Brazil Spring Break 2009-Day 5

Good evening friends!

Your Mission Team is in high spirits after another great day in Northeast Brazil. On this day surprises lurked around every corner, keeping enthusiasm high and praise for God rampant.

We were saddened this morning to learn that two of our teammates had taken ill overnight, and would not be able to attend the sessions today. 12 year old Ellee Conway was taken to the area clinic late last night as a precaution due to dehydration, and Suzie Jones was forced to stay at the hotel, also suffering from the effects of dehydration. The heat and humidity over the last two days have been brutal, and with all the constant activity, our team has struggled to keep our fluid intake at a healthy level.

Dr. John Conway has been the busiest person on the team, forced to set up a make-shift Missionary Clinic to handle all the medical issues all of a sudden affecting the team. John was called to give medical assistance to five teammates who "bonked" yesterday ("bonked" is a cycling term used to describe a condition where a cyclist gets dizzy and almost passes out due to a shortage of fuel and hydration). These teammates were forced to seek shade, water and varying degrees of rest before they were able to resume the activities. Dr. Conway has also had to deal with a plethora of cuts, scrapes and stomach ailments affecting the team; we are very fortunate to have him on board this week.

Early this morning, our own VFC marathon team took to the streets of Sao Jose for their daily light jog, which turned into more of a swim as they were caught in a sudden downpour. Colin Bailey, Mark Paukune, Ken Miller, Ron Lee and Jeff Farmer's apparent raindance was quite successful, in that heavy rain plagued us
intermittently throughout the day.

In this morning's devotional, Ken Miller reminded the team that we are being sculpted into just what God intends for us, and to rest assured that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, God is using it to create something beautiful in, by and through us. John Conway offered some much needed advice on how to stave off heat-related problems, and Brandon Boehme suggested that our group should expect something great from God today.

Brandon's message (although slightly contrived due to some prior inside information), deemed to be prophetic. Immediately after the gates closed on a spirited rotation with this morning's group, the team gathered in the middle of the courtyard for a quick meeting. Much to our delight and surprise, the gates swung open and in walked David and Paul Breedlove!!! The team was shocked, and fell all over themselves trying to get their arms around the two Breedloves. It turns out that after getting Kent safely back to Fort Worth, the family decided that David and Paul should make the trip after all, with Kelly staying home to care for Kent and Isabella. Although the team continued to miss Kelly, Kent and Isabella in a big way, we were ecstatic to have an opportunity to share this wonderful experience with as many Breedloves as God would let us have. Both Breedlove men jumped into the fray immediately, as the boisterous afternoon group was ready for action.

During the break between sessions, the team was treated to a stirring testimony by Angela Price, who spoke for her children and husband Robert, who stayed home in Fort Worth to take care of thier youngest child. Angela and Robert have a passion for serving, as evidenced by their commitment to be temporary foster parents for newborns before being placed with their adopting families through agencies such as the Edna Gladney Center. Thank you Angela, Robert and family, for giving these children an irreplacable head-start in life.

Also during the break, the compound was absolutely inundated by rain. Of course, a little rain would never stop the likes of Grace Paukune, Caroline Farmer and Talia Bailey, among others, who made the flooding courtyard their own personal Olympic swimming pool. But as only God would have it, the skies cleared before the afternoon session began.

While the theme of yesterday's sessions was to love yourself, today's theme centered around loving your neighbor. The craft rotation was especially significant, in that the children were asked to make a flower pen (using ballpoint pens topped with an artificial but beautiful flower), with a scripture passage attached. The children were directed to give the completed flower pen to someone else in the village as a gift. The thought of giving a gift to another is alien to many villagers in this environment, and the team is confident that today's activities instilled a new way of thinking in the hearts and minds of the children.

Several members of the team again split off with a number of preselected teens to give instruction in art and sewing. Again, the talented Brazilians created absolutley stunning works. It seems that this village certainly has the talent and interest necessary for a well-placed micro-finance investment to successfully take root.

While waiting for the bus after the second session, the younger teammates were fascinated by watching the locals cut into some just-caught live crabs. Andrew Link tried his hand at this, only to find out that cutting up a live crab has its drawbacks! What else happens during breaks? Well, the courtyard is always buzzing with the usual breaktime soccer and football free-for-alls, headed up by the motley crew of Matthew Lee, Patrick Farmer (Patrick seems to appear out of nowhere anytime a ball comes into view!), William Rattikin, Boyd Bailey and Paul Breedlove. And wherever our college-aged interpreters are, you are sure to find Andrew Link, Hudson Miller, and Markham Paukune striking up a skills competition of one sort or another. Mandy Miller can perform some amazing moves with the soccer ball, and has on more than one occasion left an older opponent whiffing air as she deftly slides the ball past them. Mandy, you need to take up competitive soccer again!

The clandestine activities of Kamryn Conway, Margaret Lee, Sarah Price, Hilary Rattikin and Caroline Rattikin are a little worrisome; we can only hope they are not plotting some sort of overthrow of the compound before week's end! As for Lindsey Rattikin, one can usually find her busily downloading teammates' photographs for the upcoming slideshow presentation, or hanging out listening to original music of our favorite musician Waska. And the adults? It seems that we spend two solid hours every day stacking chairs, unstacking chairs, moving chairs left, moving chairs right. It has become a running joke, one that seems to be shared by every church group in existence. Such is the life of a short term missionary. Some things never change.

Tonight, a group of thwelve teammates headed back to the village for the first of two teen nights. The event is being attended by 100 or so teens each night. Under the direction of Cibelle and her boyfriend, the teens will hear wonderful information and emotional testimonies about the proper roles of Christian men and women, the proper place of sexuality in one's life, and the importance of self-esteem, self-confidence and respect for others. Since the team has not yet arrived back at the hotel, a full report on the success of this night will be included in a future blog. But there is no question that this event is destined to be successful, as many on the team believe that this opportunity to reach out to the teenage population of this village is perhaps the most important lesson we are called to give this year.

Again, we would like to close with scripture:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. --Ephesians 2;8-10

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. -- Matthew 11:28-30

Obrigado, and Boa Noite!!