Friday was our last day on the field in Itaobim and Itinga. Working together with the Brazilian churches has been one of the main themes during our trip. It has truly been a team effort as two churches from the United States worked with many churches in Brazil. Together, two teams worked together by evangelizing in Itaobim and two teams worked together by repairing a widow's home and turning part of a daycare into a bakery in Itinga.
Friday morning and afternoon, the two teams in Itaobim continued to visit schools. They teamed up with a performing arts group from Governador Valadares to share the message of Jesus Christ. They performed a few skits with the message that if you put your joy in things of this world, your joy can be stolen. But, if you put your joy in Jesus, that is something that can never be taken away. The performing arts group helped David V. and Nelson S. tell the message of "2 ways to live."
Later in the afternoon, the teams in Itaobim visited a futbol pitch (soccer field) and Sam V., Serah W. and Steve M. spoke to the boys about playing to God's glory. One member from the community volunteers his time to organize this soccer club. His goal is to help boys from ages 9-16 stay off the streets. Many of the boys come from broken homes. We gave the coach two large boxes of futbol supplies to give to the boys who are most in need. We gave one player, Michael, a pair of futbol cleats as he had no shoes to play in. He was trilled! He ended up scoring two goals that night and after each goal, he said to Nelson S., "It's the shoes! It's the shoes!"
The two teams in Itinga, together with members from the Brazilian churches and local workers, made great progress on the construction projects. The roof is 95% complete on the widow's home and the wall for the bakery on the daycare building is nearing finished. The local workers that they were working with will make the finishing touches on the projects.
Friday evening, the teams from Itaobim and Itinga were all together for a marriage retreat at one of the churches in Itaobim. It was good to be together and share the ways God had been at work in the teams this past week. We got to say goodbye to the people we worked with. We are so grateful for all our translators, drivers and the people who we worked along side to share the love of Christ. It was a blessing to work with our brothers and sisters in Christ from Brazil. We were all touched and encouraged by their labor and love for Jesus.
On Saturday morning, the team will depart from Itaobim to Governador Valadares. Saturday evening, there is a women's event where Alisha M. will be giving a talk and Lauren A. will be sharing her testimony. Please pray for continued strength, rest, safe travels and a strong finish to this trip. There is more work to be done. Thank you for sending us here! God is at work! We are looking forward to being together as one large group for the rest of our time serving here.
By Lauren Arnold for the Brazil Team,
Later in the afternoon, the teams in Itaobim visited a futbol pitch (soccer field) and Sam V., Serah W. and Steve M. spoke to the boys about playing to God's glory. One member from the community volunteers his time to organize this soccer club. His goal is to help boys from ages 9-16 stay off the streets. Many of the boys come from broken homes. We gave the coach two large boxes of futbol supplies to give to the boys who are most in need. We gave one player, Michael, a pair of futbol cleats as he had no shoes to play in. He was trilled! He ended up scoring two goals that night and after each goal, he said to Nelson S., "It's the shoes! It's the shoes!"
By Lauren Arnold for the Brazil Team,
