Newsletter - Brazil 2008

June 9th, 2008 Travel to Brazil

Dearest Friends,

THE TEAM IS STRANDED!!!

The team is stranded in Chicago, their flight from Atlanta was delayed a number of hours, and this led to them missing their connection to Sao Paulo.

Please pray that they would be able to get on a flight to Sao Paulo as soon as possible.

It is possible that the airline could get them on a flight where they would arrive at 5PM on Tuesday. They would have to re pack at the airport in Sao Paulo for a flight to Recife and the North East. The other option will have them arriving at 10. 05 AM on Wednesday, they will then have to change their flights to the North East.

This is Sam Shaw in Ireland writing for the team, again please pray that they would get the earliest possible flight to Brazil. With little or no cost would be better to the team.

In Jesus,

Sam for Linda and the team

June 10th, 2008 Travel to Brazil

Dearest Friends,

The team were unable to get the earlier flight to Brazil.

They now arrive in Brazil Wednesday morning at 10.05 AM.

The airline is putting the team up in a nice hotel in Chicago tonight, has given them meal vouchers and is sending them to the hotel in a taxi. The airline is required to do none of this, when people miss their flights due to the weather. This will be such a blessing to them after a busy day, with all these problems to deal with.

Pray for the lady they were able to share with at the airline desk, who was amazed at how patient they were as she arranged their, flights, hotel, taxi and food for them.

Pray for the Brazilian puppet directors as they change their flights to the North East on Tuesday, that it would not be to expensive.

In Jesus,

Sam Shaw in Ireland, for the team stuck in Chicago, USA.

June 10th, 2008 Travel to Brazil

Dearest Friends,

It is Sam Shaw here the Assistant Director of the Agape Puppets. At present I am in Ireland, and have been in contact with the team, in Chicago since 11PM yesterday (4AM Irish time this morning). Silvana my wife has been in contact with the Brazilian team trying to sort out the teams flights to the North East from Sao Paulo.

They are still delayed in Chicago, but they are hopeful to get out tonight. The problem with their original flight was due to weather in Chicago. They missed their flight to Brazil. They are due to depart on a flight this evening that will see them arriving in Sao Paulo at 10.05 AM tomorrow.

As it looks now the Brazilian airline will not refund the tickets for the flight that they will miss in Brazil this evening. They must buy new tickets, so that they can reach the children in the North East of Brazil. The total cost of all this looks like it will be in the region of $2500.

The North East is where they were planning on working and people are expecting them there.

However, we all understand, that this is God's problem not ours. So we give thanks for the challenge. As we know, all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord.

Please pray for God's solution as we trust in his provision.

In Jesus,

Sam Shaw - Assistant Director for the team

June 12th, 2008 Travel to Brazil

Dearest Friends,

Finally, we are in Brazil ! Thank you for praying us safely here! We landed in Sao Paulo and drove 2 hours to Campinas. Traffic was terrible! Fabianna and Gerson's family greeted us with a wonderful meal and so much love. Truly, we have family in this place! We quickly unpacked 9 suitcases and repacked for our flight to the Northeast. Within hours, we had driven back to the airport and were on another plane here. Because of the weather delay that caused us to miss our flight to Brazil, we missed 3 schedule d puppet shows and a training session here in Receife. People cried when they heard that we were not coming. They were so hungry to receive training so that they could better teach their children about Jesus.

At the airport tonight, 3 friends waited for us at 1:15 in the morning! They hugged us and made us feel more wecome than I have words to describe.

The Father used our delay and gave us many opportunities to speak to people in Chicago about Jesus Christ. Please forgive me, but I will tell you these stories tomorrow. We have been traveling for 3 days and must get up in 3 hours to go and do a show. Please hold us in your prayers!

In Jesus,

Linda for the team

June 12th, 2008 - Brazil

Dearest Friends,

4 SHOWS

What an incredible day we have had sharing with children in rural areas across the northeast of Brazil. We did 4 shows, 2 at orphanages, one at a shelter, and the last was a combination of a public school with a street show. What did we see the Father do?

1).   The director of one orphanage was so very grateful for our program. He repeatedly thanked us! Then, he said something that really touched my heart. He said, "We wait for more moments like these."

2).   At all of the shows, so many children prayed out loud. calling on God to forgive them and Jesus to save them. We never suggested that they pray out loud, but hundreds chose to pray very loudly. They were so excited!

3).   It is such a sweet privilege to tell orphans that there is a Father who wants to always be there for them. Today, some children seemed to lean foward in their seats, so hungry to hear about love.

4).   All of us have enjoyed so many hugs and kisses and big smiles.

5).   One man stopped his truck on the street and listened to the program.

6).   Teachers thanked us for telling them and the children about Jesus.

7).   Brazilians are very friendly. The Christians here share all that they have. Different pastors and missionaries prepare lunches and dinners for us as we travel. One man today sacrificed a large chicken so that we could enjoy a very special meal. Many of these brothers and sisters catch their water in a cistern, grow their own vegetables and live in very simple homes. Still, they give generously. Their example challenges me to live differently, to give sacrificially. I love these dear friends.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1).   Please pray for 3 brothers whose mother died a month ago. We met them at a shelter tonight with thier father. He was very drunk and caused problems during the puppet show. We all gathered around the family tonight and prayed.

The Bible says that we comfort with the comfort that we have been given, so I told the boys that I understood how it hurt to say goodbye to someone you love. They listened so intently and my heart ached for them. Please hold them before the throne.

2).   We drive 4 hours, leaving at 5am tomorrow morning to reach our first show. Please pray for God to give our friend and driver Bio extra strength.

3).   Praise God for Hannah and Sara. Through all of our delays ,missed meals and lost sleep, they have never complained. They are a real joy. Sara's testimony especially touched the orphans today as she buried both of her parents as a teenager. When she smiled and told the children that Jesus took away her loneliness, they listened. Thank God for Sara and Hannah's very sweet spirits.

4).   Please pray for Fabianna and Gerson Simioni, our Brazilian directors, who are working extra hard .They are a sweet blessing.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Hannah
Sara
Bio
Fabianna
Gerson

June 16th, 2008 - Brazil

Dearest Friends,

WHAT CAN THE FATHER DO WITH A SINGLE PUPPET SHOW?

Two years ago, we were working with Fountain in the Desert, a ministry in the northeast of Brazil. They scheduled us in a school in a very rough area. Most of the women in the area made their living by prostitution. The children did not know who their fathers were. After we did the program at the school, the principal could see a change in the behavior of the children. He invited Pastor Neto to come teach the children about Jesus. From that puppet show, and the children who prayed to recieve Christ, a small church was born. The other night we went there and did a street show. About two hundred people sat in the street or stood and listened to the Gospel. Please continue to hold this place in your prayers. The children can live very different lives from the lives their mothers and fathers have lived. Jesus is their only hope!

SERRA DA RANCHARIA

We did a show on the top of a mountain. Many of the places we are visiting are described to us as forgotten places. This is one of those places, full of people that no one thinks about. The spiritualists are very strong there and it has not been possible to start a church. The adults simply will not come. However, the children are hungry to hear about Jesus. They have a weekly meeting and from that group, a church will grow. Many of the children prayed to receive Christ at the show. They were so eager to ask Jesus to be their Savior that they started praying before Fabiana could give them all the words in Portuguese. Many of the children arrived riding in the back of a large vegetable truck. Fabiana and Gerson rode home on top of our van so they could enjoy the spectacular view. Please pray for this place. It is very very dark and the people are desperately poor.

JOAO VICTOR, HUGO, NATAN, PAULO, GUILHERME, AND FRIENDS

This group of boys came to a puppet show we did in the street of a small town. Hundreds of people attended the show, many of them adults. They listened well, but none of them prayed to recieve Christ. After the show, a group of boys stood nearby, waiting, as though they wanted to talk to me. Gerson and I talked with them for a long time. Most of their fathers were alcoholics. One boy told us he was very sad because his uncle and cousin had died. We told them how Jesus could take away their sadness. We told them how God could be their Father. All of them stood in the street and prayed with us, asking Jesus to be their Savior. Praise God! We were told that they would not be allowed to come to the children's Bible study that meets nearby because their fathers would not permit it. We introduced them to the lady that teaches the class and they all wanted to come. Please ask God to make a way for them to learn more about Him.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sara
Bio
Fabiana
Gerson
Hannah

June 17th, 2008 - Brazil

Dearest Friends,

TRUE RICHES

In a village square everyone gathered, children, teenagers, and adults. Many of the children prayed out loud, calling on Jesus to save them like He saved Peter. We told them Peter was a very rich man, but he had no silver, no gold, no fine clothes and no jewels. He was rich because he knew Jesus as his King. These children were so very poor, but now they know how they can be truely rich. Silver and gold cannot buy love, hope, joy or peace. These gifts can grow in their hearts and change their lives forever.

Another very sweet thing happened in this place. after the show, Fabianna and I had a lovely conversation with a group of ladies who arrived as we were finishing the program. They were sad that they had missed so much. I told them that I would tell them a special story, a story that I had not told the children. I shared with them Mike's testimony and how Jesus' love filled us with lovefor another. As I talked one lady began to cry. Please pray for this group of ladies in Feidoria to put their trust in Jesus and find true love.

MARY NANGE'S STORY

In a very small village, we met a school teacher named Mary Nange. She led all of the children at the school to the shade of a big tree so that they could watch the program. Many of the children climbed up in the tree to watch as they listened to story of Zacheus. It was very funny!

Mary Nange listened to the entire program and when e prayed with the children, she also prayed. She came and told us, she was so excited! Her whole face was changed. She had tears in her eyes and was not even able to describe all that she was feeling. Both of her parents died when she was eight years old. She told us her story and she had had a very hard life. Her face showed the peace and love that had filled her heart. Please pray for her to grow strong in her new faith.

DIFFERENT AND FUNNY THINGS

1).   Every night, we are in a different place. One night, I went into the bathroom and found a frog swimming in the toliet. I'm glad this only happened once.

2).   Sara is very funny. One day, she said, ''I love guano.'' She meant to say guava.

3).  One morning we had breakfast in a kitchen where a sheep was also a guest.

4).   Cactus ice cream is delicious!

5).   When you want people to smile for a photograph, you say, ''jeguel'' (jaggey). This is the word for donkey.

6).   They sell a candy here that is especially sweet. It is called ''Bride's Mattress''.

RAYER REQUESTS

Please ask the Father to call many children to Himself. Please pray for us as the days are very hot and the nights are very cold.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sara
Bio
Hannah
Gerson
Fabianna

June 18th, 2008 - Brazil

Dearest Friends,

A FAVELLA

A favella is a group of homes made usually out of other people's trash. The homes are poorly built and it is an extremely hard and dangerous place for children. Rape is common, as is alcohol abuse. We went to one of these places to do a puppet show.

They were so excited that we had come to see them. I looked into their eyes and wondered what they dreamed about. Their whole world smelt like a sewer. They loved the puppets, testimonies, and the Bible story. Best of all, they fell in love with Jesus! They were so eager to pray that they started trying to pray in English, before they recieved the Portuguese translation. So many of the children that we meet are so hungry to hear the Gospel. Praise God!

RAIN

Sal de Terra (Salt of the Earth) is the name of a Christian band that we are working with this trip. They want to expand their ministry and begin working with children.

Today we shared at a school, literally in the middle of nowhere. Months ago, Sal de Terra came there and did a program. It had not rained there in years. Many children did not even know what rain looked like. The band prayed in the school and asked God to make it rain. It started to rain and a big celebration took place in the streets. Praise God!

Today, in that same place, many children prayed out loud, calling on Jesus to save them at the puppet show. So many in this little village have came to trust in God's providence. Please pray for theses new believers to grow deep in their faith.

I CAN BE GOOD

At street shows, and at schools we are sharing with thousands of children, but many adults also come. For most, the Gospel is news to their ears. The Catholic church is the only church in many of these places. Here in South America, they teach that people can go to heaven by being good. God's word is plain. It says that none are righteous, no not one. They seldom talk about Jesus Christ, and do not mention the Resurrection.

In one place, the people were told to climb a mountain on their knees, praying at each stop, and give money. Such things will not pay the price for our sins. When they hear that Jesus Christ has paid the total price for our sin at a puppet show, their faces fill with joy and wonder.

BLESSINGS

1).   We met the first believer in Caicarinha da Penha. Six months ago, there was not a single believer in his town. Edizio gave me a beautiful quartz crystal that he had found so that I would not forget him. His face glowed with the love that God had put in his heart!

2).   Pastor George and his wife Audenice have only been church planting for less than a year and already there are enough believers to have a church.

3).   Two dear ladies in a tiny village washed all of our clothes by hand at a river while we were out doing puppet shows. We were so grateful!

4).   Clea and Cleide are sisters who have an undiagnosed illness. They cannot walk and one sister can only lay curled up in bed. Their faces glow as they have both come to faith in the last few months. One sister said, "I know that I will never walk on earth, but someday I will walk in Heaven." Her trust in God under such difficult circumstances is precious.

5).   One day while Hannah and I typed an email at an internet cafe, Sara shared with Ramaria, a little 13 year old girl. Please pray for her to come to the faith!

6).   People give up their own beds so we can rest well. Their kindness challenges us to love Jesus more.

FUNNY AND INTERESTING THINGS

1).   The stores in one town where we worked have the strangest names. They translated, "Great Jesus Gas Station" and "Great Jesus Pharmacy"

2).   Did you know Brazil nuts are from a fruit? They use the fruit to make Brazil nut juice. It is very good!

3).   House fronts are painted green in very dry areas. They say that they do this so they can remember what green looks like during the years it does not rain.

4).   Frogs keep showing up ion the most unusual places. Today there was one swimming in our water bottle.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sara
Bio
Fabiana
Gerson
Hannah

June 22nd, 2008 - Brazil

Dearest Friends,

SITIO TRAPIA, QUIXABEIRIANHA, MARACANAU, AND NOVA TRAPIA

These places will not appear on most maps. The people who live there are not forgotten; for most people athey do not even exist. Brazil has a law that requires all children to have an opportunity to go top school. However, most of the children in these villages have never gone to school.

They live in an area where it does not rain for years at a time. This year it rained and everything brown turned green. People have enough water and enough food. Normally, they just survive as best they can. With the rain came blessings, but also problems. It is so hot and dry that year after year diseases cannot survive. Now with the rain, people are struggling with colds, fevers, viruses, and more serious problems like the threat of denghney fever which is carried by mosquitoes. There was also flooding which destroyed roads.

Many people live in houses made of mud and thatch. There is a beetle that lives in the walls whose bite causes a rare tropical illness that usually kills you if you contract it. Their lives are very hard and improve very slowly. Two decades ago, only one in ten babies up to two years of age survived. Our friends told us that they watched an endless parade of small coffins being carried down the road. Today, a baby's death is rare.

We worked with English missionaries, Davine and Mike, who have loved these dear people for over 21 years. They serve with the mission board that pioneer missionary William Carey founded. They have raised two daughters and one son in a place that you would find difficult to visit. For eight years they faithfully shared the hope of they gospel before one person believed. Now, there is a church there and local believers who head the different ministry projects. Their priority is to share Jesus, but they also try to offer a simple education to the children who have no chance for school. Davine has taught many classes for pregnant and nursing mothers. Jobs are scarce, so they have started a beekeeping project to generate business opportunities. They have repaired homes for widows and helped develop water sources. More important, they made sure that these people knew about Jesus Christ.

If you are reading this e-mail, I have a question for you. What are you investing your life in? If you are older, and have 21 years behind you, what story do you have to tell? How have you made a difference for eternity? It was an honor to work with people who have good answers for all of these questions.

THE CHILDREN

A dear young woman recently asked me, what was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I recited to her a list of places that everyone always says they want to see around the world. I have been to all of these places. I told her that none of these places were as beautiful to me as the faces of they children when they hear about Jesus Christ. This is certainly true in these places.

These children and adults had never seen the things that we brought with us. They delighted in every thing we did. They gave us their smiles and their laughter. Best of all, we heard may to recieve Christ as their Savior. Please pray for these dear children. God sees them when no one else does.

In Jesus,

Linda for the team.

June 23rd, 2008 - Brazil

Dearest Friends,

WORTH IT ALL

This trip to the Northeast of Brazil has been the most tremendous blessing. We had the most difficult time getting to this place because of the weather delays coming out of the United States. Having to rebuy the tickets was very expensive and remains a matter of prayer. However, what price do you place on the thousands of children who have heard about Jesus, his forgiveness, and his love? What is it worth to see a child smile and forget for even a little while that their whole world smells like a sewer?

I believe that these children have a great value to the Father. So often, as I have stood in front of them, I have said "God sees you. He knows your names. He cares for you." They always look so surprised and delighted. Everywhere that we have gone we were told by the people there that they were forgotten. They feel that no one cares. Please pray for the Northeast of Brazil. Many national missionaries are working in this region. Please ask God to call more Brazilians to this area.

35,000 PEOPLE

Today, I visited the largest favella (local slums) that I have been to in Brazil. I often go to these places to do puppet shows. In Geriquiti, 35,000 people crowd into an area that should house 1/3 that number. Long before you ever reach the street that takes you into the favella, you smell it. We walked down streets with open running sewers crossing them and flooding all the drainage ditches. It was terrifically hot, smelly, and filthy. Toilets did not flush and the drinking water was bad. A large extended family crowds into two or three small rooms. The area is known for violence, rape, murder, and drug and alcohol abuse. It is a very dangerous place to be a child.

The little church was packed with children. Some laughed and smiled, but too many stared at us with vacant eyes. Some were hungry, but most had just seen so many awful things, they were numb. There are no air conditioners here, but the pastor did have a fan. I have a rule that we can never cry in front of the children as that makes us unable to serve them. I almost broke my own rule today. My heart broke...all of our hearts broke for the children of Geriquiti. Such a precious few trusted Jesus as Savior. A little twelve year old girl named Rosangela never took her eyes off of me. She did not smile much, but was very happy when I gave her my story pages. I was very happy because she was one of the precious few who trusted in Jesus today.

Geriquiti is a very dirty place. To be honest, it was hard to visit. I cannot imagine what those children endure. Please, pray for our Father to be kind to the children of Geriquiti and call them to Himself.

In Jesus,

Linda for the team.