Brazil Trip - Day 6 (Evening)

The afternoon was cut a little short so we only did one session of sports. We ran basketball and volleyball simultaneously. Melissa did a great job with volleyball and Jake and Jake did well with basketball. They had the kids doing layup drills and other b-ball skills. I think the dunking contest is today. ;)

In the evening we went into Fortaleza to the market. There was a huge section next to the beach that was set up with all kinds of little shops of souvenirs, hammocks, shoes, clothes. We spent about 2 1/2 hours there walking around and bartering.

After shopping we ate at a restaurant called Sal E Brasa. It was extremely good food and AIR CONDITIONED! We tried all kinds of meats and other various foods: fried bananas, fried cheese, sushi, shrimp, other cheeses, etc. Some of the meats we tried were wild boar, ostrich and a variety of other cuts of beef, chicken, etc. There was a variety of pies and cakes to choose from for dessert. Definitely a meal we'll remember.

We arrived back on campus around 11:00.

Brazil Trip - Day 6

We are headed out for an evening on the town so I may not be able to blog later. I wanted to update you on our morning.

Construction continues on the building project and they may even finish getting the flooring in today.

We had a great morning at VBS. Denise taught the kids the story of David and Goliath. She used Phil to demonstrate how tall Goliath was. However the kids are convinced that Phil is much stronger.

Kendra and Jessi introduced the craft with the story of Jonah. The kids had a great time with it. There were not as many kids today but we did have about 20 new kids that were not their yesterday.

After crafts we spent some time teaching them our dance routine. It's amazing how much God has used that in our ministry here. It has been extremely beneficially.

Brazil Trip - Day 5

On the building project this morning we finished the tiles on the roof. Dave got up there this time with Cicero to finish laying them. A few other local teens that hang out with us helped too. We also started on the windows and doors. PJ helped one of the men
with that. Then in the afternoon, we started on the concrete flooring. The mixing was all done by hand which is primarily how we helped. We got the other window and both doors in place and set up.

The building crew also did all the electric work on another house and whitewashed it all. This is a home that last week's team built.

VBS started today too with about 128 people coming! The children were very excited to make the Salvation Bracelets, and
Jake W. and Jon gave a lesson explaining their meaning. We were amazed that they didn't open the Salvation Bracelet bags when
we passed them out until told to do so, as some children in the US probably would have. For games, they played Freeze Tag, which
they enjoyed playing for the first time. We gave them candy bags for their snack as they left also.

Our sports ministry did soccer and volleyball today. The games of soccer basically consist of our splitting into several teams
and having a sort of tournament. It's fun to play with all the Brazilian kids because they are really good.

In the evening we had a worship service here at Grupo CEO. Jon, Jessica, Kyle and Ethan presented the drama and our
team did our "Brazilian Boogie" again. Everyone was so enthusiastic. The music was wonderful. It was a great time.

We did have our first injury, however. Kyle hurt his foot. I'd like to say he injured it while working construction or doing
something really dangerous. But I must be truthful. He injured it playing freeze tag...with 11 year olds. His attitude has been
tremedous but please be praying for him throughout the trip. He can still kind of walk on his heel.

Other than that we continue to be blessed down here. Thanks for your continued prayers and your blog comments. We read
them every day.

Brazil Trip - Day 4

Today we started our servant evangelism activities along with the construction project. The brick work was completed prior to allow us time to finish the house. Tom and a couple guys worked on the doors and windows for the house while the rest of us went on site. We sorted tiles for the roof and put up the rafters too.


The ladies spent the morning serving on our "Spa Day" ministry. They had a great turnout, including many children for this. Here is a picture of Tracy giving a haircut. They also painted nails and other girly girl stuff in addition to the haircuts.

The afternoon consisted of beginning our Sports ministry and continuing our construction. Ben and Dave led the group in soccer and Ben was most proud at scoring a goal! (Please pray for Ben's pride.) Jake and Jake led the group in Kickball after that was over. That went pretty well though it took a while for the kids to understand the rules. They weren't so keen on getting "out".

We worked on laying the tile for the roof at the construction site. Jon took the initiative and braved the heights, first spreading the tiles out on the rafters in piles and then helping Cicero, one of the Brazilian men working for Grupo CEO this summer, lay them. Jon only fell off twice and now writes left-handed and walks backwards but we're pretty sure this will clear up when we get back to the Northern Hemisphere. Just kidding Sherry (Jon's mom)...he only fell once. HA! Still kidding. He was steady the whole time and Tom even joined him up there for the last part of it. Sure would be nice to get some Titan guys down here.

After a dinner of hot dogs, we split up. The teens with to a youth service, the ladies to a women's meeting and the men to a men's meeting. It was a great time to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Brazil. Two men accepted Christ at our men's meeting. They didn't even complain about my attire! Seriously though it was awesome to pray for and with them. We talked about how to be good husbands to our wives. I advised them to go on a mission trip 4,500 miles away. No, I'm joking again. I'm pretty sure I said something profound and serious.

It's 11:37 pm here and if you haven't figured it out yet, it's Phil that is writing all this. I'm a bit sleepy from a big day but was anxious to get you the latest happenings here and post a few more pictures.

FYI - you can double click the pictures to see it in a larger size.

Brazil Trip - Day 3 Update!

A TAM airlines van arrived at 9 am today with Tracy's luggage! She now has her own clothes! Praise the Lord!

Brazil Trip - Day 3

 
 



We awoke at 7 am (that's 5 am Rensselaer time folks) to loud Christian music in Portuguese! We had some time to get ready for
the day and have some quiet time before breakfast. Breakfast consisted of pancakes, compliments of Tom Gillespie, fruit, cold
meat sandwiches and cashew juice. It was fun to try something new.


Following breakfast we had some devotional time together as we went over Mark 4:35-41. After this time we split up into four
groups and went on a Prayer Walk in the community. We visited several families in the neighborhood that the Moore's have been
ministering to. Some, they have recently helped with building a house, putting in a sink or other projects. Many have come to know
Christ through their ministry here. As we visited we often stopped to pray for various families.

We had some free time after lunch but we spent part of the time hauling a few bricks down to our construction site. Tom helped
some of the local people finish up the brick work. We had some time to swim and relax in the hammocks as well.


This evening, we went to church. It was a very enthusiastic congregation! We presented a drama and the "Brazilian Boogie". The message was on jealousy. We covered parts of James 3, Psalm 145 and Ezekiel 35. Afterwards we went out for chicken. It was rotisserie. (Not sure how to spell that.) Very good.




Phil got busted by the fashion police for showing up in this outfit. What's wrong with this? It's a nice pair of shorts and a nice shirt for crying out loud! I think we'll have to take a vote later to determine this this outfit is really a crime.

Brazil Trip - Day 2

We made it to Sao Paulo, Brazil at 9:00 or so Brazil time and deboarded for customs. This wasn't a problem for us thankfully, even Jon made it through! But was picked up our luggage and had to check in for the domestic flight to Fortaleza. They made us check a bunch of our bags that we carried on.

We made it though to our gate 5 minutes before boarding so that was a blessing. But, they gave Tracy a hard time w/ on of her carry-on items, saying she should have checked it. They took and stowed it w/ the strollers (I think) but when we got to Fortaleza, after a brief stop over in Natal, that bag never showed up. And it has her clothes in it. So, after another discussion with TAM airlines there, we'll call tomorrow to find out if they have found the bag. We think it may have been taken off in Natal.

But we're here!! We made it to Grupo CEO around 6:20 pm and it was already about dark. We had a great spaghetti dinner together with everyone and spent the evening getting showers and settled in.

Brazil Trip - Day 1

We started off on our trip for Brazil today. We left the church at 10 am and drove up to O'hare. Check-in was every bit as stressful as we had hoped. For starters, the mower box weighed too much. We were over by FOUR pounds! We took the smaller box out of the larger box to get the weight down and the lady was checking it through for us. There it was rolling down the conveyor belt when out of nowhere, a guy in a jacket and tie put the nix on it. "Haz-mat item" he stated to my dismay. Despite my "No, buts..." his decision is what counted so, there you go. No mower to Brazil. Thankfully, Ron was around to take it back home for us.

He almost had to take home something else...a member of our team! They were giving Jon a hard time about his visa but ultimately he was cleared.

The flights went smoothly and we fell asleep (off and on) somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean.

Brazil Trip - Packing

Tonight we had our "Packing Party". There is a lot of stuff to take down for all the minstries we'll be doing. We are also taking some additional items for the Moore's to use for their ministry when we leave such as a mower and a trimmer.

After a night's work, we are pretty much ready to go!

We very much appreciate all the items for the various ministries that church families have donated. Big things get accomplished when everybody does their part!