A TEST on Thanksgiving day??? YES!!!

I woke up to the sound of an alarm going off...

I am currently sleeping in a BIG room of eight girls and one of the girls in my room had set her alarm for 5:00 am! But, unfortunately I had not realized the time yet... I rose from my bed thinking, ¨OK- 6:00am... Time for a new day!¨

I started getting ready for the day... once I realized it was super early I decided to just stay awake.. I was already up!

Today was actually my last day of class in my Children At Risk Course AND we had a test!
A TEST on Thanksgiving day??? YES!!!

SO, early this morning I enjoyed my coffee and breakfast while reviewing my test notes.
BY 8:30 am I was starting my test and then at 9:30 our last class for the course started.

Today in class Johan ( the base leader) talked about helpful points to stay mentally healthy while working in missions. It was a good teaching about caring for yourself as a missionary! A very helpful teaching I know will be useful in the future!

At 1:00 I was eating the normal Brazilian lunch! BEANS and RICE! Today along with the beans and rice we had some roasted beef, fried eggplant, and tomatoes! Very exciting- I know!

By 2:00 I along with the other students in the course started a special time of cleaning on the YWAM base. I spent about 2 hours today scrubbing a wall that looked like it hadnt been cleaned in ages! The wall turned SO white-it transformed!

Tonight I will be having a Thanksgiving party with all my friends in the course!

So today I will be celebrating my Thanksgiving with people from all over the world!
People from these nations will be present at my Thanksgiving celebration: Korea, Norway, Germany, Brazil, USA, New Zealand, Holland, and England!

I want to say a BIG thank you to all of you who have supported me through prayer, encouragement, and finances this year!

Lots of Love and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Boys will be Boys!

See what´s going on in BRAZIL...

Meet Davidson and Alex! These two boys are now going through a 2 week trial period at the Rescue House (this is the ministry I worked at for my first 5 months here in Brazil). I am on a team of 5 students from the Children At Risk Course and we are spending 2 weeks working the various ministries here at the YWAM Belo Horizonte base. It is cool because we are learning about all the ministries and getting to know a lot of the kids!

These boys are moving into the boys shelter - called the Restoration House - very soon! All of the students doing the Children At Risk training are currently living at the Restoration House, so we will be able to continue to build relationships with these boys.

Pray for these boys and their transition into the house. They both have been through lots in their short lives.

Walking with the boys to get ice cream!!!

TALENT NIGHT AT THE RESTORATION HOUSE!!!

We as students of the Children At Risk Course helped organize a TALENT NIGHT for the boys living in the Restoration House. There were many fun and funny acts! This night was to honor the boys, to encourage them to be creative and to share their special talents and abilities. Here are just a few photos from the special night! Hopefully I can post more photos soon...

Loren (from Germany) juggling with Jonatas! She taught him how to juggle for this night!

Welver won the craziest hair contest for the night!

This was a silly dance with hands and heads!

Leo rapping! The boys LOVE Hip Hop!

(It is funny because in Portuguese the way to say Hip Hop is Hippie Hoppie!)

Me and a boy named Hobson, sitting in the audience enjoying the show!

Having fun and enjoying the after-show treats!!!

Children At Risk Course

Restoration House
I am now in a YWAM training course receiving specific training to work with children at risk. All of us students are living at the YWAM boys shelter called Restoration House. We are really getting to know the boys and the ministry here at the Restoration House. Above is a photo with me and a boy who lives here at the house. I first met him and worked with him at the Rescue House. He did triage there and then moved here. He is such a sweet boy and the Lord is doing beautiful things in him.

Here are some more photos of some of the boys during a recent birthday party here in the Restoration House!

Children At Risk Course

So currently I am spending each day in class and I also work in the different ministry projects here at this YWAM base. I have weekly assignments, papers, projects, and books to read! I am learning lots! I am so thankful to really learn more about YWAM Belo Horizonte and understand a part of each ministry. I think it is important as a staff here to understand each ministry project.


I have been learning about the many different kinds of children at risk in the world and different projects and methods to help to reach and restore these hurting kids. Sometimes it is lots to process when I am hearing about all these needs. So far we have learned about God´s intentional plan for the family, children´s ministry techniques, disciplining children at risk, working with people and children with HIV/AIDS, and working with sexually abused children.

Recanto House

Below are a few fun photos from my time working at the YWAM home for ex-street girls. The name of the house is Recanto House. The translation of the word Recanto is cozy little nook...

Two girls (below) working on a collage project we did with them during a devotional time.

Two sisters (below) who live at Recanto!

These girls have been living at Recanto for many years.

A girl having some fun with my camera!

Friends
There are people all over the world here taking part of the Children At Risk Training and working here with YWAM. Here is a photo of me and two of my friends here in Belo! One friend is an American (Kris) who is doing the Children At Risk Course with me and the other is from Germany (Alex) who has worked with YWAM and is studying here in Brazil.

Going to the Mountain...

I recently heard a message at a church here about going to the Mountain to be with God. It challenged me a lot to go to that secret place... away from everyone and everything... every distraction and just be with the Lord.

The Mountain represents so many things...

Sacrifice
It is a place of sacrifice. Abraham took his son Isaac to the mountain and was willing to sacrifice his promised son. He was willing to give to God someone (not just something- but someone) and this someone was SO precious to Abraham. He let go of His rights and in Abraham´s obedience and faith, God provided another sacrifice, another way -- God met Abraham and was pleased with Abraham.

Intimacy
Jesus went alone to the mountain to pray and spend time with the Father. Being with the Father... Being intimate with Him, talking with Him, worshiping Him, spending time alone with the Father was a priority in the life of Jesus.

Direction
Moses went to the mountain and recieved direction and guidance from the Lord in how to lead the Israelites. God revealed His purposes to Moses and divine guidance on the mountain.

I feel like God is calling me to the mountain now...

He is calling me to a place of sacrifice. I am laying down my life daily here and learning more and more about the cost of being His disciple. But, oh what a priviledge and joy it is to lay down my life for the sake of knowing Him more.

He is calling me to deeper intimacy. He is challenging me to fast and pray and to press into His heart more... At times I think, ¨Oh Lord, I want this deeper intimacy... but how the spirit is willing, and my flesh is weak...¨ How I need God´s grace to choose to hide away with Him. I have to PURPOSE myself to GO to the mountain. I have to plan this time, or somehow and in someway I don´t make it up there... I don´t enter into this place with the Lord, because my time has been stolen away.

He is calling me to seek Him for direction. This is a special time in my life. I am starting a YWAM training course called Children At Risk. I will be learning about how to work with hurting children who live in poverty, or who have been abused or experienced trauma in their lives. I will be learning how to help children who are at risk of giving their lives away to crime, violence, drugs, and a life on the streets. I really feeling like God is going to give me specific guidance about my future during this time.

The mountain is such an amazing place to go... It is beautiful.

There is SO MUCH to see and take in at this sacred place.

I want to take in all that the Lord wants to show me... on the mountain...

Singing Over Joseline

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you.
He will quiet you with His Love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
~Zephaniah 3:17 ~

One of the most special moments I have had occurred during a triage we had here at Rescue House with a 15 year old girl named Joseline. Her mother was murdered when she was three, and her father later abandoned her. She has spent most of her life living with various family members in poor slum areas, and she has also spent some time on the streets. Thankfully she is now in the YWAM home for girls!

One of the most special moments I have had occurred during a triage with Joseline. I was the staff worker on duty for the night to hang out with Joseline, do Bible Study, and make sure she followed her triage schedule. The rest of the staff went into the city to attend a special event.

Joseline was not happy to stay at home this night. She did not want to have a Bible Study, talk to me, look at me, or have anything to do with me. She was pouting and angry that she could not go out into the city with all of the other staff workers. She wanted to do something fun and exciting, but she was stuck at home with me.

When it was time for Bible Study, Joseline slowly walked the stairs up to the triage room with her head hanging down. I knew right away that she probably would not get anything out of our time together with that attitude.

I also knew much was on her heart too. She had only two days left of our triage and she would be moving to Recanto, the house for girls. She was nervous and scared about this change. Joseline flopped on her bed and still would not make eye contact with me.

Since she was in no mood to start our Bible Study or listen to me I said,
¨O.K. I am going to just sing a few songs.¨

I grabbed my guitar and began to play and sing worship songs. I sang songs proclaiming the truth and love of the Lord over her life. She turned her head, trying to hide her tears as I sang. Eventually she layed down , closed her eyes and rested in the loving arms of our Father God as I sang songs of love over her.

She fell fast asleep...

I eventually woke her up and we started out time of Bibler Study and prayer. Her attitude was much changed, God had touched here heart with His love. She was open, talking with me, sharing her fears, asking questions, and hungry to hear what God was wanting to speak. My times with Joseline were so special to me. God worked so much in her heart during her time here with us. She started to learn what it means to have a personal relationship with the Lord. She is continuing to do well at the Recanto, the girls house.

This time of with Joseline was such a beautiful picture of how God sings over us. He sings songs of love. When we are full of fear, we are angry, when we aren´t getting our way-- He continues to love us in spite of our weaknesses and struggles. He lavishly LOVES. He pours out His love over and over again... What a faithful and loving Father we have!

See through my eyes... a typical day of work...

Every day in Brazil is started with COFFEE!!! Brazilians LOVE coffee and drink it every day throughout the day. This is the typical Brazilian breakfast, freshly made bread (made at a local bread shop) and coffee. I enjoy thisevery morning with my team here at Rescue House.

After breakfast, we as a team have a time of prayer and intercession. We pray for each other and also divide into groups and pray about different things God is placing on our hearts. I love starting our days putting God first and seeking His heart for our work with street children and street people.

Marian, Eveline, and Mariska (from Holland) praying during our time of intercession one morning.

We have open house every Monday morning. Street people come to our house to take showers, change clothes, and eat something. During this time we share the love of the Lord with the people and talk with them about opportunities that will help them leave the lifestyle of living on the streets. Here I am sitting with some of the street men at open house.

Here is one of the street ladies that we work with on a consistant basis. She visits our house every week and we are trying to help her and encourage her to make steps of change. Please pray for her and her daughter. Soon her daughter (pictured here) will be doing a triage with us here in the Rescue House. She is going to live in another YWAM ministry shelter here in Belo Horizonte.

This is a typical Brazilian lunch! In Brazil, you eat the biggest meal of the day in the middle of the day. This meal usually consists of beans and rice and also some kind of meat and vegetable.

I am learning how to cook Brazilian style! After lunch we get back to work doing various things. We may go on visits to the streets or fevelas or work within the house!

Here are a few photos of our work!

Here is one of the girls that just did a triage with us. She spent two weeks living at the Rescue House and just moved to the YWAM shelter for girls this past Sunday. Her mother died when she was 3 years old and she does not have contact with her father. She was living in a fevela with other family members and then spent some time on the streets, but thankfully she is now in the YWAM home for girls! My times of working with this girl were really special. We shared times of prayer, Bible Study, going out and having fun, and working around the house together. God is working in amazing ways in her life and I am excited to see how she continues to grow.

Me and my Brazilian friend Janete visiting in a fevela!
We visit families frequently throughout the week!

A young street boy of 8 years. He has a family and a house, but chooses to live on the streets. I don´t know his whole story or the condition of his family. Many street kids choose this way of life over living at home though due to family problems. They like the freedom they feel from living on the streets and also many become addicted to sniffing paint thinner.

Street boys on the streets here in Belo Horizonte. Usually groups of street kids live together.

We visit and talk with different groups of street kids every week.

A girl playing on the streets. I saw her one morning as we were visiting the streets. She wouldnt talk with us, but her face alone speaks so much...

Some afternoons we spend working in the house. Janete and Faith are sanding and painting this cabinet to hang up in our house.

We have a FULL house! Currently all of these people (short term volunteers and staff workers) are living and working at the Rescue House! Our family is made up of many nations- people from Brazil, Holland, United States, Uraquay, Argentina, and England!

At night, after a long days work, we often rest, spend time together, go out into the city to visit friends or run errands, and some nights we have other YWAM meetings as well!

This night we were enjoying yummy Brazilian breads and cakes!

Pedreira

PSALM 22:24, 27-28

For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;

He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help...

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him,

for dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.

Last Sunday the Rescue House team went to a worship and prayer event that took place in a very hurting and needy fevela here in Belo Horizonte called Pedreira. This fevela is known as one of the worst fevelas in the city and is also the 2nd largest crack producing slum in Brazil. It was sad to see the lives of so many who feel trapped in this lifestyle and in a culture of povery and destruction. I saw that so many desire to know the Lord and to change their life situation, but they don´t really know how to change or feel hopeless to change. We shared the LOVE and GRACE of the Lord this last Sunday and how He can help bring change and true life.

Also, YWAM will soon be starting a project in this fevela to help this community. YWAM Belo Horizonte will be opening a community center in Pedreira that will offer programs to encourage adults and children to better their lives in practical ways and also point them to the One who brings LIFE more abundantly- JESUS!

Here is our worship team of three nations- Brazil, United States, and Holland. We spent over an hour worshipping the Lord and proclaiming His LOVE and TRUTH over the lives of the people living in this fevela. Thank you for praying for us! As the Word says in Isaiah 55:11-- I know that HIS words will not return void, but they go forth and accomplish all that He desires! We saw transformation before our eyes on Sunday and hearts were being touched and changed as we sang of the LOVE and FAITHFULNESS of God!

After our time of worship children and different people continually came up to us to talk and to ask for prayer. We were not going to them, but they were coming to us asking for prayer. Desperate hearts... many people were in broken places too... many people wept as we prayed for them. I know they sensed the LOVE and PRESENCE of the Lord.

Here is a beautiful girl that lives in this fevela. Pray for this young one. May she know the love and mercy of God and have a life of HOPE and LOVE! She has already experienced much trauma.

More beautiful children! There were SO many children at the worship and prayer event on Sunday. We spent time playing, talking, holding and loving on them throughout the day. It was such a sweet time. I truly felt the LOVE of our Father as I held the little ones in my arms. They were so needy to be held and loved. Pray for these children of the slums, that they would find a way to escape the cycle of poverty and destruction that is so prevelant through living in the fevela.

Fevelas

The word `fevela´ is the Portuguese word for slums here in Brazil. Our team goes to the different fevelas throughout the week to visit families that we have relationships with. Here are some photos of one fevela we visit on a regular basis.

Some of the fevela families we visit have children living in the YWAM shelters and other families we visit with the hope and intention to share God´s love and share oppertunities that we can offer to help improve their living situations. Many families are in really desperate and difficult situations. Pray that we can bring them hope and love in the midst of their pain and poverty.

The boy in this photo is actually flying a kite. Often in fevelas, the houses are built on a hill right on top of each other. This fevela is actually very spacious compared to most!

Beautiful face!

In the same fevela, Faith (from Virgina), me and Janete singing for an small audience - there were more kids and people there than you can actually see in the photo! We spent the afternoon visiting and worshiping with a family and then playing games and singing songs outside with some kids. It was a great time! This family does not leave the fevela often due to problems with the police, so we brought the love of God to their home. Pray for the 5 children living in this house. The family we visited is in great need and we are hoping to help them. Pray for wisdom and the Lord to move in this family.

Jewels of the Lord; Joías do Senhor

During the last few weeks I had the priviledge of working with some precious daughters of God, and one newborn baby too! I truly feel that they are jewels of the Lord!


Meet Carlos* Here is the son of the beautiful girl you see in the photo below. He is 3 weeks old and is doing great. Carlos and mom are now living in a YWAM shelter here called Reborn House. There are currently 3 young girls with babies living in this house.


Here is mom! She participated in a 5 day triage here at Rescue House and then moved from here into the Reborn house. It was great to have mom and baby at the Rescue House! I got to help this young mom with caring for baby Carlos- baby baths, crying in the night, diaper changes, and lots of love and fun with this little one.

My times with this young mom were really special to me. I really connected with her and could see the Lord touching her heart through our times of prayer, talking, and reading the word. She has a difficult past and recognizes that coming to live at the Reborn House (shelter for teenage moms) is a really great opportunity for her and her son.

Please pray for her. She is 17 and actually lived in the YWAM house for street girls, for about 2 years. She ran away from the girls house and now has returned to live in the Reborn House with her new son.

This is Ana*. She came to our house consistantly every day for the last two weeks. She also participated in a special day-triage, for street people. Ana successfully completed the triage and this past Thursday we took her to a recouperation house. There she will recieve help and treatment that she desperately needs. She desires so much to turn her life around, to get off the streets, and to be free of her alcohol addiction. Please pray God would meet her and help her as she is in this recouperation house.

My times with this lady were also really special. She loves to sing! I would sit with her and I would play the guitar and we would sing together. She loves this one song in Portuguese and she taught me how to sing it. The song is about the "Dreams of God" and how God wants to restore to us the dreams in our hearts and heal us. This song gave her much strength!

I was truly touched by her heart and at times I would just sit and think- wow I can't imagine what this lady has been through in her life. She is 33 and has lived on the streets for 18 years. Has 5 children, 3 adopted and 2 in shelters. She has been through so much, but her heart was so hungry. Please pray that this time of recouperation would be a powerful time of God freeing her and leading her into an abundant life, wrapped in the LOVE of our Father.

*For the protection of these people, the names have been changed.

Visits to the Fevelas in Belo Horizonte

Throughout the week our team often goes to different fevelas here in Belo Horizonte to visit families who have children on the streets. We pray with these families and talk with them about their children. When we are visiting the streets we also try to look out for the children of these families. Here are some photos from our times in the fevelas.

Children playing soccer in the fevela!

Here are some of the beautiful girls that live in the fevela! They have captured my heart and I know these girls have captured the heart of our Father. Pray for these girls! The protection and love of the Lord over their lives. Pray that they would not turn to a life in the streets.