Belo

Today was a great day of cultural experiences in the city of Belo Horizonte. After a late night last night, we were able to sleep in and head out to the Hippie Fair later in the morning. There were hundreds (actually probably a few thousand) people packed in the streets filled with tents and vendors of all sorts of Brazilian cultural things. Us girls turned our "shopping instincts" on and went from vendor to vendor getting the best deals on jewelry, bags, shoes and dresses. We all left with GREAT deals and awesome cultural souvenirs and gifts! Our Brazilian friends from Comunidade Horizonte (the Church we're working with) took us through the market and then walked us through the streets of downtown Belo to a great cultural buffet eating experience. We were able to try all original Belo dishes, including chicken heart and a full roasted pig!!

This evening we went to the 6pm Comunidade Horizonte service and worshipped with our Brazilian community here. It was great to see faces we met at the Welcome Party last night, and the service was translated for us through personal headsets we were all given at the beginning of the night. Pastor Raoul spoke on Truth (fitting...) He began the sermon with, "Why did Jesus come to earth?" While many answers from the congregation were true regarding redemption, our salvation and showing Gods love, the main message was centered around John 18:37-38 when Jesus says that He came to testify the truth. Pilate then asks Jesus in verse 38, "What is truth?"
We were challenged to ask ourselves this question...do we know the Truth? What is the truth? And if we believe it, how are we living as if we do? A great point that Raoul made was that we dont have to do something so great and elaborate in order to "live our lives for God." Instead, he directed our attention to 1 Corinthians where Paul talks about God using the weak things of the world to shame the strong. We can be "effective" for the Kingdom by being anonymous people who have surrendered their lives for the sake of the Kingdom. All this to say, we were challenged tonight to seek Truth in Christ as the only way, and to realize that giving our lives for the sake of the Gospel is not for our glory but rather for the glory of God and advancement of the Kingdom. Great Word for our lives both here in Brazil and for going back to the States next week.

We've had the opportunity to meditate on truth from the Word and also what the Lord is teaching us individually and as a group while we've been here. God is opening up all of our eyes and minds to the reality of the world around us, and while it is a hard thing to see and feel, we know that we are becoming more like him as we seek to feel the compassion He has for His children in Brazil and around the world.

Tonight closed with the entire teams favorite meal of the trip thus far at Donna Margheritas - an awesome pizza place in Belo. It was "service buffet style" and all you can eat. The pizza was like CPK, but better quality and more flavor/ingredients/types than our American CPK. After all of us had a few quality pieces (including chicken and cheese, anchovie, broccoli, pepperoni, four cheese, mushroom, hawaiian and the list goes on...), they began to bring out some dessert pizzas. These included chocolate and coconut pizza, dulce de leche, chocolate fondue with strawberries, and bananas foster pizza....we all ate as much as we could possibly fit in our stomachs!!! We're definitely not going hungry on this trip... ;)

Tomorrow we will get up early and leave for a morning of touring, lunch at the house and early afternoon of rest before our soccer game against the American School at 4pm. This game will be used as an introductory ministry opportunity for the Church to meet and get acquainted with the parents and girls at the school in hopes to continue these relationships after we leave.

Pray that the families would be open to getting to know the Comunidade Horizonte leadership team and its members during and after the game tomorrow.
Pray also that the Lord would continue to teach and show us more about His children here in Belo and that our eyes would be opened to see what He sees and feel what He feels.
Thanks for your prayers - Bom Noite!