New season

So I've now been back in brazil for a week now and it has been really fantastic to get back into the way of life out here. As it was last term life here is very full and fast but as the schools haven't yet started up we have a little bit of time to get settled back in and to prepare for the coming year which has been fantastic. 

I arrived last Friday afternoon (which feels like an age ago now) and was in bed by 8pm to get some rest for the following day as we were heading to a city 2 hours drive away to do a day mission in a church there. The city was called Santa Cruz and we left with a group  young adults from the church in Natal. Basically just had a few talks sharing the with the church there about how we do evangelism as Pais and as a church and just got share in fellowship with them. (Was also able to lead worship which was back into the deep end but very fun). 

Us at the church in Santa Cruz

I've heard a little word that i might be asked to get more involved in the worship within the coming months (ie leading a lot more) so i would really appreciate some prayer for that, because i would love that opportunity but the time might not work for it.  

During the day of tuesday and wednesday we just spent in the church doing some admin for the coming weeks, stuff like putting our lessons up online for global Pais and watching Pais videos. 

We had a really great time of fellowship on wednesday at the youth group because Ramin had brought a couple of his friends from up north from the break dancing scene to come and hang out. God gave me some specific "words" for them that were really relevant to them which was awesome and some of them ended up crying when they heard them (and as we know, like in sport, in ministry when the other person cries you know you're winning). Was great to just spend the time showing those guys some real love. 

We spent some of our Thursday in a half way house in Natal. This is a place were kids who are homeless can come and lives off of the street. It is a real "strange" place were the kids can go where they want and they aren't given anything to do, a lot of them coming from really bad situations. But as usual we had a great chance to show the kids there some real love and hope and were able to do a little break dancing lesson with them (i was used as an example of a person who can't dance). Would really love if you guys could pray for that place as it really needs the love of God to flow into it and to show the kids that there is something better. 

I've had some more chances to go to the beach and stuff with the host family which has been awesome. Woke up at 4.30am to go sand boarding on Saturday which was great craic but i was rubbish. 

Passing a beach at sunrise 5am

One of the best things about this week was our time back at Capoeira. the instructor I think is preparing us for a "baptism" which is like getting another belt in other martial arts so its getting really difficult, which I love. It's also been a great opportunity to be a light as we've been able to hang out with the guys more and tell them our own stories. 

Has been a great first week back and I have huge hopes for the coming months but as always I really need all of the prayer that you guys continue to offer up .Please pray for the schools as we prepare to go back to them and that Jesus may open doors for us to show his love to the students there.

Lots of love 

Mark