Last Team of June and Coming Home!

Two teams down, one in progress, and one team left to go in this marathon of June. I am so sorry it has taken this long to get this post out but, in my defense, I did warn you I would be busy.

The last team of the month was a team from Tampa, FL. Idlewild Baptist Church has visited us several times. They have such a heart for this ministry. Whereas, most teams are new people each time, this team, for the majority, is the same people…with a few newbies.

From testimonies…

To devotionals….

To just playing with the kids….

To crafts and worship…

To games…

To more games and crafts…

To bringing gifts for their sponsor kids…

And praying with them, this team does it all.

This team stays longer than our other groups and when we don’t have kids, they roll up their sleeves and help clean and do some painting and other odd jobs on the property.

They even built a small bridge on the property.

Here’s the bridge all finished.

Mr. John and Mrs. Mona did a week long discipleship with our older morning teens that culminated with a foot washing. Such a precious time of prayer and servanthood.

Idlewild also found out that it was Maria’s birthday and they got her some gifts and a cake. At first she was confused. She didn’t know it was a celebration for her but she just smiled and clapped right along. But once Ellis told her it was for her, she cried, they cried, it was precious. She was so excited to be remembered and appreciated. It really doesn’t take much to make the world a better place; just a little love and a whole lot of Jesus.

They gave Meire, our new cook, (I know I misspelled her name and I’m sorry) an apron to remember them by.

The time during this trip was very emotional for us. Our beloved director, Ellis, who has been with the ministry for over 15 years, decided to take a position at a church in another town about four hours away. So many tears; tears for the sadness of not serving alongside her smiling face everyday to tears of joy for what lies ahead of her in this new season of life.

She is an amazing lady, and though I have only known her for about two years, she has made a huge impression on me on how to serve, how to love the unlovely, and how to keep smiling through the trials because we have such a wonderful hope in Jesus. Her testimony is like something out of a Lifetime movie… not Hallmark…but raw, crazy Lifetime. She’s an amazing example for all those that think God can’t use them or that God doesn’t see them. Beauty from ashes, for sure. Maybe one day, with her permission, I’ll share her testimony with you all. But for now, I’ve got to get this post finished because we have some big news coming up.

Tuck even got up extra early one morning to make pancakes for the team.

The team brought a bullhorn and I think Liandro liked it WAY too much. HA!

Raquel, my mom’s sponsor child’s, birthday was in June too. Mom recorded her a sweet birthday message and I showed it to her and Carol translated it. She had asked for a doll refrigerator for her birthday, so mom got her one. This picture was taken while I was telling her that mom got it for her. It wasn’t until afterwards, when Carol translated that she realized it was hers and she starting opening the doors and getting the kitchen toys out that it housed inside. On a side note, this sweet girl does not have a black eye. It’s eyeshadow. Without a mom at home to help out with that, makeup can be tricky business. One day, bless her heart, she came to Sunday night church with gray sparkly lipstick on. Oh me. But I digress. She loved the present! She feels so special knowing that she has someone who cares about her all the way in America.

Back to the team stuff. This is what it looks like to disciple kids and teach them about praying, studying God’s word, and loving others.

The team also made a return visit to Monte Verde and ministered to some of the kids at a local church there along with having a little picanha for lunch.

The Brazilian countryside is beautiful.

The team woke up REALLY early one morning to watch the Atibaia city birthday parade. Some of our Vinde kids were supposed to be in the parade but the parade was cancelled due to the rain. But the team did get to meet the city’s mayor. That’s him in the tie.

At our last bonfire of the semester, Trev snapped a shot of Liandro and Davi roasting a marshmallow. I’m pretty sure he stayed up past bedtime and had way too much sugar but look at that sweet happy face. Sorry, Chris (Davi’s mom).

No team visit would be complete without a trip to the Brazilian steakhouse.

During one of our home visits, this one to Angel’s (bottom left) sponsor child, Kaique (top left white and black shirt) we were given a short tour of the flower farm that his family works on. It is a large operation and once harvested, the flowers are exported. He and his family live on property and are in charge of a certain section of the farm. His parents were so gracious and they even sent us home (with the company’s permission) with some flowers. Some home visits are so warm and welcoming like this one and others are, honestly, a little awkward, especially when the families aren’t Christians. They struggle to understand why these foreigners want to pray with them and for them and why in the world they would care about their kid.

Other home visits, like this one, are a harsh reminder of the conditions some of our kiddos live in. This family has eight kids all living in this one bedroom house. Leaving homes like this really takes a toll on you emotionally.

But then the kids get to come to Vinde and be ministered to physically, educationally, and spiritually. We get to show them the love of Jesus. One of the kids’ favorite events happens while Idlewild is here and it’s one of the reasons this team visits when they do.

We hold Festa Juninha, (I wrote about the holiday last year), on the last day of the semester at Vinde.

Look at this sweetness.

The boys dress up too but I didn’t get enough pictures of them, they didn’t want to be bothered while they were kicking the soccer ball to douse Mike in water with the dunk tank he made. The dunk tank was a glowing success.

We didn’t know about this country type party when we originally packed or we would have thrown plaid shirts and boots in our bags (like there would have been room ;-)).

I also can’t explain why Jeremy wears a shirt with his and KC’s faces all over it but the kids think it’s funny…and weird.

Also, don’t ask me why the boys add a unibrow. I have no idea. So many things in life I don’t understand.

I, however, do know how much myself and all those kids Ellis has poured into over the years will miss her.

And then the team cleaned up and flew out. It was a long day for them and they had a long flight as they take COPA Airlines and have a layover in Panama. It takes longer but it’s cheaper than the direct flight on Delta. Plus they would have to fly to Atlanta or Miami, to take that flight anyway.

After the team left, we cleaned out the rooms, gathered up laundry, and went home to pack.

Our one year of volunteering turned into 15 1/2 months but now with the end of the semester, it’s time for us to go back home. We had Emily, Carol, and the teens over to the house to hang out before we left (Sarah and the interns squeezed in a last minute trip to Rio with Ellis before she left but we had already bought plane tickets). The kids loved playing Just Dance. Emily was in great spirits until we played Trouble and, after Trev send her home multiple times, she was so over it, as you can see from the picture. Good-bye Brazil. Hello America!