• Nov 2

  Another update from team visit in Brazil

  Filed under General News
  Tuesday,

  Very Busy day. Phil went house building again in the morning. After giving out food to the community, I went to the bank with Elias, whilst Sheila & Hilary started the English class, many thanks to Amy for writing us some lessons! We had 9 children in the first class between 3yrs and 10yrs. I joined in half way through. They were great kids, very keen to learn and seemed to enjoy the way we taught them. We majored on affirmation and self esteem, giving them lots of praise which they just lapped up.

   

  After lunch we went to visit the school where Elias’s primary school teacher works. I’ve mentioned her before as we went to her house for lunch on the Sunday. Over 1,600 kids go there: half in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. Now I’m not sure what you would expect to do on a school visit, maybe learn about the curriculum or the structure of the school, but of course this one was Brazilian style. So we met every person working there and had a good inspection of the kitchen which feeds each child a snack and a meal every day. We were told how important this food is, and that Elias has helped find extra food for them. Lots of children from Washington Pires go to this school and lots of the kids are hungry.

   

  Then we began a tour of most of the classes. The children were first asked where we came from, 99% thought USA! Then they were asked if they wanted to hug & kiss us! So without a word of a lie, we each hugged about 500 kids that day! It was so moving as the kids lined up one by one for a hug. I tried to pray that God would show me who needed that extra little bit of attention and spent a bit of time talking to them and just loving them. Silviana told us these children are starved of love & affection so it is very important that they receive both as much as possible whilst at school! It reminded me so much of what KK (Kidz Klub Leeds)is about. Every class had kids who had parents in prison, parents who had abandoned them, parents who had been murdered, siblings who had been murdered, parents who were drug traffickers, parents on drugs, children from homes of great poverty and we hugged kids with HIV. What a privilege! Everyone on the team was a wreck by the end but all thought it was an amazing visit. This school is an open door for Kidz Klub, please pray for direction for me & Elias as we think this through!

   

  As we were leaving the school Elias got a call that some more kids had turned up for English so we raced back to do a class for about 12 teenagers and adults. The team are learning quickly how to adapt and be in the moment! Then it was straight on to a visit with Elias’s parents, which of course involved food! They were lovely and it was great to honour Elias in this way. I think we were the first ever foreigners they have received in their home. Then another rush back to get ready to present shopping for the team. Elias actually let us roam free around the shopping centre….well, only when he’d given me Milene’s mobile set to speed dial ;o) At the end of this day we were all shattered!

   

  Wednesday,

  More building for Phil & English classes for the rest of us, 12 younger children today. These classes have been test classes to see if it will work for the future. I can definitely say it would and would build quickly. We all loved taking the classes and getting to know some of the kids better. Then we went for Lunch to Cicero the politicians house. It was strange to see his secretary was very involved with the making of the lunch for us all! I’d love to see her job description! We had a great time and made to feel very welcome. Afterwards, the team had a chance to have a meeting and talk to Elias through Edmilson. This was a very important time for them as they learnt more from him about the history of the how the work began and his vision. They were also able to express, with a great deal of emotion, their thoughts about the time in Brazil. We ended with praying for Elias again a very emotional time!

   

  Finally, we had church in the evening, Giovanna came along so that the team could say goodbye to the church. I could also thank the church for how they have received the first team. I spoke half in English and for the first time at the front of church, half in portuguese….I wonder what I said ;o) It has really been amazing and we have been blessed much more than we have blessed them, they outdid us every time…..dam ;o)

   

  Thursday

  We set off at 9am for a city tour of Belo Horizonte! The reality was a couple of hours sat in traffic and driving in crazy Brazilian traffic before the first stop at the market in Belo. This is a great place full of different foods and traditional items, the team loved it. After lunch there, we drove to a huge church called Lagoinha, www.lagoinha.com. This has 5000+ people and has a huge social project in a nearby Favela. It also does lots to support Pastors like Elias, putting on free conferences and workshops for them. The church also has a school, nursery, restaurant, cafe and shop on site. Then we drove by the new football stadium for the world cup in 2014, I have no idea how the city will cope with the extra people! Then we visited the lake at Pampulha. This lake is 22kms long and is surrounded by grass and huge houses. It’s still in the city but is a real oasis in the middle of chaos. Then to the airport to drop the team off. After safely handing them over to TAM airlines Elias & I said our goodbyes. As soon as I got in the car I got incredibly tired and am very grateful to be going to Ed & Gio’s for a few days. I’m sure Elias could do with a few days without me as well ;o)

   

   
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