Day 1- Orientation and seeing the project

Upon leaving the airport we headed for the 2 hour drive to CPTN, the organization sponsoring this mission trip with Lutheran Hour Ministries. Thanks to the entire staff including Paulo, for such an awesome welcome and project overview. Your work is a blessing!
During the orientation here's a glimpse into how world problems are resolved. Look as Mike listens intently to Leslie's ideas. Phil is just left scratching his head at the enormity of it all.

The front view of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, it's flanked by favela's (slums) and provides some outstanding service to the community. Our revised community center will be incredible. Thanks Pastor Nimbu for what you do.

Our hosts at Ebenezer Lutheran provided us with some outstanding snacks and some really effective coffee. Thanks to the congregants that are making this project possible!

Stephan and Lisa are surveying all of the classroom materials that have been moved out for the project.

Nick and Michael look like their up to no good. A really outstanding grinch imitation though.

Shopping for additional supplies at the Sao Paulo version of Home Depot was a hoot. In Brazil spackle for the walls is called creme for future reference. Building supplies may be one of our hardest translations yet and not many people speak English. But in the end we got all we needed.

Mike coaching Jen on the chemical properties of grout. Amazing stuff really!

Our hosts Wagner (congregation president) and his team gave a wonderful overview of exactly what we need to accomplish and how Ebenezer works with the community.

Leslie models the new tile, isn't it beautiful! Wait until you see the after shots!

The entire team and some of our Sao Paulo friends pose in front of most of our building materials. This is going to turn out incredibly well. See Pastor Tom and Mike doing some deep analysis of the floor?

Jen couldn't wait to start working, quit talking about what to do and get'r done!

The view of the favela from the sanctuary steps.

Phil giving appropriate approval to Ebenezer Lutheran.

Devotions this evening focused on the church body and our spiritual gifts as outlined in Romans. We need to use our gifts to the max here in Sao Paulo.