Service Learning 2004
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The Lord prepared our team through devotional activities, prayer, and diligent teamwork before we left for Brazil.
After a cancelled flight from NYC and a late arrival in São Paulo, Sarah and Amanda enjoy their first Brazilian breakfast the next morning. Abby squenches her thirst with some fresh coconut water.
Brazilian youth love to worship through songs of praise with choreography; our team followed along at Igreja Presbiteriana de Fortaleza, our host church. David preached at Vida Nova while Eb preached at the church. Shaleena gave her testimony of faith and Abby taught a Sunday-School class. Eb also ministered the Lord's supper Sunday morning, with Pastor Marcos.
Eleven laptop computers donated by Malone College to Projeto Vida Nova were used in classes to children and adolescents. David and Shawn built the gospel message into the lessons, while also encouraging students to build upon prior knowledge and to share about themselves and their families.
While enjoying the delicious Brazilian cuisine, team members interacted with Vida Nova hosts.
"Connecting" with Brazilians was a major goal that the team chose for this trip, without which all else would have been just a skin-deep exposure. This goal was attained by assigning team members to stay with Brazilian families and participate in some of their routine, and by taking the time to talk and get to know their "way of life," strengths, and needs. We learned, for example, that children in Projeto José Henrique love poetry and some in fact have written original "cordel" poems that reflect in verses the riches of their cultural heritage and define their identity. A strong sense of brotherhood and collective orientation, together with a marked sense of humor, are God-given, protective factors in many families that live in very stressful circumstances.
Left - Clinical psychologist Susana welcomes our team in her home for a "feijoada" and introduces her ministry with "Conexão," an institute that trains Christian psychologists to effectively use their faith in their profession and research. Right - Team members interact with church youth in a restaurant at Cumbuco Beach
We toured Fa7, a local college owned by a very dear Christian family. Prof. Lucas de Melo, a graduate from John Hopkins U., tells us about their various programs of study.
For several team members, contact with utter poverty and desolation was a shocking experience. D. Francisca reports how many families whose children attend Vida Nova lost their belongings to the recent flood in this area of Fortaleza. Hopefully, the monetary gift of love and donations we brought from American friends will help meet some of those needs.
Left - Nothing like a refreshing "jangada" ride... Below, Joe and his mission team "suffer for Jesus."
Left - A sample of Fortaleza's many beautiful beaches. Below, an exhausted team catches z's at Kennedy Airport, on the way back home.
Our heartfelt thanks to all families and friends that supported this service-learning trip to Brazil. Our lives have been changed forever through this experience, and so have the lives of many we came in touch with. "For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many" (Jesus Christ, in Mark 10:45). |
Abby, Amanda, Candice, Sarah, Shaleena, Stephanie, Ethan, and Joe coordinated activities designed to develop artistic skills and introduce English to Vida Nova students. Several aspects of the art work had a biblical theme, pointing to God's love and Christ's redemptive work.
Vilamar is another project that we visited. The founders, Rinaldo and Joice (left), sold their home in a nice neighborhood and moved into this area when it used to be a slum, a target area for prostitution and drug dealing. Much has changed since then, thanks to the effective ministry of the church.
