And that's camp!

In the morning O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I present my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

As the Psalmist perhaps did we got up at 4am for a service in the Garden of Light (but it was pitch black). The theme for the last day was on suffering or being different for Christ.

The atmosphere was very special. The cocks were crowing and the fire was lit at the front. Pastor Marcio (leader of the church plant with his wife Roberta) spoke about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, submitting with "not my will, but yours". He led on to the suffering of the disciples and missionaries. The BPC team was used as an example of people giving up time and money to help and it was so humbling as that point some of the teenagers began to cry with gratitude. We all linked arms and sang together in a circle.

Despite not understanding the language God works above that and his presence was very real.

Breakfast was served outside: an array of fresh fruit, yam, chorizo, fresh rolls and cake!.

The camp theme was learning to be soldier for Christ (guerriho). The young people did a presentation in groups about each element of the armour of God. The dramas revealed some situations that they live through and with which we can identify e.g. peer pressure. As a group we did a drama highlighting the importance of fellowship and community as the body of Christ in order to protect each other against the Devil. This is vital for us a team and the church, locally and internationally.

Drama is proving to be the best form of communication. We are so accustomed to pointing as a way of being understood that we are starting to communicate that way amongst ourselves.

We played some crazy games in the dark which the teenagers take so seriously that even 17 - 18 yr old boys cried when they lost. We are so white that we were painted black in an attempt to merge into the darkness (night falls around 6pm). During free time we also played games such as guessing the amount of grass stalks in each others hands and Uno Brazilian style which had extra rules adding to the fun.

One of the nights was 'Ecology night' when the girls made beautiful headdresses from palm leaves and flowers. They had a fashion show at dinner (usually comprising rice, meat and beans). Desserts are not part of the culture here but as a treat we were given chocolate spread in individual portions (like strawberry jam at home).

The bus was "late" again so while the young people waited Stephen began to drum in true BB fashion to which the boys loved to march (Billy would be very proud). Then two other boys began to drum with amazing rhythm. A circle was formed and Sharon & Rebecca were pushed into the middle to dance with a few keen partners. Their breakdancing was outstanding (not Sharon & Rebecca - the young people!). Brazilians are born with rhythm in their blood although Stephen did us proud. We felt like celebrities as they took several pictures with these odd specimen of blue-eyed blondes.

How humbling is it for us to know that the money raised through the fundraising was used to sponsor each of the 40 or so young people who came to camp. The seminary was almost too quiet when they left and the sadness was enhanced by the rain, pathetic fallacy at its best. Then came the toilet cleaning with one cloth, blocked drains and bins full of used toilet roll. (Forget the toilet duck and rubber gloves).

We are exhausted yet know God's faithfulness to us and the young people who were visibly strengthened to be a soldier of Christ.

The weekend

The weekend started on Friday night with torrential rain which didn't dampen our spirits as we negotiated public transport for the first time (ably led by Emma) and made our way to a local pizzeria. It definitely made a change from all the rice and beans!



We had a Portuguese style pizza which had olives, onions, ham, and egg washed down with some Guarana (aka Red Bull Brazilian style).



Lesson 1: Never let Laura Bush drink glasses of this stuff when she is sharing a room with you.


We headed back for an early night which was just as well after our very early start.


The girls very kindly let Sharon Simpson practice her effleurage (physio skills) on their swollen ankles - a combination of heat and lack of water (and this wasn't just for the over 30s on the team!)



Lesson 2: Always bring a physiotherapist with you to a hot country!


Ankles fully restored today we have met up with long term Latin Link workers Judith and Adrian Stewart who have kindly hosted us for lunch. Conveniently enough they live right beside the beach and we just had to check out the local sights - it would have been rude not to.



The journey here was an adventure in itself. We had a 20 minute walk to the bus stop and didn't realise that we were the local attraction. Jonny Simpson may look like "Brad Pitt" (according to the teenagers from Tejipio) but we felt like superstars when everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the muitos gringos walking past.



Getting the bus was an education. We saw some of the poorer areas of town and were amazed that the rickety bus made its way up some very steep inclines and also a ravine. It was like playing chicken with the approaching traffic with our lives in the hands of a flip-flop wearing, mobile-phone-using driver.



Lesson 3: Public transport improves your prayer life.



Later today, if we make our journey back successfully, back at the seminary we will be sharing a barbeque with some other Step Teams who are coming to the end of their time here. We will also be getting ready to take Sunday School tomorrow morning and David might be speaking at the church tomorrow evening - not in Portuguese just yet.



Some points for prayer:

• For Sunday School tomorrow as Barbara teaches the story of the Lost Sheep and others taking part with the puppet show, memory verse and singing.


• Community outreach on Monday morning to advertise the workshops we will be doing over the next two weeks.


• For the workshops next week - drama, craft and sport - aimed at young people from the local community, most of whom will not be Christians.


• Continued good relationships within the team, and good health and rest.

Teen camp

We didn't have too much time to prepare before 50 young people from the local community descended on the seminary on Tuesday evening. They were due to come at 4pm... but in typical Brazil style they arrived after 8pm! We are learning that nothing really runs to time but this is very good for us.


And as the young people were late arriving that gave us more time to clean the kitchen, wash all the bathrooms, sweep all the floors and make decorations for the camp. We are working very hard :)


For this first week we are mostly serving those who are leading the camp. This means that we are washing all the dishes - including huge dirty pots with no hot water; and cleaning all the bathrooms several times a day.



There is alot of time scheduled for showers in the time table for the young people and today we found out why! This afternoon's activity involved an obstacle course around the seminary which involved crawling in lots of mud. Not to be outdone Rebecca had a go at the muddiest part, crawling through a tunnel while a leader hosed down all those taking part.


The football field, which is in very bad condition due to the recent rainy season, (it's not really a football field at all...one half is submerged in mud up to about mid-calf length) was the scene of absolute muddy carnage with leaders and young people covered from head to toe. It didn't help that Stephen chose to pounce on Mrs Maguire providing her with her first mud bath of the trip. Laura followed close after, this time dragged by her new admiring Brazilian friends. Stephen didn't get off lightly and ended up having a wrestling match against three Brazilian lads.


We will post pictures when we can! They are truly a sight to behold.



Seriously it has been good to get along side the young people from Tejipio and although communication can be difficult at times they are really keen to get to know us and ask us lots of questions. Building up relationships with the young people is a key part of the ministry of the church leaders.


The young people at this camp are mostly Christians, some only recently coming to faith, so it is an incredibly important time for them spiritually. The theme of the camp is "Me, a soldier for Christ?" and focuses heavily on discipleship. Each morning the young people have devotional time with their leaders and then there is a 'culto' with singing and teaching.



The singing here is something else - lots of energy is required and while the boys mostly like jumping up and down in worship the girls make up dances to the words. We should have had some samba lessons as well as Portuguese before we came out!



The camp will finish up on Friday evening and is non-stop energy and enthusiasm.



As well as thanking God for his goodness to us so far it would be great if you could pray for the following for the rest of the camp this week:

• Brazilian team leaders as they adapt the programme to meet the needs of the young people


• For the young people that they would be built up and strengthened in their faith


• For the BPC team as we continue to try to communicate with the young people and demonstrate Christ through our actions


• David & Christine as they lead the BPC team and adapt to the changing programme


• That we would have the strength, energy and enthusiasm for the next few days.

Bom Dia!

Well, we're here! All travel went well even if it did feel like a very long time and we managed to have a cheese and ham sandwich as an integral part of every meal.

Judith Stewart and Emma "the Strider" (long-term Latin Link worker) met us at the airport and taught us how to use the cash machine before taking us to the seminary.

When we arrived in Recife the sky was very grey - a sight we are very familiar with in Belfast. What we weren't expecting was the 28 degree wall of humidity that goes with it.
We were told the accommodation would be basic - all the practice that we have had in sleeping on church hall floors has been worth it for our 3 week stay on mattresses on the floor. We do have showers - but they do take your breath away each morning as they are so cold!!

All the people at the seminary are very friendly. We are well looked after by Fatima who is cooking for us and Paulinho her husband who is the ultimate odd-job man & caretaker. Both of them keep an eye on us.

We have been really blessed to have Rafa with us for the first few days. He is an English student of Judith's and while he has been practising his English on us he has also helpfully translated a lot of what has been going on. He has had to go back to work now and we will miss him!

So far Rebecca has proven the most tasty for the local mosquitos who seem to be enjoying their new menu of Northern Irish prime blood. But we are all well and getting used to the heat. Most days it is sunny and rains at night. But night time happens at 6pm which is a bit of shock and happens quite suddenly.

Earlier today Barbara said that she thought that culture shock would be something that overwhelmed her when she first arrived. We are slowly learning that culture shock can be a whole variety of things but we have found that the welcome has been warm.

The final countdown

Well... it's the final countdown and we're doing last minute packing. The exciting news is that the teen camp is back on next week and thanks to the money you've helped us to raise we are able to sponsor some spaces for local young people to come along.

While the camps that have been running these past three weeks have been mostly for local young people with no connection to the church, this camp will be mostly for young people who are already Christians.

Please pray for the team putting together the programme who finish one camp today (Saturday) and have to come up with a whole new programme to run from Tuesday to next Saturday. And pray for us that we would come with new energy and enthusaism and quickly settle in to work alongside the Latin Link Striders already out there.

Thanks!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us with fundraising for our trip whether at our social evening in March, sponsoring those who took part in the Belfast marathon, at the talent auction at the beginning of June and at Laura & Karen's coffee morning. Others have helped specific individuals and we are really grateful for all your support. Thanks also to TBF Thompson who have also supported the project financially.

It means that as well as covering some of our costs, thanks to your generosity we will also be able to bring a gift out to the project in Tejipio.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership with the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:3-5

The Project

We will be working in Tejipio, a poor area on the outskirts of Recife where the Congregational Church Pernambucana are teaming up with NGO Compassion to run social projects amongst the poorer families of the local community.

It seems easy for churches to set up projects for children but when these children enter their teenage years and still are living in poverty the temptation to get involvedin crime and drugs can often be very strong.

During July/August 2010 there will be four weeks of camps for local teenagers from the various Compassion projects that exist in the Recife area. We'll be there for an action-packed week 4 with lots of fun, learning activities, sports, swimming pool and gospel presentations. Afterwards we'll be helping with follow up workshops, visiting in the community, basic DIY of the project premises and the possibility of some field trips with the children of Tejipio.

Enough to keep us all out of mischeif :)

Orientation

Imagine going to a new place, where you don't know the language, don't the culture and don't have a clue what's going on!

We feel a little like that on our way to Brazil (apart from Sharon maybe who has been to the project in Recife before).

To help us become a little more clued in Latin Link organised an orientation weekend for us and the other team heading to South America this summer.

It was a great time to think about what it means to be together as a team, think about our different roles and more, importantly, be reminded that above all we are going to serve God and without him we really can't do anything at all.

We also spent time with the Every-Claytons, a missionary couple who have lived in Recife for over 30 years and have been directly involved in the project that we will be working on. It was good to hear about life there and find out a little bit more about what to expect. They also provided some useful translation. "A project relating to the draining system... oh that probably means you'll be working on the sewers!" Hmmm... ok then!

Oh, and we also found out about all the disesases we might catch when we're out there. Dengue fever is quite prevalent at the moment and we can't be vaccinated for that... but forewarned is forearmed... and of course your prayers for our health are greatly appreciated!

From Bloomfield...

From Bloomfield to Brazil is a long way. Nearly 4500 miles in fact.

But our team (David, Christine, Sharon, Jonny, Stephen, Laura, Rebecca, Jenefer, Barbara and Karen) are excited to be travelling out to Recife on 25 July to share in the work of Latin Link.

We're excited because we know that not only is God doing exciting things through the local church in Recife, but also that we have the privilege to share in that - even if only for a short time.

Through this blog we hope to share with you what we're doing, how God has been teaching us and how we've seen Him working.

Stay in touch - we'd love to hear from you.

The Brazil team