It was a wonderful time working with our Brazilian family.  It seems that every time we go there, a piece of my heart gets left behind.

Now it is time to rejoin our family here and be of service to God.

We are planning an Appreciation night for Sunday, June 14th at  PM.  This is our opportunity to express our appreciation to everyone who supported us during our time in Brazil,   we look forward to see you all there.

Abraços.

Rick, Jean and Ross.

Good Saturday morning to you all.

We came, we saw, we conquered.

Now it is time to pack our bags one more time for the trip home.

We have had a wonderful time here with our friends, and now it is time to head for the airport and the long bus ride home.  OK, the bus happens to be a 767 and it drives at 45,000 feet but you get the meaning.

After a last tour of the city, we were able to experience one more time, the traffic in this country.  Looking for to calm and placid Edmonton traffic.

Last night we took some time to analyse the mission,  things that were good and things that need improving,  It was good to be able to sit back and assess the mission.  A good way to finish off the mission before heading back to Canada.

We will be landing in Edmonton on Sunday morning.

Thank you for praying and watch for upcoming events.

God bless you all.

Oi,  Hello.
 We completed our mission at the Chain of Love in Campo Bom.   Three weeks went by very quickly.  We are glad that we could complete the work requested and even more as we were able to spend time with the families getting to know them.

A few tears and a lot of hugs from our friends and it was off to the airport.
 Last night we landed in Rio de Janeiro.  After a good night's sleep we relaxed for the morning and then headed to the centre of the city for a tour.

The Museum of National History was very interesting and we gained a better understanding of the history of Brazil.  Very inexpensive to visit, although it takes a long time to get anywhere when you are in a city of 13 million,. yes, that's what I said.
After the museum we took a wander downtown,  (guided of course).  Architecturally this city is amazing.  there are a lot of buildings from the 1900's.  And we even saw a building with a date of 1772.  And we think that we have history.  However, there is a lot of grafitti marring the beauty of this place.

Now time to relax a bit before go out for dinner at 9 PM.  vida brasileira.  não, é?  Brazilian life, eh?

Having some problems posting pictures.

Rick, Jean and Ross.

Yesterday was a shopping day,  not for us but for a couple of the children.  Then after that we went with Telmo and Valdir up to Igrejinha to pick up some donated items.  It was a nice trip out to the country.

Afterwards we had dinner at Telmo and Christina's house.  A for them to cast the vision of the future of Lar Coméia and their place in the ministry and ours as well.  Then home for a restless night's sleep.


Now it is time to fold our clothes, pack our bags and start our journey homeward.

It has been a great 3 weeks and we come away with the feeling of accomplishment.

Yes we have done a lot of work, but we have also built or strengthened relationships with the parents and children here.  We come away with a renewed love for this ministry and a new sense of their day to day struggles.  We also see God's hand in all of the operation of the ministry that we call Chain of Love.

But it is time to pack up to computer and get ready for the trip to the airport.

Tchau.

Ross, Rick and Jean

Good evening.

It is Monday of the last week here and we are starting to wind down.  As we were discussing what to give the house parents as a gift.  Ross came up with the idea of making pans of the apple crisp the same as what they all devoured on Friday evening.  Then we came up with the idea of getting a pan for each of the homes.  So off shopping we went.

We caught  a ride to the big supermarket (Bourbom) where we purchased enough ingredients to make 10 large pans of apple crisp.  Then we went looking for the appropriate bake ware.  We picked up some aluminum cake pans, but then saw some heavy glass cake pans for only a few dollars more which we purchased.
Then came the work part of preparing the dessert.  peeling and coring 80 apples.

We fired up the big oven and got them all cooked before 6 pm.  The house parents had no idea that we were coming by with this delicious surprise.  

They were all thrilled to receive the apple crisp, but when we told them that the glass pan was theirs to keep, some were brought to tears.  It was a blessing to both us and them. \

So it was an excellent day all around.

Tomorrow we start our packing for the return trip.

Thank you for your prayers.

Good morning, and Happy Mother's day.

Yes, they celebrate Mother's day down here.  It is called Dia da Mãe.

Today will be a family event when a number of the older COL kids return to visit their "family".

Backing up now.  
Ross, Jean and I were able to finish the sanding and painting of the doors and windows of the 2 houses that we were requested to do, as well as one other house that needed some touching up.  It was a great feeling of accomplishment.
Friday evening we had planned a Parent's dinner party.  So for most of Friday afternoon we were preparing for that,  This year the theme was Gaúcho.  Julio (one of  the house fathers.) made a traditional dish called Carreteira.  A mixture of rice, salted beef, bacon and Italian sausage and seasonings.  Served with feijão (beans), orange slices, lettuce, tomato, pãozinho.  It was enjoyed by all.
Then came the dessert that Ross made.  It was a traditional Canadian dessert of apple crisp and ice cream.  It was interesting to see the brazilians lining up to taste it.  They would take a little bit and return to the table to try it.  The next thing we knew they were practically running up to get a second helping.  All of the house mothers were asking for the recipe for the crisp.
When we talked to the house mother in house 6, we commented that the dinner was very tasty,  Her response was that the dinner was good but the dessert was better.
Ross will be busy Monday  and Tuesday, making an apple crisp for each of the houses.
Jean and Jim made up some games for the house parents.  I was the MC for the evening.  It was a lot of fun and a chance for the houseparents just to relax and converse.  Which is a rare opportunity for them as they are normally trying to control, feed and care for 10 children.

Saturday was a down time day.  However, we did take a personal shopping day,  We took our 4 children and Bruninha clothes shopping in downtown Campo Bom.  Maybe it was not the best choice of days as it was the day before Mother's day and the stores were packed.  Oh well, we did accomplish the task without injury.

After we got back we prepared ourselves (read, nap)  for the evening out at the pizzaria.  We were able to take our sponsored children for a dinner out (which we paid for) as well as the driver and his wife.

This coming week we will be spending time with the families and getting to know them more personally.  And become more knowledgeable about the ministry and the challenges that the staff face.



We also will be preparing for our departure from here.  One more week for our ministry time.

Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to post to the website yesterday, so we will make up for it today.

Do you know that it is really hard to find thermal underwear in Brazil.  I guess I should have packed some coats.  Oh well.  Yes, it has been quite chilly the last few nights.  Unfortunately, it doesn't get warm in the buildings during the day.  Most of the staff here work in their offices wearing coats and scarves.

Who knew???

We have really made some progress on the work and have been able to balance some quality time with the families.  On Monday we finished up at house number 2,  Then immediately started in at house 1.  It requires a lot more ladder work for the first couple of windows

/God continues to protect us and keep us healthy, in spite of the cold.

Today we had some time to visit the church reconstruction project at the Good News Baptist Church. Pastor Gerson gave us a tour and explained the changes that they will be making to the building.  One of the changes is to construct a large meeting room under the stage area.  So the contractors have been busy digging down and installing new pilings and footings for the new walls.

They are hoping to be able to move back in to the building in about 6 months.

Gerson expressed a need for a youth pastor to build a program for the youth of the church. Far too many are being lost to the world.  Keep this in your prayers.

Tomorrow we will be back to work at house 1 continuing the painting,

Friday, we will be hosting a dinner for the parents as an expression of appreciation for the hard work that they do here.

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.

We are doing very well down this way.  

This coming week we will be encountering colder temperatures (lows of 8c to 10) and without heat and higher humidity it will feel much colder. 

Keep us all in your prayers as we work.  So far we have been kept from harm.  However my back is not happy and is complaining quite loudly lately.  

This weekend we spent time with Lyndell and Paulo, doing a tour of Porto Alegre.  and then the Barbecue house that has a traditional Gaucho (cowboy) show.  It was very entertaining, but we came back so full that we could hardly eat this morning.  

This morning we went out to Cidade de Deus (city of God) which is a spiritually based drug and alcohol recovery center.  They were celebrating their 7th anniversary.

  They presented certificates of completion to 12 men who completed the 1 year program and were now free from addiction.  It was a very moving ceremony with all of the testimonies.  They had a picnic and as you know,, what is a picnic without rain?   The guys had been hard at work putting up a shelter for everyone to be dry and reasonably comfortable.    

Tonight we were at the Boas Novas Baptist church.  They had the farewell for Filipe and Jessica Pinheiro (Bayer)  Then the message from Diego.  It was excellent and most of it I understood and translated the highlights to Jean and Ross

.

Good evening everyone.

So, how's it goin' eh??  

Going pretty good, eh.  

We have finished our first week here.  We have almost finished sanding and painting the shutters and window frames of the house.  Even though it was a holiday (labour day) we were working.  

We did take a Zacchaeus moment and enjoyed time with a family at lunch.  It was a very precious time spent with Enaldir and Nair.  They have always been open and inviting to us. 

We have visited most of the families on campus.  It is a blessing to us and a great opportunity to get to know them.  

This evening there was a parent's meeting on communications.  Most of the house parents attended so we were on guard duty for the compound.  

Ross is really enjoying the work, the culture and the people here.   His heart for God and for the people and children here is really shining through.  It is a pleasure to work with him.  (just don't tell him I said that,..  

Tomorrow is the trip into Porto Alegre.   pray for safety for us and that all will go well..

Deus ti abençõe...  God bless you ..

Good evening.  (Boa Tarde)

The last couple of days have been pretty heavy, work wise.  We have been sanding and painting the windows and shutters of one of the houses.  

We have been at this for hours and we hope to be finished this house this week.  There is still much work to do.  

It is not just for the work that we are here.  We have been able to spend time with some of the children and house parents.  We have gotten to know some of the newer children and renewed relationships with many of the children that we knew from before.  Some of the houseparents have shared their struggles, for which we can pray.  They have shared how encouraged they feel when they know that people are praying for them.. Thank you for your prayers for us and the children and parents who are raising the children of the Chain of Love.  

Friday here is a holiday.  It is Labour day.  Most everything is closed so it will be a day off for us.  

Saturday we will be going into Porto Alegre to spend some time with our missionary couple, Lyndell and Paulo Réquia.  

Sunday we plan to go out to Cidade de Deus (City of God) It is a drug and alcohol recovery farm setting.  All of the church has been invited to celebrate the 7th anniversary.  of the founding of this ministry.  We look forward to spending time with friends.  

Monday and the first day of work.

The staff arrive today and were overjoyed to receive the donations that were collected in the last couple of months.

Arseli (the school teacher at Chain of Love says  a big thank you for the school supplies that were sent with us.

After that we were able to tackle the work set before us.  we dismounted the first 2 sets of shutters and started sanding off the old baked on stain. Jean is applying the new stain once they are ready.

 It is hard work, but will be worth it in the end.

End of the first workday.  Time for some rest and getting ready for tomorrow which is more of the same.  

Boa noite,  (Good night)

After a walk to the downtown area of Campo Bom and the purchase of groceries, which is an adventure in itself, we returned to the Chain of Love Campus.
Shortly after we were able to present Bruna with the gift that was sent to her from the children of Power up.
Attached is the photo of the presentation.

 She was very happy to receive this special gift and really enjoyed looking at the pictures that the children drew for her.  She sends her love to everyone at Steele Heights.
\

Hello from warm and sunny Brazil..
Yes! we arrived safe and sound, a little tired but safe and sound none the less.
All of our suitcases made it safely and it appears that all of our supplies came through without a hitch.

Thank you

Continue to keep us in your prayers for safe travel.

THIS IS IT!!!

We're out of here...

We head for the airport this morning.  ready for take off.
The next message will be from Campo Bom Brazil.

Pray that all of the donated supplies will arrive intact with no questions asked.

Thanks for all of your prayers.

All of our bags are packed and we're ready to go,  they're waiting here beside the door..  

Yes we are packed and ready.

All we have left to do is pack a few clothes and head for the airport Thursday morning.  

It is exciting to think that we are this close to take off, and no stress.  

Continue to pray for our safety and that everything will arrive with us.  

Pray for our continued good health, especially now as we see the day approach.

Pray that we will give God the glory in all things.  

Pray that he will give us the wisdom we need in the things we do and the choices we make.

James 1:5

Thank you to all who are supporting us through this time

ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS!

Yes,  2 weeks from now we will be on our way.

We have been amply supplied financially.  We have most of the materials that we can take without being over capacity on our suitcases.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  Pray also for the children and houseparents at the
Chain of Love Homes.

We will be posting daily while on campus in Brazil.

Half Packed!.

THANK YOU to everyone who has donated items to the children at the Chain of Love.

It has been a real blessing to them and to us.

We still have some items that we are short on.

Pencil bags, black drawing pencil sets, highlighters, post-it notes, adhesive tape.

Medical supplies:  Lice shampoo, toothbrushes, dental floss, medical tape.

underwear for teen girls and teen boys.

blue jeans for teen boys.

We are busy packing and getting ready because. WE ARE LEAVING IN 41/2 weeks.

God's peace to all. \\

We have received full payment and even more, yes we have been amply supplied now that we have received the gifts you have given.  THANK YOU   Philippians 4:18

Brazil mission team 2015

 we would like to let everyone know that we have our airfare arranged at a very reasonable price.  Thank you all for praying for this item.  Our flight is leaving on Thursday, April 23.

Just a note to say, HURRAY!!!   we all have our Brazilian visas.  Now time to arrange the air tickets.

Our team is almost ready to go.  We look forward to being with our friends and ministering to the parents and children at COL.
Some prayer requests:
Please pray for the team as we finish preparation.
Pray that we will be able to arrange our air transportation.
Pray that our full support will be received..

We will be taking some items with us.
School backpacks, underwear for teen boys and girls.
Gifts for the children.

We will be posting updates and photos to this blog site during our ministy time.