Just got back from the slums, etc...
Hey everybody,
Long day. We set out for the slums at around 8:30AM local time and got there around 11. It's weird though - I was looking out the bus window the whole time wondering if this place I was looking at would be where we'd stop. I was wrong, but so much of this area looks like what we'd consider slums in the US, but the folks here think of them as regular residential areas. Pictures to come.
The "slums" was actually a hill village way, way, way up in the hills. There was a recovery mission where we were supposed to play, witnessing to recovering drug addicts, etc... Right up my alley for sure! However, we instead ended up being the honored guests (God only knows) at a local baptism happening at this place. Awesome to see people receiving the Lord here. Got some nice pictures of the area. We took up a collection for the mission among the group to help them out.
Cool note about this place - it's a converted brothel that is now being used for a "salvation center". They gave us DVD's of what they do to save people from death in prisons or in gang related violence in neighborhoods. It's rather graphic - but I'd love to show it to prisoners in the US who cry about prison conditions. The most troubling scene for me was a prisoner who had been shot repeatedly through both hands by the guards and the police. He ended up having gaping wounds through both palms - completely untreated.
Overall, the slum was a beautiful experience. We gave all the kids toys, which I have some really cool pictures of that event.
Once we were done there, we drove for about 1-2 hours back to the church where we were the other night for the youth concert. That place was packed.
Here's the coolest thing. The whole time I'm wishing we'd have some way to show everyone back home what we did there - turns out they were filming and recording the entire event, as well as the worship service we did the other night. So, hopefully tomorrow, since it's NYE I'll have some time to sit down with the DVD's from the last couple days and post them on YouTube and then on here.
Tonight was incredible. God showed UP. At one point, with no warning, we all just hit the deck and prayed for about 20 minutes. The whole worship time was intense. We made sure to have some powerpoint presentations with the words in both English and Portuguese, and once those hit the screens the sound of 1000 people singing along filled the room better than we ever could. Man they got into it.
God, I am tired. It was such a wonderful day, and I am emotionally and physically just wiped out. I've got Spaceballs playing on the TV, so I'm gonna go lay down and relax until tomorrow.
God Bless you all and thank you again for helping to give me, and others, the opportunity to do what we are doing. It's been so amazing for just the last few days, and I can only imagine that it will get better.
Pictures to come tomorrow - but now, SLEEP.
Long day. We set out for the slums at around 8:30AM local time and got there around 11. It's weird though - I was looking out the bus window the whole time wondering if this place I was looking at would be where we'd stop. I was wrong, but so much of this area looks like what we'd consider slums in the US, but the folks here think of them as regular residential areas. Pictures to come.
The "slums" was actually a hill village way, way, way up in the hills. There was a recovery mission where we were supposed to play, witnessing to recovering drug addicts, etc... Right up my alley for sure! However, we instead ended up being the honored guests (God only knows) at a local baptism happening at this place. Awesome to see people receiving the Lord here. Got some nice pictures of the area. We took up a collection for the mission among the group to help them out.
Cool note about this place - it's a converted brothel that is now being used for a "salvation center". They gave us DVD's of what they do to save people from death in prisons or in gang related violence in neighborhoods. It's rather graphic - but I'd love to show it to prisoners in the US who cry about prison conditions. The most troubling scene for me was a prisoner who had been shot repeatedly through both hands by the guards and the police. He ended up having gaping wounds through both palms - completely untreated.
Overall, the slum was a beautiful experience. We gave all the kids toys, which I have some really cool pictures of that event.
Once we were done there, we drove for about 1-2 hours back to the church where we were the other night for the youth concert. That place was packed.
Here's the coolest thing. The whole time I'm wishing we'd have some way to show everyone back home what we did there - turns out they were filming and recording the entire event, as well as the worship service we did the other night. So, hopefully tomorrow, since it's NYE I'll have some time to sit down with the DVD's from the last couple days and post them on YouTube and then on here.
Tonight was incredible. God showed UP. At one point, with no warning, we all just hit the deck and prayed for about 20 minutes. The whole worship time was intense. We made sure to have some powerpoint presentations with the words in both English and Portuguese, and once those hit the screens the sound of 1000 people singing along filled the room better than we ever could. Man they got into it.
God, I am tired. It was such a wonderful day, and I am emotionally and physically just wiped out. I've got Spaceballs playing on the TV, so I'm gonna go lay down and relax until tomorrow.
God Bless you all and thank you again for helping to give me, and others, the opportunity to do what we are doing. It's been so amazing for just the last few days, and I can only imagine that it will get better.
Pictures to come tomorrow - but now, SLEEP.
posted by Kevin at 9:10 PM
1 Comments:
God Bless You Kevin! I can feel the Holy Spirit moving through your words showing how much everyone is benefiting from you being there. Sounds exciting and fulfilling. Sleep well - tomorrow's another day! Catch you then. Thanks for the posts!
Deb
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