October 2009 - hit the two year mark!

"Everyone who calls on the name of the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." (Romans 10:13-15)

Two years!
I've hit the two year mark here in Brazil, and continue to be blessed by God's goodness in allowing me this faith journey and ministering in the poorer communities here in Sao Paulo. The verse above was the theme for the mission conference at my church here this month and is a great commission reminder - How can they hear unless someone is sent? I took a photo of my feet with some of 'my girls' and pray that maybe someday, one of them will hear the call to take the good news to others - even if it is in their own neigborhood.

LAR Reward Day

My students enjoyed their third semester rewards this month, and as they earned more stars, they earned a bigger prize!

Celebrating Children's Day

The kids enjoyed food, fun and frolicking on a slippery, bouncy soccer field to commemorate Children's Day, a day to honor children here in Brazil.

LAR Staff Retreat

The director and staff spent a day at a lovely ranch outside Sao Paulo for a time of training, spiritual refreshment, and fellowship with each other. We also received a special thank-you treat for Teacher's Day.

Classroom Activities

Below, students at the Lar are learning about places around town, and going 'shopping' at each one and using math to learn numbers and equations in English. The students at Vila Andrade are learning about the farm and making farm animal figures.

Street scene at Vila Andrade
Here are a few shots of the street where the church and project are located. Two pictures are after a heavy rainstorm when the street flooded, which is what typically happens as there are no storm drains here so the water has no where to go (but the kids like to play in it!).

AMIS Dinner

The Morumbi Association for Social Intergration, which sponsors the projects at Vila Andrade, hosted a dinner and information session for donors and workers this month. Below are photos with fellow WorldVenture missionaries and mentors Ken & Arlene Flurry, who came with me to learn more about the projects, and with co-worker Andre' Moreira, Project Coordinator for Social Responsibility at Vila Andrade.

Who won the 2016 Olympics? Oh yes - Brazil!

The whole country is quite excited to be hosting the Olympics in 2016. It will be interesting to see how Rio gets ready for them, as well as dealing with the gang violence it is known for, which erupted quite severely a few weeks ago. Below, famous faces of Brazil: President Lula and world-famous soccer player Pele, celebrating Rio winning.

September 2009

LAR Orphanage

September activities at the Lar included another 'fun' day as well as a worship service to thank God for the opening of the new house for the on-site children. The new directors (who are actually the old directors that returned) wanted to give thanks to all who had been praying for them and for their being able to come back and continue their work here.

Directors of the Lar, Pastor Neidimar and wife Maura, and a dance routine at the worship service

My students worked on some special projects for extra-credit

Churchtime at Calvary

I have started teaching in Jr. Churchtime at my church here and it's been fun getting to know the kids a little better as well as being understood when I speak in English! We have a lesson, memory verse and craft time each week.

Vila Andrade

Vila Andrade has had a group of 4 - 5 year olds starting the project with them, and they are real cute!

I had a visitor from my home church in the States here in Sao Paulo on business, and got a chance to give him a quick tour of Vila Andrade.

Weekend fun
I've been blessed with great friends that I can hang out with after church for a time of fun and fellowship. Below is a visit to a local park, and a visit to the bowling alley with a girl from Vila Andrade for her birthday.

August 2009

Birthday Fun!

Both project sites have started back up in full-swing, and what better way to start than with a party! I brought homemade cupcakes for my students to celebrate my August birthday, and we played pin-the-candle-on-the-birthday-cake, made a cross mosaic craft, and had fun with puzzles.

Vila Andrade

Lar Batista

Puzzle Time

I brought puzzles with words in English from the States for my students to use, and they really enjoyed them!

Vila Andrade

Lar Batista

Celebrating my birthday with friends

Having cake with fellow-August birthday girls from PACA and lunch out with my friend Anya. This is the first birthday I have ever worn a sweater - it was cold that day!

July 2009

It was nice to be home and celebrate a red-white-and-blue 4th of July! Enjoyed picnics, parades and fireworks, baseball games and family birthdays.

Getting ready for niece #14 - baby Olivia is set with her Brazil gear when she is born in October!

LAR Fun Day!
The kids were surprised and treated to a day of inflatable balloons, bull ride, popcorn and cotton candy! They had a blast!

June 2009

June has been a month of fun and travel. At Vila Andrade, we took the students to the Zoo, which was enjoyed by all. At the Lar, we ended our second semester with a Reward day, and the students were excited to pick out their prize for completing their homework and adhering to the rules. During a holiday weekend here in Brazil (there are many holidays!) I traveled with a good friend of mine to the city of Curitiba, which is quite different than Sao Paulo. We also took a train ride through the mountains and a ferry to an island off the coast. At the end of the month, I made an unexpected trip back to the States to handle my house sale, and praise the Lord, it is now sold!

Vila Andrade Zoo trip

Lar Reward Day

Trip to Curitiba

Curitiba is a unique city in Brazil, known for its urban planning, good transit system, and has the most green space of any city in the country. It was very clean and the air fresh. The train ride took us through the 'Serra do Mar', the mountain range of the sea, and to a Portuguese colonial town of Morretes. The Ilha do Mel is named for the color of the surrounding water, said to be the color of honey. The trip was an enjoyable cultural learning experience.

Botanical garden

Opera house and 'The Eye' - an Oscar Niemeyer sculpture (he designed the captital city of Brasilia)

Ilha do Mel (Island of Honey) Unfortunately cold and rainy this day.

Train ride through the Serra do Mar

In the towns of Paranagua and Morretes

Sites in Curitiba and the art fair

Video of Volunteer Day at Vila Andrade

May 2009

Happy Mother's Day - Feliz Dia das Mães

The Lar Batista held a special Mother's Day event on the Saturday before Mother's Day, and mom's were treated to music, dance and a skit by some of the students, manicures, getting their hair done and even an exercise class. The students then served the mom's lunch, followed by door-prizes. I got to meet some of the mom's of my students, which was a treat. It was a special day for all!

Below the mom's look for cards their child made and are entertained by the students.

The many uses for recycled products . . .

A local company spent one Saturday volunteering at Vila Andrade working with the children as well as in the community on some of the homes in the favela - painting, fixing windows and installing a roof and a door. The children's project consisted of making a model city using recycled products. I spent five hours one afternoon cleaning and sorting recyclables for them to use, and the kids were quite creative in using many of the items to make their cities. The company also entertained with animal characters, face painting, and cotton candy, which the children really enjoyed. The volunteers helped make a positive difference in the lives of those in Vila Andrade this day.

The finished products . . .