On a journey...

Saturday 16 May. Lots of kids and girls in desperate situations. Saturday was kids club day. Arriving at the house “Shine” rents in Oitão Preto (it actually used to be the house of one of the boys in our discipleship group, which was a bit surreal because I remember sitting in that very house talking to his grandmother and aunt). We put out chairs in the different rooms and then the many volunteers who faithfully come on Saturdays trickled in. After a time of prayer the children were already coming and a time of joint worship was the first item on the agenda. After the worship the children were divided into groups according to age and went to their designated rooms. I just hung around and kind of got an overall picture. Juliana and I ended up having a long chat with one of the teenagers who was sent out from her group for not behaving the way she should. It was good to chat to her and bring some perspective to things. People kept coming and going and it was good to be there. At lunchti...

Thursday 14 May 2009 City life. As I strolled along Monsenhor Tabosa on my way to meet Juliana at Dragão do Mar, I saw a man sleeping on the other side of the road. It was one of the parts where there are no shops, just this concrete building, and this man had put down his cardboard and was sleeping on top of it. He appeared to be at peace, but I am sure that although sleeping, his senses were alert. Alert to those who would want to mess with him, the police, other street people…there is no such thing as restful sleep when you’re on the streets. I kept walking with my mind and heart full of memories. I don’t know this particular man, but I know so many others who have made the streets their home, and I was remembering some of their stories and conversations we’d had. It made me wonder if they also were asleep somewhere in the city on a piece of cardboard. Walking home again later on in the evening I passed a street corner where a prostitute was getting ready for a working night. With h...

Today we went to Lar Davis, a beautiful Christian orphanage here, where some of the kids we know live. It was so touching to see C. and I.M., sisters who come from very difficult circumstances, so well. They are beautiful and the oldest one, C., said her dream is to be a singer and a missionary in the community she comes from. Thinking back to the state she was in 3 years ago when she was taken to the orphanage, it is impossible to say that God does not do miracles. He does! I also saw L. who just turned 12. He was one of the boys in my little discipleship group from Oitão Preto, I led when I was here. One of the 10 who taught me lots of patience (smiles). He is thriving at the orphanage and continues to read his Bible, pray and memorise Bible-verses. It is good for him to be in a more structured environment as his mum, who is a single-mum, wasn’t able to control him anymore and it was dangerous for him. Still, it leaves me longing to see a solution that doesn’t involve moving the chil...

I am sat here on Peter and Selma’s veranda, feeling the warm air and enjoying the sunshine. On the football field a group of lads from the community are playing football- which was preceded by a discipleship session. If they want to play football they need to come to discipleship first. Today a group of them received Bibles and are encouraged to read them. I can only imagine what God is doing through this simple, yet profound time. Today I go from the farm to the city centre to stay with Andrew and Claudia. As much as I am looking very much forward to seeing them, I’ll also be sad to leave here. A week is far too little time, but it’s better then nothing. To see the continuing transformation in the boys who have lived here for years now, and hearing about their families also being transformed really touches my heart. A few weeks ago they had a retreat with the boys’ sisters and they all received Christ. It’s been so good to connect again, and see that my relationships with people here ...

Sunday 3 May 2009 Atlanta airport. After a bit of a shaky landing, I arrived at Atlanta airport. I trekked from one end to the other at a leisurely pace as I knew I had plenty of time. Arriving at my gate I saw that the flight was delayed and heard messages on the loudspeaker that the airport is closed due to bad weather. It brought back memories from my last time here when my flight was 5 hours delayed, I sincerely hope that’s not the case today. I bought myself some interesting honey and mustard chicken with rice served in a Styrofoam container, and joined with some very sweet lemonade it made for my dinner…not the best meal I’ve ever tasted, but at least it’ll keep me going. Now I’m sat here at my gate waiting. The wireless internet isn’t free here (as opposed to Kansas City airport where it was free!), so that’s a bit of a shame. Still, my laptop is plugged in which is good as I used up all my battery in Kansas City (where you had to pay to plug stuff in- very strange). I am excite...

I am sat her in my (still) white rocking chair (haven’t gotten round to painting it yet) looking at a packed bag and almost packed suitcase. I am most certainly getting ready for a new little adventure, which is good, because tomorrow I set off back to Fortaleza for a 2 week visit. As the weeks have gone by I have been so excited about this opportunity to go back and visit the people I love and carry in my heart! I am so blessed. Blessed to be able to go back of course, but even more blessed to have so many people in my life that I love and who love me. Time has gone so very quickly and I really don’t know where it went, but go it did. Trying to get prepared for travelling has been surprisingly peaceful, yet busy. I feel peace. And I am packed, and it’s only 1 am! So tomorrow I set off…I wonder what God has in store for me. How is He going to challenge me and stretch me? What more of Him am I going to see? I feel so alive in Him. These days I’ve been reading the book of John in the Bib...