Friday, June 22: Igreja Batista Palavra Viva

Our final day in Sao Paulo included some much needed rest for the team. Many slept in and finished some shopping to take back gifts to family and friends. We met in the afternoon for our last devotional time as a team. It was a meaningful time of sharing.

After devotionals, we went to Igreja Batista Palavra Viva for our final church service. The church was warm and welcoming to us, made us a delicious dinner and was very responsive to our testimonies and music selections. The pastor gave a gospel presentation during "What Wondrous Love Is This?".

Our new Brazilian friends that played in the orchestra with us all week were sad to say goodbye. We learned a new word in Portuguese, saudade, which is used to explain the feeling of missing something or someone. But it goes deeper - it's a beautiful word of Portuguese origin, evoking a sense of loneliness and incompleteness. This is the word they used to describe how they would miss us, and we feel the same about them. 

Thank you for all your prayers for our trip. We feel like the Lord used us in a mighty and powerful way to minister to the Brazilian people. We are coming back feeling just as blessed by them. 

Thursday, June 21: Mackenzie University Concert

We had an amazing Thursday here in Sao Paulo. We had a morning rehearsal at Mackenzie University and had a delicious, multi-course lunch! 

Kay Hays and Amy Bowen did another art class with children at one of the projects.

At this evening's concert at Mackenzie University, Diane Guthrie sang, Fred Starkweather shared his Faith Story, and the orchestra performed hymn arrangements and Rutter’s Gloria along with the Mackenzie University’s choir.  The concert was attended by university students and members of the community.   We also shared dinner with the Brazilian members of the orchestra. We received pins with an "M" as a gift to wear from Mackenzie University. We’ve made so many new Brazilian friends!! 

Things to pray for:

• Pray for our final concert at Ingreja Batista Vida Palava Viva tomorrow evening
• Pray for refreshment for our team members
• Pray that our final day in Sao Paulo is fruitful and that the Lord would continue moving in the lives of those we've encountered

Wednesday, June 20: Rio de Janeiro

We had a much needed day of recovery in Rio where we were given a city bus tour and visited the Christ Redeemer statue, Ipanema Beach, and Sugar Loaf.

Things you can pray for:

• Pray that lives would be touched at the Mackenzie University concert
• Pray for Fred Starkweather as he shares his Faith Story
• Pray for physical stamina for our team members

Tuesday, June 19: Workshops & Sala São Paulo

This morning we went to Morumbi Baptist Church and worked with students from Projeto AMIS and Projeto Criar. The variety of art activities was incredible - the project helps student develop skills in orchestra, choir, ballet, theater, and judo, just to name a few. Each of the groups performed for us and it was so special to see how much the arts meant to them. We also performed three songs for the kids that would be performing that evening at Sala.

In the afternoon, more workshop master classes were conducted with high school and college age students at the project.

In the evening was our performance at Sala São Paulo. Even before the concert began, the energy in the full-house audience was incredibly vibrant. The children from the workshops performed at the beginning of the concert and after intermission. They provided an element of fun, Brazilian culture to the evening. Heather Fuller shared her faith story about her and Johnny's loss of Ally. It was a very tender moment that demonstrated God's faithfulness. The recurring response from the audience after the concert was that they could feel the presence of the Lord.

Click here to watch a short video about the children's involvement in the program.

Things you can pray for:

• Pray that the Lord would energize and refresh us after a day of rest in Rio
• Pray for safe travels

Monday, June 18: Workshops & Theatro Municipal de Barueri

Today was a very long, but fulfilling day for our team members.  We conducted workshops at Projecto Harmonia in Barueri, a music school for underprivileged children in a very poor neighborhood.  Workshops were conducted for strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion students. 

Jason Baker, Heather Ramsey, Crystal Dugger and Cheryl Thompson conducted the workshop for the woodwinds. 

Heather transposed two pieces of music for the Eb Alto Sax players in the afternoon workshop. We were able to leave behind some music for all of the woodwind players.

Fred Starkweather and Jim Beck conducted the percussion workshop. 

The brass players (Joel Adair, Skip Sidner, Alan Suska, David Langston, Mel Adair, and Arthur Houff) played several songs for each class during the workshop. Alan shared a short Gospel presentation after they played. 

The brass quintet also performed for the government social workers, including the director. This was a very meaningful time as Projecto Harmonia had recently received word that unless $150,000 would be received, their program was being cut from 180 students down to 100.  Music is very important to the students at the project. The music played by the quintet touched the souls of many there today.  

Click here to watch the brass playing for the social workers

The string workshop was conducted by Barbara Woodring, Sophia Thundu, Heather Fuller, Diana Gooch, Abbey Brodnick, Susan Brodnick, and Lorraine Caldwell. 

The string workshop was so good that even Johnny was able to play!

Kay Hays and Judy Werner taught art projects to some of the children too.

Two of our team members, Dan Kennedy and Wayne Werner, went to their second day of a renovation project. 

The evening concert was performed at Theatro Municipal de Barueri. Students from Projeto Harmonia performed two songs at the beginning of the concert. It was so special to hear them play after working with them all day. Many of the students brought their families to the concert. 

Sherry Kennedy added narration with Scripture, highlighting elements of God's character. Faith stories were shared by Crystal Dugger and Judy Werner. We were provided dinner at the theater before the concert, where we were able to fellowship with our new Brazilian friends. 

Things you can pray for:

• Pray for successful workshops with students tomorrow at Projeto Criar and Projeto Amis
• Pray for God's presence to be with us as we perform and offer faith stories at Sala Hall
• Pray for the Projeto Harmonia, Projeto Criar and Projeto Amis students as they perform at Sala with us