• Oct 24

  Brazilian Trip – Thursday update

  Filed under General News, Trips
  Oi Todos,
  Firstly, thank you for your kind emails encouraging me; it´s hard to express how much they mean when you are here. I’ve managed to borrow a dial up modem for a few minutes so can email but prayer for more internet contact would be useful please :o)

  We are all okay.  Phil’s still a bit off colour and my stomach starting playing up 2 days ago but I can manage to carry on. We had a good day yesterday, with a long team time as there were some things that needed sorting out. It´s amazing how a trip like this makes people feel vulnerable and also not aware of cultural differences. However it’s all part of the experience; we are all ok and we are all laughing a lot as well which I think is a good safety valve!

  Yesterday we went to the project and gave out food parcels, then 2 hairdressers came and cut hair for free – they do it twice a month, Loads of people came, especially boys who want a short cut with lines shaved in. The people doing it took a lot of care and gave a great service. We prepared more English classes and talked loads to kids. Phil helped some of the men with some physical work so he was very happy.

  Then at lunch time there were 13 for food, as I met Cicero and his secretary who I’d met in April. He is a politician who helps Elias a lot. He was really pleased to see me again, but was a bit confused and asked where Edmilson was for the translation and even more surprised when I said “I’m it”, ha ha. We managed to chat though and he was really complimentary about my Portuguese …. which if you knew how much I knew would confirm God is at work, ha ha. Then we went to look at the football project for a bit. In the evening we went to church for the mid week service which again was great, loud and long! It was a very busy day o everyone was shattered.

  We are still being looked after amazingly and escorted everywhere, which is good!  However you are soon reminded that this a tough place. We met a 15 year old yesterday who had been involved with drug trafficking. 6 months ago he was shot by them (not sure why) 5 times, twice in the head and is now blind and traumatised. He also has a huge dint in his head. Very very sad.  It’s so tough to be disabled here.  Elias also showed us yesterday the place where again 6 months ago a 16 year old was killed, it was on the dangerous side of the Favela.

  On Tuesday a  TV crew came to record some stories from victims & families and show what needs doing and what the Town Hall are failing to do. It should be on TV next week.  It’s by a channel I watch at home so it might be on in the UK!

  The whole area has so much need, but the church has a big vision, a big heart and works with passion and commitment, again reminding me of KK and Metro NY. I do love it here, I can’t help it, I do think it’s God.

  A good prayer point would be for some time with Elias & Edmilson together as obviously I need a translator for the very detailed stuff.

  Today we are going to Belo Horizonte to try to get more money out of a bank and show the others a quick city tour, then this afternoon there is a women’s church service and then in the evening there is talk of pancakes :o)

  Thank you for your prayers and emails.
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