Giovana and Emily - People of Brazil

   We were blessed to be able to meet and befriend these two girls at family camp this year.  In the course of visiting with them, we discovered that their grandmother, with whom they often stay, lives in our suburb.  Soon after camp, Omar took our two children to go visit them but they weren't home.  However, a couple weeks later they surprised us by coming to our house and visiting us!

Futebol Americano - Open Doors

     It is interesting how the Lord, at times, gives us desires and then uses those desires to help us serve Him joyfully.  I've always enjoyed football, though if you've ever met me, you know by my stature that I've never been a star player!  I've also always enjoyed photography.  However, it wasn't until recently that I've been able to mix the two.

     Soon after arriving here in Cuiabá, Brasil, I discovered that our city has a "football" team.  If you've ever traveled outside of the U.S., you know that that usually means, "soccer."  However, our city has a "Futebol Americano" team (American football)  I was even more surprised to find that our team is actually very good!  In fact, this weekend they play for the National Championship!

     It all began when I visited a practice session and was invited by the president of the team to photograph a game from the sidelines - I was excited!  I have now had the opportunity to photograph several of their games and have had some of my photos published both in the local newspapers and on the AFAB website (American Football Association of Brazil).  Before I make it sound bigger than it is, I should mention that football is a newer thing here in Brazil and so they are looking for any publicity as they can get.



     Now here is the best part: the Lord has used this opportunity to open the door for me to meet and make contacts with a completely different side of Brazil!  I've been able to meet and befriend people in the Education system, Lawyers and Law Students, Physical Therapists and Medical personnel, various Journalists and Photographers, as well as a number of players!  I was even invited to hold regular Bible studies with the team, but for various reasons (language, etc...) I was not able to accept at this time.

     I was also reminded of the importance of living the christian life day in and day out.  Although I am obviously all for handing out tracks, many people are not interested in your ability to hand them a piece of literature.  They would rather see that you live the christian life than that you merely talk the christian talk.  It's been amazing to me to see the doors that have been opened as a result of just a little bit of "community involvement." Please pray with us that God would continue to develop these contacts he has given us!  What an exciting adventure it has been and I look forward to seeing what all the Lord will bring about as a result of these opportunities!

Here are a few photos that I've taken of our team, the Cuiabá Arsenal.

Arsenal vs. Botafogo Espectros - 21-20

Playoffs Semi-Final

Arsenal Vs. Rio Preto Wielers

W 55-0

TOUCHDOWN!

Arsenal Vs. Porto Alegre Pumpkins (yes, that is their team's name!) 

W 41-7

      I am definitely looking forward to taking photos for the Championship game this weekend vs. the Coritiba Crocodiles!

Letícia - People of Brazil

      Letícia is another one of our friends who attended Vacation Bible School this year.  Though she and her brother had come last year and had attended Sunday School for a while, they moved to another house and we hadn't seen them for quite some time.  Finally when we found where they moved to, Johnathan, Mahalia, and I visited them a couple times and let them know the dates for the VBS this year.  Though they may have come even if we hadn't invited them, Johnathan was very excited to see some of his friends at VBS that he had invited himself!

Maria Eduarda - People of Brazil

  This little girl was a faithful visitor of this year's VBS and seemed to greatly enjoy herself the entire week!
   The VBS had a Global Mission's theme and so on the last day there were prizes for people who dressed up as being from another country.  I would say this girl definitely deserved first place!

Omar's First Portuguese Sermon

   This past Wednesday night Omar got to preach in Portuguese for his first time.  Although not perfect, after eight or nine months of language school, he was happy to have this opportunity.  This is a clip from the middle of the message.

Family Camp 2012 - Services

Here's a look at the services that went on during the week of Family Camp.

The theme of the year was "Passo a passo com Jesus" or "Step by Step with Jesus."

This is the main service for the adults with the Camp's special speaker, Pastor Marcelo.  He and his family are from a different state in Brazil, and they continually commented on how HOT Cuiaba is. (It makes us feel a little better about feeling so warm when the Brazilians complain about the heat too!)

During the morning services, the kids split up into different classes.  This is the 2-4 year old's class that Johnathan was in.  The teacher is holding up a card that says, "sin" in Portuguese.  Hmmm....I wonder if she's pointing that toward my son for any particular reason....

Here's Johnathan and his teacher working on a craft paper.

This is the "juniors'" class with their teacher.

Here is our co-worker Jeremy Lockhart teaching the young teen boys' class.

This is the young teen girls' class...

...And, the singles class.

For the evening service, everyone would meet together.  There were many musical specials before the preaching service would start.

Even though we still can't understand everything that is being said during the preaching time, we're able to understand more and more, little by little, "Step by Step."

Church Christmas Program - Presentation

     After all the preparation, the time for the Christmas Program came at last!  The program was presented by a combination of the Choir, Special Music, Children's Singing, and Individual Narratives.

     Another church about forty-five minutes away came and joined us for the program and so the building was packed!  There were easily over a hundred people in attendance! 

     "Maria" was definitely ready and eager for her part!

     Johnathan and the Lockhart's daughter eagerly await on the front row with the other kids. 

     The Choir.  There really was a row of men across the back, but somehow they are all standing behind someone else.

     Bro. João Agusto recited his part of the narrative.

    We were even treated to a trio by the three Duarte daughters.

     At last it was time for the children to get up for their part.  Maria and José were proud to be with the babe in the manger.

     All the church children sang "Belo Som." 

     And then the service was concluded by a message by Bro. Jed Duarte.

     Afterward, we all enjoyed desserts and a time of fellowship.  I guess I was too busy eating to take any pictures!

Church Christmas Program - Backstage

    Sorry this post is a little late, but I wanted to let you all have a little look at the church's Christmas Program.  These pictures are "Backstage" from the practice time and preparation.
Pictures from the actual program itself are posted here.

     Here is a picture of the crude little manger that I was asked to build for the program.

     Most of the children loved dressing up for their character and getting ready for their part.

     Here is our little "Maria" as she prepares for her role.

    "Maria" enjoyed a special little moment with her "angel."

"Joseph" wasn't sure if he actually wanted to be Joseph or Karate Kid!

     Yes, Johnathan had a hard time being an angel - He's not used to wearing a halo or acting the part! :)

    Another one of the "Angels."

One of the Shepherds with Rambo Joseph.

     Ready to go herd some sheep!

They had a great time in preparation and then did very well for the program as well!


(You can read about the program by clicking here.)

Pastor Appreciation Day

    Shortly after we arrived here in Brazil, the church we are working with celebrated "Pastor Appreciation Day."  What a great time of food, fun and fellowship!  It was a great reminder that even though we may be thousands of miles from the States, people are generally the same; they love to laugh and they love to eat!
     As soon as the morning service was finished all the ladies began preparing the dishes and Bro. Alex did the Churrascaria (Brazilian style B-B-Q).

     Of course, as the meal is being prepared, the men enjoy discussing, and solving, all of the world's problems!

And the women talk about whatever women talk about. (Can you tell this is Omar writing this time?)

Even the children had important business to discuss!

The children played . . .

and helped each other out.

     It sure was fun to relax and spend time getting to know the folks here!

Vacation Bible School - Escola Bíblíca de Férias 2011

     Last week the church here had Vacation Bible School for all the neighborhood kids.  Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, we are in our winter and so this was during their "winter break" from school.  We had a great time with 60-70 kids per day!

It was great to see the kids line up to get registered and say their memory verses:

A few portrait shots from the week:

 Song time, led by Jeremy Lockhart:

    Memory verse taught by Jessica Lima:

     And the main Bible Story taught by Mrs. Duarte.  I am thankful that she never asked for a raise of hands for who wanted to be saved (probably 75% of them would raise their hands for various reasons).  Instead, she asked for anyone who wanted to be saved to come and talk to a worker afterwards.  Praise the Lord, ten children came and accepted Christ as Savior!

    The children loved "Chico" the talking monkey.  He really is quite an entertaining monkey and loves to get himself into mischievous trouble!

     Johnathan and Mahalia loved it all - mostly they loved the excitement of all the other kids!

    And then the prizes.  We were blessed by Daniel Bishop, a summer intern here from the U.S., who brought prizes and supplies for this week.

 And of course the best prize - a new soccer ball futebol for the boy who brought the most visitors!

And then, Snack Time!

   And of course there were many pictures taken throughout the week.  Here is Daniel Bishop taking some photos, I guess sometimes it takes two cameras just to capture all the excitement!

     Half-way through the week, one of our supporting pastors wanted a picture of our family with a bunch of Brazilian kids so they could use it in their VBS which is this week.  His request gave us a great excuse to get this picture: