(List of Group)- Pastor Nick Sandifer, Ryan Amerson, Matt Farthing, Gayle Rives, Jerry Stewart, Trey Upton, and myself.
Piaui is the poorest state of Brazil, and besides pictures and insight from Gayle who had been several times before, the rest of us didnt really know what to expect.
Upon leaving the church we embarked on our journey to Brazil, traveling in our church bus to Nashville, where we were met with a 3 hr delay, which though fruststrating we were reminded that this was going to be on God's time not ours. We also were able to listen to a folk ban from the Czech Republic (who knew), who decided to play while waiting to board. We flew from Nashville to Miami ("me om mi", as I like to call it) on a 3-seat wide plane, that I was for sure wasnt our plane(to small). From Miami, we flew overnight to Rio de Janiero, Brazil, which was a long flight without movies and add really bad plane food.
In Rio, we were able to drive through the city and go up to one of the new 7 wonders of the world, "The Christ Redeemer Statue." It was def worth the spiral drive up the hill going however fast (was in kilometers instead of miles per hr.) From the statue you could see all Rio and it was an amzing view, group agreed that a simple picture couldnt describe what you could see. Also inside the statue was a small catholic church set up, where people could eneter in it.
Being in Rio was a great day, and great stress reliver from the fact that before we left we were at the luggage belt and was able to scrape up one of Trey's bags and nothing else (besides a slap in the face to Ryan, who showed great self-control and maturity). So being able to get away and go up to the statue was nice.
We left Rio, and flew into Teresina late, where we were met by Jorio and his beautiful family. We were dropped off at the hotel were we would spend the night and eat breakfast at the night day before the long drive to Palmeirias. On the plane ride and hotel we were practicing up on our Portugese, which if you ever had to learn a new language, you know its very difficult. Besides practicing Portugese, I personally was praying to God to be with me, and to strengthen me, and to use me this week for his glory. To be honest, I felt the call to go and tell those in Brazil but I also knew what I would gain spiritually from growing so I was praying for God reveal more of hiself to me. (is that right, idk but its honest) So we leave Teresina with Jorio and his son Jorio feihlio (Junior), and daughter Luanni? (not sure how to spell), and our interpreteurs ( Jesuit? also not sure, sounds like "ja sa o" and Larissa "very sweet girl"), and driving, besides the main highway we are on, we started to see open country, kinda like drving on Kentucky interstates but with tropical trees and huts.
When we get to Palmeirias, we imediately go to the Igreja Baptista where we meet the pastor (juranje?, not sure on the spelling) and we go inside the church where they had made signs with messages on them written in for the most part very good english. Example "We been praying for your team", "Glad your here", etc. After being there for couple of mins. we are informed we were going straight to a school to talk to the kids. Me, being the person I am was like "cool I'm game", but there was some part of me that was nervous. At the school Nick spoke and introduced the team, I got introduced as a "banker" how boring, but also follower of Christ. I mention that though because it was in that moment that I knew for sure that banking wasn't the career choice for me. We played with the kids and took alot of pictures with them, and we had a good tme. The kids were like american kids- most are shy at first except the few outgoing ones.
After the school we went to our place we were staying which was kinda lke a Brazilian version of a bed in breakfast. (maybe) Gayle and Larissa went to a seperate house thats family was part of the church. The houses are alot diffrent than american houses and most have some type on crushed metal/ or spikes on top o concrete walls around the house. The bathrooms were tile floor with a sink -2 inches- toliet- 2 inches- shower (all the same floor). Sometimes you had to kill bugs before using the restroom or taking a shower, also you have to throw toliet paper in the trash can in Brazil, because their sweage system doesnt break it down or somthing like that (somthing you never think about bothering you). It is equator weather where we were so it was sun up at 6 a.m. and sun down at 6 p.m. It was crazy you would wake up and go outside to the (cleaner bathrooms, believe it or not) and you wouldnt be able to see anything until 10 mins later your eyes adapted.
With our group we decided to have soccer camps with the kids in the village/town. Ryan being a soccer coach and Trey and Matt both soccer players and me being just incredabley talented in allsports (true self proclaimed fact :P), were going to use soccer to spread the gospel with the kids. We knew soccer was going to be a good draw to people, and us being white (most never seen white people) also working in our favor, we thought we see about 50-75 kids. I honestly thought we see 100, but i didnt think when we pull up to this partially indoor soccer field that we would her chanting of kids like we pulled into the super bowl. I dont know the official count but it looked to be over 200 kids, and our idea of soccer drills went out the window. We had them break into their teams (alot of them were already in a club team, some teams coaches were there) and from them they played against each other according to age groups, and also girls played girls. Then every group got to play us (the americanos, which actaully we didnt do that bad). But through us not playing every game we were able to take this evangelistic soccer ball we had that represented the gospel story and use it to tell the gospel of Christ to the kids not playing at the time.
The Soccer Ball >
5 diffrent colors (gold, black, red, white, and green)
Gold- (royalty) represents God being Holy and perfect and him making his creation in his image
Black- (sin) represents us being sinners and allowing sin to but a barrier from us and God
Red- (blood of Christ) is God sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (everyones)
White-(purity) reps Jesus blood wiping clean our sins, and making a way for us through him to break down the barrier and follow him
Green- (growth) is our relationship with Christ "prayer, reading Bible, fellowship, and missions"
We also got to do Bible School with the young kids one morning until afternoon. We did puppets, nick did the story of Adam and Eve and Noah (2 seperate stories :P), we did arts and crafts, and recreation. You are really blessed when you are able to see kids in bible school, american or brazilian (they touch your heart).
We also went on home visits and to couple more schools. I was able to go with Trey and Jorio to couple houses were one family had the whole crew outisde in chairs ready for us. (these meetings were pre-arranged by the pastor, also sidenote: the pole in brazil are very welcoming to hear the gospel, like us being alowed in schools to share the gospel, which is somthing we dont have freedom to do in the states) We also shared with this lady who was lying in her bed with cancer and I got to use my background with cancer in my family and we got to pray with her. In schools, I got to go bymyself with Jorio and share the gospel with the kids and show them futbul americano (american football) and that perhaps was the best part of my trip. I got to go into classrooms and share about Jesus at school, and the kids interacted and I felt such a blessing, like my life has purpose. SIDENOTE: If you want to feel purpose in your life, do God's work! Period
I also got the opportunity to share the gospel on the radio to aprx 20,000, and through and interpreteur i experience my first stint on the radio (share God's messgae). It went so well that we sent Jerry to go back the next night and do it again.
Worship services every night. They werent just at the church though, we had one on the street, in the town square, and on a place called goat hill (very dark place). Nick, Ryan, Jerry, and I got to preach and everyone gave thier testimony. We sang Portuguese words (lol, songs in portgugese we didnt know), we danced, we read scripture, we prayed, we greeted, and we truly met God wherever we were at. At worship service i truly let lo, and just worship God, and I came to the realization that if I can sing Portugese words and dance to stuff i dont know then how could i worship at home when I know the words and the songs we sing. Dont sing to be noticed Sean, sing to God, just worship, dont worry about anyone looking at you, just you and God.
We really developed relationships with the people down there and left a piece of our heart down there with the people. Ryan and I were able to entertain people down there with our random outgoing behaivor. We were able to sing Vanilla Ice for them and I must say it went well, also taught them shake-n-bake, which im sure will be a huge hit in Palmeirias for years.
I am really thankful to those who gave financially and also those who prayed for me and my team. Together i think we planted seed that I know the Lord will take care of.
I do ask you to continue to pray for the Igreja Baptista in Palmeirias, and the pastor/his family
also pray for the people we were in contact with
In specific I ask that you pray for kid name Wallace who really touched my heart, he was someone that I would search for wherever we went and his face would light up when he could be around us, he truly understood what we were saying even though he couldnt say English words
God blessed me thru this trip, and I cant wait to go again
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