Day 8: Home again, home again ... Jiggety-jig

When last I left you here, we were sitting in the São Paulo, Brazil airport with a "stand-by" ticket -- hoping to make the overnight flight back to D.C. ... then the 7 hour drive home to Tennessee. I'm happy to report that Renaissance Man and I are now back home after a successful week in Brazil.

I still have stories to tell you; events that blessed, encouraged, and challenged me ... and I think they'll bless, encourage, and perhaps challenge you, too. But those stories will have to wait just a little longer until I catch up on some rest (and laundry).

Tonight, though, I'll leave you with two quick updates:

1) The new Hope Unlimited thrift store inaugurated HERE on Day 3 raised $5,000 the very first day it was open ... and they're having a great week! I just learned they have a special need for "plus size" clothing (men's and women's). If you live near me and want to take up a collection to benefit the children we serve, Renaissance Man is headed back to Brazil in mid-June. Email me and we'll work out the details.

2) Last thing before leaving Campinas and heading to the airport, some of our group was able to deliver the food to the little "adopted" family I told you about on Day 2 of our trip. There's so much need there ...

The rest of us went straight to our meeting point ... the Royal Palm Plaza hotel. It was the perfect place to pass the time before the 1.5 hour drive to the airport. I think you'll agree ...

It's been fun traveling with you this past week. You're a really easy traveling companion! I suspect we may both need a little "space" though, so how about we give that to each other for a couple of days ... and then meet back here?

Hmmm... Which story should I tell you next? Music? Tablescapes? Construction? ...

Day 7: Headed Home

Hello all!  It's the end of a long week, and we're sitting in the Sao Paulo airport.  Hopefully we'll fly home tonight, but we're going stand-by, so that remains to be seen.

I have so much more to share with you about our trip to Brazil, but tonight my tired mind is ready to be home.  I've got to do some of this ...

Thanks for traveling with me this week.  I'll see you soon!

 

Day 6: Beauty and the Beast

Welcome to Vitoria, Brazil!

The city of Vitoria and its surrounding communities (total population 1.66 million) present some of the most alluring vistas in all of Brazil.  Beautiful beaches, a monastery built high on the hill of an island, and stark granite cliffs rising up out of the bay all contribute to a pleasing visual palate.

Click any picture to enlarge it.

The port at Vitoria is one of the busiest in the world.  From the air, cargo ships are anchored miles out to sea ... and as far up and down the coastline.  You can just see them along the horizon in this picture.

But it does not take long for the darker side of Vitoria to become apparent:  signs in hotels along the beachfront warn that soliciting minors for sex is against the law; the children’s prison at Cariacica looms forebodingly right next to the road; and favelas with subhuman living conditions spring up seemingly on every vacant patch of ground.

Vitoria is also home to Hope Mountain, providing the promise of a future to children who have led the bleakest of lives, bringing the promise of Hope to kids for whom tomorrow has always been a threat, rather than a promise. Isn't it a beautiful place?

Hope Mountain stands in stark contrast to the oppressive children's prison we visited yesterday.  I'll admit ...  Based on the stories of Board members who visited the same prison several years ago, I tried to prepare myself for a very emotionally disturbing experience.  Thankfully for the children, conditions have improved in recent years since Brazil's child judicial system (and this prison by name) was condemned in 2011 by the United Nations Human Rights Court.  But trust me.  It's still bad ... really bad.  And yet we're called to reach out to these children.  We all are.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  (James 1:27)

Luan,
stretched out on his tiny upper bunk reading his Bible, asked me to pray for him.

Antonio,
who stood at his heavy cell door looking out the tiny barred window, reached out in response to my offered handshake.

Genovaldo
told me he is child #3 of 11 in his family.  He was selected to assist with our tour ... and next week he will go back before the judge in hopes that his time has been served.  He's 14 years old.  On behalf of the prison staff, with thanks for our interest in their work, Genovaldo presented the three women in our group with gift boxes made by child prisoners ... because Sunday is Mother's Day in Brazil.  This one's mine, and it came with a big hug and a smile!  My heart was blessed by the kind gesture of an incarcerated child ... and it makes no difference that his crime remains a mystery to me.

We then visited a second juvenile prison facility.  It was less "heavy, clanging doors" but still very high-security -- and it used a totally different operational model.

Why is the Board of Hope Unlimited for Children visiting children's prisons?  Because our organization was asked by the state to investigate how we might adapt our award-winning program with mortally at-risk children for new work with juvenile prisoners.  It's a huge decision ... and we're doing extensive research ... and walking down the path until (or unless) it ends.  But God opened this door ... and has confirmed His intent over the past two years ... and so we keep stepping out in faith.  We covet your prayers for discernment and clarity of mind even as the Board continues to meet through the weekend.

I'm so glad you're traveling with me this week.  It's been a busy one, huh?  (... with lots you haven't even seen!)  It looks like I've managed to see the clock strike midnight yet again tonight ... and, once again, tomorrow (today!) comes early.  Sleep fast!

* * * * *

For the past week I've been blogging about my trip to Brazil with the Board of Hope Unlimited for Children.  If you missed any posts, just scroll to Older Posts to see where we've been.

Day 5: Where's the Energizer Bunny When You Need Him?

Hello, my friends.  I hope you're having a wonderful week "traveling" with me.  I also hope you're not as tired as I am!  Today has been a very long day, and I'm still processing a lot of our activities.  I'm also still enjoying the events of yesterday in Campinas, Brazil.  Here are a few pics so you can enjoy them, too ...

Hope Unlimited for Children ministers to over 430 children and their families through the Nave Mae Preschool located in the Rosalina favela.  I love seeing these little ones!

Next stop:  The City of Youth -- home to about 100 children who have no other safe place to live.  I've written about their residential care here at My Place to Yours on several occasions.  You can click "Hope Unlimited" on the sidebar to read more.

Yesterday, we visited three of their vocational training classes ... 

In the evening, Renaissance Man barbecued for all of the staff and their families plus the residential children -- 150+ people.  Looks like he had a little help from some former street kids!

There was one event yesterday that I consider to be even better than all these.  Hard to believe, I know!  I'm going to share it with you soon ... but not tonight.  There's not enough time right now to do it justice.  Instead, I'm headed to bed to "sleep fast" again.  Now that the catching up with children and programs is complete, the Board actually begins meeting tomorrow morning.

Let's keep moving, okay? 

If you have any questions you'd like me to answer about the children or programs in Brazil, leave a comment and ask them!  There are probably others who'd like to know, too.

In the meantime, perhaps there's a face or two that you'll pray for.  They're real children, you know ... and they need us all!

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
 

Day 4: Made to Feel ...

The children of Hope Unlimited are taught hospitality ... and this gift basket was placed in the room of each Board member and guest to be found upon their arrival. The cookies were made by the students in the baking class. Yum!

It's the end of a very long day, and my pics aren't accessible, so they'll have to wait ... but suffice it to say that we were overwhelmed by precious children at both the Preschool and the City of Youth. We were amazed and sobered by staff members at both locations as they gave updates on their work and the children they serve. We were encouraged and hopeful to hear possibilities of future ministry opportunities.

We laughed and hugged and butchered the Portuguese language as we attempted to communicate with children and staff alike. We let them practice their English. We applied and re-applied insect repellant throughout the day in hopes of avoiding the dreaded Dengue Fever which is becoming more common in the cities.

The alarm is set for 3:15 AM -- less than 5 hours from now -- and I have yet to wash away the dust of the day. Tomorrow we fly to Vitoria. I promised to tell you about the city of Vitoria, but it will have to wait. We'll be seeing the boys at Hope Mountain ... then visiting one (possibly two) children's prisons. I wish I weren't already so tired. I have tried to prepare myself emotionally and spiritually for the experience, but I can't really know how to do that. I'll sure appreciate your prayers ... In the late afternoon we hope to have a meeting with the Governor concerning an important project he's asked us to take on; it's time to settle the details.

Gotta close. I must "sleep fast."