For the last ten days, my family went on a missions trip to Brasil with a team from my church. The weather was hot and sunny - a nice contrast from the chill in New Jersey. We stayed at a hotel in Campinas and drove half an hour every day to where the program was located. The program we were sent to serve was Hope Unlimited. They rescue street children and enroll them through their program which gives them an education, a safe society, a Christian learning, and career pursuit opportunities. They divide their campus into two groups for kids aged approximately 9 to 16: the city of youth (which includes the boy's ranch) and the girl's ranch. They also have a graduate program for those who have gone through Hope Unlimited and are aged 17 or 18.
We cleaned and painted six disgusting bathrooms, painted two houses in the boy's ranch, had a field day for the girls, had a talent show for girls and guys, and zip-lined with the graduates. We got to see selflessness and love portrayed beautifully in the house parents and leaders at the program. Also, those kids taught, loved, and served me more than I feel I could ever do for them.
My missions team had a recap every night and it was amazing. We shared God-moments – the specific times we felt/saw God throughout the day – and we put someone in the chair of encouragement. Pretty self-explanatory. We’d make a circle and place a chair in the middle. Steve Mayer would choose someone to sit in the chair, everyone would take turns encouraging that person, and someone else would pray for the person.
I learned that:
We cleaned and painted six disgusting bathrooms, painted two houses in the boy's ranch, had a field day for the girls, had a talent show for girls and guys, and zip-lined with the graduates. We got to see selflessness and love portrayed beautifully in the house parents and leaders at the program. Also, those kids taught, loved, and served me more than I feel I could ever do for them.
My missions team had a recap every night and it was amazing. We shared God-moments – the specific times we felt/saw God throughout the day – and we put someone in the chair of encouragement. Pretty self-explanatory. We’d make a circle and place a chair in the middle. Steve Mayer would choose someone to sit in the chair, everyone would take turns encouraging that person, and someone else would pray for the person.
I learned that:
The stuff that matters in the end isn’t your cellphone or the makeup you wear or the clothes you have. It’s about serving others and God.
Love is a universal language.
Little things matter for God.
Everyone has a story.
Hope can transform a life.
Music is essential for the most efficient painting.
Prayer is powerful.
Prayer is powerful.
A smile is worth a thousand words. [cue blog title]
God's love is a symphony and his grace is sufficient.
God's love is a symphony and his grace is sufficient.
Hugs are something amazing.
As a girl in my mission team said, the Brasil trip can be summed up in "Happiness through simplicity. Hope through love.”
For me, I met God through smiles of hope.
God is incredible.
Now, you might be thinking, "How could you have spoken to the kids? Don't they speak Portuguese?" We spoke through smiles, laughs, and the little words that we knew. Language is never a barrier for God's work.
The experience was awesome and I miss the kids and Brasil so much. I'm touched at the dedication and love shown by the staff: the directors, the bus drivers, the house parents. They give their lives to give, rather than to receive. They are a blessing to the kids and they are blessed by God. I'm also touched by the sincere hope radiating out of a kid's smile and gorgeous eyes.
I want to go back to serve soon.
If this is not the time, then when is?
Now, you might be thinking, "How could you have spoken to the kids? Don't they speak Portuguese?" We spoke through smiles, laughs, and the little words that we knew. Language is never a barrier for God's work.
The experience was awesome and I miss the kids and Brasil so much. I'm touched at the dedication and love shown by the staff: the directors, the bus drivers, the house parents. They give their lives to give, rather than to receive. They are a blessing to the kids and they are blessed by God. I'm also touched by the sincere hope radiating out of a kid's smile and gorgeous eyes.
I want to go back to serve soon.
If this is not the time, then when is?
[if you wish to check out a few of the original 1502 pictures i took, check it out here: Brasil Missions 2011 ]
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