Hold on to your underwear – it’s debrief time

Although by this time most of us have made it back home to all of you friends and family, I still feel like this page could use a bit of a conclusion.

And just like we learned in Brazil, it’s better late than never.

Our last few weeks of outreach flew by, working mostly in the streets and favelas of Rio while dreaming of the reunion to come with the Cambodian team.

We were able to provide several families with food and other necessities, as well as organized a feast in the park for the homeless in the area we’d been working with. It was an inspiring culmination of out time there and left us filled with hope that the seeds we planted would continue to grow even after we left.

Which came sooner than any of us thought possible.

Transitioning from Brazil to Switzerland was a bit shocking. We went from seeing millions living in utter poverty and hunger to being surrounded by people dressed in clothes that cost enough to feed half the country. Talk about culture shock.

It didn’t help that it was snowing and most of us were still in our flip flops.

The few days we had in Switzerland were packed solid with debriefing, unpacking, repacking, meeting the new DTS and eating disgusting amounts of chocolate. Not to mention a wonderful love feast where we were able to celebrate the end of DTS and the beginning of  whatever comes next. Which not many of us know.

As for me, I am going to be returning to Switzerland right after Christmas to staff the next DTS, and am currently working out the finances for a plane ticket back. If you have a spare second feel free to shoot up a prayer for me.

Most of the rest of the team is home for the holidays before embarking on another adventure, which ranges from attending university to working in the kitchen at YWAM Lausanne, and everything in between.

But I think if there is one thing we’ve all learned, it’s that no matter where we go from here, God goes with us, and His plan for our lives is so much better than our own. Not to mention has a bigger budget.

Soggy Sugar Loaf and other tasty treats

Standing at its giant white base and looking up into the cloud of fog hiding the rest of the statue of Jesus, we knew it was there, but we couldn´t exactly see Him.

But I guess that´s not that different from the way He works in the rest of our lives as well.

Leaving the Brasilia base wasn´t easy. We knew we were leaving behind friends many off us will never see again. It didn´t help that Tiago, Mollee and our translator, Adrian, put together a slideshow/rap and played it for everyone the night before we took off.

I never thought hip-hop could be so touching. Mollee just has a way with words.

Since arriving in Rio on Sunday, our team has faced and conquered many challenges, but we´re still just getting our feet wet. Except for the times we´ve been totally soaked.

Things started off a little rocky when after we arrived at the airport Mollee realized her passport was missing. After frantically tearing apart her bag in the middle of the aisle, she realized she must´ve left it somewhere at the base. With one hour to departure, our Brazilian friends sped off to try and recover it.

All we could do was pray. And eat cookies.

When all hope seemed lost and Mollee looked like she might never sing again, we got the call that they found it, and were on their way.

At this point I don´t remember what it´s like not to run through the airport.

Despite the rushed departure, the whole team was pleasantly surprised/borderline ecstatic when we found out that Julie´s ¨friend´s apartment¨ was actually the Copacabana hotel, two blocks from the beach and just one from heaven. Welcome to mid-way debrief.

During a tour of the city on Monday, we found ourselves stuck at the top of Pao de Azucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) in a giant rain storm that kept the cable cars from being able to safely get us down.

Soaked to the core and huddled in the small boarding room with the rest of the sightseers, Jonatan took the opportunity to practice some Portuguese. He ended up finding himself some Brazilian YWAMers with their own street ministry, who have offered to work with us while we´re here.

I thought the world was small before, but since I´ve been in YWAM, I´m pretty sure it´s bite-size.

We were able to get in touch with Julie´s friends before leaving the hotel Monday, and after a lot of prayer, e-mailing and apartment searching, we´ve found ourselves at the one bedroom apartment of Marcelle and Leo, who have selflessly opened up their home and even more importantly their refrigerator to the whole team.

Camped out in their TV room all together, we´ve taken the time here to reconnect as a team and seek God´s will for the rest of outreach, which is fast approaching a close.

Through Leo and Marcelle and a few other lucky run-ins, we have been able to plan a night in the favela on Friday, working a soup kitchen from 10 pm to 5 am, as well as possible aide work in a favela built on a garbage dump.

And by the looks of the poverty, we´ll have our work cut out for us.

Although we´ll be leaving the couple´s home today for a hostel in downtown Rio, we´ve all learned a lot from them about hospitality and a servants heart. At least what we hadn´t already learned from Hilorie.

Tonight we embark on a soup kitchen/blanket giving extravaganza, and if all goes well, we´ll be at the beach by sunset for worship.

All is well that ends well. Especially if it´s on the beach.

Worshipping hardcore. Literally.

Surrounded by pierced and tattooed youth head banging to heavy metal and smoking like chimneys, the 13 of us found it hard to blend in at the concert at Metastese last Saturday.

I never thought I would see Ruth act so hard core, pink shirt and all.

Despite the fact that all of us except Oyvind, who never looked more at home, would have probably felt more comfortable back in the favela, we stepped up to the challenge. By the time the night was over, most of us had a whole new group of friends and a new perspective on body art.

And who knows, maybe even Jesus wore all black sometimes.

On Sunday we had the opportunity to give a workshop on missions and evangelism for youth at a Baptist church. Mollee spoke about worship, Masha on photography, Erika on film, Julie on art and myself about journalism. The rest of the team organized skits, games and activities to put the teaching to practice.

And even though we found out we were doing it roughly ten minutes before it started, everything went surprisingly smoothly. PTL.

We organized a girls night with the Brazilian team on our day off. We thought we were rid of the guys for the evening – they had gone out for barbecue – but right when the brownies were being finished and the girl talk was getting juicy, the guys showed up. In our clothing.

I hate admitting that Brad looked better in my pants than I did.

And you thought working on the streets was scary.

We spent Tuesday praying for and touring the government building. We were able to sit in on both the senate and the house. It was eye opening to see how crucial it is to have God in politics. That evening, we went back to the bus station where we were each given 5 Real (roughly ten US dollars) to bless people with. The gifts ranged from shoes for janitors to meals for street kids and everything in between. The whole team seemed to find giving to be fulfilling and built up our spirits for the trials that awaited us.

On Wednesday we returned to Sunrise Valley – a spiritist community where people are taught that they will die if they ever try to leave. They’re brought up in this oppressing religion from the time they’re born, and many never get out.

We spent a day prayer walking and worshiping, and another day doing evangelism with one of the few churches in the area. It’s a spiritually heavy and oppressed community, which made getting started difficult, but we made some ground in the area. Both Hilorie and Jonatan had promising conversations and I truly believe the church will see the fruits of our labor in days to come.

Friday we decided to take a load off – or for some of us, put a load on – at a barbecue celebration for the end of our time here in Brasilia, followed by a Hillsong concert. It was an amazing night of worship and the perfect way to close up this season of our outreach.

Today we head to the TV towers and the street again for more prayer and personal evangelism. We expect God to move in big ways, seeing as how it will be our very last ministry here. And we know He wants us to use every minute of it.

We’ve been preparing for Rio with fasting and prayer, but still do not have a place to stay or a ministry. Tomorrow we take off in faith that the Lord will guide us to where we need to be. But shooting up some prayers for us couldn’t hurt.

A bit about the base

Stormed house, this time no pig

The children screamed and we ran for cover as the roof blew off the tiny school during the biggest storm Santa Maria has seen all year.

We huddled together and watched from a nearby boys bathroom as ACA – an organization that provides programs for children living in the favela – was torn apart, water and hail pouring into the classrooms, offices and meeting rooms, soaking and destroying what little they had, including our own sound equipment.

And knowing the children were running home to damaged houses and wet beds made our own return to the warm and cozy base a little bittersweet. But it’s not like we could have done anything.

Or could we?

This week has been full of surprises, adventures and revelations of God. But at this point that’s what we expect.

After the storm hit ACA, we all knew our time there wasn’t done. After a lot of prayer, consideration and communication between both teams, we have decided to use our mercy money to purchase the tools and materials needed to repair the school ourselves. And after seeing the devastated faces of the teachers who have given their lives to these children, we couldn’t be more at peace with the decision.

But our week was only beginning.

We were blessed to spend a day with the Atini project – a program that works as a refuge for Amazon tribe victims from infanticide. There we met and ate a traditional meal with some of the families taking refuge there, as well as spoke with Hakani’s father, the founder, about his vision for the project. It was a day of learning and growing and taking in, which is exactly what we needed for the days to come.

Friday we took off for an orphanage, where we put on a program for the children, and spent some time playing and caring for them. It was tough for most of us to see children facing such circumstances, but seeing their reaction to us and how much they truly appreciated our time with them made it all worthwhile. From there we went to another rough neighbourhood, to perform dramas and share some words, as well as art ministry by Brad and Erika.

We spent the entire day on Saturday with a project for Urban street kids, organizing games and activities at a local park and spending time in worship and prayer with them. The day was a bit wearing, outside all afternoon in the hot sun after leaving at seven in the morning. It was perhaps the hardest for Jonatan, who tore ligaments in his ankle after rolling it while playing soccer. He spent much of our free time at a nearby hospital, only to go back to three others the next day., We were able to get him some crutches and we’re all excited to see what color the white cast will be after ten days on them.

The evening at another city center held even more excitement. Julie was able to lead Mateus – an 11-year-old living on the streets – to give up his drugs and come to the Lord. Brad then gave him the painting he and Erika had created and Mateus left that night encouraged to pursue art himself. It was uplifting and encouraging for the whole team.

I’d be lying if I made it sound like it was all work and no play this last week. On Monday we ate at an all-you-can-eat pizza restaurant, where a slice-eating competition left many closer to Jesus than they’ve ever been, and the bathrooms full for most of the night. I think we all learned a few new words for bodily functions in Portuguese.

We were also able to get some rest Sunday, given the day for prayer and to finish up book reports – which several of us took as a good opportunity to start the book. The evening we spent at the pool…er wait I mean at church. Okay maybe we were at the pool. But we almost thought about maybe going to church, too, and were extremely disappointed when we didn’t. Seriously. Sort of.

Proud of their latest creations, Julie and Brad get ready to share a word about the purpose behind the paintings.

Julie, Masha and Ruth get a taste of motherhood at the orphanage.

Art evangelism is a favorite with Brad and Erika.

JOCUM-Boom, the beloved car we use for ministry, sitting outside ACA during the hailstorm.

Every storm is followed by a rainbow. In this case, it came on our day off in the city.

Julie getting her hair done by a future barber.

For some reason, all the children seem to love Brad. If you think this is bad, you should see the Brazilian girls with Oyvind.

At the Brasilia museum on our day off. No, this has not been photo shopped, we really are just that good looking.

While visiting a local school, Jonatan and Ruth perform in a skit. I wish I could tell you that Jonatan’s face was apart of the act, but actually that’s relatively normal.

We practically had to pull the children off Brad when it was time to leave the orphanage.

Masha and one of the women living at the Atini House. Although it was hard to communicate, we came together over the universal love of food.

The only thing better than a working engine is Brad and Oyvind after a full day of ministry.

Just a glimpse of the damage caused to ACA by the storm.

What’s white and dirty and red all over?

Before arriving in Brasilia, we had no idea what to expect.

And the truth is, now that we’ve been here a week, we still don’t.

The team has been kept on it’s toes, never really knowing what we’re doing more than an hour or so in advance,a nd even then it usually changes once we arrive. But everyone has really stepped up and embraced the chaotic schedule.

And the result has been nothing short of awesome.

We have been working alongside the DTS here, performing dramas, preaching, painting and even (sort of) dancing - everywhere from the marketplace to bus stops. Brad, Joanne, Amy, Jonantan and Ruth have all had to preach with little more than a moment’s notice, and done an amazing job. Another ministry favorite is a skit Oyvind, Josiah and Jonatan created in less than five minutes. It involves three languages and spitting over the entire audience. I’ll let your mind wander.

We have a translator traveling with us, helping us communicate to the audience and sometimes with eachother (most of the Brazilians only speak Portuguese). But we’ve all picked up a bit of the language and can manage a simple conversation, with a lot of added hand signals and pointing. But it’s not that much different from communicating with the New Zealanders so we’re used to it.

Although we’ve only been here a short time, I believe it’s safe to say that the team feels more comfortable in the grass and mud JOCUM mansion than we have anywhere else.

The structure, which was originally intended to be used as an Indian hospital, has no doors, no windows, bare cement walls and floors, three toilets (but at least one of them is clogged at all times) very limited running water and a whole lot of red dirt. On everything. Including yourself. And once it’s finally your turn for the shower, and you’ve just managed to cover your hair in shampoo, the water runs out.

Hut sweet hut.

Perhaps even better than the base is the vehicle. When it’s time to go, we pile 20 people into the ‘84 Ford, which probably should’ve stopped working years ago, sqeezing in whereever possible and hoping it doesn’t rain since the windshield wipers are broken. But we embrace it. You can get to know someone pretty fast when you have to sit on their lap for an hour long car ride. Especially when it’s 90 degrees and the windows don’t open. Welcome to YWAM.

Tonight we’ll pile in again and head to the city to work the streets, working with a prostitute ministry, and serving at the bus station. We don’t know what to expect, but at this point, we like it that way.

In fact, here in Brasilia, you can only rely on two things: God and homemade bread. But what else do you really need?

Prayer behind bars

Julie and Maggie serving on the streets

Locked up and surrounded by guards and various street kids carrying weapons, half of the team found themselves in a bit of a tight spot earlier this week.

But nothing a little praise and worship couldn’t handle.

The team decided to let God pick the ministry this week, by pursing Him for ideas in prayer and intercession before starting any projects.

Among the ideas we recived was going to a nearby favela, picking up trash and praying for the surrounding area.

Which is exactly what we decided to do.

Julie, Hilorie, Amy, Jonatan, Brad, Josiah and I (Maggie) took the bus to one of the city’s  parks, right outside an extremely poor neighborhood called Coque, where we planned on doing some service work and prayer.

However, once we entered the park, we were immediately met by two security guards, neither of which spoke English, who hurried us into their “office,” a cage-like room at the center of the park.

Once we were safely locked inside, the president of the neighborhood and his translator – who spoke less English than Hilorie does Portuguese – showed up, wanting to know why we were there.

And I am pretty sure they were even more confused after we told them.

Apparently it’s not everyday that a group of white people from Switzerland show up asking to pray for them and pick up trash. Go figure.

Despite the interesting circumstances, we eventually received permission to stay there. But that’s not all. They let us pray in the “cage” while they guarded us, brought us chairs and refreshment and even walked us all the way back to the bus when we were finished.

Apparently when it’s God’s will, there’s a way.

But that’s not where our adventures ended this week.

We spent two days serving Casa Esperanza – Hope House – a rehabilitation home for street boys. There we cleaned, organized games, played with the boys in the pool, performed our drama, gave a few words and – most importantly to the boys – ate a lot of pizza.

Half the team also able to return to the street for a night of serving the poor, drug-addicts and prostitutes. Oyvind and Josiah organized some soccer and played worship songs with the people, while the girls spent time speaking with prostitutes, coloring and playing games with children, and helping out where ever was needed.

Despite the heavy atmosphere, I believe everyone who spent any time in the street  got something out of it, and realized how much it meant to the people that we were there, and how much we really can do when God is on our side.

Several of the girls and guys also participated in Projecto Bolo, a soccer ministry that serves the poor community not only with sport, but also with events and fellowship. Started by a retired pro Brazilian soccer player, the program offers a combination of soccer and life lessons that most of the kids can’t receive anywhere else.

Despite all the good things we were involved in, the highlight of the week was perhaps the last day.

After totally randomly meeting an eager Christian translator a few days prior, we were able to go with him and his three equally eager friends to do some more street ministry in the city’s markets.

When we got to the center, with the help of a Peruvian street musician’s sound equipment, we performed our drama and dance and Josiah and Hilorie both shared the gospel. The whole team was passionate and it showed in the crowd’s reaction. Several gathered around us afterwards to ask questions and speak with the team.

And trust me, it wasn’t because of our dancing skills.

To celebrate the end of our time in Recife and a long, full week, the leaders surprised the team with a trip to an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant, which most of the team mistook for heaven.

After Oyvind had consumed just over an entire cow himself, we took to the ocean for one last look before taking off for Brasilia the next morning.

And trust me, knowing our team, the adventures are only beginning.

Masha and Erika making house visits to families with children in the soccer program.

Thumbs up for our translators. They almost cried when we left. Seriously.

Julie and Maggie cleaning and painting nails and doing some first aide on the street.

Playing the bucket game at Hope House. The boys didn’t even try to go easy on the girls.

Dinner at Hope House: make-your-own pizza. Mmm.

Ruth and Erika go for it with the girl’s soccer group.

You know you’re in Brazil when even Joanne likes playing soccer.

Pig ears, house, storm: Brazil adds a boost to the beans

On our last evening in Fortaleza, we got the chance to prove what it really means to be a sports DTS.

“Grab your bag, we’re leaving now!” was shouted throughout the church as Julie realized our departure time was an hour earlier than she thought.

Running through the station with 30 kg bags to catch a bus that was supposed to have left 10 minutes prior was a great way to start our time in Recife. Little did we know, our adventure was just beginning.

Since arriving at the JOCUM base in Recife three days ago, the theme of our stay has been flexibility.

And I’m not just talking about touching your toes.

To start with, the bus ride here was 12 hours overnight. We were supposed to sleep, but the fact that the driver had the AC on high kept most of us too concerned about frost bite to be able to catch any z’s.

When we finally made it to the base, we immediately jumped into action, with half the team headed to a favela – a Brazilian slum – and the inner city, to serve the poor and drug addicts. The other half spent the evening ministering to women living in poverty.

The living standard of the poor here is both tragic and eye opening, and has taught us a lot about what it means to be in need. Many have virtually nothing, live in shacks and receive little, if any, education. Children as young as nine are drug users and it’s not unusual for girls to have children and work as prostitutes by the time they’re 15.

As you can imagine, our work is cut out for us.

Despite the desperate condition of the city, the base is beautiful, set back from the street and surrounded by tropical trees and simple white buildings with some tile decor. But adjusting hasn’t been completely smooth.

Nothing seems to run as we planned and even if it does it’s never on time. Or in the right place. Or they invite you to play soccer but they actually just need you to share a word. Or they ask you to share a word but really they just want you to play soccer. Or there’s no translator. And then they put pig ears in their beans.

I guess we’re not in Switzerland anymore.

Despite these adjustments, the team seems to be excited to be in a new place and trying out new ministries. We are currently planning Sunday for the Hope House, a program on base that houses local boys who want to kick drugs and get off the streets. It looks like so far we’re planning to stick to our strengths: pizza and games.

The rest of time here is scheduled to be equally full and intense, but considering there is a pool and an ice cream store across the street, I am sure we’ll survive. God is good.

Saying goodbye to the church in Fortaleza – before we knew we were about to miss the bus.

Here we’re switching buses at the station and defrosting after the long, cold ride.

A young girl outside the JOCUM school in the favela.

The JOCUM school inside the favela. The local children can come here to learn and get away from the street.

Joanne with some of the children at the school. They loved teasing her about her Korean eyes.

A view of a clothesline from a home in the favela. We’ve yet to see an electric dryer or washer in all of Brazil.

A young Brazilian at the JOCUM school.

Julie with a young girl in the favela, practicing Portuguese.

Mollee teaching at the school. Yes, she’s writing in Portuguese, believe it or not.

Brad using his child-like sense of humor to bond with the kids.

The team demonstrating how packed the buses were. Talk about getting up close and personal…

The coconut doesn’t fall far from the tree. Or the church.

The team eating at a Brazilian buffet in the biggest market in town. Four stories of clothing, crafts and coconuts.

Oyvind, Maggie and Brad waiting to catch the bus for another day at the beach.

Hilorie and Joanne serving soup at the Pantanel.

Erika sharing a testimony at Sunday night’s service.

Despite what you may be thinking, just because my team members and I are often found drinking fresh coconut milk while laying in a hammock, it’s not because we’re on vacation.

It’s because we’re exhausted. In the best possible way.

We’ve spent the days since I last posted with barely a free moment, jumping from sports ministry to cell groups to serving soup in the Pantanel – a local slum. This is all on top of daily work duties at the church, as well as preparing and cleaning up meals, and trying to make time for the team in between.

And just when you think it’s over, we’re then forced to talk about our feelings during the nightly debrief.

No wonder the hammocks have seemed unusually comfortable lately.

But don’t start to worry about our well-being. Most of the team has found the work here, although taxing, extremely rewarding, and worth every drop of sweat – which is saying a lot considering we play basketball in 30 degree weather.

The church’s response to our work has been extremely encouraging. There’s been a huge growth in the number attending our activities, and we’ve seen people return to the church after years away.  And trust me, it’s not because they’re impressed by our volleyball skills.

In tonight’s church service, Josiah and Julie will be sharing a message, and Erika will give a testimony. We’re hoping and praying that a few of the people we’ve seen in and out of the sports events will show up, and our praying in expectation that we will see people give their life to the Lord. We’ll keep you updated.

Although we’ve been busy, it hasn’t been all work and no play.

In between serving and ministering, we made time for a trip to the local market, where the girls, in shopping withdrawal, bought enough beach dresses to clothe the entire country. Including three that look like Brazil’s flag.

If it wasn’t obvious we weren’t locals before, it is now.

We’ve also managed to stay fueled on more than the predicted rice and beans. Jefferson, the youth pastor, has kept our tummies filled with homemade Brazilian pancakes with coconut filling, tapioca, his mom’s homemade meals and all the stove-top coffee we can drink – with extra sugar, of course.

We leave Fortaleza on Tuesday, and although we’ll be sad to go, we’ve gained a lot more than weight. And I’m not just talking about the ten new pairs of Havianas.

We’ve all grown somehow. Whether in boldness, prayer, selflessness or speaking Portuguese, the first two weeks of outreach have equipped us with tools we’ll surely use over the remaining eight weeks, and beyond.

And as long as they continue to feed us like they do here, we’re ready for whatever that may be.

Ants in our pants. And everywhere else.

Photo by Masha

“You can do it in your home, you can do it at the beach…”

These wise words of YWAM legend Coach Powers – beloved and cherished by our team – have come alive for us over the last two days.

We had our first trip to the beach for a weekend of beach ministry. This included beach volleyball, swimming, drinking milk straight out of the coconut and a whole lot of stepping out of our comfort zone.

Rather then working for the church, we used the time to work alongside the church youth, teaming up to translate as we mixed and mingled with the beach-goers of Fortaleza.

And we came home with a lot more than sunburns and sand in our pants.

We all learned about communicating with people of a different language and culture who may or may not be open to what we have to say. We learned that even though the church body is young, they still have a lot to offer their city. And Brad learned that no SPF is too high.

The service on Sunday was well attended, and we hope that it’s not just because we’re here but rather because they are truly going to experience a revival. The worship is upbeat and loud and everyone comes ready to clap and dance and sing. I was able to share my testimony as well as hear one of the Brazilian’s.

Everyone seems to be adapted to the climate, schedule and food, except Amy who still finds the tropical, 30 degree weather   “chilly” compared to her South African summers. Apparently she’s also lost her mind. We’ll keep an eye on her.

Joanne and the rest of the girls are currently sweeping the one bedroom we’re all sharing to try and rid it of the ant invasion we have been experiencing. The tiny insects swarm to crumbs, perfumes, people and anywhere else that you’d prefer they wouldn’t.  Including body parts. I won’t elaborate.

But the ant attack isn’t keeping us down. Everyone’s spirits are high, seeing as today, Monday, is our day off and we will be going to the mall and/or beach. And we got Corn Flakes for breakfast. Praise God.

We start ministry again tomorrow and are planning a bible study and to perform our drama over the next week. We’ll also keep rehearsing our dance, which surprisingly enough Josiah has found to be one of his favorite things to do. What a man.