Journal Entry 6 I suppose

Our last meeting started at like 7 pm. I could have, wait I fell asleep on the bus ride there. I was told that it would be high school kids. Night school really. Since our other meetings had always been like 30 kids, I thought the same. NO, I came out of the bathroom to hear that it would be 600 people! In a not so little room. Since I had been doing the part of party all along, I asked Liz to do it. Such a difference watching it from performing it. Performance sometimes makes it something that you just do. Your part, only yours. But, it’s incredible to watch it all come together. So 600 people. They started to come in and it was older students trying to finish hug school. 16-18 year olds and older people too. Okay, old people. So, while Bryan was introducing everyone, the crowd started to get loud in the back. I started to pray. I could instantly feel the spiritual warfare in the room. I was sitting near the front row and could see the first couple and people were intently watching. But, I could see, feel darkness going all around the room. I could hear a band of boys yelling and seemingly to be in a fight with each other. Bruno even had to step in and speak. The only thing that I understood was Bruno asking please so many different times. Lizzy and I spoke the devil out of that room. She prayed that it would be quiet when Mike gave the invitation. Besides the loud people, there were some there that were listening so intently to everything. Mike used a black light and it made the colors shine SO bright!

A picture of the place. You couldn't even see the back with all of the people there.

Journal Entry 5

So much about today. It’s like where do I begin? I was so scared to go to both prisons. (It should be said that this was the first time a group had ever gone to a prison to perform the redeemer and sketch board). We had to wait for them to let us in. They patted us up and wanded us. The guys were just in reaching space of us. They all had the same outfit one. Same color shirt, pants, flip-flops, and most of them had tattoos. Camilla said that there were two types of Juvie prison. Low things and high things that have been done. We went to one of each. The boys listened. Some talked back and forth but when Mike exclaimed, “I was in prison almost 40 years ago”, they listened. And as he told about Jose in the sketch board it made even more sense to them. Jose was said to be a guy that tried everything to fit in, partying, money, and sex. The only thing that would fill a God shaped hole is Him. At the first meeting, a boy talked with Mike a little. At the second one, the cutest boy came up to Hadassah and asked to talk to Mike. His name was Diego and some Christians had been there a month ago and he had accepted Christ. He is now praying for himself and others. What’s heartbreaking is that he is 4 months into a 3-5 year sentence. No, we didn’t ask what he did. He was just shining out God. He was grinning from ear to ear and I believe that we/Mike had brought him encouragement. As I was looking at the boys in the prison they looked like the boys I know in high school. Cute boys that would be going to school near us. They had just lost their way.

Encouragement, Just like when we did the Redeemer Skit and Bruno did a sketch board right on the beach. There was a government holiday one and we were unable to get to the plaza. There would not have been anyone there anyway. So, Bruno asked us if we wanted to set up on the beach. It was drizzling when we started and had really started raining when Bruno finished. There were only a couple of people that had stopped. And those who had did not stay the whole time. Right when we were almost leaving, two boys came up to Hadassah and Elizabeth. We took the things to the van and waited while they talked to the boys. Picture to come. They came back into the van grinning from ear to ear. The boys had come up and asked what everyone was doing. Hadassah asked, did you see the skit? No. Did you see the sketch board? No. They said that they just saw a crowd and wanted to know what was going on. After sharing the gospel, those two boys prayed and accepted Christ into their hearts. So, we may never know why we did the skits/sketch board. Just to plant the seeds.


Us doing Redeemer on the Beach

Journal Entry 4 and then some

We went to Bruno and Camilla’s church tonight. I wish I knew Portuguese. There’s enough Spanish that I had said that I could know what were talking about. Brazilians are gorgeous. The guys have the most amazing eyes. They have wonderful smiles.
Everyone was so grateful that we were there! They had a baby dedication. The pastor held the baby and kissed it. Then I realized that we were going to take communion. I could see him pointing and saying what it all represented. He prayed what seemed like 20 minutes. Everyone’s eyes were closed and I began to tell God that even though there was a language barrier, I was there to be shown whatever he wanted me to see. You know when you close your eyes you see a little light. When I closed my eyes I could see a huge ray of light. It was like I was out in the sun. Then it was like I was in the back of the church, I could se all around the seats, and I could see what I see as Jesus, putting his hand on different people’s shoulders. Sometimes a touch, sometimes a squeeze. I was watching and praying that he would show me, that he would touch my shoulder. I felt the wind, or a breeze and it was wonderful. I looked later and there was no fans or ventilation in there. Thank you Lord for bringing me on this trip and meeting me where I am at, and taking me where you want me to be.
So, I had that wonderful time at church and then we went to dinner and went back to the hotel. I took a shower and started to go to bed. It was late, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I could feel that a panic attack was coming on. I tried to listen to my IPOD and just go to bed. But, nothing worked. Or everything I tried didn’t work. What God wanted to happen I wouldn’t allow. I just had this feeling, wake up Elizabeth. I finally woke her up crying and she began to pray for me for about an hour. Her prayers with out me even saying a thing was what I needed. Thank you Elizabeth.

This is what I wrote in my journal about the situation. So, how can I explain what happened to Liz and me? God had shown me he was with me at the beginning of the day at church. I was so worried about not going and then going to the bathroom. I had this feeling, go ask Liz. Go ask Liz to pray with you. I finally did and was crying when she sat up. She prayed for me what seemed forever, in such a boldly, strong way. What hit me the most was that she said, “Let her know that she’s your daughter. Let her know.”

Mike Preaching at the Church with Hadassah Translating

Thank You!

Thank you for all of your prayers and donations. I was able to quickly write home a couple of times. I sent e-mail to mom, jenny, and a couple of friends. On the plane ride there, Mike told me that he had something from Wendy, my wonderful friend!!! Then the second night we were there, Mike sent the present to my room. It was the nicest thing! I would take a picture of it, but am just going to describe it! It was a huge piece of construction paper with pictures of me, Wendy, and the kids. It said that they would be praying for Aunt Christine everyday. The best part was the scriptures. Here they are!

Luke 12
Matthew 28:19, 20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I’m with you always to the end of age.

Joshua 1:9

Psalm 139:16

Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you to known? Have you not heard? The lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He doesn’t faint or grow weary: his understanding is unreachable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength. Even youths fall faint and be weary but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles.

Jeremiah 29:11

Philippians 3

Luke 12: 22-23, 34
And he said, therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious about your life, what you eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Journal Entry 3

So, we did things in the plaza and now are waiting for dinner. I loved doing the skit in the plaza. I didn’t mess up at all. How wonderful is the sketch boards! Mike’s Titanic one was so interesting.
I wonder what the Brazilian are thinking when we are setting up. Did we look like American’s instantly?
What did they think when they were standing there? I was thinking that we could never go to the streets of Woodstock and have this happen.

The Food

The Food:
Guarana: the best drink in Brazil! It’s like apple pop. It’s a small plant that is made in to the drink.




White Rice and Black Beans: were the best!
Fried Plantains and pineapples!
We went to a couple of pizza places. In brazil you eat pizza with a fork. My favorite was chicken and cheese.

Journal Entry 2

Help me not to be bitter by other people’s actions. I can’t control what’s coming out of their mouth, but I can control my own actions.