Brazil Soccer Mission Team Updates

Friday, August 10, 2007

Breakfast was at 8 a.m. and then devotions with Missionary Tim Franklin, his wife and four kids. Tim is teaching in the seminary here in Natal that was started for the purpose of training national pastors. Today we were able to almost finish the slab preparation by moving and compacting another load of dirt and painting the entire front of the building with sealer. Tomorrow we should be able to finish. We came back to the hotel for a little time off this afternoon and a swim in the ocean. Tonight we will have a youth meeting at the Capim church after we eat. We may even go play some night soccer at 10 tonight....

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Breakfast was at 8 a.m. and devotions were by Dave Barfield, and then on to the work project. The painting continued to progress, and we moved 2 dump truck loads of dirt into the slab area and compacted it. We also sanded several wooden windows, preparing them to be varnished. We went to see the camp facility in the late afternoon, and managed to jump in the lake for a cool down and to play a little soccer with our Brazilian friends that were helping with the work project. When we returned to the city we enjoyed a great meal at Mazzano's Italian Restaurant. Ben Kaim injured his knee on a night jog and is "out of action" but OK. He will need to have it checked by his doctor upon our return.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Breakfast was at 7:30 a.m. and then the team had devotions at 8 a.m. with Ken Hess from Faith Bible Church in Naples. Ken joined the team to help in the work projects. We spent the morning and part of the afternoon at the church. Today we were able to complete the footer wall for the concrete slab, backfill the hall way to be covered with concrete, and start painting the front and sides of the building with sealer paint. The late afternoon and early evening we took a scenic and chaotic ride in dune buggies through the city, around the beach and onto the sand dunes north of the city. We crossed a river on a ferry and a small lake on a raft....we drove the buggies with us in them onto a wooden raft and the Brazilians polled us across the lake! We came back to the hotel for a service and testimony from Miquel Lima, owner of the hotel and former Brazilian soccer goalie who played professionally in Brazil, Germany and USA. A clear gospel presentation was given to our unsaved bus driver....pray for his salvation.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

We had a great day today. We painted two exterior walls, moved a dump truck load of dirt into a hall to be covered with cement, and started laying brick around the outdoor pad we hope to pour by the end of the week. We spent the later afternoon at the rehabilitation center run by missionary Mark Thompson. We had a service, testimonies and singing before we ate cake with them. We then played an hour of soccer on their dirt 30 yard X 20 yard field. The sidelines were 1/2 buried tires....needless to say they beat us! Thanks for your prayers, tomorrow we continue work on the building and will go out to their camp for a youth rally in the evening. Everyone is tired but no one is sick....Praise the Lord!

Monday, August 6, 2007

The Brazil Mission Team arrived safely at 3 a.m. today at the Natal Airport. They slept until 9 a.m. and then went to the church to begin their project. All are happy and well. Updates will be given throughout the trip, and they would appreciate everyone's prayers.