a funny week

Going to give a bit of a shorter update today if that's okay.  

It was a bit of a weird week this week simply because some of our team weren't able to come for some of the days. Was strange having a smaller team than usual but it was do-able. 
Had another great day in Maia Neto teaching music on Tuesday followed by another vigorous capoeira class (starting to realy love it). 

We then had two strange days of admin (strange because the lack of team members), followed by a strange day in floca (we didn't have morning class because of a science fair and had half the students because most were going to do a big test called the vestibular this weekend). 

On the weekend we were then given the opportunity to talk on an internet radio channel about Pais. This first time we went was really good because we got to talk a lot about the specific Pais stuff and really get our message out there, but the second time it was really weird. There was about 20 people packed in the one wee room and we only got to say stuff every now and again. I did get the chance to sing on Radio though which was fun!

Also had an ordination in our church this weekend which was really cool. It was just a very joyful occasion, sorta like a wedding because people were crying and lots of people got to speak. 

Not a lot happened this week but was still great to be doing what im doing. In terms of prayer 


- my visa for after Christmas (long story but i was supposed to get it in 2 months it has now been 3 or 4)


- next year ( trying to figure out what I'm doing next year whether I'm staying here or going to uni or doing something else)

- The team (just pray that in the next month before Christmas we would work harder than we have yet so that we can bring people closer to Jesus)

- the kids in the schools (we've seen a lot of the kids coming to the church and being interested more in Jesus this last month so pray that as they lean forward we would be able to point them in the right direction)

- just me as I get ready to go home, that reverse culture shock would be too bad and that the work God is doing in me won't stop just because i go home.

Thanks so much for all the prayer and support 
mark

"We could talk bout the gospel...."

What another wonderful week in Brazil. We achieved so much and saw even more of the spirit moving through us. 

Monday I had the best day off that I have had here yet in Brazil. I was able to go to the gym and hang out with the other two guys on the team all day. We sat in hammocks, read good books, ate good food and read the word together. I don't know if there is much better a day off to be had! It was great because it really set me up for the week ahead. 

Tuesday we had an amazing day in Maia Neto (our new school). We were basically given the morning of classes on Tuesday from now on to teach! We do an "assembly" with them first. Teaching a bible story and teach them some songs. After that they have a break time. So we play some games with them. Then we have been given the classes to teach aswell. So we taught science (Emily, Jared and Stephanie) break dancing and Music (me and Miri,  did it in Portuguese too). So I taught two classes of the youngest some music (some songs, singing warm ups etc). Was great a bit of a confidence boaster (but still have a long way to go). 

Wednesday did some administration (getting lessons sorted out for the week ahead). Well we were praying over what we should talk about on Friday at Floca and sort just prayed and we thought "we could teach the Gospel". So we rolled with that (I'll go more into that later). Also we had our youth group as usual. 

Thursday we had another chance to hang out with the guys from Floca outside of school. So we went to the Park again and just played games, played guitar and chatted. It's always just good to hang out with them. Jared was able to share a word on the gospel and we did some worship as well. It's really cool to see how the group at the school is opening up to us, seeing some of them come to church regularly and seeing them more excited about talking about God with us. 

Friday we had another very full day in Floca. So we taught the Gospel in the morning but not in the normal way. We started by playing Ninja (a really good circle game) with them. We used this to tell them that Jesus is the ultimate hero! He is the one actions movies are based on. He is the the ultimate salvation. We saw a good few people opening up and willing to talk with us about this stuff and a few people who are leaning closer to Jesus (especially those who come to our class all day instead of going to class :P ). Had another great day in the afternoon as well continuing to just build relationships and was able to give a word from God for a bible study that meets at the interval. 

My weekend went a little differently this weekend. I went away for the weekend with my host family on an off road Rally. The father had basically organised the whole thing with sponsors and 30 cars all with radios and everything. It was called "luz na trilha" which means light in the trail.  

all the cars in "Luz na trilha"

some of the back roads and sugarcane fields

picture of me looking pensive on the trail
(Bahia da traição)

It was really cool and saw some really cool scenery, like huge sugar cane fields, beautiful beaches and some jungle/forests. We drove all day on saturday stopping here and there to help other cars or to just have a break (My host dad would light a firework when we started again which was cool). We stopped at an Indian village (not the Indians you think they live in brick houses but they still don't have a lot) and we blessed by giving some gifts for the children and just talking to them a little bit. We then moved on towards where we stopped that night which was a hotel on the beach.

On Sunday we just left the hotel and returned on some of the trails but mostly on the motorway to get back home. I then had my first (official) Portuguese lesson before church. 

My Monday off was spent mostly making some Pais videos which will show you a bit more about what we're doing here. 

Video of the work we're doing in the school (Floca)

Video of Jared Barber talking about being a Pais apprentice

 This week was a fantastic week mostly because of one thing. I got to spend more time in the word (or I made more time for it). I spent time trying to read books instead of watching rubbish TV and it really effected me. I just felt better prepared to minster to those around me. This is not something I find easy so please pray that I would be able to spend even more time in the word this week that i may be even better "prepared" for this week!

Please just keep praying for all these ministries, and pray for the hearts of every student me meet that we may be Jesus for them

Muito obrigado por ler 

Mark

"never, never, never give up...."

Another wonderful week here in Pais Natal seeing the spirit move in even more amazing ways that I could have expected. 

This week on Monday I was able to hang out with the other guys on the team and go to the gym with them. It's really cool because one of the guys, Jared, is doing like workout plans for me so I know what I'm doing there when I go. Was also able to try and start mentoring with one of the guy from the youth from the church. His name is Renator and he is 13 years old. We're just getting started off in terms of mentoring and there is still a little bit of a language barrier so I would really appreciate some prayer for that. 

Tuesday we got to spend our second full day in the new school Maia Neto. This school has kids that our a little bit young (i.e. in the morning 7-12 and and in the afternoon 12-16). So we went to the school in the morning and just hung put with the kids in their break time and then we went back to the church to wait for the afternoon. What was really cool was at about 2 we got a phonecall from the head teacher of the morning saying "we're missing 2 teachers could you guys come and fill in?". So we suited up like super heros and had the opportunity to tecaher like 4 classes about their worth in Christ (and i was able to tell the parable of the talents in Portuguese!). Tuesday night I got to have my second lesson in Capoeira which is a brazilian fighting dance (youtube it, its really cool). I'm picking it up a lot slower than the rest but it's really good exercise and really good fun. 

This a capoeira (needless to say i can't do that yet)

On Wednesday we had the morning off so went to the gym with the guys again (looks like I'll be able to do that Monday Tuesday Wednesday exercise from now on) and then spent the day sorting lessons out for next week and for Friday. As usual we had our youth group on that night as well (and a girl from the new school came which was amazing).                                                      

Thursday was another day of administration so just got more things sorted for coming events and for lessons in the schools. 

Friday was another day in the school (Floca) but it wasn't like any we've had before. In the morning lessons we were teaching on "perseverance". We taught them a little bit about the meaning behind it and what it means for our every days lives. Then the we ave them like a reflection time at the end. We turned off the light,  I started playing guitar and told them to think about something in their lives that they need to persevere through and when they had, come up to one of the team to receive a card (that said "never give up") and some prayer. We had about 5 classes throughout the morning and altogether about 30 people were in tears at this stage and as my team leader says "it's like sports, if the other person's crying you know you've won". It's amazing to see how much the spirit can move in places like this when we give him the space to do it. 

Saturday we went to a slum (favela) with the youth group to do a little bit of a story and to love them. So we did the story of Joseph for the kids and then asked the kids if they could take us to their family so we could pray with them. Was my first time in a favela but God did some wonderful things (like a really sick little girl being healed). I really feel that God calls us to love those that have so little. I believe that is true worship. 

The favela 

It has been another wonderful week in God's presence learning more and doing more. Please just continue to pray for all of these ministries. I know that without the prayers at home I can accomplish very little here. 

Obrigado por lendo e por sua oração!

mark