncles”,  they grab our hands and have a million things they want to say to us, show us and ask us.  Even those on our team that do not speak any Portugese, get talked to as if they understand everything.  The kids love looking into our eyes.  I have some beautiful pictures of them.  They love to sing and really belt out the songs that they are familiar with. I have been praying whom I should leave my art supplies with and God has given me 2 boys that have shown great interest and ability, so I have encouraged them a bit and have divided the supplies that I brought among them.  They seemed quite pleased.  I pray that God will bless their hands and abilities and use it for His honor and glory.  Both boys are older and help out with the younger kids.  Whatever it takes to keep them around and out of drugs!   Atleast one of them has really struggled off and on with it, he was a dealer and involved with drugs himself. 

Tomorrow is the most dangerous favela that we will be visiting.   It is called Vila Rosa.  One of the volunteers at Restauraçao lives in this favela and we will be able to see her home.  We are excited to meet and bless the kids that live there day in and day out.  Our whole group will be going to experience this, previously we have been spitting up to work on the music room and work in the favelas.  It will be a great time, I am sure! 

Meantime I am still trying to get some pictures on here… bear with us…

Amy 

 

Wednesday report from Brazil

Another wonderfully incredible day….lives touched (ours included)…..the word of God shared….children hugged….a music room dream coming to life (lots of progress today on this work project)…..and something not mentioned before….awesome food consumed. They have a wonderful group of ladies that provide meals for us and it is wonderful and tasty….lots of rice, beans and some meat. Always fresh fruit for dessert….but makes us really think about the fact that the kids that we are ministering to don´t have meals like this…in fact many of them are lucky if they get a meal a day. During the VBS programs, we do give them bread and a beverage….a huge treat for them…humbling to us.
I know that pictures didn´t get posted last night. We are still hoping to have that happen but it may not work tonight either. If not, we will definitely get some of the best on when we get home. It will be hard to narrow them down….just MY camera has 400+ photos on it….and I´m just one of the people getting pictures!!
For tonight…..obrigada….please keep praying.
God bless……Diane

 

From Diane

As we sit tonight at an internet cafe near our hotel, you are hopefully going to get many entries from our team including some pictures. They are working on other computers so I am assuming it is working.
We have just finished the 5th day of our trip here in Brazil. Over the weekend, we helped run an awesome camp experience for 44 kids, age 10 – 14. To say that these kids come from some of the poorest of the poor sections and the roughest of lives is an understatement. We have a disadvantage with the language barrier in actually having them personally share stories with us but the staff fills us in and we respond with hugs and smiles. We pray that the words of love shared from the Bible and from our lips takes root in their hearts. Yesterday, we met with some of the staff from Restoration Ministries and as they shared many of their own backgrounds, we were touched deeply by their stories…..not only opening us up to the world that many of them had come from….and what a blessing on how they all give praise to God and see His hand in their lives thru all of it….but it also gives us more of an idea of the reality of life for the kids that we are blessed to be ministering to this weekend.
Back to camp….not only a weekend of Bible lessons and singing, but just a time for the kids to hang out and be kids in a safe environment. The pool was probably the biggest attraction….but we also had a horse for them to ride, playground, soccer field…..we look at these things and think how fun and great for them….but then realize that probably one of the best parts of the weekend for them is actually getting 3 meals a day. They are so excited about a warm breakfast….all of a cup of hot chocolate and a bread roll…..would we be excited about so little?
Sunday night we were back in Sao Paulo and worshipping at one of their churches. As several on the team said: THE MUSIC ROCKED! That is an understatement…..there is so much power in their worship….even not understanding the words…you could just feel the praise of the Lord! And we all commented on how sad it is that they are not a demonstrative people….NOT! Hugs and kisses are the norm even when you just meet someone. They are so warm and so loving….our team is way beyond blessed to be here.
Monday brought a chance to learn more about the favelas and what living conditions are like for the people that live there. We will probably later post more of the facts that we learned about the favelas but let´s just say that crime, poverty, drugs, prostitution are a daily fact of life along with no services, horrendous living conditions….it is really an unbelievably rough existance….and yet you meet those people there that just love God and praise Him for the smallest things….it is very humbling. Again, we met with the staff during the afternoon and cried buckets as they shared their testimonies and we shared some of ours.
Today sent most of our team out to lead VBS type programs both morning and afternoon at one of the favelas. Some of the same kids were there from camp but many more…..again, a chance to not only share from the Bible, but play, hug, laugh and hang out with these adorable children. Also a highlight was getting to pray in 3 different homes with families (Restoration Ministries ministers not just to the kids but tries to reach the whole family). The stories that came back were great and hopefully others are sharing more about that.
Because I was one of two of us that stayed back at the main day center and “got physical” working on their music room that we are helping to create. Music is such a huge part of their culture that reaching the kids with music is a big deal. We are helping them to realize their dream of having a room to teach in and also dividing that room so that there will be a recording studio end. Work is slow as their aren´t adequate tools for us to work the “American” way (quickest, easiest…know what I mean?)….but we still got a lot done. They love to tease and we have fun as we learned new Portuguese words for tools and things….and I think the thing they teased me the most about was when I was chasing cockroaches with a serated knife! (Well…I was using the knife to cut out the electrical box spots in the styrofoam acoustical pieces that we were gluing to the walls….the cockroaches seemed to be attracted to the glue so they were running out like crazy…..and since the knife was in my hand…it seemed the logical thing to attack them with!!)
Enough rambling for now. Hopefully this has made sense since there is a very small box to type in so I can´t see much of what I have previously typed.
God bless….please continue praying for our team. The next two days will be more of the same as today (VBS plus music room) and then we will run another camp next weekend. We do covet your prayers…it has been so awesome to see God working in and through our team. We are growing closer to Him and to each other through this process.
Obrigada and Chaio…..
Diane

 

A Glimpse of Heaven in a Fallen World

Hi Friends and Family!

Bondia (meaning, “good day” in Portuguese)! Today was our first day in the favelas. In Portuguese, the word favela means “slums.” We were greeted by concrete pallets stacked on one another, open sewage, rampant crime, with no opportunity for medical attention for its inhabitants. During orientation, we learned that these favelas are overlooked by the Brazilian government as well as the society. This means that crimes are not reported, the neighborhoods are controlled by the drug lords, and prostitution is a primary means of income for young girls. Something that was particularly devastating was the fact that one of our 12 year old campers (we were involved in running a camp program for Restoration Ministries) sold her body to buy new clothes and underwear for camp. These new articles of brightly-colored clothing were displayed on the campgrounds–reminders of the cheap price for which she sold her innocence.
Fortuntely, not all that we experienced was bleak. Our God is powerful and does not ignore the cries of the needy. One of the highlights of the week was teaching the children how to worship God in both English and Portuguese. We also heard stories of Christ´s victory in many of the staffers´ lives–stories of unemployment, drug abuse, molestation that were turned around by the incomprehensible and all-consuming love of God. Former drug dealers now help serve in Camp California. Abuse victims are trusting others again…and are even discipling those who are dealing with the same pain. HIV orphans are adopting the underpriveledged. In short, God is on the move.
I would like to take this moment to remind you to pray. Please pray that God would be honored through our efforts and eagerness to serve. Also, that the children would be protected from the Evil One, that parents would know and seek the Lord, that the children would embrace godly teaching and become passionate and productive leaders for Christ. Also, please pray that we would be sustained by God through times of tiredness, cultural miscommunication, and emotional overload.
We serve a mighty God. Thank you SO much for partnering with us to reach these precious children. We are honored to be on the same team together.

Your sisters in Christ,
Michelle Potter and Christina McGee

 

” Hello, ‘Bondia’ from Brazil.

After missing our connecting flight due to a series of delays, we were blessed with the opportunity to fly business class on our 10 hour leg to Brazil. The “one that counts”. There was much rejoicing.

We arrived safely yesterday and were greeted by warm hugs and beautiful mild weather. We arrived at Camp California on Friday and were plummeted right into a whirlwind of balloon relays, speaking Spanish when we were supposed to be speaking Portuguese and desperate hand gestures. The children are full of life and crave all of our attention.

During orientation, we learned that this camp was more than swimming, riding horses, games and stories. It is a chance for 3 meals a day- something that few are given. We count ourselves blessed to be able to serve them their meals. Along with speaking to them and teaching lessons. We want them to leave here feeling loved”

This was a message left on my phone from Amy regarding the trip so far. I’m sure there was more said, but it cut off and she did not call back.

At least we know that they are safe and at their final destination.

Thank you for your prayers as I am sure that was why they were able to fly business class! How good is God to give us all these little added bonuses.

Keep checking this site as there will be more updates.

 

On the road.

 Be in prayer! Our friends, family members, loved ones… are on their flight to Sao Paulo. Pray for the pilots, the ground crew, air traffic control and everyone else who goes into making a flight successful.

 Also pray as the team will most likely be tired upon arrival. Health and safety are key! I know that they are all excited and ready to jump right into work… I just hope that their bodies can follow the rigorous schedule that is planned.

 Hopefully we hear of a safe arrival by this evening!