This week began nice and slow, and then just picked up speed and I now find myself on Friday with still so much to do - including saying hello to you through our blog. Although I didn´t have time to take pictures this week, I thought I would fill you in a very interesting part of our week.
As you might remember, we were asked by our church to be part of a "pilot small group" - and for once that doesn't mean 'pilot' as in airplanes :) Basically this year we are meeting with several other couples from our church to learn about leading small groups. Then at the beginning of the year each couple will lead their own evangelistic small group. Every Tuesday evening we meet together, and this week our leader (who is also a professor at a seminary) called us to tell us to meet in the auditorium at the seminary instead of at his house. Assuming this meant we would be listening to a guest speaker, we arrived only to find out that in a way WE were the guest speakers!
Every year the seminary leads a pastor's conference at the seminary for pastors from a large area of Brazil. They were spending the week being trained as leaders and encouraged in their ministry. Unknown to us, as part of the conference these pastors spend an evening asking questions and opinions from average people like people in their congregation - this year Jeyson and I, and the rest of our small group! So, on Tuesday night that's what we did. We sat in a large circle with 30 pastors and answered questions from the perspective of a typical person from their congregation.
I can't tell you how inspiring and enlightening it was to hear many of questions on these pastors' hearts. There were questions about preferences in styles, what makes a good sermon, and then they brought up some deep concerns about their congregations, wanting to know our thoughts. The general feeling was serious concern about the lack of discipleship of the average Brazilian Christian in their pews. These pastors truly want to see growth and maturity, but feel their churches are not desiring the same. Of course there are exceptions in every church, but one pastor said people in his church don't even understand the basics of salvation and many others are simply not 'walking the talk'.
Looking around here in Brazil, you can find bumper stickers saying 'This car is a blessing from God' and a label on your yogurt package saying 'Taste and See that the Lord is Good' - but this doesn't mean that there is true Spiritual growth and maturity behind the talk. Please pray for God to bring maturity to the Brazilian church and that the discipleship and evangelism relationships we have here would bring true, lasting fruit.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Elections: A Whole New Meaning
Election time is coming up in the States and local elections just took place here in Brazil. I can't claim to now be an expert on the Brazilian voting system, but I have learned a lot about the interesting and very different way it is done here and I thought I'd fill you in.
Here it's all about flags - One of the major ways of trying to get votes is through flags. Many candidates have big flags made with their name and number written on them. Then in the afternoons usually (and especially on the weekends) people (who are usually paid) stand out along the streets waving the flags.
Sometimes there are TONS of them in the same place, especially in busy areas. It was impossible really to capture the scene, but you get the idea. Everywhere you look there are flags!
Often flags are put on houses, stores, and even cars too. Sometimes many cars representing their candidate with flags drive down the road like a spontaneous parade and firecrackers are lit to draw extra attention. (I've seen up to 30 cars doing this together!)
To begin with, every adult Brazilian citizen is required to vote or justify themselves as not voting. This seemed to make a big impact because as a result those campaigning try to advertise to EVERYONE, knowing that absolutely everyone will go to the polls and have a chance to vote for them.
A second major difference is that in Brazil there are MANY candidates. Even in these local elections, it was impossible to remember all of the different names and faces. To keep things simple, each person running is associated with a number - 14, 45, etc. So, whenever you see propaganda for that person, there is always a number along with it, so you can keep things straight :)
Anyway, so what does election time look like? Let me show you....
Here it's all about flags - One of the major ways of trying to get votes is through flags. Many candidates have big flags made with their name and number written on them. Then in the afternoons usually (and especially on the weekends) people (who are usually paid) stand out along the streets waving the flags.
Sometimes there are TONS of them in the same place, especially in busy areas. It was impossible really to capture the scene, but you get the idea. Everywhere you look there are flags!
Often flags are put on houses, stores, and even cars too. Sometimes many cars representing their candidate with flags drive down the road like a spontaneous parade and firecrackers are lit to draw extra attention. (I've seen up to 30 cars doing this together!)In addition to advertising through flags, it's also common to advertise through jingles. Many candidates have little songs that explain who they are and their views set to music. Then a car with a load speaker system drives through the neighborhoods playing the song everyday - or even several times a day! They really get stuck in your head too :)
Lastly, there are these little fliers that are literally all over the streets around election time. Each one represents a different candidate and they are handed out left and right, stuffed in your mailbox 4 or 5 at a time, or just laying on the streets. Some are even made into stickers and you find them stuck to your door! Wow is it a different experience! Talk about culture shock!
Lastly, there are these little fliers that are literally all over the streets around election time. Each one represents a different candidate and they are handed out left and right, stuffed in your mailbox 4 or 5 at a time, or just laying on the streets. Some are even made into stickers and you find them stuck to your door! Wow is it a different experience! Talk about culture shock! So election day finally came. Jeyson is signed up to vote in Goiania so we decided to go to Jeyson's parents' house for the weekend and we brought along our friends Andres and Camila. Saturday night we had a bonfire and toasted marshmellows, which are starting to become popular here. Camila had never had a smore before and was impressed with the American delicacy :)
Sunday morning we went to a local school where Jeyson was assigned a specific classroom to vote.
Hoping it wouldn't take too long, Andres and Camila stayed in the car.
Wow, look how many of those fliers are on the ground!
The actual voting took place at a local public school. Sadly the voting machine in the room where Jeyson had to vote was not working! Since Jeyson was required to vote by law, we had no choice but to wait in line for the technician to come and fix the machine. Above you can see Jeyson in line behind the man with the #9 jersey.
After an hour the machine was fixed and Jeyson had successfully voted. We came out to find our friends relaxing on a bench after having some ice cream. We were glad they hadn't waited in the hot car the whole time! Here in Brazil a candidate has to receive a minimum number of votes more than the other candidates for the election to count. In Goiania that happened, but here in Anapolis there were not enough votes for any one candidate to win. As a result, in a few weeks there will be a second vote to choose between the top candidates of the first round. So, the campaigning continues here, though on a smaller scale.
Well to say the least, I have learned a lot about Brazilian elections. Learning about living in another country is so much more than just the language or learning about new foods - it is a whole new way of thinking and understanding that only comes with time and first hand experience....I wonder what's next!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Tons of Mud and Endless Garbage
A few weeks ago we went with Asas back to the slums of Brasilia to once again partner with Christians in the area in reaching out to their neighbors. One of the best parts of this trip was that we partnered with several small churches in the area from different denominations. It was such a great opportunity to help the churches come together for the same purpose - sharing the love of God in a desperately needy place.
Last time we visited it was dry season, so there was dust everywhere! Now that the rains have started to fall for the year it is completely different in the neighborhood. I learned a new, very useful vocabulary word that day "lama" - MUD! Above is the view as we were driving into the area.
Us about to get off the bus - clean and dry for the last time!
Most of the people in the area work in the huge dump. Many sort through and divide material. Here you can see huge bags of sorted trash.
The rain had washed trash all over the place, so the ground was just covered! It almost looked like snow or grass in some places.
Most of the homes are made out of the material from the dump.
But despite the conditions, almost everyone we talked with was full of life,
creativity, (these boys don't have toys like in the States, but that didn't stop them from making an airplane out of scrap material to play with)
...and those who know Christ have hope and trust. Outside this home was this huge painted sign reading "God is Faithful". It is so true - even here!
Here are some of the volunteer dentists working at the little clinic we set up in the church.
And kids from the church who even remembered my name from last time we visited. I was shocked! The boy on the right is the son of one of the Asas missionaries. All of the other little boys are brothers.
Last time we visited it was dry season, so there was dust everywhere! Now that the rains have started to fall for the year it is completely different in the neighborhood. I learned a new, very useful vocabulary word that day "lama" - MUD! Above is the view as we were driving into the area.
Us about to get off the bus - clean and dry for the last time!
Most of the people in the area work in the huge dump. Many sort through and divide material. Here you can see huge bags of sorted trash.
The rain had washed trash all over the place, so the ground was just covered! It almost looked like snow or grass in some places.
Most of the homes are made out of the material from the dump.
But despite the conditions, almost everyone we talked with was full of life,
creativity, (these boys don't have toys like in the States, but that didn't stop them from making an airplane out of scrap material to play with)...and those who know Christ have hope and trust. Outside this home was this huge painted sign reading "God is Faithful". It is so true - even here!
Here are some of the volunteer dentists working at the little clinic we set up in the church.
And kids from the church who even remembered my name from last time we visited. I was shocked! The boy on the right is the son of one of the Asas missionaries. All of the other little boys are brothers.
The dental clinic that was set up in the church.
In the morning we went door to door sharing the Gospel and inviting people out to the activities/medical services. It was so exciting for Jeyson and I to go together as a team and have the ability to share the Gospel as a couple. Here I am with two other guys who worked together to evangelise in the same area as us. That river of rain water is where the road should be since there is no system to drain the water. We literally had to climb up mud hills alongside the building edges. Looking at the river of water I had assumed that it had been a HUGE storm the day before. When I asked someone from the area however, they said no, this was just a normal rain. I can't imagine when it really hits hard!
As we were walking found this little cove of houses together. There were tons of people there, many of them singing religious sounding songs we didn't recognize. When we asked someone walking by what the place is, we were told it is a Spiritist group. Wow - we had never encountered a group like that before. We took a moment to tell why we were in the area and invited them to the church where all the activities were taking place.
I loved this girl's bright red coat in the middle of all the dreery, brown mud.
Me getting a lesson on how to play with this yo-yo type of toy...not so easy!
The water was so deep in some places! It came up to about half-way on this car's wheels.
Maybe that's one of the benfits of having a horse instead!
In the afternoon we worked to reach out to the teens. About 20 teens came and many heard the Gospel for the first time. We set up right outdoors in the street, and still the kids just listened eagerly.
Above/below - We were both able to have meaningful conversations with teens and share the Gospel clearly.
When the children's ministry finished nearby, I also got to chat with several young girls. They all thought my accent was fascinating and wanted to take pictures....if only I thought my accent was so cool! :)
On the way home from a tiring, but worthwhile day.
In the morning we went door to door sharing the Gospel and inviting people out to the activities/medical services. It was so exciting for Jeyson and I to go together as a team and have the ability to share the Gospel as a couple. Here I am with two other guys who worked together to evangelise in the same area as us. That river of rain water is where the road should be since there is no system to drain the water. We literally had to climb up mud hills alongside the building edges. Looking at the river of water I had assumed that it had been a HUGE storm the day before. When I asked someone from the area however, they said no, this was just a normal rain. I can't imagine when it really hits hard! 
As we were walking found this little cove of houses together. There were tons of people there, many of them singing religious sounding songs we didn't recognize. When we asked someone walking by what the place is, we were told it is a Spiritist group. Wow - we had never encountered a group like that before. We took a moment to tell why we were in the area and invited them to the church where all the activities were taking place. 
I loved this girl's bright red coat in the middle of all the dreery, brown mud.
Me getting a lesson on how to play with this yo-yo type of toy...not so easy!
The water was so deep in some places! It came up to about half-way on this car's wheels.
Maybe that's one of the benfits of having a horse instead!
In the afternoon we worked to reach out to the teens. About 20 teens came and many heard the Gospel for the first time. We set up right outdoors in the street, and still the kids just listened eagerly.
Above/below - We were both able to have meaningful conversations with teens and share the Gospel clearly.
When the children's ministry finished nearby, I also got to chat with several young girls. They all thought my accent was fascinating and wanted to take pictures....if only I thought my accent was so cool! :)
On the way home from a tiring, but worthwhile day.Friday, October 3, 2008
Christmas in September
As you might remember our "newlyweds" Bible study group finished up our original commitment to go through a 4 week book about marriage. (Actually the group is all newlywed couples plus one couple who has been married for longer but does not have children, so they have a lot in common since their family is just the husband and wife.) The group decided to study about conflict. Since it would take weeks for the book to be shipped to Brazil, I quickly ordered the new book online and had it shipped to my parents' house in NJ. Then my sister scanned and email ALL the pages and I downloaded and printed them here. Wow it is amazing how technology changes life overseas!! Well anyway after the whole process, last night we began our new book in the FamilyLife Homebuilders series. It was interesting, humorous, and also comforting to remember that conflict is normal in marriage - it is how you handle it that matters. Here are some pictures of the group
Having a yummy Brazilian snack after the study - hot dogs cooked in tomato sauce with corn and potato sticks on top! Really a lot tastier than it might sound to an American :)
On a totally different note, a story I have been looking forward to sharing is about one of our partnering churches, The Union Church of Lavallette (Lavallette, NJ). A few months ago we got an email saying the wanted to teach about our work in to the kids in their VBS this summer. They did all kinds of creative activities, watched related movies, learned words in Portuguese, tried mangoes, and much more. Then, as a way to be involved with our ministry, they collected school supplies to send to the children's program where I teach English. This program has hardly any money and a serious lack of supplies, especially art/school material. (I have talked about this on previous blogs)
Anyway, a few weeks ago we received the supplies in the mail and were blown away by how thoughtful and generous these families were! I had imagined they would send a mailing envelope of supplies, but instead they sent 15!!! We passed on the exciting packages to the director of the program and the kids and everyone was SO excited! It was like Christmas in September! It was so neat to be a part of these very poor kids hearing and feeling the love of God from others very far away!
Here are some pictures:
Everyone gathering around in anticipation
Smiles
Two cute girls holding a bag of "wordless book" bracelets that tell the Gospel message.
Eliana, the director telling all about the church and kids who sent the generous material to the program.
In VBS they even made paper airplanes and wrote "Wings of Mercy" on it - Asas de Socorro in English. The VBS leader told me the cute story that one child accidentally wrote "Wigs of Mercy" on the plane!
Some of the girls looking at a photo album of the week of VBS that was sent in the package. They loved looking at pictures of the people who sent the gifts.
Me with some of my English students
Everyone wrote thank you notes and sent them along with crafts back to the church in NJ.
Having a yummy Brazilian snack after the study - hot dogs cooked in tomato sauce with corn and potato sticks on top! Really a lot tastier than it might sound to an American :)On a totally different note, a story I have been looking forward to sharing is about one of our partnering churches, The Union Church of Lavallette (Lavallette, NJ). A few months ago we got an email saying the wanted to teach about our work in to the kids in their VBS this summer. They did all kinds of creative activities, watched related movies, learned words in Portuguese, tried mangoes, and much more. Then, as a way to be involved with our ministry, they collected school supplies to send to the children's program where I teach English. This program has hardly any money and a serious lack of supplies, especially art/school material. (I have talked about this on previous blogs)
Anyway, a few weeks ago we received the supplies in the mail and were blown away by how thoughtful and generous these families were! I had imagined they would send a mailing envelope of supplies, but instead they sent 15!!! We passed on the exciting packages to the director of the program and the kids and everyone was SO excited! It was like Christmas in September! It was so neat to be a part of these very poor kids hearing and feeling the love of God from others very far away!
Here are some pictures:
Everyone gathering around in anticipation
Smiles
Two cute girls holding a bag of "wordless book" bracelets that tell the Gospel message.
Eliana, the director telling all about the church and kids who sent the generous material to the program.
In VBS they even made paper airplanes and wrote "Wings of Mercy" on it - Asas de Socorro in English. The VBS leader told me the cute story that one child accidentally wrote "Wigs of Mercy" on the plane!
Some of the girls looking at a photo album of the week of VBS that was sent in the package. They loved looking at pictures of the people who sent the gifts.
Me with some of my English students
Everyone wrote thank you notes and sent them along with crafts back to the church in NJ.
Thank you once again for the wonderful supplies!!!
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