Monday, Monday

Well, I am already about a day behind on keeping you updated on our activities.  This will be a quick summary post, and I will provide more details with pictures tomorrow.  We have many pictures and video clips already, but they are spread across at least three cameras, and it will take some time to upload and organize everything.  Also, I am getting sleepy, and we have another early start in the morning.

After finishing our visit with the Hope Unlimited staff and children in Campinas on Sunday morning, we joined them all for a terrific lunch at a local churrascaria (Brazilian steak house).  Then we loaded into the van for the two hour drive to the airport in Sao Paulo.  After a quick flight to Londrina, we were met at the airport by three of our great friends:  Rosalee Ewell, a missionary supported by Christ Church who helps us manage all of the Beyond Our Borders projects in Brazil; Angelica Fornaciari, a director and lay leader of three creches (day care centers) under the auspices of the Londrina Central Methodist Church; and Clariana Narcizo, another director and volunteer at the Methodist creches.  Friendships formed while doing Christ's work together are the best!  These great ladies helped us load up our luggage and took us to our hotel.

Today (Monday) we got an early start (love the included breakfast buffet!) and headed off to the creche at the Sao Jorge favela.  This creche has been supported by Beyond Our Borders for over six years.  We were delighted to reunite with teachers and staff and meet some of the new teachers.  The children were at school today, so we got to visit in several classes and see the happy faces.  Remember, without this creche, these little children would be out on the streets.  Here is a teaser picture, and be sure to come back tomorrow after I have had time to write a detailed account of our Sao Jorge visit, including the giving of gifts -- T-shirts and blankets for the children from Christ Church and a generous donation to the creche from the men of All Saints.

Sao Jorge children at lunch

This afternoon we visited the community center at the Joao Turquino favela.  This center provides a safe environment where local children and teens can come to play and participate in Bible study.  Supported by the Catuai Baptist Church in Londrina and led by a Christian couple (Jorges and Lu), the center also has an outreach program to help improve the housing and living conditions of favela residents.

At the end of the day, most of the Beyond Our Borders team visited our friends at the South American Theological Seminary (SATS).  SATS has strong theological programs and a worldwide reach.  Several of the projects that we support in Brazil are led by graduates of SATS. 

Ok, that should whet your appetite.  Tomorrow I will post more information and pictures about the children at Sao Jorge and Joao Turquino.  As soon as I can, I will get some video clips uploaded to YouTube.  Thanks for your prayers.  We are having a great time, but we remember that the reason we are here is to find the next set of projects that we can take on to help more children.

Good night.