Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas around São Paulo


No snow, but sand!
Christmas means summer vacation here, though the holidays are still celebrated with gusto and color. Below are some of the many Christmas displays throughout the city.










A Charlie Brown Christmas tree
Yes, I have a small, but sufficient tree purchased for a mere 2 reis (cheap) at Walmart! It still put me in the festive spirit!





Programs
I attended the PACA school Christmas program, and an evening of song and scripture reading at the Calvary International (English speaking) church I attend. The Morumbi Baptist church put on a production entitled 'a Alegria do Natal," which presented the joy of the birth of Jesus through a circus themed production, complete with acrobatics, dancing, singing and even a fire breather! As crazy as that sounds, it was beautiful and presented the Gospel very clearly.











Vila Andrade - it's a Wrap!
The community center wrapped up its program for the year, with the children making Christmas crafts and performing at the churches. I helped put together their Christmas packages, consisting of either a doll or truck, plus cookies and a hygiene kit, that they received at their Christmas party. The mother's of the children attending the social project also put together a Brazilian-themed Christmas program






Thursday, December 20, 2007

Lar Batista de Crianças Home


The Lar (or home) for children has five facilities in Sao Paulo. I am working at the Campo Limpo site. Here, there are 40 children housed, plus another 300+ from the surrounding community who attend before or after school programs. I will be teaching English starting in February.

The children are between the ages of 2 and 18. Besides additional classroom time, the children take part in music and dance programs, sewing and cooking lessons, and arts and crafts. Below are pictures of the children presenting some Christmas music at the Morumbi Baptist Church.

Please pray as I prepare my lessons, that the children would be excited to learn, and that I am able to present the Gospel message along with the English lessons.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Fun with missionaries!


One of the neat things I have enjoyed since arriving in Brazil has been re-aquainting myself with friends from Minnesota who are missionaries here, as well as meeting the other missionaries who are part of the South Brazil team. They have all been very helpful in getting me acclimated and making me feel very welcome here.


I went with the Riley family to the Horto Florestal Park, which is in the northern park of the city. We saw some exotic animals, birds and plants there. Below is a 'capivara' - part of the guinea pig family, a bird, and myself in front of some bamboo.




I celebrated "American Thanksgiving" with the family of the home I am temporarily staying at, the Kregnesses and other new friends.








The Embu Arts and Craft village with some teachers from the Pan American Christian Academy (PACA).








Helen (daughter of the couple whose home I am in), Lalia Kregness and myself at the Ladies Christmas Tea hosted by the Igreja Batista Morumbi church.



The WorldVenture Americas Director and his wife have been here visiting and meeting with all of us. Ken and Arlene Flurry were missionaries in Brazil for over twenty years before Ken was asked to move into his current role. They will be 'retiring' to Brazil in May 2008.


Field Christmas party at Casa de Pizza!


Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Camp California visit


The WorldVenture South Brazil team held it's yearly field conference this year at Camp California (named for a church in California who bought the property for Restoration Ministries, also part of WorldVenture). I was last here in 2001 with the first short-term church team visiting Brazil, and at that time we built the 'Minnesota Tree House' and a zip-line. Both are still in place today!

It is a beautiful camp located outside the polluted city of Sao Paulo, and Restoration Ministries uses it to bring street kids here for weekly camps. This is a huge treat for these kids, as they don't get to see so much 'green' space and areas to play in the city.

There have been many improvements made to the camp as well. Three new cabins have been built, and overlook the beautiful valley below. Another building has been added for a worship and meeting space. Playground equipment has been built. Plans are to continue adding cabins, to allow bringing as many children as possible to enjoy this beautiful facility.


The Minnesota Tree House, new cabins and worship center