Day 5- Favela (Ministry to the Slums)

Meet Beatriz: She's 10 years old and lives with her parents, grandmother and siblings. She's a 4th grader and lives close to the Favela mission church.

Meet Bruna: Wow, what a day! Somethings change your life, this was one of them. Never has something moved me as much today's visit with the children. One of these children that Scott and I met was Bruna. Bruna is 12 years old and is soooooo smart. You know in your heart that if the opportunity was there, she would make the most of it. When she gets older, she would like to study psychology. We are really looking forward to going back to the mission church on Tuesday and can't begin to adequately thank God for His grace, mercy and love. Today is a day we will cherish forever!

Meet Lenice, Bruna's Mom:

Here we are walking the kids home from VBS. The Favela is an amazing place. People are squatters here, they don't have deed to their property. There are sewers overflowing in the streets, the kids guided us away from them. It is a place that cannot be described. The kids were amazing, even though they live in an intensively challenging environment. They were well behaved during VBS, smiling, friendly, loving, smart... This place provides true proof that people are not a function of where they grow up.

Thanks Southeast Toyota for donating 5 retired laptops, they will definitely be put to excellent use in the newly remodeled computer room doing vocational training for the community. These meant the world to Wagner (congregation President) when we presented them to him.

Simone was the best interpreter ever, the kids LOVED her.

As the sun set on Sao Paulo, the view was as beautiful as our day.

Simone helped translate for Pastor Nimbu and Pastor Tom at our church service this evening. She did a great job making the service work.

Wagner and his wife of four months Sabrina played a duet that was awesome. They are wonderful people that truly have the Holy Spirit in their hearts.

Ebenezer has a praise band just like St Paul. Drummer, Bass and 3 guitars. Simone and Nick played while we sang at the service, it was a real tear jerker.

At the Favela, the children of the mission church did a play for us. Here Jesus is in motion and seeing the world through the eyes of a child.

Pastor Tom and Pastor Nimbu bridged the cultural gap as true men of God.

In the afternoon we went back to the church to make progress on the renovation. Here, pastor Tom is losing it with our construction boss Mike.

Pastor Nimbu does wonderful work with his mission church in the Favela. It has been there for 10 years and truly reaches out to a place that needs Jesus.

Leslie with one of the VBS students.

Ironically, this mural was painted on the wall of the Favela (slum) and referenced the high rise condominiums that lie on the other side. The rift between the classes here is incredible.

When we finished walking the children home from VBS we gathered in front of the mission church. There were a number of kids who didn't want to leave.

While at the mission church we told the story of the Good Samaritan through a skit, the kids enjoyed it and Nick and Alex loved robbing and beating up their dad.

Mike made lots of friends in the Favela.

Jesus feeds the 5,000. These kids were wonderful.

Walking through the Favela.

David with his new friend, she didn't leave him until we dropped her off at home.

Alex has made a lot of friends.