School, Prison, and Hospital...great opportunities!

We have had some amazing opportunities lately.  In the past few days we have visited a school twice, a hospital, and a prison.  There is something to be said about countries that aren't so strict about visitation rules.

We spent 2 days at a school nearby that has 3 different schools during the day: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one at night.  There are 1,000 children who attend this school so they have to split up the day like this to accomodate so many children.  We did our Christian-themed dances and skits with anti-drug, anti-sex, anti-violence messages and the kids loved them.  In fact, I cracked up yesterday because during one of the skits, I was pretending to do drugs as part of the drama, and I had 3 girls around 12 years old shaking their fingers at me and saying "No!"  So cute!  

But earlier in the week, I spoke about drugs to the older kids...teens and pre-teens and asked for a show of hands of people who knew someone who does drugs.  Almost every one of the 200 kids raised their hands and a few of them pointed to each other.  You might think they were joking but the director says teen and pre-teen drug use is very common at that school.

At the end of our first presentation, a teen girl came up to me and asked if I know how what someone should do if they want to get off drugs.  She said she has many friends on drugs and she wanted to help them.  It was immediately apparent to me that she herself was on something as her eyes were only halfway open and even though I could't understand her Portuguese very well and had to use a translator (another girl on our team), I could tell she wasn't always coherent.  I gave her some advice and talked to her for a bit.  But she weighed on my mind for the next 2 hours as we were there.  I suddenly hoped I would see her again that day.  I did.  I made a beeline for her as we were about to leave and found a Jesus bracelet in my purse and put it on her wrist and asked if I could pray for her.  She said yes so I did.  I'm so glad I saw her again and could pray for her.  Her name is Camilla, if you want to pray for her as well.  I hoped to post a pic of her and I but I will next time. Such a sweet girl!

Today we toured a small community hospital.  The leader was so kind to tour us around each and every room and dept and speak with all the people who worked there.  THAT would never happen in the USA!  She explained the challenges with the lack of government support and the lack of medications.  It seems like they have some good programs, though, as they do home visits, prevention, etc.  I got to meet the social worker and the pediatric doctor and it made me miss working at my hospital in the US.  :)  Just a little.  

Our leader felt strongly that we should pray over the people in the waiting area and give them a big abraço (hug).  So we did this.  With every single person in the waiting area.  It was so cool.  It reminded me of how back home at my hospital I was giving a tour of our hospital to 3 ladies and one lady I was touring joked that she would get sick because I had her follow me through the Emergency Dept waiting room. I think it was a joke, but it made me sad for her. I love how Brazilians are so compassionate and not so worried about germs.  Relationships and people come first.  It also reminds me of a time when I was on an Operation Smile trip in India and a nurse told me not to hug the kids because I might get lice.  I said lice won´t kill me, but not hugging a child might.

Lastly, we went to the prison today.  We weren't allowed in as the guards said it was too dangerous.  So we all stood in a line outside and prayed over the prisoners, the guards, the police, the families of the prisoners, etc.  And we prayed with many of the family members who were waiting outside to deliver towels, and treats, and soap for their loved ones through a tiny barred window.  Many amazing conversations and people who needed to see love, not judgement.  It was really great!

Amazing things happening!  God is opening up so many doors and opportunities for us!!  I am in total amazement at all we have done here in just a little over a week.  Please keep us in your prayers.  More opportunities.  Open hearts. And have fun while we are doing it!!  Thank you and God bless!  Beijos!

Hellllllooooo, Sao Paulo!!!!!

"Look at the nations and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." -Habukkuk 1:5

We arrived in Sao Paulo the other days for 45 days of outreach working with churches, schools, assisted living facilities, hospitals, futbol (soccer to the Americans) projects, etc. For the next 3 weeks we are staying on the top floor of an Assembly of God church.  The church people don´t have much but they embraced us with open arms and brought us all of their best beds and blankets.  So, so very kind!!

Day before yesterday we had our first full day of 6:30am wake-up, 7am breakfast, 7:30 individiual meditation, 8am group worship/prayer/revelation time and then all day outreach and church at night.

In the morning we met with a local public school. They welcomed us and explained how they used to be a very poor school with a bad reputation and that it has cleaned up quite a bit but they still have a big drug problem.  We shared about our anti-drug/anti-sex/anti-violence dramas and they are very excited to have us come back on Friday and perform for the kids.  We even shared that they have a Christian message and praise God, the leaders of the school are almost all Christians and are so happy we have come.  At one point the director asked me why I came from the US when though there are problems in the US too.  I shared with her about how I left a good job and my own life in the US because I felt strongly that my life was supposed to be more and that God was calling me elsewhere.  Also, I thought later about the verse in Matthew that says go into ALL the nations and I realized I have always thought of all nations as my nation...which I think is the heart of God as well.  When I shared (via translator), the director said she had goosebumps and the lady next to her (a teacher) cried.

They are rearranging the whole Friday schedule so we can do the dramas and teaching to all the kids in the school in 3 different sessions.  That would never happen in the US!!!  Praise God!!!

Yesterday was really amazing as well.  We went into the "projects" yesterday...a former slum area that the government took over and made into a housing project. Very much reminds me of the Chicago housing projects....big apt buildings.  We met with about 40 pre-teen boys who were playing futbol with a futbol project.  We did the funky chicken dance with them (fond memories of TRAC :) and shared about Jesus.  They were so stinkin sweet and I had to hug and kiss 2 on the cheek before I left (my 2 new friends).  As we walked away to leave, we suddenly heard sounds from far away and we looked back and they were all doing the funky chicken on the soccer field towards us.  We did the funky chicken back from far away. And as we turned the corner and could no longer see them, we could still hear them.  It made me tear up.  The pastor said many of the parents are on drugs and the government knows but doesn´t have the money to do anything about it.  I think we will get to go back which will be so wonderful!!  We prayed over them too and I just kept praying "love and acceptance", "love and acceptance" over and over as I felt it was what they were sorely lacking.

Then in the afternoon, we met with some government officials at a large gov't building and - how cool is this- a group of them met with us at a gazebo type area and they prayed and sang worship songs over the city and a pastor shared a short message.  I guess they are a group of Christian officials who do this on a weekly basis and invited us.  The lady in charge gave us all slips of paper with the verse on it from Habukkuk 1:5 (at the top) and it has quickly become one of my favorites. :)

It is a really crazy time of many miracles, amazing things, doing life together, and enjoying living as a big family on the top floor of an Assembly of God church.  Never thought I´d say that! Actually, I love it so much and in some ways hope I can live like this forever.  Who knew?!?  And the commute to church is great!  One minute down the stairs.  :)

Being here has stretched me so much but also increased my faith so much.  I have sung and danced in the aisles in church and am doing all sorts of things I never thought I'd do!  But I'm so happy and feel like my life will never be the same.  In a good way.  :)

God bless you all and many bençoes from Brasil!!!  More updates to follow.  We are living in a place now that is not so secluded and have Internet cafes nearby.  Yay!  And NO MOSQUITOS!!!  THe 200 bites on my legs can finally heal.

Please keep us in your prayers and also the half of our team who is in England for the next 45 days.

Muito Amor, Joy