Day 3 in Rio

Today started off with a birthday. We got on the bus with decorations and sang Happy Birthday to Janell.

Then, we headed to the church.

One of the projects they're trying to take on is to convert the area right next to the church to a basketball court. On Sundays, people will be able to park on it and the rest of the time they'll be able to play basketball and volleyball. The church is surrounded by apartment complexes and they need to be able to offer healthy alternatives to the young people in the community.

Some of the children connected with us immediately...Errr, really Betty Wiseman. Kids are drawn to her. She can carry on a conversation with anyone and everyone.

The format of the service itself was not much different than an American church service: singing, responsive reading, and a message. Even the songs that we sang are familiar praise and worship songs that we sing, but in Portugese.

The biggest difference, though, was that it's much more laid back. People come and go as they please. They are not as up tight here. Time doesn't care the same weight. They're more concerned about people and relationships.

I think my favorite part about worshipping with them, though, was remembering Romans 14:11:

For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God.

Together we would proclaim "The Lord is King" in our own native language. It made me wonder what heaven will be like. When every tongue does confess He is Lord. -- Or even, at Pentacost in Acts 2

Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were astounded and amazed, saying,[a] “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language?

v.4-8

After church, they had prepared lunch for us.

Complete with birthday cake for Janell and the Pastor (he was celebrating his 71st).

After lunch, we went to their church plant, where we'll be having the clinic all week. They lined the streets, cheering for us when we arrived.

Those that have been to Brazil before were amazed by all they had been able to accomplish in the past year. The work they did last year was so successful that they needed a new building. That was going to be a project for this year, but instead, they couldn't wait and did it all by themselves.

We didn't stay long. We left and headed to another hippie fair.

Similar to the one we visited alst night, but much, much larger. I made a few purchases. But, I think we all found that this group wasn't as willing to budge on their prices. I quickly learned "Cuanto?" Which means "How much?" They'll usually tell me the number in Portugese and I'll have to clarify in English. If they don't know English numbers, they'll go as far to write it out, or type it out on a phone or calculator.

After the fair, we came back to the hotel for our team meeting. We discussed logistics for the clinic, counted vitamins, and helped divy up supplies.

It was a great day, I think we'd all agree that after we've all spent a couple days resting and shopping we're ready to do what we came here to do.

Leia Mais…

Building a Foundation in Community

It's hard to believe we already spent 2 full days in Rio.

Today was our day to sleep in. We got up a little later and then took the bus up the coast. Our first stop was a store called "Extra," in American equivalent: Super Walmart. (My mom always jokes we can't go anywhere without going to Walmart and apparently Rio is no different!)

As a graphic designer, I've always thought grocery packaging is over the top and gawdy, but today, I've never been more appreciative of the pictures of the food on the label. It's weird being somewhere and having no idea whether what you're buying is, one, what you really want or, two, if it's the best brand. Some things look familiar, Lipton's Tea, Nestle, and Tony the Tiger, but the labeling is completely different.

For lunch, we went to a place that had a large, all you can eat, buffet. They had everything: beans and rice (which is really big here), meat, vegetables, fruit, and sushi. I think everyone's favorite, though, was the desert pizzas: chocolate pizza, pineapple pizza, caramel pizza, and banana pizza.

Someone asked me today what I thought about the food. The weird part is it's not that much different than what we eat in the States. There are a lot of rice and beans and a lot of fruit. But, it just tastes different.

After lunch, we went to the beach for a photo opp. The water and the sand aren't too terribly different than the east coast beaches I've visited: coarse sand and green and blue water. But, I think it's the landscaping, with the hills and mountains, that make it gorgeous here.

We finished out the day, at hippie fair. Vendors come and set up their tents and sell all kinds of stuff: artwork, jewlery, shirts, and figurines. When you buy something, you're expected to haggle. Several team members have made it a game over the years to see who can walk away with the best deal.

Money, here, is called reals (pronounced hey-yas). 2 reals are equivalent to 1 dollar. When we're bargaining, you have to make sure you're talking about reals and then do the math in your head to figure out if it's a good deal or not.

I think one of my favorite parts about the fair was following people that have come to Rio before. Not only were they good at negotiating, but a few of them recognized vendors from previous years.I watched as team members gave vendors they knew gifts. Their sweet Brazilian faces would light up. "You brought this to me all the way from Tennessee?" "Yes." Such a "small" gesture meant everything to them.

I reflect back on today, and I think about you, the reader. Didn't you say you were doing medical missions? Yes! And tomorrow, we'll be visiting the church in Rio for the first time. We'll have the opportunity to worship alongside the people we'll be serving with the rest of the week. --even though I know the last 2 days have been restful and touristy, I know that we're laying the foundation for the good things to come.

Two months ago, I had never met some of my teammates. Already, God is bonding us, uniting us, allowing us to share our hearts and our lives with each other. What a priviledge and an honor that is!

Leia Mais…

24 People in Rio

Here we are. Twenty-four people whose paths have crossed for 10 days, united in 1 purpose, to serve 1 God.

I say this journey started 2 months ago when we had our first team meeting. But, in all honesty, for most of us, this journey began much earlier than that. Yes, it's 1 trip, but we have 24 different ways of getting here. Like a well woven trapestry, our lives are interwoven for "such a time as this." Hopefully our true colors will surface this week as we serve.

Sunday morning, we were commissoned. We stood in the atrium as friends and family prayed over us.

The passage in the Bible, known as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), says this Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

A lot of times, we start with the "GO and make disciples of all nations." But, I think it's equally important that we recognize that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. It's in that same power that we are able to go. But, he doesn't just send us, He goes with us. "Surely I am with you always."

Already, we have experienced his presence.

Thursday afternoon, we left Nashville and Friday morning we woke up in Rio. We received traveling mercies, getting here easily, ahead of schedule, and with all our luggage.

Then, today, was a day of rest. After a 10 hour flight, for most of us, sleep was in and out. Once we were able to check into our hotel and eat lunch, a few of us napped. Tonight, we had our first team meeting. We were challenged to expect that this will be a week of transformation.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

So, here we are 24 people who are here for 10 days. Transformed by 1 God, we won't return the same.

Leia Mais…

Cape Town, South Africa: Day 6

We're alive! We're alive!

First, I need to grovel, apple-polish, beg for mercy, bootlick, cowtow, truckle, and make it all up to you. This disclaimer is intended to solicit your forgiveness for my lack of a blog post yesterday.

Apparently, we had some readers who were waiting with bated breath as I skipped my late-night writing session to melt into the sheets after a long, hard day of work.

Actually, we've been leading people to Jesus, so maybe you'll accept that excuse. If not, then hopefully the following will make up for it.

Today, we spent the morning in the Masiphumelele township at the Baptist church started by Living Hope in that area.

After shutting down at 12:30 p.m., we went to Living Care to fit several patients for glasses and pray for others. Our Brentwood Baptist missionary, Amy Helms, is a nurse there (or "Sister Amy," as everyone calls her, which is derived from the Catholic days when only nuns were nurses). She gave us a world-class tour of the health center.

While we were there, our sweet Julie fitted a precious 88-year-old soul named Mary for glasses. It was a had-to-be-there moment. She'd previously been telling the nurses she couldn't read her Bible anymore and wished she could afford a pair of glasses. In only a way that God could do, we showed up at the right time.

Finally, when Julie found the right fit and prescription for Mary, she opened her Afrikaans Bible to the 23rd Psalm and began weeping as she read aloud. Then, as could only be expected, the three of us from the team who were gathered around her bed joined her.

After a quick lunch and change of clothes, our team went to visit the Cape of Good Hope. And I'm so glad we did. If you're ever looking for a place to stand, slack-jawed, in complete astonishment at the wonder of who God is and how big He is, this is your place.

And after a week of wishing and hoping along the way, we finally caught sight of a harmless ostrich and our first set of baboons—with all the windows closed and the doors locked (especially after what happened last year). NOTE: See George West for the retelling of that story.

Stick a fork in it. We're done for the week.

We saw 614 patients, gave away 613 pairs of glasses and sunglasses, washed 337 sets of feet (or 674 individuals foots), and did 100 glucose testings.

Tomorrow is sight-seeing and then we head home. Thank you for your prayers this week. They carried us through.

Leia Mais…