[Sorry for the lack of update for
a few weeks…we’ve not had much internet access at times. Thank you Gail for reminding me to update my
blog!]
So half of the team crossed
the border on the 29th June from Uruguay to Brasil (or Brazil for us
Brits!) and were greeted by torrential
rain…which did not impress me much but I guess it is winter! For me this is my fourth time in Brasil! Our first stop was Porto Alegre where we
worked with a local Baptist church. They
were so hospitable towards us and gave us plenty of opportunities to speak in
their services. One guy came into the
building off the streets because he said that when he saw some of our team he
saw an angel standing there…wow..but no I didn’t get to see it in case you’re
wondering. Needless to say he returned home that day a
different man from the one who came in!
Thank you God!
After Porto Alegre we travelled
to Curitiba, again in the South of Brasil where the team were able to attend an
‘IHOP’ conference. When I first heard
about IHOP during my time in Mozambique I thought people were talking about the
International House of Pancakes when really they meant the International House
of Prayer! Apparently some of my team
reckon I think about food a lot….! The conference
was a really special time and being able to sing worship songs in a mix of both
Portuguese and English was great and I started to understand more Portuguese as
the time went on. The conference was a
bit like a ‘pit stop’ for the team and a time for us all to be together. We were known as the ‘hippy team’ and one
lady gave one of my team mates new clothes and shoes because she thought she
looked so badly dressed!!
I was very impressed that team
mate Amanda’s parents came to visit with us from the States and like us slept
on a church floor…my sleeping mat has certainly had some good action..and
believe it or not its been pretty cold at times and many extra layers have been
needed at night!
After being in Curitibia we made
our way to Foz de Iguacu, a city which is on the edge of Brasil, Paraguay and
Argentina. The team again worked in
partnership with a local church and led services and visited families in poorer
areas. In turn the church gave us free
use of a ‘holiday site’ including a swimming pool…which despite the cold
temperatures I managed to swim a good few lengths (I lasted longer than any of
the guys did!) And then I had the best birthday present of
all the team…a visit to the waterfalls of Iguacu..one of nature’s seven world
wonders…..simply stunning [thank you for all the birthday messages and emails]!
The rest of the team are
presently continuing the journey to Paraguay and then onto Bolivia. However I felt it was right to go to Rio to
say ‘goodbye’ to two of my lovely younger team mates who were going home/onto
other things. We are enjoying working
out in practice what Jesus meant when He said to His disciples ‘As you go..’ in
Matthew chapter 10 when Jesus sent them to do God’s work. More often than not it is as we are going
about our ‘daily life’ that we meet people who need Jesus in one way or another…rather
than making a specific time to ‘help others’ (although that can be good too!) I guess its about living the life of a Jesus
follower with integrity.
An example of this is when Lisa,
Charlotte and me found ourselves having a walk on Copacabana beach just before
going to the airport, when we were approached by Rodriguez who asked us for
food. When somebody asks you for food I figure
that they must be pretty desperate and we felt that this was definitely a
divine appointment. Rodriguez is 15
years old and lives on the street as his mother is unwilling to care for
him. He looked like he had been tortured
to be honest and also has some physical impairments..it is quite possible that
the two are linked.
We were able to talk with him and
to the annoyance of a local beach bar we ordered Rodriguez food and a coke and
then prayed for him too (I’m sure staff felt that we ‘lowered the tone’). As a social worker I found myself getting a
little frustrated that we could not do anything more for him at the time,
especially as Lisa had to catch her plane.
But I had peace that Rodriguez was no longer so hungry and had met
people who genuinely cared enough to stop for him. I am sure that we were not the first people
he had asked for food.
After saying goodbye to Lisa and
Charlotte I then hopped on a bus to Cabo Frio,a beautiful town north of Rio. I really wanted to be able to invest in my
Portuguese as sense that Brasil may be a country where God will have me longer
term. So I am currently staying with the
extended family of Carole (my Brazilian team mate) and learning lots about
their culture and language…and watching some of the Olympics and getting to
walk on the beach and swim in the sea!
Its also the first time that I have not been with anybody from the team
since this adventure started which is very strange but much needed….being big
sister to many on the team is a real privilege but also not without its
challenges!
Watching some of the Opening
Ceremony made me proud to be British and made me miss home all at the same time
although loving being here also….so I am planning to return to the UK for
Christmas. Hurrah! God bless and love you all lots x
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