"Life choices"

Another good busy week this week which was great. We're back into our schools and everything we were doing this week was leading up to a new project that we were starting this weekend with the teens in the church called "escolhas da vida" (which means "life choices"). We're going to be taking the teens out of church for the next 6 weeks and running different "services" about things from drugs to difficult times in life. but I'll get back to that. 

Escolhas da vida

So we were back in both schools this week. Back for the first time in Maia Neto this tuesday which was fantastic. All the kids seemed to have missed us and were asking about us to their teaches which was great. We then had a chance to talk to the directors to see what we're going to be doing for the next few months with them. As usual we're going to be our "bible story time" with them but instead of 3 classes we're just going to be doing 1 (either music or break dancing). Which we're really excited about. We also might be getting a classroom in the afternoon which would give us a better connections with the afternoon kids. 

 As usual we had our youth group, which as I said last week, God continues to pour himself out upon us in those times. We're all have real encounters with God there and we are getting the chance to not only show the teens how to meet with him but we're learning how to as well. 

Friday we were back in Floca again. We went in early for the morning break time, just to hang out with the guys and to hand out some invites for our events on the weekend. It's great fun to get the chance to just make relationships people and show them Jesus love and to talk about how he loves them. We then came back in the afternoon and did the same thing. In the afternoon I got to hang out with 2 guys who were playing guitar. one of the guys was heading to Sao Paulo the next day to live there and it was great just being able to jam with him. 
Friday night we then went to one of our teams house and eat "breakfast food" (bacon, eggs, pancakes etc) and watched a movie because my team had decided to bless me this month.  They prayed with me and then we watched a funny, (but very stupid) movie. 

On saturday was when to big event kicked off. The whole project is based around the christian movie "how to save a life" so on Saturday we hosted a big event in the church were we watched with movie. Was really good movie and a lot of the kids from the schools and some more new guys came which was awesome. 
Then on Sunday we had our first real service thingy. I was in charge of sound and the project which was a little bit stressful but worked okay. We just had a clip from the movie and then got into groups to talk about the topic for the week, which was "trusting God in difficult situations". I'm in charge of a group which I would really appreciate some prayer for, because I find small groups difficult to lead sometimes. 

me leading the small group

This has been a really great busy week but I would like to take the opportunity to lift up my friend David ross to you all to pray for. He is in upper sixth in school and on Thursday he got in an accident in rugby and dislocated his neck. He's a close friend and his brother Neil is one of my oldest friends so please lift him and the whole family up to God in prayer. Pray for God's healing but also pray that they would all feel God's presence in the midst of this really difficult situation. 




thanks for reading 
love 
mark

drug trafficking, painting walls and the presence on God

As you can tell by the title we had just a little bit more action this week as a Pais team. God's given us some real direction in these first few weeks of being here in Brazil and hid presence is really showing us where and what he wants us to focus on. 

This Tuesday we had a great day of admin with the team, sorting out what we will be doing for next 2 months, as we are going to have a very busy schedule for the next while. This month we are going to be working on a porject with the teens in the church called "escholha da vida" (life choices). It's a 5 week programme with discussion and activity that we will be doing during the church services with all the teens of the church. We have been given a space in the back of the church for this with loads of different resources so we were spending sometime preparing that this week, painting and tidying the place up. We're also going to be able to use this space of outreach events (like the logic cafe) which is going to be really exciting. 

Group of leaders and teens sorting out the "teen space"

 As usual on Wednesday we had our youth group. I would really like some Praise for what God has been doing in our youth group, it really is amazing sometimes. The last few weeks we will be starting off with our worship time (which I usually just 3 prepared songs) but in the middle of it we just feel God's presence in the midst of us so we just wait on him, praying with each other and telling each other what we think God is saying in the moment. This week we had a new guy (one of Ramin's break dancing friends) so we welcomed him with a time of prayer. He received healing in his leg and became a Christian right there! We are so amazed at what the "presence" is doing in our midst and we just pray for more and even bigger stuff to happen. 

As we have the last few weeks we visited the half way house this Thursday  We had prepared our "lesson" which was just the gospel really. When we got there we met two new kids and we were told that one of the kids had had something to do with drug trafficking and something like $10,000 was involved and because of this we had to move to the back of the house encase (and I'm paraphrasing) "someone came to shot him." We then just had a chance to sing to them and let the presence come with that. This gave way to our games and lessons that we had prepared. In the end we asked if anyone would want to received Jesus and the "drug trafficking" guy raised his hand. We prayed with him there and he accepted Jesus into his life. After we had a chance to sit and praise with the kids and just sing blessings over them. 

us and the kids at the halfway house

Finally we had a chance to go back to Floca (our school) on Friday. Was amazing to see all the familiar faces and to meet new ones. God really is going to some amazing things in that place in the next few months. Please prayer that the different projects that we will be bringing into the school would be filled with the spirit that these kids may come to meet their saviour. 

we finish with a prayer with the kids every time we visit floca

It has been a great busy week and there will be many more to come. Please thank God for what he is doing here but also pray for more and more that we may see not just these schools change but the whole of Natal. 

Thanks for reading 
love 
mark

teaching and preaching

Another fun week here in brazil. This will be a short little update as we haven't got back to the schools yet we really that busy yet. 

The two main things that we did this week were visiting the half way house again and running a "day of banter" at the church for all the kids that we've been involved with. 

Our time at the half way house was great this week as we were able to share one of our previous lessons with them. We shared with them about how God has created them all with their own unique purpose. I had the chance to show them my talent (singing) and then shared the story of "the talents". It was a great opportunity to share some light into that place, as i really think those kids need to know they have purpose. We also had a great opportunity to prayer with the directorship just before we left which was great. 

Our day of banter at the church on Friday afternoon was really great as well. We had just sent an invite out to all the guys from our youth group and all the guys from the schools that we had had contact with. A good number showed up in the end and we just "hung out" playing games and then watched the lion king. I then shared a word on Identity and who we truly are in Christ, using the lion king as an example. Seemed to go down well and i think some of the guys really needed to hear what their true identity is, as those around them are telling them other thing. 

As it is now the holidays for "brazilian Carnival" (a huge big party that takes place all over brazil, i dont really get it if I'm honest) we've had the last few days off which has been "restful". Needless to say I'm very egger to get back into the way of things out here and really what to see what God has in store for us this season. 

Please pray for us as we get back into the schools that we may make new relationships and look after the ones we already have. 

I'm goin to be making video updates in the coming weeks, so heres the first instalment. 

Pais Natal update 1

The following week (starting the 11th) was much the same). Had the opportunity to speak in the youth group which was great, challenging but I'm getting better. I spoke about worship and how our real lasting worship of God is when we step out of the church and live our lives for him. We headed to the half way house again on Thursday and had a really peaceful time just hanging out with the kids as they made jewellery. Was great to see how such an easy thing can bring such peace into a house like that. And as usual we had a chance to hang out with the kids from Floca on Friday, just slacklining and playing games.
I've had the chance to start mentoring a guy called Hermes from Floca these last few weeks which has been a real opportunity iin learning for both of us. He's 19 and is a really great guy that is really seeking Jesus right now. or the next 40 days he will be heading to an army base to train to be part of the military, so I would really appreciate your prayers over him as he goes into this new adventure. 

thanks for reading
mark

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 

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