Orphanage update and 13.6 post

Hello All,

Everything is going great here. Today is our last day of English Camp. We're finishing up tonight with smores and some more music and sharing by the kids. We have a few with some illness, but nothing too bad, just some minor stomach issues and we have plenty of Pepto and rolaids so they're getting better. Spirits are high, but our schedule is really picking up next week with days starting at 7:00 AM local time until around 11 or midnight most nights.
Three of us will be preaching at local churches tomorrow evening (normal service time).

We had a chance yesterday to see some of the local wildlife:



This is a cappivara. Basically a big rat, they are basically the size of big pigs and live along the river that runs through town. They aren't aggressive, but look scary.

Here is a picture of the orphanage. We agreed to not post any pictures of the children because most of them are there due to sexual abuse and the orphanage protects their identity. Our kids have many pictures and many stories to share, but we can't post much that is available to the public. Abby and Madison were two who went to the orphanage yesterday and below the picture is their take on what happened:

Yesterday some of our group got the opportunity to go to an orphanage. While we were there we played soccer with the kids. We were able to talk to them and some made bracelets. After we got to know the kids we sang some fun silly songs. They taught us some songs and we had fun singing and dancing. We then played some fun big group games. Madi gave her testimony to the group with the help of Becca as an interrupter. Sean Higgins explained the evanga-cube to everyone and then asked if anyone would like to accept Christ. About half of the kids said that they wanted to and then we prayed together. We handed out booklets about Jesus and candy. It was a fun and interesting experience to play with the kids and talk to them.

Abby and Madison

The kids are all doing a great job and are learning many new things every day. They seem excited to meet the Brazilians and interact with them constantly. Last night Andrew gave a lesson and Nick shared his testimony. Both did an awesome job. We are also video taping a lot and will hopefully be able to put together a DVD for everyone after we get home. Tonight Ty is sharing his testimony and Ryan P. is giving his lesson. Should be an awesome night.

On a side note, one thing that the kids absolutly love is when you post on here. Whenever I have the computer out, they hover around me asking if their parents have checked it, or if any of you have posted anything. The comments that get posted are typically shared with the group. I would encourage you to continue to post messages to your kids and all of the kids as they really enjoy the connection to home. Also, let me know if you have specific things you would like to know about and I'll do what I can to get your questions answered.

Probably nothing more until Sunday, maybe in the evening depending on our schedule and internet availability...bw

Friday night

We are about to go over to teach some more English at the school. Some of us stayed and played games at the school today and some went to the orphanage. We can't put many pictures up of the orphanage but there will be a couple tomorrow. The Brazillians continue to be great hosts and the hamburgers here are pretty good too...more in the morning...bw

Friday Morning 12.6.09, Part 1

We are ready to go for another day. Yesterday and last night were great, we had quite a few people come to the English camp and we had many great opportunities for teaching. Some of which are shown in the pictures below.

Some of the pictures are from lunch yesterday too. They made us a soup at the church, which actually tasted pretty good. It was chicken (the whole thing), water, carrots, rice and potato. Couple that with some amazing local bread and it was a good lunch. A couple of the kids realized they actually did use the whole chicken when they found feet in their bowl. Eric decided to try it and said it wasn't that much different than the regular chicken taste...so now you know. Also, chicken heart is somewhat of a delicacy down here. They had it at the steakhouse, in the soup and on the pizza last night. Some of the kids are loving it, while others of us are sane. It tastes like a piece of dark meat that is really chewy and the dark meat flavor is very, very strong.

Abby's interview didn't happen due to lack of room on the set for her and Becca (translator). Abby did speak at the program last night and did an excellent job.

If anyone has specific questions I will try to relay them to the group or your child to see if we can't get you an answer. Also, let me know what you want to hear more about and I'll try to gather the information.

Robin, to answer your question about what Madison was doing...we wondered that too and finally concluded that she was trying to get her camera ready to have someone take a picture for her of the group. That's her story at least.

Today there will be a group going to an orphanage and we have more games and teaching time tonight...until next time.









What we've learned in Brazil so far:

Jake is tall here too.


How to speak using a translator. (Translator is Becca Spellman, she's great)

E-Rock likes to eat chicken feet
Brazillians put chicken feet in soup for flavor.



Brazillian bread is very good and the homemade soup may not be somthing to look at, but tastes good.



bw

In Rio do Sul, 11.6.09

We made it! I apologize for the delay in getting anything posted there was no internet available between Miami and here at the church. Our travel time was 38 hours. Omaha to Chicago to Miami to Rio De Janero to Florianapolis followed by a 5 hour bus trip (supposed to have been 2) at night through the mountains of south Brazil. We all felt like Andrew did in the Rio airport after our 8 hour overnight flight


We made it to our host homes last night around midnight local time (10 PM CDT). It felt much later. The families and the people are absolutly fantastic. We had a brief time this morning of devotional and prayer. We also had a meeting with the local pastor, Johnny, as he laid out all that we will be doing in the next few days. Now we are preparing for the English camp and the rest of today.

Portuguese is somewhat similar to Spanish, but different too, there are awkward times of silence and communication struggles in the homes when we are without our translators but the people are very gracious, nice and welcoming and we are all very refreshed after a night of sleep in a real bed as opoposed to the airplane.

We ate at a Brazillian steakhouse in Rio de Janero yesterday when we got into town. It was great. Here is a picture of the team outside the steakhouse.




Other than the English camp, today's big event is that the local news station is interviewing Abby for a broadcast about our visit. We have a camera going along to document the experience and we'll be posting some pictures up here either tonight or tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the local church we are helping with. More pictures of the people to come later.







If anyone knows how Dan's surgery went, Bambi would really like to know so post it in the comment section and I'll relay the message.

bw

Safe in Miami, still limited Internet access, flight to rio two hours away. Hoping we can upload pics by tomorrow night

Safe in Chicago, cam's stuff is here, more to come with better technology.

packing party

It is the night before we leave and we're all gathered at the church to drop our bags off and have a quick time of prayer with the parents. It's fun to see the kids very excited yet seem to be nervous. We're all very excited. Here is a pic of the group from tonight.




Thank you all for your support and prayers.

bw