West Cliff Baptist Church Brazil Mission Team Blog

The Final Photo Call...

2009-08-29T09:33:00.003-03:00

Some More Faces Of People Who Made Our Stay So, So Amazing!

2009-08-28T22:42:00.001-03:00

Some Of The Faces Who Made Our Stay So, So Amazing!!!

2009-08-28T22:37:00.000-03:00

United with my twin sons!

2009-08-28T21:12:00.002-03:00

What an amazing two weeks this has been! I have so many memories to go home with and challenges to ruminate and apply in due course over the coming days, weeks, months, years. God has been gracious every step of the way, and although our team was by no means perfect, I would not have had it any other way, as this is what God had intended, and it was a privalige. I personally learnt a lot about the others in the team and about myself, and felt it has been a growing experience. The love shown by the Brazilian people has been mind blowing, along with the 2 tons of food I have eaten, and my prayer is that I can take just a tiny piece of this back to the uk. I have surprised myself in so many ways, from being able to cope with 2 weeks of 10-14 hour days, being around people this amount of time. This has been challenging but rewarding as I am someone who needs thier personal space and has had none. I found working with the children very rewarding, and strangely enjoyable, despite never really wishing to venture in this direction. I had an opportunity to do a short preach, visited lots of people, making me more confident in open prayer. I even found myself doing a little craft, finding my long lost twin sons, oops I mean making some SUNS for the Pepe room. I really dont want to go tomorrow, and wish I had more time to work here for God as there is so much left to do. That said I look forward to sleeping in my comfortable double bed, getting a full nights sleep, and doing mission in my every day life back home, hopefully with renewed vigour. I Praise God for all that has been done in this place, and hope one day to return!!

Neil and Nora discover they can be crafty.

2009-08-28T20:27:00.003-03:00

Today we transformed the pepe classroom. Neil and Nora discovered that they could be crafty. After a long week of scrapping walls and painting, we felt a real joy today that we could give something back to the church, after they had showed us so much love and kindness over the 2 weeks. They especially loved the photo frame full of photos of the children from pepe. The day ended with us eating more food, after we went on 2 vists, both of which involved eating cake and crackers and drinking coke and coffee. These last 2 weeks have been an amazing experience and we come home with some lasting memories and personal challenges from God and an expanding waist line. Our team has eaten so much cake and crackers over these last 2 weeks.

2009-08-28T15:34:00.002-03:00

Well here we are almost at the end of our time here in Brazil.
l do feel sad to be leaving as l have met some wonderfull people here through the Ebenezer Church and the BMS mission house.
I hope that l may come back one day.

I have learnt so much here, the people, the culture etc, but l guess for me personaly it has been my spiritual growth which actually started back when I felt God speaking to me to come to Brazil. What an amazing God he is.

Tonight (Friday) the Ebenezer Church are having a goodbye service for us, how thoughtfull and kind. They are just an amazing group of people. Most of them have very little or nothing
to give yet they are so rich in Gods love it just pours out from them and you can't help but become infected with it, wow. God loves me I know but I'm glad to be infected by their love for me.
They made us so welcome from the first moment they saw us, nothing was ever to much trouble.
So tonight will be a special night for us at Ebenezer Church and a few tears may be shed,
I know we will all miss them a lot

Thanks again for all your prayers it really has helped.
Please continue to pray for our safe journey home.

See you all soon
God Bless

Jacqui

Suddenly It´s Nearly Time To Come Home...!

2009-08-27T20:20:00.000-03:00

Today Stella, Jacqui, Val and I have finished decorating the church yellow (!) and leading an assembly for ninety (!) 3-4 year olds! Both have gone extremely well!! The children from the Pepe sang a goodbye song to us and gave us some really nice cards! A really special day!

Tomorrow we have a fairly relaxing day until we share at a special service which the church are holding to say "farewell" to us. The last two weeks have been a wondeful experience which will take more than the flight home to process!

On Saturday various folk are coming from breakfast to say "farewell" before we leave the house at about 11.30am (3.30pm UK time) for the airport. Our plane lands at about 7am UK time, we will be on Hope Fm via phone at about 8.30am and should appear back in Bournemouth by about 11.30am...

Thank you so much for all the messages of support and enocuragement from the UK...God is good and we have seen His hand in so, so many ways during this trip!!

Devotional

2009-08-26T07:54:00.000-03:00

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. [15] If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. [16] Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven".

I've been so excited to see the pictures of the team getting their hands dirty this week as they serve the church and the local community in Sao Paulo. Jesus tells us that we are to be 'light-bearers' that shine the generous light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into a world full of shadows.

It might be easier to stay within the safe confines of the church walls or our homes, but you only have to see the joy and light that is shining on the faces of our team and those they are serving to get a glimpse of what Jesus is talking about..!! The light of Christ is shining brightly, a light that will continue to shine in those churches and homes, long after the team return to the UK. Such are the gracious ways of God!

The challenge for us all is to continue to live in this way: do our faces express what our mouths
say we believe? Let us practice the way of Jesus and 'keep open house, being generous with our lives', prompting those around us to see Christ, the true and living light in our midst..!!

Chris, Stella, Elaine, Val, Jacqui, Neil, Norah and Claire - we love you and praise God for the work He is doing through your presence in Sao Paulo. May God strengthen you for the last leg of the trip and bring you safely home rejoicing in the wonders he has shown you.

Grace and peace

Richard

painting day part 1

2009-08-25T21:39:00.001-03:00

It has been a long and arduous day, but also one that has seen much fruit, and has been truly rewarding. We spent a few hours scraping the walls and sand papering the walls, preparing them for painting. This was after spending almost an hour trying to get hold of the correct paint(they wanted to give us gloss for walls!)

We were blessed to have help all along the way and finished the first coat of paint before the day was out.

We then went to a persons house which was so unlike any we have seen, in a private street with their own private security. It was like something out of a movie set, akin to Edward Scissor Hands! The house was bright with its own garden, kids who spoke fluent english and a mother who was a wonderful cook. Truly surreal, nothing surprises me now!

What will the children say

2009-08-25T18:31:00.000-03:00

First it was chewing gum, then it was drining coke and now Val´s become the coolest hoody wearer of her generation.

Jesus is my superhero, but Chris thinks he´s spiderman.

2009-08-25T18:28:00.000-03:00

As ladders were in short supply Chris foudn a novel way to do the cutting in at the top of the wall.

...no more green or yellow paint!

2009-08-25T17:55:00.001-03:00

Stella, Val, Jacqui and I have spent today painting two spaces in the church where we have been ministering. I have seen enough yellow and green paint to last me a lifetime! There is still more to be done on Thursday, but for now we have retired to the comfort of our temporary home here. Buying the paint was most amusing...language (or lack of it) is the funniest of things! A wonderful lady in the B&Q-type shop went out of her way to help us! She was amazing!! Her reward was a kiss from me...(that will teach her to be so nice)!

This evening we need to plan for a session we are doing on Thursday with 90 under fours! Please pray for us!!!

Below The Santander Tower, Sao Paulo City

2009-08-24T22:35:00.000-03:00

We went to the very top!!! The most awesome view!

Clothing From Gospel Street, Sao Paulo

2009-08-24T22:33:00.001-03:00

In Portuguesse 'chave' means 'key' just in case you are wondering!

New Choir Robes For West Cliff

2009-08-24T22:31:00.000-03:00

These are the new choir robes that we have purchased for West Cliff. Richard´s is the one made out of the Brazilian flag....which one would the rest of you like...?

2009-08-24T20:38:00.000-03:00

Day in Sau Paulo centre

2009-08-24T17:49:00.000-03:00

well we saw some lovely sights today. The cathedral was not as gaudy as I thought it would be, in the main quite tasteful. The highlight of the day was by far going to the top of the Santander building to see one of the most amazing panoramic sights ever. The high rise buildings seemed to go on for miles! The trip to Gospel street was exciting and several people bought t shirts, and other bits and bobs all for a very cheap price. It was wierd and awesome to see so many shops dedicated to christianity and God, even if some of the merchandise was a little dodgy!

Now off to eat some more chocolate pizza with the team who left early to go to the mall down the road! Mmmmmmm salivating!!

What a hoot!

2009-08-24T08:02:00.000-03:00

Hi, just had to share our church service last night. It was the most fun 3 hours of the trip by far. Yes West Cliff BC'ers, 3 hours long... but felt like 5 minutes. It was hilarious.

We sang in English, Portuguese, clapped, danced, shared with the church, ate of course, sang Happy Birthday to a 86 year old man for about 10 minutes. He must have felt like the most special person in the world... and at that moment, in that place.. He absolutely was!

Norah danced with some teenagers, we all did this dance routine, sort of a Three Degrees number.. for you oldies out there.....

Neil is now officially Pastor Neil as he preached his socks off...and of course sang beautifully.

Sorry I have no photos, Neil may have some, I dont have a camera, but I hope the description gives you an idea. HA! 3 hours long on a Sunday evening.... What do you think Richard? shall we go for it at West Cliff?

I will be the dance choreographer!! :-)

Devotional

2009-08-24T07:54:00.000-03:00

Matthew 10:42
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.

The focus of the team's ministry is set to change this week, as they begin to express the love of Christ by making a practical difference in the church and in people's homes. Jesus tells us that anything we do in His name for the 'least' is done for Him. So, whether we are painting, cleaning, sweeping, polishing, building or a whole host of other practical things - we do them as if for Jesus.

As the team are already discovering, there is a huge blessing that WE receive when we go to serve others - it may surprise us and perhaps even unsettle us to learn that this is a biblical precedent - Jesus says we will be rewarded - amazing!

Proverbs 11:2
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

May the Lord refresh all those who have been called to this season of mission - whether we serve in the name of Christ overseas or here at home, let us commit to expressing Christ love in small but meaningful ways. The added bonus is that we ourselves will be blessed. How refreshing!

The Last Sunday In Brazil

2009-08-23T22:19:00.001-03:00

Hello all,

This evening was our final Sunday with folk in Ebenezer which was quite emotional! We worshipped, shared testimony, celebrated two birthdays, preached from John15:1-17 and shared food! What a brilliant day!!

The photos are of the whole gathered church and of a dedication which happened for one of Stella´s babies (see previous blog entires).

God bless you world!

Chris

message from Val

2009-08-23T14:03:00.000-03:00

A wet Sunday afternoon!
Chris and I were at the bus stop by 7.15 this morning, not knowing the bus times (which are erratic anyway) to go to the morning service which begins at 9 am. Since there was less traffic thatn a weekday we were there about 7.40 so we went for a walk around the area (good job Chris has a good sense of direction!). Ricardo, the local alcoholic, was still reclining by a wall but on our return he was just ´getting up´! Did not have long to wait before Zenaide arrived with a key and we could go in.
Seems like their Sunday morning service is a bit like West Cliff eveniong service, with a much smaller congregation. The pastor spoke for a while and then he and several others went off upstairs for the childrens woship time. Another lady preached on Job and we were invited to share something about our experience of God during difficult times (which was unexpected!)
The pastor then returned and we had a couple of songs and lengthy notices. We picked up from the notices on the screen that they are holding a special farewell service for us on Friday evening, which we feel is a great honour. Don´t know if we will have time to catch the plane home, we have a very full schedule next week with folk asking us to be at different places and knowing we have some redecoration to do at the church too.
When Chris and I returned dinner was ready, prepared by Iara; it was great to come back to a hot meal prepared by Iara. Elaine, Norah and I elected to reamin here (we did do the washing up!) while Iara took the others to a local market.
We will be going to our respective churches this evening so it will be another late night.
Chris is preaching at Ebeneezer church and Stella, Jaqui and I are to make contributions. Chris has decided we should sing Thank You Jesus, not one we have on CD so we won´t have any backing. We are hoping the music group might arrive early so we can have a run through; they might be able to pick up the melody.
It was super to be in touch with everyone at West Cliff this morning and made us feel a little homesick for a while. Having said that, within the space of one week we have become very attached to the Ebeneezer c hurch here and we will miss them when we return to England. Seems like we have been here ages!
God bless you all and thank you so very much for all your prayer support.

Message from Norah

2009-08-23T13:29:00.000-03:00

Hi everyone,

So happy to be here, and meet these wonderful, kind friendly people. We have had so much love from them, that it can make you feel inadequate, but they make us feel so special.

Weather is awful and cold, and today it is raining. The forecast is better over the next few days, but we are still happy while serving others.

I have been able to cut hair for the people of the favelas yesterday, and I will go back to the island Wednesday and cut hair there. My heart went out to an old lady called Margarida, she looked 78 but was only 58. She was thin, hungry, depressed, and lived in a dirty little room.

We spent time with her, sang to her and prayed. Then she agreed to come to church in the evening, so I went to pick her up and she had done her hair, changed her clothes and put some perfume on to come to church. The ladies from the church said she had never let anyone in her little shack before.. but she let us in and shared so much with us. She was outside waiting to go to church later that day. How cool is that!

The service was packed with kids teenagers, and the poorest of people who came because we had visited them earlier and showed them love.

God bless you all,
Love
Norah x

2009-08-23T12:50:00.000-03:00

Well, what a day we had yesterday, truly amazing. For me personaly it just added to my spiritual growth with God. l have been so blown away this week by what I have seen and heard
from these lovely people. This has only been possible because of Gods grace.
Despite the cold (it was freezing) we all felt, l felt warmed by the joy in the childrens faces after they had their faces painted, or they made a necklace / bracelet or just giving them a pencil.

On Thursday we went to a Chreche where we held Devotions for the staff, the children were having their afternoon sleep.
We each did something, my part was to start the prayers towards the end of the service then others prayed and then I finished with a prayer.

I was only able to do this because of God, I prayed for confidence to be able to speak about Gods
overwhelming love for us and he answered my prayers.
What an awesome God we have. I cannot speak for the others but God has truly worked wonders in me and this is only the first week.
Can't wait to see what the 2nd week will bring.

God bless you all at home
Thank you for all your prayers

Jacqui

God's Workmanship

2009-08-23T10:01:00.000-03:00

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Just reading some words from Rick Warren and he reminded me that what matters is not the duration of our life, but the donation of it.

This very unpredictable place where each of us are finding gifts and courage that we didn't know we had, just to serve the need of the day. The sense of working together for a common goal is so strong here, not because we are all connected as humans, but because we are all connected as children of God created to do his work.

We set off yesterday tired and weary, but within hours were loving these kids and seeing their joy, we were all lifted so high. God is so faithful. Chris did a devotional that encouraged us to just give our availability to Him yesterday, we did, and it worked!!

I feel like an alien here at times, the environment is like another planet in places, but when in the presence of God, I feel at home.

Anyway that is my boring ramble of the day. Glad you all got to connect with some of the team this morning.

God bless you all
Elaine

Call no man worthless who is made in the image of God

2009-08-23T09:31:00.000-03:00

Who would have thought some face painting and some craft activites would bring such joy to people.

Today just reminded me of that worship song "Jesus I stand in awe of you, and I´m so in love with you"

We serve a God who gives extravagantly

Impact day and beyond

2009-08-23T07:12:00.000-03:00

Impact day was great! There were so many children that turned up to have thier faces painted and necklaces made. It was lovely to see the smiles on so many faces. Some of us went out with an interpreter to evangalise on the streets which was challenging, but was bowled over with how much more receptive people are over there to here Gods word. I came home frozen to the bone, but it was so worth it!

Was great to here the support of the church family this morning, and am now going to prepare for the service tonight where I will be singing and sharing a little of Gods word.

Devotional

2009-08-23T04:57:00.000-03:00

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NLT) "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace".

In October 2000, Faith and I went to India as part of a team to encourage a small, but growing church in the Himalayas. Travel in a different culture can be very challenging, but the hardest thing of all was something that took us by surprise - getting on with each each other was a lot harder out there than it was back in our home church..!! Spending time in such close proximity, in an alien culture often brings out our worse as well as our best. Thankfully God's grace was sufficient in our weakness and were grew through it and became strong.

Pray for the Brazil team as they learn what it means to serve, not just as individuals, but as a team.

Grace and peace

Richard

IMPACT Evangelism Day

2009-08-22T22:14:00.000-03:00

Today all 8 of us were involved in the IMPACT evangelism day at Ebenezer Baptist Church. We made necklaces, cut hair, painted 100´s faces and travelled around the favella sharing tracts and the Gospel with hundreds of folk. There was a very warm response, some really postive conversations and a good number of people came to view an evangelistic video which was shown in the church at 7pm.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we have a busy day with a radio interview, connecting with West Cliff during the morning service, joining morning worship and evening worship in our churches. Please pray especailly for the evening services because both teams have very significant input to them...please pray that we will be an encouragemewnt and a blessing to those we minister too.

Nervous but excited

2009-08-22T11:23:00.000-03:00

Well today is impact day, and it has been a week since we got here, hard to believe. fIt has been such a challenging week in so many ways, but already I just know that I will not go home unchanged.

I feel nervous today as I am going into a new unnown challenge, slightly emotionally drained, and a little tired. Just as well God is gives the strength at these times, and I know he is with us all at all times, especially when we are feeling at our most vulnerable. Perhaps being vulnerable is appropriate seeing as that is how the people in the favelas must feel most of the time.

Please pray that many would come along to the service this evening and many would come to Christ.

God be praised for what has been, what is and what will be!

Neil

Its not helpful being a health and safety manager in Brazil

2009-08-22T09:02:00.000-03:00

One week down, one to go!

2009-08-22T07:42:00.001-03:00

Thank you Richard for your thoughtful devotional. You hit the nail on the head. Here is a more boring serious blog entry from me... not full of thrill and excitement of the day. But very real.

Read at your peril!!

The last week has been very full to say the least. I have never known a week take so long, I think it has been the proverbeal "week and a half". Tee hee... Normally a slow week is down to boredom, but not this last one.

We all came here at different places, and I expect today we are all at different places still after this last week, but probably all agree that we are tired, and have had a unique week.

I miss home, I miss my family, and I miss toilet paper that can flush, I miss my hair being nicely done, I miss SPACE!!! The days have a hint of me being faithful and obedient for me at the moment and carrying on, not so much of the exciting amazing thrill that we started with. But hey! what do I know.. about what the next week holds... I have never predicted a day here even remotely... I am sure th enext week will surprise me still.

God's Love is still flowing, the smiles are still everywhere we go though, so the challenge is still full of daily blessings back to us. I was a little sad one day, not smiling so much,and a little boy out of the blue walked up to me and gave me his biscuit from his lunchbox.

So West Cliff friends, please pray for our strength physically and mentally to make the next week even better than the first one. Feeling shorter would be good though :-)

Do you know what is the most important bit though.... we came to share a smile, share Jesus, and make someone's day a little lighter, and that is exactly what has happened every single day.Toilet paper that flushes is just not important it seems.....

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, thanks for your prayers.
Elaine

Devotional

2009-08-22T06:01:00.000-03:00

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) "Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere".

The team are now at the half way point in their trip to Brazil. Today's verse is a simple but profound reminder to us all, to continue supporting them in daily prayer, asking the Lord to bless the work of their hands, protect them and keep them safe in all things, to strengthen them in tiredness and sustain them throughout the coming weeks ministry.

Please pray especially today for those family members and loved ones left behind here in the UK.

We are so excited to read of your daily adventures and pray that God will fill your hearts with great joy as you see Him at work in the coming week.

Be loved!

Richard

The Joy Of Living Together...!!!!

2009-08-21T20:40:00.000-03:00

...more babies!

2009-08-21T18:05:00.000-03:00

Stella finds another baby (4 weeks old) to cuddle!

"I have come to proclaim freedom to the poor"

2009-08-21T14:19:00.001-03:00

'A living man can be enslaved and reduced to the historic condition of an object. But if he dies in refusing to be enslaved, he reaffirms the existence of another kind of human nature which refuses to be classified as an object.'

Albert Camus

What An Honour...!

2009-08-21T14:09:00.001-03:00

Today Stella, Val, Jacqui & I led staff devotions for a crèche of about 90 children. We reminded them of God's faithfulness before speaking from Acts 17 where we encouraged them to know that every hug, kiss, lunch served, lesson taught, etc. is an expression of God's love through them. God's presence was so, so evident as we praised him together...

Wow!

The Team Led Devotions With The Children...

2009-08-21T14:04:00.001-03:00

2009-08-21T09:44:00.000-03:00

the day before yeterday we went to the home of Zenaide in a favella. She also took us briefly to introduce us to her sisters and brother who all live very close together. Her brother is a sick man; he is an alcoholic and has other addictions; he had a stroke a while ago. He spends his days sitting on his bed in an basement room with no natural light and mould all over the walls. I cannot get this poor man out of my mind; please pray for him that he will come to accept the peace of Christ in his heart and that he will know Gods love for him.
On our daily bus journey I have met two young school boys going home from school. I cannot converse with them but they have been delighted to receive a wrist band saying Jesus ama me (which should be Jesus me ama! trust the /brits to get it wrong!) Jesus loves me. And I am thrilled to get a wave from them as we leave the bus!!!
There has been heavy rain during the night again and its quite chilly today. So much for the factor 50 sun cream, a must have with you !!
thank you so much for your prayers and texts, we really value your support. Val

Devotional - Friday 21st August

2009-08-21T05:12:00.000-03:00

I had to do a double take when looking at the photos this morning - double checked my eyes in case I was seeing things, but no it was definitely them for sure - my puppets have gone on mission to Brazil..!!

It must have been 8-10 years ago when Janet, a member of my last church was inspired to buy me a set of puppets for use in ministry and for all those years, I'm ashamed to say that I've never learnt to use them properly and they've spent too long languishing in cupboards and on shelves. So, how thrilling to see them finally fulfilling their true purpose in life and being used to joyfully bring the gospel to the lives of so many little ones. It has truly made my day..!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven".

Janet bought those puppets all those years ago, but today my eyes have been opened to see that they've not been wasted, but simply waiting for such a time as this when God would use them for His Kingdom purposes. If that can be true for a puppet, how much more could that be true for all of us who through this trip have been invited to engage in God's missional purposes.

God bless all who have been called to this 'season' of mission.

Richard

2009-08-20T21:30:00.000-03:00

"If every single person is made in the image and likeness of God, then every single person can tell me something about God that nobody else can. That makes me very anxious to listen to everybody, because they may be saying something that only they can say." Cardinal Basil Hulme

Chris has finally met his match

2009-08-20T21:14:00.000-03:00

Today we experienced the ´Tesco Finest´ of Brazilian favella hospitality...it really is a knife! Look at her face...!! Arggghhh!!!

Fun was had by all, including the adults

2009-08-20T19:50:00.000-03:00

Fun was had by all today, including the adults, obviously claire has been badly influenced by Neil. Long lost child hood has been found, what with the craft and obviously with the slide. On a serious note the slide episode brought so much laughter to the childrens faces. It has been a real joy to see the smiles on these faces. What made the day was when we left Pepe we meet some of the ladys we had been to vist on Tuesday, they had come to pick up there children, and the happiness that was on their faces when they saw us was so special. God has trully been at work here this week. we may have had to move out of our comfort zone and do things that we dont normally do, such as climbing on slides, it has been worth it. Watch out Katie, Daniel and Matthew, a new improved Mum will return soon. Perhaps you might not want to go to the park with her.

Ive missed my vocation!

2009-08-20T18:19:00.000-03:00

What a wierd day Ive had, missing the bus, seeing a car jack, then taking charge on Pepe. The fact that ive never done childrens work before I have surprised myself how easily the children took to me and how much fun I had in return. Martin is taking over my personality though, Im not sure much of me will be left by the end of the trip!

2009-08-20T17:15:00.000-03:00

Hi,

Have just come back from an amazing visit in the Favelas.
Wonderful lady, Chris and the lady got on very well despite the language difficulties, look out for the photos.

Yesterday we had visit to a home which was very humbling, the lady was so happy to have us in her home and to give us something to eat even though it was all she had. It makes you realise what is important and what is not and I personaly have had to re-evaluate my whole thinking.
I thank God for it.

Thank you for all your prayers they really help.

Jacqui

Smiles Of Hope From The Squalor...

2009-08-20T11:53:00.000-03:00

Ecclesiastes 9:4... "Anyone who is among the living has hope..."´

The people here have hope in abundance - not because of the conditions where they are forced to live or because of the material trappings of so called ´civilised living´(which we are very quickly learning to redefine) but because the gospel is lived out in all its fullness. It´s so simple, "Greater love has no-one than this: to lay down one´s life for one´s friends...love God and love each other."

Some Snaps Of Stella, Jacqui, Val & Chris´s Day (Pepe, Home Visits, Prayer Meeting (Jacqui Speaking!!!)

2009-08-20T11:43:00.000-03:00

2009-08-20T09:49:00.000-03:00

These pictures were taken whilst we were on an island just outside Sau Paulo. Despite being an idylic location with beautiful views and tropical plants, there was a mixture of very rich houses along side families living in squalor. We visited 5 houses in varying degrees of deprivation and despair, but were blessed in abundance and saw people coming to Christ.

Devotional - Thursday 20th August

2009-08-20T04:16:00.001-03:00

Matthew 11:28-30

"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".

I pray for you all, that as you go about today's kingdom work that you will know what it means to do it in his power, his rhythm and his strength and that it will be truly joy-filled for each of you.

We continue to uphold each one of you in our love and prayers.

Richard

Another day awaits us.

2009-08-19T11:44:00.000-03:00

Hello there,

Just a quick message as we are soon to be off again. Val, Chris, Stella and I are going to visit a
Chreche today with about 40 children after we have about 5 visits to different homes in the favelas, then we go to another for something to eat, we then have an evening service where we have been asked if we like to "do something" should be a very interesting evening.
Truly cannot wait to see what each day will bring, God is so awesome here, his love overflows.

Gods Blessings to all at home
Jacqui

Devotional - Wednesday 19th August

2009-08-19T01:54:00.000-03:00

Luke 24:13 - "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him".

This is my preaching text for Sunday morning and my simple message for you today is that your eyes will be opened to see Christ in people, places and situations where you have never imagined seeing Him before and that those you engage with today will experience the same!

So excited to read of your adventures - God richly bless and protect you every step of the way!

Richard

Some snaps of Neil, Norah, Elaine and Claire´s Day

2009-08-18T20:45:00.000-03:00

2009-08-18T17:41:00.000-03:00

Brazilian hospitality comes straight from the heart. For a prickly english person who doesn´t much go in for hugging at the best of times, it has been a real learning curve! But being hugged by a Brazilian is a bit like being hugged by a big warm comfy duvet, and I love it - so be prepared when I get back.

A Ministry Of Encouragement

2009-08-18T17:05:00.001-03:00

Stella, Jacqui, Val and I have spent our time today visting a family who live in the favella near to the church with which we are partnering.

Once again we have experienced the most overwhleming hospitality which challenges our Western-mindsets to the very core of our beings. Here, nothing is too much trouble and 10 people turning up for a visit was far from consuming for the family. I think that we have a sense now that our ministy is one of encouragment, laughing, loving, blessing and being blessed.

For some Divine reason the combination of 10 people in a strange house speaking two different languages (which sometimes struggle to translate), a communal time of photograph sharing and some glasses of Coke seems to be the perfect combination for a riotous time where we share together the presenced of God!

Mindblowingly amazing, humbling, challenging and faith-building and so much more....wow!

Pictures: children in Pepe programme (middle), our favella (top), home of Danizinha Ferreirinha with her baby son Douglas (bottom).

Hi from Val, at last!

2009-08-18T07:23:00.000-03:00

Last night there was no water at ´our home´so no showers last night but hey, we are in Brazil!
Still pouring with rain so roads could be slippery today and the bus drivers do not go slowly! Would value prayers for safe travel today.
Carys, who is from Wales and afrequent visitor here, (there was an article in the Baptist publication Engage´´by Carys earlier this year) and who has been advising us and looking after us with meals/advice etc, will be moving on to stay with friends today so we will be looking after ourselves! Could be interesting!
The atmosphere outside is very dry and dusty causing dry throats and a couple of us have sore eyes. We have drops now, and chewing gum (my children would be amazed, mum chewing gum! ) does help the dry throat.
No problem sleeping, it´s heavenly to lie down after a day´s work!
Thanks you so much for all your prayers, we really do value them.
God Bless

It´s Raining Today...!

2009-08-18T07:12:00.000-03:00

Ther has been rain all night!

It started to rain as we returned from our pizza restaurant experience (where we ate banana and chocolate pizza!) and has not stopped all night. Please pray for safety travelling today. Rain in the Favella´s makes the sewers overflow....

Thank you!

Devotional - Tuesday 18th August

2009-08-18T05:18:00.000-03:00

Hi guys!

It sounds like you're getting into the swing of things over there and it's been a real joy to read your most recent posts.

It's funny how we go on such trips believing that we are the one's who will 'make the difference', but in my small experience of serving overseas, I sense that I've received more than I have ever given. Such is God!

As Elaine commented: God's logic is so opposite to ours, which is just what Paul spoke of in his letter to the church at Corinth: 1 Cor. 3:19 (NIV) "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness".

Dare I say it: while you're out there, be 'fools for Christ' and be amazed at what He will do!

Be loved!

Richard

A visit to a family

2009-08-17T23:09:00.000-03:00

One of our explorations this afternoon was to the home of our team translator, Thiago. He has an incredable testimony of being saved quite literally from Satanism and is now the most fantastic disciple and evangelist of Christ. He is also very good at making sense of our English. We met Thiago´s mother who is a passionate woman of God. It was such a privilege to enter the home of such hospitable people who have treated us truely as brothers and sisters in Christ since the moment we arrived. We ´treated´(i think that´s what we were doing!) Thiago and the gathered crowd to a quartet singing of ´King of Kings, Majesty´ - they must have felt so thoroughly blessed!!

I am so looking forward to meeting more people in their homes and spending some more time with the children in the Pepe!

The Real Plan

2009-08-17T22:04:00.000-03:00

We had a wonderful afternoon today, after the usual bumpy bus ride through stinky streets and busy roads, we arrived at our host church again to work with the childrens pre-school. As always we were greeted with the most humbling warmth and love. The children are so beautiful and despite their poverty they are all dressed so well and with such pride in their appearance and behaviour. It is humbling beyond words. We had a fun afternoon , made it up as we went along as we were left with the children. Neil became a children~s entertainer in 5 minutes, and was great with them all. They loved it when he burst into song at any moment. Claire and Norah were wonderful too, and we all chipped in and had a good time. We sang danced and generally acted like wallies for 4 hours. The little girl in the photo(which I will have to post separately as the camera has gone doo-lally, was so proud of her necklace she made, they all loved having their photos taken.

The blessing these people are to us is beyond words, and we thought we came here to brighten up their lives!! How wrong we were. As always God's logic is the opposite to ours.

The day is near an end now and we are all exhausted again, with another busy day ahead.
Goodnight everyone. I will post the photo when the camera works again.

Day 1. Childrens ministry at pepe.

2009-08-17T19:01:00.000-03:00

Well today was our first experience of the childrens pepe ministry. we were very much left to our own devices, so with very little preperation the children had a great time. Lots of laughter and smiles. What i find so challenging, being a mother of three children is how so well behaved the children of Brazil are, they are so polite and always do what you ask of them.

Not a single shake!

2009-08-17T12:34:00.000-03:00

Hello Everyone,

Wow what a first day this has been ,just amazing the welcome we have had, there is so much joy and love here it truly inspires you. I have been able to stand up in church at the front and introduce myself without shaking.

Acts 4:29-31

What an experience!

2009-08-17T07:58:00.000-03:00

Well what a first day I have had. It didn´t seem real until I went out in the evening and waited an hour for a bus that never arrived, but then went on to a church like no other I have ever seen. I have never been felt to feel so welcome in a church before, and the sense of love and God´s prescence was awesome. We had pretty much a full on meal laid on for us after the service. The worship although in Portuguese was easy to understand in places, aided by the overhead projector screen, and the sermon was one of the most passionate I have seen, evoking constant reaction and response from the congregation. We really need to embrace this in England, rather than just letting the word just wash over us. Bring on the next challenge!

The End Of Day One

2009-08-17T07:10:00.001-03:00

Wow! Last evening as we went to meet our churches with which we will be partnering for the two weeks, we experenced the most overwheming sense of what it means to be a part of God´s awesome family! The love we experienced from complete stangers was - well...overwhelming! The worship was extremly vibrant, utterly cross-generational (with 8-80 year olds totally engaged with the sermon) and mostly made sense even though the entire event was in Portugueese. There was food, dancing, hugging, laughing, joking, sharing, starring, touching...and so many more words which I don´t have the time to type - a church experience where you stay awake even though you have been without sleep for nearly thirty-six hours must be good!!

I would like to propose to West Cliff that we replace the pews with plastic patio chairs!! Any votes?

hhtp://batistavdv.blogspot.com is the churches blog which Stella, Jacqui, Val and I are going. It´s called Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Travel in this country is bonkers...! There are going to be soooooo many stories!!!

Really looking forward to spenidng more time working with the church today (Monday)!

Please pray for a continuation of good relationships, safe travel, God´s grace as we come alongside the Pepe programme children and as we visit some folk in their homes today...

PS: The picture is of Pastor Dener preaching (note the plastic patio chairs!)

Devotional - Monday 17th August

2009-08-17T04:00:00.000-03:00

Psalm 31:24 (NIV) "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord".

Hope Floats - or at least so says the title of a recent film. But it's so very true - hope keeps the heart and spirit alive, particularly in those who love and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. That same hope in the Lord that will keep you strong whilst you are away from loved ones and serving the Lord in Brazil; that same hope that will flow out into the churches and communities where you will serve over the coming weeks.

May God fill your hearts again with hope today as you see Him at work.

God bless the Brazil Mission team

Richard

2009-08-16T15:57:00.000-03:00

We´ve just finished our meeting with Iara who has been so helpful so far. We´ve also had our first encounters with the cultural differences between the two countries. More of that later.
We are off to the evening services at our respective churches this evening.
Elaine, Norah, Clare and Neil to Capao Redondo and Chris, Stella , Val adn Jaqui at Ebenezer.
We will be working closely with the pastors of both churches Pastor Paulo at Capao Redondo and Pastor Dener at Ebenezer. Please pray for the pastors as they guide us over the next two weeks. On wednesday the group from the Capao Redondo church will be making a long journey into the wider Sao Paulo area to do some outreach in another area. Whilst the Ebenezer group will be busy preparing for the impact day on Saturday when we will be reaching out into the community. The impact day at another local church last week was attended by 150 children -they didn´t count the adults!!
PLease pray for Sarah and Isadora who will be translating for the Capao Redondo church -Isadora is only 15, and for Surian who will be translating for the Ebenezer group.
Today has been a long day, most of us only had a couple of hours sleep last night and will not get back from church until about 10pm (Brazil time) tonight. We will be needing all Gods energy over the next two weeks as we will be encountering long days 9am - 10pm most days. Full on but full of God.
Enough of my ramblings, its someone elses turn tomorrow

We Have Arrvied Safely

2009-08-16T08:41:00.000-03:00

Hello everyone,

We have safely arrived in Sao Paulo having had a great flight. The trip was a little turbulent but the wings and engines stayed intact! The flight was delayed by 45 minutes due to ´technical´issues (they never did say what they actually were) - the result of the delayed flight was that Iara, our host, had to hang about whilst we cleared customs etc. She is delightful and has been extremely graceful to us because our time has already been rather eventful. We successfully snapped the key in the door the very first time we were alone!!! Shame on us!!

Anyway, we are spending this afternoon relaxing and recovering from the flight before heading off to meet our churches this afternoon. The photo above is of the team outside of our accomodation (which is great)! The cakes and bakery food is splendid!

By the way, the weather is fantastic and the people are super friendly!

Devotional - Sunday 16th August

2009-08-16T03:34:00.000-03:00

Numbers 14:17 (NIV) "Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have declared:

Over these past weeks, the Lord has been strengthening and building the Brazil Mission Team and in our prayers we have been calling on God to strengthen each team member, equipping and enabling each one to serve Him as He leads during the trip.

At the end of a tiring flight and as this exciting mission begins, may "the Lord's strength be displayed, just as we have declared".

Chris, Elaine, Stella, Val, Claire, Jacqui, Neil and Norah - we love you and richly bless you today in Jesus name!

And all God's people agreed and said - Amen!

Pray For This Plane

2009-08-15T17:13:00.001-03:00

Currently On The Road

2009-08-15T13:08:00.001-03:00

We are on our way to Heathrow. Thank you so much for the love, care, prayer, support and encouragement of our church family. It was an overwhelming thing to see so many to wave us off and to have received so many messages. God bless you all and thank you so much.

This is the day that the Lord had made.

2009-08-15T04:27:00.000-03:00

At last i have navigated my way to this page.
Well this is the day that God has planned for us, and what a joy it is to take up this challenge that he has laid before us. However it is a challenge that we take in Gods strength not ours. We go with some thoughts of how will we cope and how will we be effective, but this morning as i was sat downstairs at some early hour, i was watching the birds eat of the bird table and i was reminded of the verses in Matthew 6, were he teaches about worry, and he says in those verses do not worry about tommorow etc, and then he goes on to say about how our heavenly father feeds the birds of the air and are we not more preicous to him than the birds of the air.

It is with these sentiments that i take up this exiting mission trip, that i do not have to worry about anything, not even Phil and the children who are being left behind here in England, as i have a great god and a great army of gods people watching and praying over me and the family yo equip us for these nest two weeks.

This is the day that the Lord has made...

2009-08-15T02:53:00.000-03:00

Good morning to the Brazil Mission Team - today is the day! you've all been on amazing journey so far as god has called, shaped and prepared you for this trip and now it's going to happen for real! I woke up with you all on my heart this morning and with these words running through my mind:

Lamentations 3:21-24 (NIV)
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

I am very proud of you all and pray God's richest blessings on you as you serve Him over the coming two weeks!

Grace & peace

Richard

The plane takes off tomorrow...

2009-08-14T02:49:00.001-03:00

2009-08-13T17:36:00.001-03:00

48 hours and we'll be boarding the plane!!

2009-08-11T07:51:00.000-03:00

I'm sure the kids in the PEPE will love it, but I'm beginning to think that Father Abraham had far too many sons!!!

Thanks For Your Prayers

2009-08-10T18:11:00.001-03:00

Thank you so much for a great time of prayer as a church family this evening. There is no doubt we met with God significantly tonight! Just 4 days to go now...

1 Week Until Departure!

2009-08-08T03:36:00.001-03:00

Stella's Brains Must Ache!

2009-08-06T16:19:00.000-03:00

You're a beehive and wonderful facts Stella!! Well done!!!

2009-08-06T14:01:00.001-03:00

Some more facts about Sao Paulo. The Sao Paulo metro is regarded as one of the best systems in the world. People that hail from San Paulo city are called Paulistanos and it is 2500ft above sea level

2009-08-06T04:27:00.001-03:00

10 Days!

2009-08-04T17:55:00.001-03:00

Not Long Now

2009-08-04T10:37:00.001-03:00

2009-08-02T16:32:00.000-03:00

Did you know that Sao Paulo has 7,856,000 vehicles on its roads, 34 daily newspapers, the largest fleet of helicopters in the world and the 9th most luxurious street in the world- the Rua Oscar Freire - and then there's the Favellas

Wow! God is good!

2009-07-29T13:26:00.001-03:00

I've just taken delivery of about 15,000 pencils for Brazil! Thank you fir your generousity Ron Swanwick! Wow!

17 days!

2009-07-29T10:45:00.000-03:00

2009-07-29T04:55:00.000-03:00

Whats the count down now Chris?

The Favella Map

2009-07-28T16:13:00.001-03:00

This map of the various Favela's which are in Brazil. The team will be working in Capão Redondo and Ebenezer in Mooca...

Not long until the flight now!

2009-07-27T13:36:00.001-03:00

Quiz Night

2009-07-25T19:20:00.001-03:00

Thank you to everyone who supported the quiz night this evening. We had a great time together and raised approx. £300 after costs towards extras for the Mission Trip! Well done to the West Cliff Mens team who won!

3 Weeks Today

2009-07-24T16:10:00.001-03:00

At this moment in time it is just 21 days - that's 3 short weeks - until we leave from Brazil! Not long to go but still so much to do!

-- Post From Mobile Phone

Jacqui Becomes A Blogger

2009-07-24T13:09:00.001-03:00

Hello wolrd!

Norah Potts Becomes A Blogger

2009-07-24T13:06:00.001-03:00

...and she doesn't even own a computer!!!

Claire Woods Becomes A Blogger

2009-07-24T13:01:00.000-03:00

Greetings world!

World Mission Prayer Evening for Brazil Team..!!

2009-07-24T12:02:00.000-03:00

Our World Mission Prayer Evening on Sunday evening will focus on praying for the Brazil Team and the forthcoming trip. Please do come along and support the team in this really important way.

When: Sunday 26th 2009
Where: West Cliff Baptist Church hall
Time: 6:30 - 7:30pm

Val Downham becomes a contributor!!!

2009-07-24T06:44:00.000-03:00

Hello World!! I have just become an offical mission team blogger!!!

2009-07-20T18:27:00.000-03:00

We're on the radio again this week. If you haven't got anything better to do on Thursday evening at 8pm then tune into Hope FM and hear some of the team talk about their preparations and feelings about the impending mission trip to Brazil.

Message From Maureen Allen

2009-07-20T07:26:00.000-03:00

A message of Gods Blessing on the Brazil trip...?

2009-07-17T18:23:00.000-03:00

I don't know about my camel knees, but I've got a gorilla arm following my yellow fever jab. My arms dragging on the floor!! Less than a month to go. Can't wait. we've got our interary through. Our time will be split between working in the pre school leading lessons, and doing social action activities in the favellas. Thanks everyone for your generous donations of craft material for the pre school activites

INSPIRED BY SHEENA DAYMAN

2009-07-17T12:46:00.001-03:00

Whilst on Hope FM talking about the Brazil Mission Trip yesterday, Sheena Dayman called to say that she does not have knees like a camel!! Curious comment, but maybe we should have knees like camels...and if we don't...then perhaps we should pray more:

'James, the brother of the Lord, and the author of this Epistle, was nicknamed “Camel-knees” by the early Church. James had been so slow of heart to believe that his brother, Jesus, could possibly be the Christ, that, after he was brought to believe, he was never off his knees. And when they came to coffin him, it was like coffining the knees of a camel rather than the knees of a man, so hard, so worn, so stiff were they with prayer, and so unlike any other dead man’s knees they had ever coffined.'

From: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/whyte/pray.vi.iii.html

The Sands of Time Continue To Run Lower

2009-07-16T19:22:00.001-03:00

One Calendar Month!

2009-07-15T10:30:00.001-03:00

As you can see from the countdown...it's only one calendar month today until we leave for Brazil!

2009-07-11T13:37:00.000-03:00

Yep they sure are yellow, we will definatley need our yellow fever jabs if were going to be wearing these!! We'll attract anything yellow for miles around.