Finally a post

Whoops, has it really been over a month since I blogged? Sorry about that. Here are some random pictures.

Today I was working with the boys at hope house. I discovered that they have a huge container of legos. I pulled it out and we got creative.

One of the YWAM ministries here is a game room that they open up for the kids in the community. Here they are playing a Swiss version of Dutch Blitz, and therefore probably the original game. I know, I was shocked too. haha! ;) I wonder what my Dutch friends would think of the title of "our" version of the game.

I thought we would be safe from tarantulas in my apartment...considering that they would have four flights of stairs to climb. But I was proven wrong....one tarantula made it! (And I've been told that its not the first one!)

One Saturday I went to the shopping mall. I found a coffee shop (2 actually!), which oddly enough I haven't seen many of around here. Strange considering the amount of coffee that is produced and consumed in this country! So this picture is for all my fellow coffee shop-loving friends. :) A mocha!

And here is a picture from kitchen duties.

Purple cabbage

 

Happenings Here

This week I went with one of the other staff to visit some families in the slums. On our walk from one slum to another we stopped to observe this contrast of riches and poverty in Brazil.

Here is a picture of us hanging out with kids on the streets one night.

When we go to the streets to spend time with the kids we take a bag of things to do, like games and pictures to color. One of the things we take to do with the kids is nail polish! It is a hit among the girls. The idea is for us to paint their nails, but last night I got my nails done by one of the girls. I did not object. :) She did a great job.

Brazilian culture snapshot:

Here is a glimpse of the produce being sold in the center of town.

 

Lost in Translation

I hope that the students did NOT feel lost in translation this week, because I was their translator! It is so interesting to see how God works things out. I had wanted to come to Brazil in time to participate in the Children as Risk school. I was not able to come in time because of my visa, and God did amazing things in my life during the "extra" time that I had at home. Now that World Cup is over the children at risk school classes are resuming, and I was asked to translate for the school! I only committed to trying it out this week, so I was able to be in the classes, and translate from Portuguese to English for the English-speakers in the class. On my DTS outreach last year I had done some translating for my team- some testimonies etc, but translating a 3 hour class was a whole new level of translating for me! It was also a challenge since I am still learning Portuguese. I am thankful for how gracious the English-speaking students were, and also for the help from the teacher (who spoke both languages), and some of the students who spoke both languages. It was a challenge and a stretch for me!

It was a very full week. The week was split between two teachers and two different subjects.

One of the teachers taught on Vacation Bible school for 3 afternoons and a morning. This weekend I helped out with the school and their Vacation Bible school for the the children of the staff and children from the community on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning.

 

 Singing in VBS

Playing games with the older kids

Helping out with some translating during VBS

Random

Today we did not spend an hour and a half on bus and subway to get into center Recife, or the beautiful coast. Today we went right across the street to spend time with the people in our neighborhood and build relationships here. It was great. :) We (meaning not me, but other girls from our base) played soccer with some of the girls from the neighborhood, and spent time with the people that were attracted to the blaring music, the guy with the mic, and the crowd watching soccer. :)

And on a random note. They have pretzels in Brazil! Yay!

Out and About in the City

Last week we went to Fan Fest to share with people about human trafficking, and share with people or pray for them as we were led to do.

 This weekend I was able to go to the house of prayer that is going on during World Cup. It was soo good. :) Reminded me of Gateway.

 

Beautiful Boa Viagem-in Recife

 This weekend we went to a large park in the city and drew a crowd through dance, and drama, and then shared Jesus with them. As were were there and the group was dancing and proclaiming Jesus through the songs I thought about what we were doing was having an impact in the spiritual realm as well. God is so good.

World Cup Outreach

Monday we went to Olinda, a nearby city for intercession, outreach, and speaking out against human trafficking. It was a great time. One thing in particular that was so cool was that some people from our group felt like we should read scriptures in square where we were, so we did! We split up into groups and people were reading the book of Ephesians in three different languages out loud. God is so good, and his word does not return to him void! Gloria. :)

This picture is overlooking part of Olinda, and the skyscrapers in the distance is Recife.

We had a long trip to get to Olinda, it consisted of a bus, metro (subway), walking, bus, and more walking. :) On the subway our group broke out in song and dance, the video doesn't accurately portray the energy and volume involved, but its a glimpse. It was neat. :)

As you think about us please pray for us as we go out and share the light and message of God! :)

Brazil

I'm in Brazil!

 It has been a great start and good to be back.

World Cup started on Thursday. There are a lot of people here at the base during this time and we are spending our time going out into the city sharing with people about the problem of human trafficking, and ministering to people as the Lord leads. A typical day includes one group going out into the surrounding community or city for the morning and the second group going out in the afternoon to different areas around the city- outside hotels, the beach, the bus station, and tourist spots. The group that stays on the base does cleaning, and cooking at the base etc.

These two pictures are of the World Cup stadium and surrounding neighborhood around the base. Last night was the first game here and we could hear the roar of the crowds from our apartment!