Breaking up fights, and showing people the light!

This week has been rather normal for us (but a normal week here never really is that normal!). 

Tuesday again we had our day of administration, but we were told then that we won't be going into the army base (none of the team got clearance from the army so we can't go in) so we had a good bit of free time on Tuesday. So we as a team watched a documentary about Healing! It was called "the fingers of God" and was really very interesting, it is something I really want to find more out about this year. The biggest thing I got from it is this "it's all about love". 

Wednesday as we had no Army Base we went to try and apply to another school really near the church. As soon as we got there there was a fight that the two bigger guys on our team had to break up, which I think is a real blessing to be honest (“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons^[a] of God.") it shows how willing we our to be a good influenced there. We talked to the director there a little bit after that and then went out for dinner. We had a sort of party in our cell group with some of the younger teens. We played mafia and me along with another English speaking guy killed everyone!

Thursday was another brilliant day of fun team playtime and organising lessons for Friday. Had another mentoring session with the two older guys in the team and was a great encouragement!

Friday was another difficult and yet fantastic day in the school. Raising at 5:30 in the morning and speaking Portuguese all day can be difficult but the work makes it really worth it. This week we used the verb "to be" to talked about self identity and how the labels that we give ourselves or other people give us don't have to rule us. They don't have to defines us. Was really cool because some people were really affected by it and we were able to pray with them and tell them that they have so much worth in Christ. As usual came back to the school after lunch and just had a time of chatting with the guys about were they're at and everything. Was great fun and a lot of people had really spirit-filled conversations which was fantastic. 

I know someone's missing here i just don't know who

Saturday was unexpectedly one of the fullest days of the week. Got up earlier than usual to go to church and practice with the church band. Was great playing with a full band for the first time and Jared (another member of the team) played drums as I played guitar and sang. Well after the practice the youth pastor (who leads the band), told us, "well can you guys do 2 songs in the service tonight". As usual going with the flow we were like "yeah definitely!". I then had a great chat with the pastor of the church (who is an american originally) about Ireland and my home and then he invited me to his house for lunch! Had a great chat with him, he is clearly a great man of God and really loved just having some fellowship with him. We as a team then went to Sao Jose de Mipibu (our saturday kids club) and helped with the programme there. Back to the church for the youth service were me and Jared became part of the worship team to sing "your love never fails" and "Beautiful one". After that the services got particularly "Brazilian" as there was a lot of dancing and going buck daft! Was great craic! 

The biggest thing of the week (and possibly the five weeks so far) is that one of the guys from the school came to church on Sunday! More than that, there was an alter call this week and he went up to give his life to Jesus!! Got pray with him during the service and afterwards got to spend a good time of fellowship, as we went out for dinner afterwards. 

As I said on the Pais project website (I'm on the pais project website, I feel a little bit famous!). "God is moving in great way in the hearts and minds of young people here in Brazil. Not just in the Brazilians but in me too!"

Continue to pray for these different things but at this stage I'd like to ask you to pray for thanks for God is doing and continues to do.

• Thanks that I am improving with the language 
• thanks that Vitor (the guy from the school) gave his life to Jesus yesterday! (and that just fills me with joy!)
• Thanks that there are so many "people of peace" within the school who want to know more about Jesus and what we have to say. 
• Thanks for this amazing team of people that I am apart of. 
• For my host family here and my wonderful family at home (and for skype so that I can talk to them). 

I could go on for a long time but I won't. 

I just want to thank everyone who reads this blog for your continual prayers and support. I know too well that without your prayers we could accomplish very little here. 

so thank you 

Mark