Hope is the bridge that brings broken lives a future.

Hope is the bridge that brings broken lives a future. 

Before heading back to Brazil, we spent some time working in U.S cities where there are also so many people in need.  

First we spent time in Denver, Detroit, Chicago and Ohio. Right now Dayton is dealing with a serious drug problem, the stats are just overwhelming of how many people are becoming addicted and are losing their lives from Opioid and Meth. So many children suffer greatly from parents that are addicts.

This world can be so cold and cruel. It entices men with dreams and then leaves them with nightmares. It promises a future but leaves a troubled past instead. To know Gods love is the only way to make it and to survive this dark world.  His love will never fail. No matter what we have done or are going through, the Father is waiting to help us, love us and forgive us. There is nothing that is beyond His reach. Even in our darkest hour, He will be there and be our light if we just call on Him.  No matter what, hope is possible. 

So many people in Chicago have suffered so much due to gang violence. It is just tragic how many shootings have occurred. It makes me angry that more is not being done to stop this and to help all the innocent people that get caught up in the violence. In 2016 there were 4,331 shooting victims in Chicago with 762 murders. I just can't believe those numbers! That's in America in our own back yard. 

We worked with a lot of people and also made up a tun of care/lunch packages and just walked the streets helping and talking to those along the way. Even along the Magnificent mile there are just so many in need. So many tragic stories. We met a guy in a wheel chair who was begging near Wriggly field. He had lost both of his legs in an accident when a car pulled up next to him, shot at him and his car flipped over. He was so smart and had such an upbeat attitude for all he had gone through. Another man who we bought lunch for and ate with us in Taco Bell, had a prosthetic leg and told me that one day he worked late at an electric company and when he was walking home, a car ran through a street light and ran him over. He lost everything. It is such a privilege to meet these people and touch them with the Fathers love.

We spent a good amount of time in New York city working with so many. There are so many people that sit on the street corners with cardboard signs asking for help.  So many sad stories. A few that really broke my heart were ones like, "Please see me!", or, "Today is my birthday, could anyone please help make this day a little special", or,  "I am just so hungry". You see just crowds and crowds pouring past these people and so few see them. Its like they are invisible. 
I remember an experience I had one day when we were living in Colombia. My brother and I were building this little trailer that we needed to carry all our gear behind our van. We had been putting the axels on so I was covered in grease and my shirt and jeans were a mess. We needed something to lay on to slide under the trailer so I was looking through the trash for a piece of cardboard. Being blond, I don't always blend in in latin countries since I look like a foreigner and often people will stare. But as I was looking through the trash, I noticed that all the people passing by the street suddenly averted their eyes and ignored me completely. I felt like I was invisible. I realized that as I dug through the trash with my dirty appearance  I looked like I was homeless. It made me so sad to see, even for just a second the reality of their world. What would it be like to be in desperate need of help, but always be ignored and shunned? My dear friends, no matter what we may face in life, we have to "see" each other and never let our hearts grow cold. Even if we can't afford to help someone, we can always afford to care. 
We also spent time in D.C and Baltimore working with some beautiful people.

Packing up and getting ready to head out:)!

As the fall winds down, we will prepare to return to Brazil by Christmas. So much to do and so little time:)! It takes a lot of work to translate everything into Portuguese and figure out all our equipment, props costumes and gear. We are so extremely grateful to the individuals that donated to us Portuguese Gospels of John, stuffed animals, little toys, bracelets and chess boards. Shortly after we arrive we will be performing for a Christmas party at a large orphanage and we are so happy to be able to bring some little toys and stuffed animals to give them for Christmas. 

The department of government that runs the prisons has requested that we continue our work and we are very eager to do so. We pray for the wisdom, courage and grace to effectively communicate Gods profound love and absolute forgiveness to them. 

I leave you with this thought....

- "What is essential is invisible to the eye. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly" -

Have you ever by any chance seen the animated movie, "The Little Prince"? It is made after a famous french book. I think you would like it.

There is a thread, a theme that touches every one of us deep in our soul. No matter how old we are, or how "important" we are in the world, there is a part of each of us that just wants to be a child. The world wants to make us forget, to just "grow up already". From childhood we are thrown into the system and faced with the question, "what will you be when you grow up?" Everything around us says, "forget childhood, just start to prepare for adulthood". The world shouts at us that we have to "be something", we have to be essential. But what truly are those things that are essential?

Don't you ever miss that thing called, "playing"? The simple bliss of childhood, running for fun, not for exercise. Playing a silly game with no rules that you just made up. Building a fort. Having more fun with the big cardboard box then with the thing that came in the box. Laying on your back and seeing faces in the clouds. Making up clubs even though your siblings are the only members in it. Gazing with wonder into the starry skies. Having no worries, responsibilities or the pressure and schedule of a job. Well you know what is so awesome? Jesus Himself said, “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt.18:3).  He did not say that to be a child was an option, but the only thing that is "essential".  So don't look for your identity in a world that has no place for children. Rather find your place in a world that calls you to identify as a child. It is the things that are invisible that are essential, love, laughter, faith in an unseen God. And these are the things you can only see with your heart.

(Ps. I highly recommend you get some of those glow in the dark stars and put them above your bed;))