Monday in Brazil!

Well, we're here! We arrived at "Camp California" and got ready for the kids. The children - ages 10-14 - arrived around 9:00 pm and we fed them dinner. Then the first eve we played games and went to bed around 11:30 pm. I was exhausted! The camp is beautiful and the kids looooovvvved it. They rotated playing games, making crafts, and listening to the Bible story - a puppet show about Paul. Our theme has been Olympics.
All of the children come from the favelas which are the slum areas. The children are exposed to violence and drugs at very early ages. Camp is a time where they can go to a beautiful area and "be a kid".
I'd love to write more, but my computer time is short! Please pray for me because I am getting sick...fever, stomach, and chest. I need to feel well to do HIS work here.
Obrigada!

Leaving Thursday!

Well, we'll soon be off! I won't be able to update this blog, but...you can check our church blog at http://www.lakesidebrazil2008.blogspot.com for updates! Thanks so much for all your prayers! Please pray for us throughout the trip...each and every day! It's wonderful to know we have prayer support.
Gotta go finish packing!
Love you!
Pam

One week two days!

I can't believe it's getting so close! We have our last Brazil meeting tonight before we leave next week. Please continue praying for our trip. Pray that lives will be changed and children will come to know Jesus through the VBS and camp. Pray that language will not be a barrier and that HIS light will shine through me to all I meet wherever I am...airport, city, camp... Pray for health of our team members. Pray for Lee, Lauren and Brett at home! My mom will be coming a few days as well to visit and I won't be there. boo hoo. Pray she has a nice stay! Thank you so much for your support. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update our blog while I am gone because I will not have a computer so updates may need to wait until I return.

Lauren graduated! Yea! Congratulations to Lauren!! 8-) I love you, Lauren!

God is good!

I am so thankful! All my money has been raised for Brazil. It's amazing! Yet, God is amazing! Thank you! I have been working hard on my curriculum for the VBS and camp. Our theme will be "Dream Big" and to go with that we are having an Olympic theme. We have a small group going to Brazil, so I will be doing the Bible lessons either on my own or with one or two helpers. So...I've been writing puppet shows to convey the message. I am borrowing puppets from our high school teacher Yvette Roberts. She's a highly talented puppeteer and has wonderful puppets! She has been so kind to let me bring a couple. My VBS skit will be a take-off on Joseph...only mine will be an Olympic runner. My camp skit will be a take-off on Paul and his trials...only mine will be a gang member. It's fun to plan! I am looking for ideas for crafts so if you have an Olympic craft idea...let me know!
Thanks for your prayers and support!

Mexico 2008

Dear Friends,
We had a blast in Mexico! It was a true blessing to be able to attend as a full family again. We've gone to Mexico now between 6-10 times...depending on the family member! We hadn't been together, all of us, for years, so it was really nice...especially since Lauren will soon be going away to college. We built 2 homes...one on Friday and one on Saturday. The first 12x12 home was for a man, his 8 month pregnant wife, and 2 year old son. The man and his father were delightful. It was their first home ...situated high high high on a hill. (Hills and views here in California are a good thing...there it's a sign of poverty.) The lot was level and they had poured a concrete slab. The day was smooth and the home went up easily. There were a few neighbor kids that came by to play, but being so high up on the hill only a few made the climb.

The second day we built a 12x12 home for a woman and her 8 children. It was quite different. It was down in the town near the dorm where we sleep. In fact, it was just a block or so from the ice cream shop we frequently patronize. When we arrived, the woman was inside and Laura from Caravan Ministries went to talk to her but stopped and said it sounded like she was having "kid problems." So we waited. Soon she came out weeping and crying while carrying a small child (one year old). Other adults joined her outside crying. The child wasn't moving. She headed for a car and got in and left. Lauren was the only one who knew some Spanish so she tried to translate. From what we gathered, the child blacked out and wouldn't waken and was extremely ill. Later that day she came home still crying. We thought perhaps the child died. She said she had to leave the baby at the hospital and was told by doctors that they could not do anything unless she came up with more money. The baby was very sick but the hospital wouldn't run tests without the money. Caravan Ministries said that there is a social work structure there that would help her with expenses but we worried that the child may not live. While we considered paying for her, we were told that help would be given by the system in place and Maggie from Caravan Ministries would follow up. We may never find out exactly the outcome. We built the home for her. Many of her own children helped with nailing. When they weren't, Pam, Lauren, Lee, and Jessica played with the kids...basketball, jump rope, etc. I think it was great to watch her own children get in there and help build. They were so proud of their casa (house).

Open House and Mexico Coming!

Our Open House was tons of fun. Thanks families and friends who attended! We raised $281 for our mission trips! yea!

Our Mexico trip is coming soon...May 1-4 to El Florido, Mexico. This will be our seventh year to Mexico. Each year is different and it is so exciting to build homes for people. We build small 12x16 houses with common hand tools. Oh yes, it would be much quicker to use power tools, but much of the trip is to build relationships with the families and neighbors. By using hand tools, the works goes slower and we have more time to visit and establish friendships. Please begin praying for the families that we will be meeting. Pray that God will break through the language barrier and that we will be able to share HIS love and gospel with the people there!

I have my first Brazil trip today. yea! I am going to start reviewing my Portuguese. I have a language software tool I use...but so far all I've learned are words that I won't probably use like blue rabbit and mattress! ha! ha!

Upcoming Trips!

We have 2 upcoming mission trips and would appreciate your prayer and support! Our family will be going on our 7th trip to El Florido, Mexico, May 1-4 to build homes for the homeless. Total cost: $500

Pam will be going to Sao Paulo, Brazil, in June to work with Restoration Ministries. The Nature and purpose of this trip is to support Restoration Ministries who ministers to children/families in the favelas (slums) of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ministry will include running two weekend camps at their property, Camp California. During the week, we will run a VBS program at 4 different locations. Total cost: $2,200

Watch for more blogs as we get closer to the dates!