Saturday July 23, 2011

Friends followers and family:
We made plans to write every 24 hours or so, but Wifi is sketchy at best, and not present at worse. But we already have too much to share!
We are staying in a house with 2 bedrooms downstairs, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, and living/dining area.
Three plus one are upstairs...Carl, Matt, Charlie, and Daniel. We have a personal Brazilian housemate to help us along, Daniel. His parents started the station project where we are working, and he has been very involved with the children here. He is also translating for us!

Help us thank everyone behind the scenes here and at home that made this trip possible and continue to do so. The one thing we are struggling with is the language, but the best part is experiencing the language. We incorporate Portuguese in games, prayers, short conversations, and all around. Our counterparts are amazing and are truly a blessing and we've only been here 24 hours.
Our god is an awesome god, and this week he just got more awesome!

Saturday: we awoke early had breakfast and met at 8:30 with devotions, and prayer to be picked up at 8:50 to go to the local Samambaial Project.
We moved tables, chairs, food and other supplies to a community building in the same block and then went with 5 children, splitting up and inviting children and parents around the community to attend the "block party" this afternoon at 2:00.  With the six of us, and determined 5 children from this local project to us house to house handing out paper notes "flyer's" and inviting families to attend this party.

We all agreed that this was a wonderful and effective mode of evangelism: the children visiting families door to door and inviting other children to the party!

We then gathered and went to lunch at a local resturant buffet style and experience local culture food. Don't be surprised if we all come home 10 pounds heavier: we have all been eating and eating and eating! There is always silence when we have our meals, combined with contented sighs.

The children's party this afternoon was great fun and very well attended! When we arrived, we were informed by the Brazilian leaders that this is a very traditional party that communities all around Brazil hold in June or July. Everyone gets dressed up like "people from the country." So we were painted with makeup: the guys all got mustaches and beards and the gals got pig tails and freckles, Sadie-Hawkins style. Most of the children and adults were dressed up. We played lots of games, had great food, and had a grand time for several hours! There is no doubt that the adults here are very focused on the children and spent many hours preparing food, decorations, and activities.

Right now, we are eating Brazilian barbecue in Daniel's home and preparing to go to church, where David is preaching. Just in case you thought that we pastors were "on vacation," I will let you know that we have already been informed that we are preaching several times this week, while other team members are leading Bible studies and giving testimonies.

This is Kristin writing right now, and I will pass along to you all that we love you and are praying for you. We have been welcomed in such an amazing way, it is hard to describe how profoundly touching is the hospitality of our brothers and sisters here. Thank you for your continued prayers. We will be worshipping with you tomorrow as the Church worldwide gathers to praise God!