Life in Brazil

it was a perfect day.........

.........for going to the mall.

The skies were cloudy and the weather forecast was for rain.

This day had been planned for many months and now after all the preparations it was a reality.  God really blessed us with everything falling into place and coming together so perfectly.  Yes....perfectly.

First of all I had my doubts about the bus showing up at all much less on time.....and believe it or not it showed up.....early.....and was a nicer bus than any of us expected.......and we didn't have to pay a red cent for it.   Who loves free??  I sure do.

Next we arrived at the mall just in time for lunch and were blessed in the way of there not being a lot of people in the food court.  This made it much easier to corral and guide 23 students up to the counter at McDonald's and place our orders.   Not only did we have plenty of time to eat and buy our tickets for Brave but we also had tons of time to walk around and look at things.   The majority of the kids found the Parks & Games fun center and spent most of their time in there.  The movie was good and everyone enjoyed it.   Afterwards I sent the kids on a mall scavenger hunt and there were a few unexpected surprises they discovered while doing the activity.   We ended our time with ice cream cones from McDonalds.

This day was truly a blessing in so many ways.   First of all an excursion of any kind hasn't been done for these classes since the end of 2008.......yes, 2008.  Being able to do this trip was largely in part to a) the classes I taught at Life English Center and b) the fact that the owners jointly decided they would pay me for my time with the understanding that the money earned would go directly into our field budget to the ministry in the favelas.   So you know what that means??  Extra monies coming in which allow me to do extra special things for the kids.....such a blessing.   Secondly, as I said everything came together in ways which I can only describe as being directed by God.   Finally.....I was blessed with the help of Menezes, Luciana and Ana Lucia with whose help I simply would not have been able to have executed all the parts of this day trip.

Isn't it wonderful when God blesses us with these kinds of days??

 

....a story I've been sitting on for too long.

It's been a month and a half that I've been sitting silent here on my blog and now it's time to break the silence.  First I just want to say "thank-you" to those of you who have been praying for me and my family regarding the situation with my Mom.  Having all of this dropped on me right before my vacation....flying home and only having three weeks to try and start processing what this is going to mean for all of us and then returning here only to find the enemy waiting to bombard me with a bunch of emotional/spiritual stuff to deal with.....not fun times.  Yet as I said before.......Jesus is with me.....in everything.

Anyway......I have something I wanted to post almost two weeks ago and it's just been sitting on the shelf sort of speak and it's time to actually write about it.

I returned out to Ilha Bela and Vila Esperança the second week of February.  I decided that during this month I would put together games and activities and then we would get started with another book at the beginning of March.  Anyway I figured since it had been almost two full months since I had seen the kids they would probably ask about my vacation.

My vacation.....what would I say?  Would I pretend that everything was fine and omit the fact that it was not only a beautiful time with family but also extremely difficult?  Or....would I be completely open and tell them everything?  I believe there are times when it is best to keep silent about some things and then there are the moments when we need to open up.

I decided ahead of time that if they asked I wouldn't hold anything back.

I've talked about this situation enough times now that I don't get emotional yet I have to say something significant took place with the afternoon class in Ilha Bela.  This class had some new students and I could see they were excited to be there and be apart of the class.  Then the question came......and I started explaining....except this time I started getting emotional.....something I did not want to do and I told them as such.  I could see from the looks on their faces especially the older ones that they understood the seriousness of the situation.  Then it happened......one of the new students who happens to be named Emily (same name as my youngest niece) asked a question.

"Didn't you become depressed because of what is happening with your Mom?"

Isn't it interesting how God shows up in the most unexpected places and puts an opportunity right in front of us?

My response:  "Sure, I became sad when I found out....but a person who is depressed is a person who has no hope.  I have God and He is with me in this situation.  I have God therefore, I have hope."

What followed was a moment  in which I could sense something spiritually significant was taking place as those kids were taking in my words......and my faith in God.

Terrible things happen and because we live in this present world there isn't a single one of us who is immune to tragedy.  The question is what will be our response in the face of tragedy?  Our response will reveal what we truly believe about God.

And the world is watching.

it's been a busy week.........

but it's been good........very good.

Last weekend we had our favela Christmas party with around 50 students in attendance.  Despite the rainy weather the kids had a good time playing group games, visiting, eating and some even won a few prizes.  Here take a look.....

Next up.....the reward store....

...and here we are in Ilha Bela ready for business.....

decisions.....

 

decisions........

 

decisions.......

 

Vila Esperança store.....open....and ready for customers....

 

Help.....I can't make a decision.....I want everything.....

 

I am so proud of this girl......Gabi is one of our new students and is doing so well that she puts some of our older students to shame.  Her mother has started attending our church...please be in prayer for them.

The reward store in a word was a......success.  Everyone enjoyed and when I asked the students if they liked it everyone resounded with an enthusiastic "YES!!"   Some even went as far as to say they loved it.  It was neat to watch the students spend their points not just on themselves but also on gifts for their siblings or parents. 

 This was my first year having the whole of responsibility for this ministry and I have felt it.  It has not been easy doing this alone...yet it has been a very positive year.  Menezes and I have been talking during these past few months and we are both of the consensus that we want to change and reform some aspects of the classes.  This is not to say that what we are doing is broken....it's just that after some observation I would like to improve upon what is currently being done.  I would ask for your continued prayers for this ministry as we consider the direction God would like us to take us.  Also I would like to say that without you what we have been doing simply would not be realized...so from all of us here in Brazil......

 

Thank you.....

 

Thank you.....

 

Thank you....

....and Thank you!!

this just makes me smile......

I was informed by my brother that the first Christmas gift under the tree at their house is for me.....from my neice Abby.  I love you too Abby and Emily....can't wait to see  you next week!!

Recovering from the weekend......Christmas party for my students in Ilha Bela and Vila Esperança....was a huge success.  I'll be posting some pics soon.  I spent this morning dividing the prizes for tomorrow and Wednesday's "reward" store.  Wasn't quite the same without Dave and Carol this time....but it's coming together.  Promise to post pics from all the events this week.

 

A party = a bridge between 2 ministries......

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Supporters.......from brainchild to reality....thank you for making this happen.  We couldn't have done it without all of you.  Please be prayer for those who attended as we are waiting on the Lord to see the results from this party.

more winners.......

Beatriz, Andressa, Micheley, Me, Jaqueline, Bruno and Victor

 

I told the kids why I sometimes take pictures in the class and the reaction I got was pretty funny.  When they found out they would go "viral" they were all of a sudden so concerned with their appearance and made sure their hair looked ok.  Needless to say I explained the reason behind my blog and why I do it....so that folks back in the States would have a better idea of what happens here and of course so they can be praying.  Having said that I ran the idea past the kids of taking each of their pictures and then giving them a few questions to answer about their life and their family.  They seemed ok with this.  So what I plan to do is "feature" a new student on a regular basis throughout next semester.  However, you will just have to wait for this as the current  semester has just come to an end and the new one will start at the beginning of August....but then that is a good reason to keep coming back to see what is new in the world of life in Brazil.

winners........

 

Fernando, Felipe, Wallace, Me, Ana Paula, Gabrieli and Thailane

 

or maybe the more appropriate phrase would be "those who are deserving."  Deserving......because these kids put in the effort and really applied themselves this semester.  I ran a competition for 16 weeks in all four classes with the grand prize being a "reward party" being hosted at The Rock youth club which is on the upstairs level of our church Vida em Cristo.  Winners have been chosen from each of the four classes.  I chose those with the four highest scores, one most improved and a newer student who has demonstrated a real interest in English.  I stongly believe in rewarding the effort and not just handing out privileges to everyone.  I think that is where this "entitlement" attitude comes from...people making excuses for their poor choices and blaming their circumstances for where they are in life.  These kids prove that in spite of their circumstances one can make excellent choices and reap the benefits.  You could say that when we do these competitions there are times to learn some life lessons as well. 

This is part of what I get to do....provide opportunities to instill some confidence and dignity in the lives of these young persons....and quite frankly I don't think Jesus would have it any other way.

interpreters......in training

Today has been a good day.......

Dave and Carol arrived safely from the States

My suitcase of "goodies" also arrived safely

I'm sipping a cup of chai latte....oh so yummy

I have some new tops to replace my t shirts that are getting too big for me

I have some new scrapbook things to play with

I have more chocolate chips and peanut butter than I know what to do with

yes....it's been a good day

but it gets even better......

 

 

Meet Jaqueline and Kaique.....

They are two of our interpreters in training.

If you received a prayer support letter from me a couple of months ago you would have seen my list of goals for 2011.  One of those goals was to begin developing new interpreters so you can imagine my delight when two girls from my afternoon class in Ilha Bela approached Menezes and I about starting to interpret.  Then I took it a little further and began telling the other classes what was going on.  Now I have some more volunteers from the afternoon class in Vila Esperança.  The students are going to take turns every Tuesday and Wednesday practicing so for the next couple of weeks I will introduce you to a new interpreter in training.  Please be in prayer for these young people.  What they are doing isn't easy.  Imagine getting up in front of your peers and trying to interpret for the American teacher.  I admire their courage and willingness to try.

simple things......

 
 
  

 
 
 

isn't it funny how something so simple as four buckets, two sponges and some water can provide so much intertainment?

up and scrambling......

 

what are they doing??  Any guesses??

How's your morning going??  I went to the post office after class to mail some info to my tax preparer along with some other letters.  The kind lady added everything up and I confidently handed her my debt card only to be told that they don't except debit/credit cards....just cards from the Bradesco bank.  She told me the total which I didn't have that amount in my wallet...or so I had thought.  I knew I had more cash at home and raced there to get it...only to open my wallet and discover I had more money in my wallet than originally thought and could have paid for my stuff at the post office.  Grrrrr.....frustrated that I wasted a trip...yet thankful for the extra money.

Note to self....always double check the wallet.