Hello from Brazil

Hello!! I am in Sunny Brazil. We arrived safetly after the longest journey of our trip! We had a 5 hour car ride, a 7 hour flight, a 14 hour flight, a 3 hour flight and a 5 hour car ride!! We made it and were welcomed by one of my friends (a Brazilian) who lived in Texas last summer, Ellen. Her and her family greeted us and drove us to the town of Sorriso, Brazil. It has been wonderful to catch up with Ellen and see her life in Brazil.

We started the week by speaking to a church about our trip. We got to share the stories and lessons that God has taught us. God sure planned our trip well..they are having a missions week. Funny huh??

The next day we handed out flyers/invitations to a rally in the city center. That was entertaining because NO ONE...i repeat...NO ONE speaks English in this town. We had translators that did not even speak English! We attempted to tell people to meet us in the city center at 7:30. We had a stage where we did a drama, a band played and Sean preached. It was a really fun night. Once again, missions was the focus and God really placed the call to GO on a lot of people´s hearts.

On Friday, we visited a drug rehab. This visit was hard for me. The guys there were so happy and so free of thier addiction. I just wish (SO MUCH) this freedom for everyone that is struggling with this problem. The guys were really concerned for me because I was a little emotional (understatement of the year). I got to talk to some of them and tell them how important it is for them to recover because there are people (family) that love them and want them to be healthy and happy. Their choices do not only affect them! Overall it was a great time. Really eye opening to me!

On Saturday, we visited two youth groups. The first one, was a goup of young kids. We played games and had a bible study. There were 6 kids and 6 of us, so we had the opportunity to pray for a kid individually. The next youth group was more like a retreat. They had been camping for a few days at a ranch. We told them about our trip and I talked to them about how it was at a retreat just like that one, that I was challenged to go on the mission field. That was cool to share that story! We did our drama and then ate dinner with them. We sat by this one guy who said Jesus Christ A LOT. That was the only thing he knew how to say in English. We laughed a lot.

We have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Ellen and her family and friends. I have really enjoyed their stories, wisdom and jokes!! We have laughed so much!! This leg of the trip has been very unusual for a trip like this. Ellen´s parents are spoiling us!! We are eating SO WELL, sleeping on mattresses in a house, even taking warm showers!!! God is so GOOD!!!

One of my favorite things about Brazil has been the night times!!! Every night after dinner (we eat late) I go and get my sheet and spread it out on the grass outside of our house. All of us go lay on it and look at the stars. The moon has been full and so bright!! The stars are so bright and beautiful. We have all really gotten to know eachother and have laughed SO MUCH!! I look forward to that time every night! It is one of those things that I just take for granted in America...not anymore!!

We have less than two weeks until we hit American soil. We go to Peru on Tuesday (that will be a long journey too..even though it is close). I am excited to experience a new country!!

Thank you for your prayers and support!!

Love, Kim