The moment Love was born.
The moment Love was born.
Hello and Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you each have a beautiful time with your families and are able to let everything go and just be in the moment with those you love. Lets not let outside things that don't really matter, get in the way of the inside things that matter most.
No more beautiful moment in history to celebrate than the birth of our Lord Jesus. On that one night, for the first time, light dawned in a dark world and in a world full of hate, in that moment, love was born. For years, God had given mankind laws to obey, commandments and sacrifices to perform so that they could be holy and acceptable to Him. But they failed time after time. And still we fail, time after time. We can never be right or good enough to get up to God. So God, came down to us.
Mary and Joesph looked for a place, but there was no room for them, so God allowed His Son to enter the world in a lowly, ordinary stable. And there in a town called Bethlehem, hope arrived and God sent us His love. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Eternal Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God. Mankind had lost heart. So the Father gave us His heart. His Son, born in the most obscure way possible and laid in a manger. The Fathers priceless treasure lay in an earthen vessel.
No crowds to stand in awe, no orchestra music or spectacular ceremony, the earth did not stand still and yet the Savior of the world was just born. To this day, the world still has no place for God, no room for Him, although He constantly "knocks on the door" (Rev.3:20). So God allows His priceless "Treasure" to find a place only amongst the lowly. "Earthen vessels", ordinary people who have lain down their life to honor His (2.Cor.4:7/Is.57:15).
Imagine if you held baby Jesus in your arms. What would you have seen? If you looked with your heart, you would have seen the Hope of Israel, the healing of the nations. You would have seen the end to death and the beginning of life. You would have seen the profound love of the eternal God in those beautiful eyes.
Mary and Joesph looked for a place, but there was no room for them, so God allowed His Son to enter the world in a lowly, ordinary stable. And there in a town called Bethlehem, hope arrived and God sent us His love. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Eternal Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God. Mankind had lost heart. So the Father gave us His heart. His Son, born in the most obscure way possible and laid in a manger. The Fathers priceless treasure lay in an earthen vessel.
No crowds to stand in awe, no orchestra music or spectacular ceremony, the earth did not stand still and yet the Savior of the world was just born. To this day, the world still has no place for God, no room for Him, although He constantly "knocks on the door" (Rev.3:20). So God allows His priceless "Treasure" to find a place only amongst the lowly. "Earthen vessels", ordinary people who have lain down their life to honor His (2.Cor.4:7/Is.57:15).
Imagine if you held baby Jesus in your arms. What would you have seen? If you looked with your heart, you would have seen the Hope of Israel, the healing of the nations. You would have seen the end to death and the beginning of life. You would have seen the profound love of the eternal God in those beautiful eyes.
So for Christmas, let us contemplate this spectacular event, not as a child's Christmas story that we have all heard many times, but as the profound reality and miracle of God, being born on earth, as a human so that He could grown up, die and rise again in order to rescue us. His birth was like no other. His death was like no other. His life IS like no other.
Sorry this post is not going to be the best edited or written:) (not that any of them ever are;)) I am really rushed right now but just wanted to get you an update by Christmas.
We have had a tough time finding a place to stay here and as of this moment, don't have anywhere to stay for Christmas and the week after. The guy who owned the place we had reserved, at the last second said he changed his mind because he realized he could rent it for a higher price. Now by this time all the prices on places have gone way up because of the holidays so we have been doing a lot of searching. Its just hard to find and affordable safe place for eight people (there are shootings and gang wars every day in certain areas so we have to be wise). I know something will work out and the Lord will lead us (hey, we'll take a stable at this point;)).
One day when we were looking for a place to stay, we were walking down this street, there were real poor type houses on each side and then a drainage ditch in the center. We looked closer in the ditch and, guess what? We saw three crocodiles swimming in it! Not kidding, right in a down town kind of area with trash floating around them! The locals are like, "Yeah...and?" Ok, were not in Kansas:) If I go back there some time I'll try to get you a picture;)
Even with having to move around and deal with our living situation, we have still been doing a lot of events and performing and ministering all over the city. This month has been crazy and we are really tired now. Since we were here last, we received many requests to perform at schools at different community and city events and in the prisons. So we have had a really full schedule, this last week going every day, a few of the days double. Often we have had to split up to fit everything in. But it is such blessing and privileged to be used by God to touch others that anything we face is a small price to pay.
We have had a tough time finding a place to stay here and as of this moment, don't have anywhere to stay for Christmas and the week after. The guy who owned the place we had reserved, at the last second said he changed his mind because he realized he could rent it for a higher price. Now by this time all the prices on places have gone way up because of the holidays so we have been doing a lot of searching. Its just hard to find and affordable safe place for eight people (there are shootings and gang wars every day in certain areas so we have to be wise). I know something will work out and the Lord will lead us (hey, we'll take a stable at this point;)).
One day when we were looking for a place to stay, we were walking down this street, there were real poor type houses on each side and then a drainage ditch in the center. We looked closer in the ditch and, guess what? We saw three crocodiles swimming in it! Not kidding, right in a down town kind of area with trash floating around them! The locals are like, "Yeah...and?" Ok, were not in Kansas:) If I go back there some time I'll try to get you a picture;)
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| Performing in a theater for a special Christmas show. |
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| My brothers and sisters and I performing a choreographed dance routine. |
The Lord Jesus was with us and gave us the wisdom and boldness to reach into these kids world and give them reality. They were so attentive and respectful and cheered insanely loud for each act we did. They were eager to participate and really touched by all we shared. When we were finished and gave our final bow, no-one moved. All 400 teens just sat there and then stated chanting in English, "Thank you, thank you...". It was really cool. Talk about a special Thanksgiving:)! Thank you Jesus!
After the performance, we stayed another hour just talking one on one to so many kids, each with their own story. This area is a very bad, dangerous and violent area and these kids have each suffered greatly, lost a loved one or have a parent in prison. The days following our visit, we received more emails and texts then ever, saying specific meaningful things about how much our message changed them and gave them hope.
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| My brother doing a back flip. |
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| My brothers and sisters and I are second degree black belts and use this art to teach focus and discipline. |
One young man, named Lucas, told us he had attempted suicide because he just wanted to give up on life. His mom had left, his dad is in the hospital, dying of a horrible sickness and he had no-one. A few days later we went with him to the hospital to visit his dad. He couldn't afford the trip to the hospital and him and his dead had tension between them since his dad had not been there through the years. We were able to spend time helping them bridge the gap by talking to them together and making them laugh. The dad looked like he was 80 when he was 50 and because the hospital food was so bad, he hardly eats. We were able to get the son some extra food to take to his dad and bus fares. It was a beautiful experience.
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| This was early in the morning on a deserted beach. But as summer is arriving here, the beaches are just packed with people and we walk up and down them with flags that have messages of hope and lift up Jesus. |
We received a request from the Brazilian army to perform at an event they put on for the people in a very poor area. They provide health care, job services, food ecs and they asked us to put on the show. There were around 5,000 people there throughout the day and it took a lot of work to get it all organized. But it went really well and we were able to reach a lot of people who live in the middle of nowhere, as well as many soldiers from the army.
Part way thorough our performance, a commander came up to us and informed us that the 4 star General, who is over the entire Brazilian army, who be coming to meet us and watch some of our show. It was an honor. He spoke good english and was very grateful for our work. He informed us that he would help us in anyway they could.
We did a special performance at ballet/hip hop dance show in a theater that was located at the foot of a really dangerous slum. They were having a Christmas celebration for all the dancers and we got to close the event with our show (which is specially designed for Christmas right now). The little ballerinas were so sweet and it broke my heart when a little girl, no more than five, starts telling me about the shooting outside her house last night and how afraid she was. They want to know if it is safer in America and if we ever are afraid there. The dance instructor told us that many days the kids can't make it to class because of the gang violence in their village.
We had a beautiful time with them and we performed the Christmas story of the birth of Christ with each of us acting a part of Mary, Joesph, A Shepherd, Angel and wisemen (My brother as one of the thee kings on stilts you can kind of see in the back of the picture above). My sister closed our show with a beautiful story of a toy puppet ballerina, who comes to the cross and can break free to dance. Communicating all the things that tie us up and hold us back, our sadness, past, mistakes and regrets. The birth, life and death of Jesus were like no other, and through Him, we can be truly free.
Another school we visited was technically only 30 miles away from us, but it took us over two and a half hours because of the traffic and bad roads (Thats like the norm here). We almost turned back when we were about two miles away because the last stretch of road was so bad.
It was all mud, massive potholes and we were afraid we would damage our van. But since we had already come so far, we decided to take it real slow, walk ahead of the van and just crawl along. When we finally got there, it was a pretty chaotic scene. Kids were running all over, there were pigs and dogs walking through large heaps of trash, a ditch full of stagnate water and waste running along side and the school itself looked like a condemned building. The director told us that he really had no control over the kids and we were on our own to try to get things under control and organized. Oh no way... Neat, thank you!
It was all mud, massive potholes and we were afraid we would damage our van. But since we had already come so far, we decided to take it real slow, walk ahead of the van and just crawl along. When we finally got there, it was a pretty chaotic scene. Kids were running all over, there were pigs and dogs walking through large heaps of trash, a ditch full of stagnate water and waste running along side and the school itself looked like a condemned building. The director told us that he really had no control over the kids and we were on our own to try to get things under control and organized. Oh no way... Neat, thank you!
But as always, the Lord Jesus came under us and helped us with His grace and tender mercy. We took control and pretty much told the kids what to do and explained who we are and that we were going to do a cool show for them. They instantly showed us respect and attention and the director was really ashamed and humiliated that he had let things get so bad. It's like so many of the people in charge at different places here have just given up completely. In part I understand, because things seem so hopeless and they themselves have difficult lives, but I have also seen how just a little portion of love and care, goes a really long way to changing and improving things.
Anyway, after some hard work and a lot of teaching and talking, we were able to have an awesome time with these kids and really make an impact in their lives. As well as making them laugh and doing magic and dance for them, we taught about a lot of tough issues like drugs, peer pressure, marriage, gangs and individually beginning to seek the Father and study the Scriptures. Many of them wrote us afterward to tell us how we changed them and we constantly stay in touch with some of them. One of the teachers told us that many of the kids had fathers in prison, and that a huge problem was gangs that would come outside the school and sell the kids drugs. So we touched on these issues and thought them many things about thinking, consequences and making right decisions
The teachers and workers had never seen the kids so quiet and respectful and couldn't believe we could keep them in this kind of order. Only be the grace of God. At the end all the kids just crowded around us and waited to get a hug, event the teen, "bad" kind of kids. They had never known this kind of love and care.
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| My brothers performing a funny clown routine. |
In between all our events we spend time down town in the very busy city centers ministering to the masses and helping the homeless on the streets. The center has been especially busy with the holiday shopping and we have been reaching huge crowds.
Often as we travel to and from different schools, prisons and events, we take time after to walk through the surrounding area and go door to door. In certain places we can't drive in and there is no real center, so to reach the people we just spread out and walk to reach the "houses" (not that you can call them houses) and share the Gospel with them. Sometimes we give them little gifts, toys for their children, bibles and things to read, but mostly we give the the good news of the Father who sent His Son Jesus to provide us with hope in even the most hopeless situation. We have many beautiful encounters this way.
Often as we travel to and from different schools, prisons and events, we take time after to walk through the surrounding area and go door to door. In certain places we can't drive in and there is no real center, so to reach the people we just spread out and walk to reach the "houses" (not that you can call them houses) and share the Gospel with them. Sometimes we give them little gifts, toys for their children, bibles and things to read, but mostly we give the the good news of the Father who sent His Son Jesus to provide us with hope in even the most hopeless situation. We have many beautiful encounters this way.
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| We make up little packets to give the people we meet with items that some very generous companies have donated to us. Some for kids, some for the homeless and some for prisoners. |
This last month many of the sub cities and communities put on events where they invite poor families to come and give them a gift and food. (Sometimes they have a santa claus and sometimes santa ends up being one of my brothers or me in a frog costume in a sonata coat :))
After we were invited to one of these events, word spread about the Americans with a cool free show and we soon had five more. The people putting on these events (often a Catholic Parish) do not have a lot of resources or help so we end up helping organize the events, set them up, and break them down as well as contributing candy, prizes or whatever we can afford. All of this work so that we can reach someone with the hope of the Gospel. That the birth of Jesus who we celebrate is alive today and can help you, take care of you and heal your pain.
We have had some really beautiful times at these events, reaching people who come from the favelas and have nothing. They are so grateful for a Christmas and very open to the Gospel. These times have definitely been my Christmas present! Surely it is more blessed to give then to receive.
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| My brothers and sisters and I on the stage in the santa hats:) |
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| Letting the kids participate and take center stage. |
A certain company actually donated us our shoes and uniforms this year, so in some of the pictures you see us in cool colored shirts or sharp uniforms, thats why;) It's hard to get many pictures since we are all working hard to keep things moving so some pictures aren't that great, or are the only act I am not in so I can grab a picture:)
These last two week we have also visited a women's prison, mens prison and a hospital type prison. I don't have any pictures of these for you because cameras weren't allowed in these ones. The picture below is in front of the women's prison where we performed from round 200 women.
Walking through the prison it was just tragic. Each cell was overcrowded and packed with ladies. It's like 105 degrees here and even hotter inside their cement walls so they are just sweating hot. Roaches and bugs were crawling all over the walls and these women were in a very bad situation. Most of them are serving time from getting involved in trafficking with their husbands or boyfriends and now they are realizing horrible consequences. Living in a place not fit for animals.
We spent half the day with them and shared so many things. We do a theater act where by brother comes out frantically looking for something. My other brother comes out and asks him what he is looking for. He pauses and responds, that he is looking for his heart. He lost his heart. A slow song is playing and as he explain how he lost his heart my other brothers and sisters and I take a red scarf from his hand and make it disappear. Then my brother explains how the world can steal our heart, little bit by little bit till we have nothing left. But that God is a Father, who can take all our broken pieces and mend us together. The act ends in an upbeat dance choreography all six of us perform. (hard to write out, maybe someday I'll get a chance to film it for you:)) Anyway, it really connected with the women and they were moved.
The mens prison was also a tragic situation. The guys told us that they only get the water on three times a day and have to hurry to get a drink and wash. Since it is so hot and overcrowded, sometimes guys don't get their turn before it goes off again. They said because of the heat, their food often spoils before it is brought to them and they go without eating. Capoeira (which is a martial art that combines fighting and dancing) is very big here since is it Brazilian (originated in Africa but developed in Brazil). We do a dance choreography with capoeira, drums and fire that really gets them excited. We use to communicate and idea about each of us having our own unique rhythms and that we cannot let the world or any other voices, changed our rhythm. Afterward they participate with us and we "play" Capoeira with them. In this prison the men were really good and it was fun.
We also did an act where a caterpillar becomes a butterfly to a high end electronic song my dad wrote. My sisters and I do a high energy dance with massive butterfly wings on that really lifts everyone up. We communicate and share about being "born again" and that no matter what has happen in the past, it does not have to determine their future. They are not what they did, but who they choose to become. Days afterward a prisoners wrote us (through his wife on the outside) and told us how much this act gave him hope and he replied he really could change and have a new beginning no matter his past.
We did a cool event last night, later in the evening in a city way in the middle of nowhere. When we first arrived the park was dead, but as we turned on our music and started, crowds came and we shared a beautiful evening with these families. The mayor and governor of the city came as well and were very grateful that we could give them this. They had to hire military swat police to guard the park during our event since this area is so dangerous. The mayor told me that these families have absolutely nothing and have no Christmas besides this. We had brought gifts and candy for the kids and after we performed our Christmas play and shared about the life of Jesus, we gave them some gifts and it was really special.
Today we just got out of a performance at a prison for military police. I talked about this prison in a past post and about the complicated job that the military has here of trying to deal with all the gang wars and violence. Sometimes they get framed and set up for things that are out of their control (lot to get into now, but things are very complicated here with the entry of a new president who is going to begin to fight hard against serious corruption that is rampant throughout Brazil).
Anyway, today was there family visiting day and Christmas celebration so there were around 200 families and we had a beautiful time with them sharing so many things. My parents have been married almost 40 years and help to teach others so many things about raising children and building a family grounded in forgiveness, understanding and the love of the Father.
During our performance my brother broke his nose so we are concerned and sad about that. We have to take him to a hospital but won't be able to till Wednesday after Christmas. He is so strong and tough he makes nothing out of it and I know he will be ok, but as his big sister, It definitely freaked me out seeing it bleed so much.
New years is going to be big here with crowds of around 5 million people. We are praying for the grace of God to impact the crowds with His profound love. On that note, happy new years every one:)! I can't believe it's going to be 2019, wow time flies doesn't it?
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| So check out how romantically ideal this area in the above picture was for us to set up :) :) We were performing on the other side of this and the only place to set up was under this viaduct. We couldn't stand up and ended up with a lot of bummed heads:) |
Today we just got out of a performance at a prison for military police. I talked about this prison in a past post and about the complicated job that the military has here of trying to deal with all the gang wars and violence. Sometimes they get framed and set up for things that are out of their control (lot to get into now, but things are very complicated here with the entry of a new president who is going to begin to fight hard against serious corruption that is rampant throughout Brazil).
Anyway, today was there family visiting day and Christmas celebration so there were around 200 families and we had a beautiful time with them sharing so many things. My parents have been married almost 40 years and help to teach others so many things about raising children and building a family grounded in forgiveness, understanding and the love of the Father.
During our performance my brother broke his nose so we are concerned and sad about that. We have to take him to a hospital but won't be able to till Wednesday after Christmas. He is so strong and tough he makes nothing out of it and I know he will be ok, but as his big sister, It definitely freaked me out seeing it bleed so much.
New years is going to be big here with crowds of around 5 million people. We are praying for the grace of God to impact the crowds with His profound love. On that note, happy new years every one:)! I can't believe it's going to be 2019, wow time flies doesn't it?
There will never be another time like "Now".
The other night I dreamt that I only had one day left to live, and I was deciding what to do with that day. It was one of those long, vivid real, dreams, you know the kind where you dream in the dream? Any way, in my dream for my last day on earth, I wanted to help these four homeless boys, walk down this really busy street to share Jesus with the people and also to watch the college football national championship with my dad:) (you know how dreams go:)). Through my dream I figured out that I if I watched the clock carefully and kept looking at my watch, I could do everything I wanted to do. There was a lot of detail and I won't bore you, but I ended up doing everything I wanted to and making it to spend time with my dad as the sun was setting and I knew I would then say goodbye to my family and go home to my Father in Heaven.
Well anyway, I'm not the kind of person who is into dreams or visions, but the dream just made me think about how fragile and short this life is and that we never know when this day could be our last. We don't know when we will no longer have a "later". We won't get an email or alert notifying us that it's our last day on earth. Death is so final.
When I woke up from the dream I was happy realizing that I AM living the exact day I would live even if it was my last. To love the lord Jesus, to love and serve others and to love my family.
We have just one short life and all that matters is that here and now, we spend our minuets to find eternal moments, eternal life. We don't get younger, we get older and there will never be another time like right now, where we can give and love like never before. Jesus is worthy.
Let us each reflect on our lives, who we are, what matters and what is the story we will leave behind. Let us leave no words unsaid, no heart untouched and no love held back. Let us leave no road untraveled, no hurt unforgiven and no moment unmade. Let us love Jesus and celebrate His birth, by giving Him our life!
Merry Christmas, Love you guys - Ruth
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| Painting on the walls in a Favela. |
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/legacy-of-love/1443844317
and a video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO9LCfhHjkY&feature=youtu.be