We have had a great week. A group from Edmonton has been here for a week. They are helping with many things at church. Much of their first week they did things with the kids and youth we have been working with.
Last Sunday they were around and did a song with the kids at our normal program. Then we went out the next day and invited kids back to the church for a vbs they had planned. We had rough weather and the kids were a tad stand offish at first. I made more trips back and forth in our van then ever before and we managed to get a decent number. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they did a vbs in the afternoon and then a coffee shop in the evening.
It seemed like the vbs was kind of spiritual warfare. In all honesty the kids come to play ping pong and suffer through the lessons. They were doing a longer program then the kids were used too and they complained relentlessly that they wanted to play ping pong. It was driving me nuts.
Going through the favelas inviting kids we were able to pray for some people. One man has a swollen infected foot that I don’t like to think about. Another is a 96 year old Grandma that wants to try and go to church. Last night her feet hurt and her daughter didn’t think she could walk the path up to the road. This highlights the thought that we may need to do something in their neighborhood soon.
Friday and Saturday they did youth conferences. It is hard here in Brazil to distinguish youth, that seems to include anyone who comes. We had told the youth if they went to both nights they could go free to Recanto do Gaucho, a farm where they have playgrounds, horses, food, music, pools in the summer and even an Alligator.
Saturday they made a very clear presentation of the gospel. They had the room divide themselves into those who knew they would go to heaven and those who weren’t sure. Then invited all who wanted to be sure to pray with them. Everyone prayed. There is still much work to be done but what a boost.
Sunday the kids all looked very excited and played all day at the farm. They ate a ton. We sent 30 kids or so by city bus several miles out of town. Then I and a couple others shuttled them down the lane. They start cooking the ribs at 8 in the morning and serve them at 2. I loved taking three of the little girls to look at the Alligator. They turned and ran at the drop of a hat. Even after the 5 hours there and 2 bus rides most of the kids stayed for church. We were tired, they were tired, church was hard but praise God they are beginning to listen.
Today Melissa is with the group helping them at a school for the mentally and physically handicapped. Something she has wanted to do for months. Pray she has a great time and sees doors open for future volunteering. God is so faithful.
Pray for us, we have seen provision of money for a washing machine and to cover the Federal police fees we had a couple weeks ago.
- We are still a bit short for our bills and food the last week of this month.
- We also need to make a trip to Rio or Sao Paulo right away to get some papers.
- We need to focus on finishing our residency in August and September.
- We need wisdom how to follow up with these kids and their families.
Tim and TaLisa will be leaving very soon. The guys in the church will have their hands full learning to run the church and minister to the current crowed. They are more then capable and will do well. This will put more responsibility on us to invest in the families we have been working with. We don’t know if that will mean bridging the gaps for them into this body or trying to create a body within their neighborhood and meeting their needs. God knows, we just need to pray.
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