"I WAS Dead.."
"I WAS Dead.."
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| Sunset I caught out the window as we were driving to Paraguay. |
Hello my friends, how is everyone doing:)? Happy Easter to each of you in the truest sense! The three most powerful words ever spoken, "I WAS Dead". Only the man named Jesus could say that He WAS dead and because of those three words, we have hope. Just imagine the moment a thirty three year old man lay dead in a stone cold tomb. Three days passed and then the wind of new life blew across His body. His heart started to beat again. Since He had shed every last drop of His blood, new blood had to now fill His veins. His Father filled His lungs with breath and He stood up, folded the burial cloth, and walked out of the tomb. Since He had never sinned, the rules of death were broken and death itself could not hold Him. He fought. He won. He lives. Now we can live. No matter how dead we may feel at times, how difficult our past or hopeless our present may seem, because Jesus rose, we also can rise from our ashes, and live.
"I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.." (Rev.1:18)
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| Down Town in Paraguay. |
Well my family and I are in Paraguay now! We plan to stay here for a while and then return again to Brazil. The border we crossed is known for being very difficult to cross and even dangerous and corrupt. Someone told us it was best to cross it late at night so we drove 12 hours straight to make it there and crossed late. The border was pretty deserted and it all went smooth. The next day we drove another 7 hours to the Capital. It's neat when you look on google maps and even though you only have 15 miles left to go, your estimated arrival time is 2 HOURS! Yeah for traffic:)
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| One of the Paraguayan borders late at night. |
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| And that sign pretty much sums up the food here:) "Cooky;) We went in a dominoes pizza and they had "Apple" written on the menu. We were thinking it was a pie or something, but no, it was their "healthy" food option:). |
It is a really tragic situation here in Paraguay. The city is in extreme poverty and just a complete disaster. It was actually under a dictatorship until 1989 and then that party continued to rule all the way until 2008! This really effects the people and the way they are. Because of bad flooding in January, thousands of people lost their homes and are now living in temporary shelters right in the down town center. They have very little food, drinking water and no electricity or bathrooms. The need is just overwhelming and we are praying for the Fathers grace and wisdom to effectively help these people and touch them with His love. I wish I was rich because there is just so much you could do to instantly, long term help a lot of people, but like Peter said, "silver and gold have I none, but what I do have, I give you". What we celebrate on Easter is the only hope for all humanity no matter what we may be dealing with. A man named Jesus WAS dead and is now alive, therefore we have hope.
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| Performing inside a rehabilitation center. This dance that conveys the idea of each being an individual, "playing" our own rhythm and not being influenced by others. |
The week before we left Brazil was super full:)! We presented at a different place every day, sometimes two a day. In one of the days, we drove three hours away up into a mountainous area. It was a long drive down a narrow windy road and we came in and out of rain storms. We finally found the prison which was buried behind a small town. The workers were expecting us and very glad to see us. The temperature at this higher elevation was a bit cooler so that was really nice for a change:) One man named David, told us that he had been set up to take the fall for a crime. In it all he was hit in the back of the head with a 2x4 and left for dead. He showed us his scars. In a song we share we have the words in it, "não desista" (don't give up) and at the end he told me how much that meant to him.
We had a beautiful time visiting and performing at a large home for the elderly. It was so cool to see these beautiful, but sad people, slowly warm to us and then accept us like their family. The director of activities was a 17 year old girl! She was mature well beyond her years and really cared about the people she worked with. Her mom had died when she was 11, her dad just left and her grandparents were raising her. Seeing the kindness of her grandparents, gave her the desire to work with older folks and choose to lay down her life and love these people. She had a very selfless beautiful attitude.
She told me that 90% of the people in this home get NO visitors! Someone drops them off and forgets them. The home, which is Catholic based, pays for all the expenses including their care, food, and clothes. This one man named, Theo, was really beautiful. At first when he came in he was really grouchy and even angry. But after a little "magic" and just talking to him, he became my best friend. He lost one of his legs in a hit and run accident years ago. As I pushed his wheel chair, he took me on a tour of the place. I gave him a chess board and we sat down and played a game.
Love really is a weapon. Even a tiny amount can change a life. We have to always make an effort to remember the forgotten and love the unlovable, just like Jesus did. If you even make a simple effort to say, go visit the elderly, or boys and girls club, or homeless shelter, you will take away as much as you give. I imagine you have some kind of talent you could use to approach people, maybe you can play an instrument, sing, use a card trick or puppet or just your personality. The best thing you can give others is to give yourself, and let God use yo to show His love. The best thing I ever did with my life, was to loose it (Jn.12:25)!
She told me that 90% of the people in this home get NO visitors! Someone drops them off and forgets them. The home, which is Catholic based, pays for all the expenses including their care, food, and clothes. This one man named, Theo, was really beautiful. At first when he came in he was really grouchy and even angry. But after a little "magic" and just talking to him, he became my best friend. He lost one of his legs in a hit and run accident years ago. As I pushed his wheel chair, he took me on a tour of the place. I gave him a chess board and we sat down and played a game.
Love really is a weapon. Even a tiny amount can change a life. We have to always make an effort to remember the forgotten and love the unlovable, just like Jesus did. If you even make a simple effort to say, go visit the elderly, or boys and girls club, or homeless shelter, you will take away as much as you give. I imagine you have some kind of talent you could use to approach people, maybe you can play an instrument, sing, use a card trick or puppet or just your personality. The best thing you can give others is to give yourself, and let God use yo to show His love. The best thing I ever did with my life, was to loose it (Jn.12:25)!
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| We had to go up and down a hall as some of the people at, here at this home for the elderly. We had to go up to each table and engage them one on one. They were really beautiful and listened. |
On my youngest brothers birthday, we visited a juvenile detention center and did two performances for two different groups. Both times we really got through to the kids. My brother was blessed to share the day caring about these young men. Many of the kids have come from broken families, had no parents or been through a tragedy. We were able to reach a lot of really beautiful young people and give them some real direction. They were quick to learn, ask questions and participate. It was like they were just starving for love and attention.
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| My family with a group of the kids and staff at a juvenile detention center. |
We made a color flyer with a cool car on it and use the example of a car, to teach them how they have to start their mind (think), shift into gear (make right choices) and drive their life (short version of a detailed and helpful example;). No one can drive our "car" (life) for us, if we are distracted by peer pressure and all the voices of the world, we can "crash". We communicate these ideas through a theatrical act, and large colored posters as well. It is something that really relates to this age group and they really get it.
The way it works here in Brazil is that minors, 17 years and younger, cannot be tried as adults or receive a long prison scnetence. So big time gangs, recruit these kids to commit serious crimes knowing they will get less time. It is tragic what some of these kids, who are really mere children, have done and now have to figure out how to deal with. After our performance, many of the guys came up and just wanted to tell their stories. One guy named Lucas, had just watch his mother die in the hospital. One guy had just had his right eye shot out by a cop who was chasing him. One kid had 7 brothers he was raising. Many told us that we had changed them forever and they were going to leave the gangs, maybe leave this city if thats what it took, and that they wanted to do good with their life.
The way it works here in Brazil is that minors, 17 years and younger, cannot be tried as adults or receive a long prison scnetence. So big time gangs, recruit these kids to commit serious crimes knowing they will get less time. It is tragic what some of these kids, who are really mere children, have done and now have to figure out how to deal with. After our performance, many of the guys came up and just wanted to tell their stories. One guy named Lucas, had just watch his mother die in the hospital. One guy had just had his right eye shot out by a cop who was chasing him. One kid had 7 brothers he was raising. Many told us that we had changed them forever and they were going to leave the gangs, maybe leave this city if thats what it took, and that they wanted to do good with their life.
The director told us that in 15 years of working there, and seeing other groups come in and talk to the kids, he had never seen anything like what we did. He said we were the first people he ever saw "speak their language". That is why we use cool music, do a little rap, cool magic ecs, so that we can "speak their language" and reach inside them. We did a total of eight presentations for different groups at different youth centers in the city.
We meant a beautiful group of people who are starting a foundation to help the homeless and those in need. They are a big family with others joined on and even though they are not rich, they are doing what they can to start to make a difference. The father, has been battling cancer for 8 years and it is heartbreaking to talk to his wife of 48 years tell me she knows he does not have much time left. His three sons are starting the foundation in his honor and are beautiful men that really love their family. The oldest son lost the use of his left arm in an accident at a factory. They really are an example that there is no excuse to not try to do good and help others! We shared together and were able to give them extra clothes, some food, supplies bibles that we had for their foundation. It was cool to think that even after we leave the city, someone is going to carry on an effort to keep helping the poor and homeless that we had come to know.
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| Our family with some of the members of the foundation. |
Its really awesome when it works out and we can go back to visit a previous prison. All the prisoners have had time to read the material we give out and think about all we shared and now they get the chance to ask us any questions and engage in conversation. We keep track of what acts, magic routines and dances we did the first time, and do all new things the next time so they get a whole new show. We usually re-visit a previous patio, and then go to a new one as well.
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| This picture and the one below it, a guard took from up above us on the wall. |
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| An act where we use a net to communicate all the things that can trap us in life. Only by engaging our freewill can we break away and find freedom. |
We worked extensively in the largest prison in Brazil. In this one patio we went into, it was one of the worst we have seen. There was trash everywhere (because they are not allowed bags or anyway to deal with trash), open sewage, and the walls were covered in mold. My heart just breaks for these guys suffering these conditions, some for many years. Many have never even stood before a judge or gotten a sentence! A lot of the guys knew Capoeira (the Brazilian martial art which is a combination of dance and fight) and were so excited to participate! One guys said, "wow, thank you! It gives me goose bumps to play these Brazilian instruments again! (We let them play the drum and percussions)" Doing Capoeira brings a lot of energy into the whole crowd so everyone becomes more attentive to listen to all we share.
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| My brother "playing" with one of the guys. |
We tried to make it to the main down town city plaza at least once a week, and many people came out to look for us. It was so busy here and at times our crowd would get really large with people from all walks of life. I do a magic routine with my brother (who wears a cirque do solid type mask), where I make an invisible "seed" turn into flowers. We go up to random people in the crowd and make them put a "seed" in my bag then I turn it into a flower:)
Seeds are those things in life which can seem so insignificant, but end can end up being very big. Like deciding to love a little more, making someone laugh, changing one thought or attitude, talking to the Father in a deeper way, spending a little more time reading the sacred scriptures, these are "seeds" that can grow into massive trees.
Seeds are those things in life which can seem so insignificant, but end can end up being very big. Like deciding to love a little more, making someone laugh, changing one thought or attitude, talking to the Father in a deeper way, spending a little more time reading the sacred scriptures, these are "seeds" that can grow into massive trees.
We reached so many people that were crossing through the plaza on their way to the bus stop. When they heard our music they stopped in the crowd, and many of them ended up staying the whole time! My sister does a really classy ballet dance that stops people in their tracks:)
When we arrived in the patio of a certain far coastal prison, we noticed right away that something was wrong. All the guys were unbelievably thin, way more than any other prison we had been too. It looked like something you would see in Africa. They began to come up to us and ask us if we possibly had any food we could give them! It was just tragic. They explained they only got one meal a day and sometimes not even that.
We could not figure everything out, but realized that there was some serious corruption going on between the gang leader, prison guards, and a huge (very evil) "church". Anyway, long story short, it was getting late and was almost the hour when no one can go in our out, but we were able to leave, find a grocery store close by, and buy a lot of food to give them. We made it back a gave it directly to the guys so it could not get stolen. Its tough because we can't really afford extra stuff like this, but in this case we just had to and we know the Lord always provides. A week later we went back to that same prison and brought more food as well as our performance.
We could not figure everything out, but realized that there was some serious corruption going on between the gang leader, prison guards, and a huge (very evil) "church". Anyway, long story short, it was getting late and was almost the hour when no one can go in our out, but we were able to leave, find a grocery store close by, and buy a lot of food to give them. We made it back a gave it directly to the guys so it could not get stolen. Its tough because we can't really afford extra stuff like this, but in this case we just had to and we know the Lord always provides. A week later we went back to that same prison and brought more food as well as our performance.
The previous day my sister and I went to the local fruit market and talked to the sellers. We were able to get a bunch of fruit, potatoes, watermelons and beans donated to add to the food we were bringing. The prisoners were so grateful we remembered and came all the way back with more food. We did two performances here again, and reached a lot of guys. No, you are right, watermelons is not exactly the most practical thing to bring into a prison:) but these guys had specifically asked for it so we decided to bring them some this time. But loading 30 watermelons into our van, out of our van, through a scanner (to make sure nothing was inside), off the scanner, onto a cart and then into the patio was....well....fun:) Plus this same process for EVERYTHING else we bring in and out!
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| Once our van is loaded up, its a tight fit to get all 8 of us plus our gear inside:) |
My sisters and I do a magic routine that is about time (obviously this is such a big issue for people in prison, especially those with long sentences). We use different tricks to communicate how time can "disappear" and if we spend our time thinking about the past, or things we cannot change, we merely waste our time and keep ourselves living in the past. Time can also move so slowly, and trap us like a like a bird in a cage (we keep this theme through the routine). But if we invest our time to do deeper things, things that are important, like talking to the Father, love others, study, think, then we can find a time beyond time. A time that is eternal. We make a bird cage appear that is empty. Then my sisters comes our with beautiful wings on as the "bird" free from time. Its hard to explain writing it out, but it communicates a lot and we perform it to a high energy rock type song the guys love.
My crazy brother really made the prisoners laugh in this one prison when he climbed up a pole to get away from the angry "dog" that was chasing him in a clown routine:) There were about 250 guys all spread out along the wall, all of them were really engaged and listening to all we shared.
I felt so bad for this older man who had lost one of his legs in a hit and run accident years ago. Imagine dealing with the hell of prison with one leg! We do a traditional Brazilian dance called a, "Gaucho dance". It is a song and dance they all know where we wear beautiful skirts my mom made and the boys wear cowboy hats. They all sing the words to the song and join in the dance. It means a lot to them that we do something from their culture that they grew up doing:) It reminds them of growing up on the countryside.
I felt so bad for this older man who had lost one of his legs in a hit and run accident years ago. Imagine dealing with the hell of prison with one leg! We do a traditional Brazilian dance called a, "Gaucho dance". It is a song and dance they all know where we wear beautiful skirts my mom made and the boys wear cowboy hats. They all sing the words to the song and join in the dance. It means a lot to them that we do something from their culture that they grew up doing:) It reminds them of growing up on the countryside.
I'll share with you a letter we got that one of the men from inside this prison dictated to a worker to send us. He wrote it in his attempted English:) :
"This date will surely be remembered in my memory and in my heart. the day that a group of Americans who might even call them angels, have arranged to come to a penitentiary, where much of society wants to stay away, to give their personal testimony, to present themselves theatrically and to demonstrate knowledge of the culture of our state. I wanted to thank everyone without exception. I'll introduce myself to you just by my first name. My name is Alexander, and I wanted to make you who made this day the best day of the approximately 242 days that I find myself secluded here in this Catcher's penitentiary. You have been able to awaken in me something, that perhaps I had no more, that is hope. God has bigger plans for me. I could be writing about you several pages, but I will abbreviate my words in a simple and simple Thank you !!
*QUANDO FICAR SEM CHÃO APRENDA A VOAR* (When you are left without ground you learn to fly)
This date I believe to be the re-beginning of my life. Thanks, my American friends
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| This picture and the one below are the same prison. Most of the day the guys have to stay inside their cells. |
Well I am going to sign off for now my friends, I have to practice a new magic routine with my sisters and get ready to go out tonight:). This Easter weekend here in Paraguay there is a boardwalk that is really busy in the night.
I pray the Lord my God would bless you each, and that you would look to Him, learn from Him and allow Him to carry your burden. May we never think that "we have arrived", "been there done that" and now have God in our "box" and we're all set. In presumption we will fall, but in humility we will rise and grow. The God who rose Jesus from the dead will never fit in any "box". The heavens are His throne, the earth is His footstool (Is.66:1). This Easter as we enjoy certain traditions and ceremonies, may we more than anything focus not on who Jesus was, but who He is. Because He WAS dead, but He IS alive and He is worthy of our lives.
His love and forgiveness are as deep as the ocean and high as the heavens. He is waiting to come to you and help you. Let us be humble, be a children and talk to our Father. The same power that called Jesus out of that tomb 2000 years ago, is there for you and I to access in our personal lives. A power so real, so strong and so practical it can change our life and then through us, change the lives of others. Don't hold yourself back guys! We are our own worst enemy. Don't let routine hold you prisoner and keep you from discovering the life God has for you.
Happy Easter and God bless you all. - Ruth
“Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6“He is not here, but He has risen.." Lk.24:5
The Rising Son (part of a poem I wrote).
I Bore all sorrow, sin and pain,
Resurrection blood now fill my vein.
Oh glorious sun it’s time to awake,
Come dancing dawn it’s time to break.
Come from your chamber rejoice in your way,
Great is thy glory on this third day.
Come spirit wind fill me with breath,
For I shall be the plague to death!
The curtain torn the earth will crack,
Oh stone that holds me now roll back!
