We started the day by having an excellent breakfast at 7:30am. After that our groups were divided in two; one group went to the orphanage and the other group went to the women’s prison. At the prison, we met a group of about twenty women, most who at first were not as receptive, but we were expecting that. Jay started out by saluting them and speaking a passage of Matthew chapter 5. Following Jay’s words, we played a couple of songs with the women, and after that we played out a sketch about the love of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross and many of the women connected with that small play. We could see the look on their faces of being betrayed or being left out by someone, so the team went ahead and prayed one to one with the women about Jesus, God, hope, courage, family, and health to name a few. We prayed for people that are from Angola, Austria, England, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa, the Philippines, and Brazil. Thank God people in the team spoke their language so we could reach them in their language. At the end, we spoke with every woman to let them speak what they had in mind and all of them became so receptive to us. Some laughed, some cried, and all were thankful for us being there. At the end, they sang a beautiful song to us. They were so cheerful. It was an amazing experience that will stick with us for a lifetime.
For those of us that went to a Christian orphanage, it was a delight to be with the kids and to play with them. There are over 20 kids that live there, the youngest at nine months going all the way up to 13. These kids were a delight to be around! They were so full of joy and smiles and they LOVED to play. It was so refreshing to be around kids that laughed and smiled as they crawled all over us. Even though we couldn’t understand them most of the time, we bonded with them through the Holy Spirit. I thank God for how the children lifted my heart and put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
Later on we headed over to Rio das Pedras to do VBS for the kids. There were close to 150 kids in a very small building. This was the first time here for myself and several others and I must say it was quite overwhelming at first. It was very loud and kids were screaming the whole time. I had to say a quick prayer to God as I asked him to focus my heart so I could be available to love on the kids. It was a joy to work with the kids as we did the craft and it is well worth it when you see them smile. It was so rewarding as we closed the service and the kids came up to you and gave you hugs. We can’t wait to go back tomorrow and love on the kids!
For those of us that went to a Christian orphanage, it was a delight to be with the kids and to play with them. There are over 20 kids that live there, the youngest at nine months going all the way up to 13. These kids were a delight to be around! They were so full of joy and smiles and they LOVED to play. It was so refreshing to be around kids that laughed and smiled as they crawled all over us. Even though we couldn’t understand them most of the time, we bonded with them through the Holy Spirit. I thank God for how the children lifted my heart and put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
Later on we headed over to Rio das Pedras to do VBS for the kids. There were close to 150 kids in a very small building. This was the first time here for myself and several others and I must say it was quite overwhelming at first. It was very loud and kids were screaming the whole time. I had to say a quick prayer to God as I asked him to focus my heart so I could be available to love on the kids. It was a joy to work with the kids as we did the craft and it is well worth it when you see them smile. It was so rewarding as we closed the service and the kids came up to you and gave you hugs. We can’t wait to go back tomorrow and love on the kids!
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