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A really good day.

I’m now in my final week here in Brazil. It’s very surreal and yet I feel very relaxed (maybe a tad concerned about my luggage space).

Yesterday was a great day.

In the morning I went to Dom Bosco, one of the youth prisons where I think I had the strongest connection when I worked here. I love going there. It really feel like I have a “place” there in a weird way. We had a group of 14 boys and after worship and a talk about “the valley of the dry bones” (from Ezekiel 37) we divided them into smaller groups. I sat down with 5 of the lads to chat. It was so good. My heart was so for them and they were so wanting change and something more. I love moments where you get to really know what’s going on in their lives and talk to them as individuals and not so much as one of a group.

I asked them what stood out to them from the talk and most of them replied “valley of dry bones” or “lots of things”, but when asking further they didn’t have much more to say. One lad, however, you could tell is so ready for change. Ready to walk with Jesus and to see change in his own life and also his family. He shared that he saw the valley kind of like a dark valley and that there’s a light coming which is the life… it was a great analogy and gave me an opportunity to share about how Jesus is light, but that He doesn’t come and pull us along by force, but that He comes with an invitation. The boys were responsive and when we prayed I could tell they were really taking it all in. Oh, what a privilege to be there and get to feel and see a bit of God’s heart for these lads and get speak words of life to them. It was a great morning!

In the afternoon we headed to another place I know well (or at least used to know), São Fransico, which is another youth prison. Again we had a group of 14 and although our time was shorter, I could tell the boys were thinking and many of them responded to wanting to walk a better path than they’ve walked so far. I was just praying, praying that their desire to walk rightly be stronger than them pull of crime and drugs and violence. And I was praying they would meet Jesus who is the only One who can truly set them free. It was a great afternoon!

The evening was also great, but in a different way. I went with some friends to a Brazilian barbeque place called “Spettus”. They do “rodizio de carne” where you pay a sum and can eat all you want. They have a lovely buffet of salads and side dishes, and the waiters walk around with spears with delicious grilled meat they slice right onto your plate. It is wonderful!! So even if it was a slightly different activity, it was a great evening.

As I arrived home after a day full of impressions and feeling slightly full, I was reflecting on how rich I am. Maybe not very rich in money, but so rich in life. Rich, because I get to meet people and see places. Rich, because I get to know God’s heart. Rich, because I truly can walk in the “life in abundance” Jesus came to bring. And I am so grateful!

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