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