soon and very soon....

So excited about going home how. Just a few days left and ill be sitting in lovely chilly Northern Ireland. 

It was a nice week this week. A bit slow and seemed we were getting more blessings than we were giving but was great fun. 

Tuesday was another day in Maia Neto but we were teaching the Christmas story which was great fun. Afterwards the kids gave us cards they had made us as a group for Christmas which was beautiful. Had a my last Capoeira lesson before Christmas which was great craic. 

Wednesday we had the day off until our Cell group in the night. Just had a huge lie-in and some time to go to the gym. 

Thursday we had our last day in Floca which was great because instead of doing our normal class in the morning we just had a time to hang out with whatever students were milling about. After lunch came back to the school for the afternoon session. Was sad because some of the guys are in their last year in school so I won't see them again and I had gotten pretty close to some of them. (one guy made me a really cool Bracklet to remember them by). Was sad to see them go but it was amazing to see how our presence in the school had affected them and how much they had changed. 

Had a chance to hang out with some of the guys at a party on Friday and then one of the guys host mum had a goodbye meal for him heading back to US for christmas. 

Today I had a chance to make some "champ" for my host family and it seemed to go down well. I'm now heading to a wedding which should be good craic. 

To quote my host mum I'm now "marryable"

It's going to be a pretty busy few days before I go home which will be sweet keeping the time full but thank the good Lord that this time next week I'll be at home. 

Really can't wait to see everyone at home and tell you guys how your "investments" in me are making a difference out here in Brazil. 

Please just pray for me as I head home that I would be able to get everything together, and that the planes and things will go smoothy. 

Next blog post will probably be in February, so thank you all so much for reading this and keeping updated with what's going on with me. I'll see you all very soon 
God bless 
mark

Farewells and fond memories

This week things have sort of slowed down a little, seeing as a lot of the guys from the team were leaving this weekend. 
Monday we as a team had a lovely Christmas dinner at Junior's (the national director) house. Was great to be able to realise what time of the year it is because it doesn't really feel like Christmas here (29 degrees C doesn't really work for christmas temperature). Not only was a great time to have fun with the team but the Pais leaders here bought us all presents. They got me a brazil top! 

Tuesday we had another day in Maia Neto teaching and loving. I was a bit nervous for my music lesson because I had forgotten to prepare it but God was good and it went really well. The years groups that I worked with listened really well and it looked like they enjoyed it. 

Wednesday we went to Floca which felt like the last time we were going to be there. For schools here the year starts in January and finishes in December, so a lot of the kids were in their last year in school. I just tried to pray with the guys who I knew well that were leaving school, that God would bless them and reveal his love more and more to them once they leave school.

Thursday we spent the day trying to figure out what we would be doing this coming week, as two guys from the team wouldn't be there. We also spent some time watching some more Pais videos and as ever went to Capoeira which was awesome (as usual). 

My host family had spent the week away at a bunch of different things and they had said that I could invite some people round to keep me from being lonely. So we decided to all go to my house as a team and just have a good time in the word and think over what God has done over the past few months. Was a great time just to praise God for what he has done and what he continues to do here in Natal. Everyone spent the night at my house which was awesome  because it meant no-one needed to worry about transport and we got to watch a movie and just hang out. 

On saturday we went back to Sao Jose de mipibu to help with the kids there. Ended up that we got more blessed than we blessed because the guys leading it got all the kids to write letters to us and then pray for us which was amazing. 


The rest of the weekend was saying goodbye to people. Stephanie Schoening left for florida on Sunday and Ramin Gibbs left for illanois today, ie monday. It will be weird being here for another 10 days but just praying that I can put my all into these last few days (sprint finish sort of thing). Would appreciate some prayer for this week so that we can continue to do our best even though some people are away already.

Stephanie and me 

Ramin, me and Jared (Ramin leaves today)

The next blog I do will be my coming home blog!!! So excited about seeing everyone at home and giving everyone a big brazilian hug for all the help you all have been to me. 
God bless 
mark 

Three weeks to go

Has been another glorious week doing what I love doing with a bunch of people I love. It's only a little less than three weeks to go now, until I head home for Christmas. It's crazy how time has gone so quickly and how much has actually happened in these last few months. 

Just want to say thanks to everyone whose been reading the blogs, watching the videos and keeping updated on the facebook group. It's really encouraging to hear of the support of the the people at home and your prayers are making a huge difference here in my life and in the lives of the kids we are reaching. 

Was another normal week here so I'll not update you guys as much this week. Headed to Maia Neto on Tuesday and did some administration on Wednesday and Thursday. We also did some painting in the church this week as there is a large space at the back of the church that we will be able to use to make our own youth/teen service for connecting the guys from the schools to the church. Was good fun to be doing something practical again. 

Me playing Jesse (David's dad) in the bible story on Tuesday

Pais team getting practical

This week I was trying to just practice the presence of God in Floca when we had the morning class and in the afternoon. Was great just to be opening the holy spirit's prompting and guidance in conversation. Received some "words" (words from God) and was able to talk to open the bible with some guys and try and lead them closer to who Jesus really is and how much he really loves them. 

I've attached a link to the newsletter for this month made by our teams very own Jared Barber. It is a really good quality catch up about what we're really doing here and in how God's moving so I would really encourage you to take a read at it.   
The newsletter

For anyone whose reading the blogs and would like to find out more about the Pais Project, whether it's potentially coming on a Gap year with them here in Brazil or in any of the other countries that they are based or supporting the organisation financially please contact me at markwells112@hotmail.com or visit www.paisproject.com . I would be more than happy to tell you a little bit more about. 

Obrigado de nova meu amados 
Deus te abencoe