December Celebrations

'Tis the Season . . . to say 'tis!

It's celebration time! Many festivities were held this December to celebrate our Lord's birth. From church programs to Ladies' Tea, from children's parties to ice cream parlors, I made the rounds to a number of events this month. I must say I am a little tired, but I am headed to the great white north of Minnesota for a little R&R (and yikes - cold!). It will be a little adjustment to go from 90 degree weather to below zero, but I am excited to see family and friends. Below are pictures of the many activities this month.

Student Year-End shots

One of the many uses for toilet paper rolls . . . Nativity scenes

Celebrating the Anniversary of Projecto Semear and a Successful Year!

I Scream! You Scream! We all Scream for Ice Cream!

English Students decorating (and eating) sugar cookies

Lar Christmas Pageant

Time for Presents

Cookies, Cookies and More Cookies! I baked over 400 sugar cookies for different events!

Morumbi Church presented 'The Miracle of Christmas'

PACA school presented "Meet me at the Manger"

Calvary Church Ladies Christmas Tea - Theme: Do you hear what I hear?

(I'm sitting next to a Brazilian missionary to S. Africa - it was nice to connect and share stories)

Calvary Church kids and singing 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus

Teachers I work with (left - Lar Batista, right - Vila Andrade)

Updates at Vila Andrade

The elevator is being installed slowly, still needs electricity. And a generous donation brought a great kids library and activity center to the Community Center.

What is the biggest thing Brazilians celebrate - soccer!
The Sao Paulo team won a Championship recently, and I happened upon a store in a mall which sells their gear, and had a picture taken by a trophy from another tournament. That's probably the closest I will ever get to a soccer game!

The Real Reason to Celebrate - celebrating the birth of the one who was, who is and who is to come - the Hope for all nations - Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

"All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed." Ps 72:17

November

Busy Hands
This month in Vila Andrade I taught the kids a different Christmas craft each week. It was fun to interact with all the students (not just my English students) and get to know them a little better. We made 'Hand' Wreaths, garland, stand-up stars, trees from magazines, and a Nativity Scene from toilet paper rolls. It was a little challenge finding craft items here, as I don't have the convenience of a local craft store, but we did alright!

Paint

Lots of painting has been going on at Vila Andrade as well. The art teacher painted Christmas scenes inside the Project building space, as well as a beautiful Nativity mural on the wall inside the church lot. The outside of the church building has been painted once again, and I think its the best color yet.

Going up!

An elevator is being installed in the church building, to help people access the upstairs Telecentro, Vilabyte and Library space. A handicap ramp is also being built.

It's a Wrap

I ended my English classes at the Lar this month, and we had a special day of reading the Christmas story, doing a Christmas activity sheet and making a Christmas craft. Now it's time to get ready for next year!

Student Elections

The Lar is having the equivalent of 'Student Body' elections - the older students have created 'parties' with logos and campaign signs, each representing something different. They held debates with each other, and topics ranged from having dessert on Mondays, to new DVD's and sports equipment, to wearing special Lar uniforms and having clean bathrooms with toilet paper all the time. The students will be voting soon for their choice!