Celebrate the Risen Son.

Celebrate the Risen Son. 

Greetings everyone:)! Happy Easter to you all as we celebrate the  most beautiful "Son Rise" in the history of the world. The day that  hope rose like the dawn to rescue us from the dark.
This Easter weekend we have some cool events up in two of the largest favelas in this city. It is too steep to drive up to them with our old van, so we are going to figure out a way to shuttle all our equipment up to the spot by either taxis, walking, or seeing if a truck can take us. The people who helped us organize the events are really excited to bring our performance to their community and have a special Easter event so we are hoping it all works out and we can make it;) I'll fill you in after;) 

Remember dear friend, when you feel surrounded by darkness, fear and sadness, meditate on the moment that a man who had been dead for three days, took a breath. For thousands of years death had ruled, unchecked and unchallenged, holding the world in fear of its power. But in that one obscure moment, inside a grave on the side of a hill, death died. Jesus killed death. 
All alone he bore all sadness, pain, despair and sorrow. All alone he went to the depths of Sheol and stared down the gates of death. All alone He woke up in that cold dark tomb, folded His burial cloth, and stood up. So that now, you and I don't have to be all alone. Now, you and I can escape the night around us and see the rising Son. No matter what we face, no matter how terrible a situation may be, we can "walk out of the grave". We can overcome all obstacles and walk in the power of an indestructible life 1Cor.15:55. 

The Day Death Died. 

Of the grave it is said, he never gives back his dead,

and he swallows up life once for all.

And many will say, that death just works one way, 

and even the mighty will fall. 

But a dead man took a breath, which forever killed death,
as he came back  from the other side,

He walked out of the cave, destroying the grave,

And that was the day death died.

Performing a clown routine at a school.

We have been performing in many schools all around the city here in Brazil,  as well as working in the prisons and favelas. 

One school we visited was located far...far... in the middle of "Nowheresville", just past "Whereintheworldarewesville", and "Weshouldproblygetoutofheresville";) We did two performance there.  

The first time we reached the younger kids in the afternoon and the teachers asked us to please come back and perform for the older students, (15 to 20) in the morning session. The teacher told us that so many of them were being lost to the gangs, violence, and drug trafficking. She asked to please help.

It was hard work to keep so many teens at attention (around 600) and focused but the result was incredible. We do a section in our performance where we choose three students to role play in a scenario we set up. A few of us act out different situations the kids face such as peer pressure, a serious argument with their parents, just wanting to give up, influence to enter a gang ecs. We then help coach them how they can change that situation, what they can say to make a difference and how to make good choices.  We give them quotes to read and use them to show the whole public how each of them can make a big difference and be a leader and teacher. These kids were so engaged and put there whole hearts into this activity. It was awesome and the teachers where blown away.

After we left we got hundreds of messages from the kids and students thanking, us asking more questions and asking us to go back. We thank Jesus for helping us reach so many youth.

My sister performs a beautiful, high class ballet dance where she walks out wrapped in a long black cloth. She slowly unwinds while reciting a poem about reaching for our dreams and not letting anything keep us "wound up". Our own fear, past or others can keep us wound up and stop us from reaching our dreams. But when we forget ourselves, and begin to love others, we become free of ourselves, free to dance. It is very moving and the kids cheer and scream when they see her unwind.

Teaching kids about the power of the free will and making right choices. 

We just got through a really bad flood here that caused serious damage and put the city into a state of emergency. People were killed and many villages were destroyed. Where we are staying there is one road in and one road out and that road was completely flooded out so we were trapped for a few days. Eventually they got a big flat bed truck to shuttle people across but it all caused a lot of problems. Drivers thought they could make it through the river so would try, only to stall in the middle blocking it all. Plus remember the alligators I told you about:)? Well the rivers where they live flooded out so the ended up on the streets and in the town;)

Engaging with the students after an event and giving them a chance to participate. 

It was really cool coming back to a certain school we had visited months ago! The kids were so excited to see us and had been constantly messaging us to return. But more than anything it was so beautiful to see there attitudes and eagerness to learn and grasp our message. They all asked meaningful questions about life, where to read in the Scriptures, how to talk to Jesus and how to find their purpose.

We designed these really cool boxes with a picture on each side (I mentioned them in my last post). When they are all in order its like a big puzzle and make a large photo. On one side is a diagram of our brain, and all the capacity we have to think, create, speak..ecs/ We have inspiring quotes on one side that the kids get to read. And then on one of the sides of the boxes we arranged we have a picture of a path and when the 9 boxes are scrambled, it creates a large puzzle. We let teams of four compete to assemble the puzzle and use it as a way to teach teamwork and leadership (plus its a load of fun!). We then use the path to give the kids a visual of the "way" that will take them through the "jungle" of life. The love of our Father in heaven will be the path to take us through all the hard times of life.

Illustrating how every choice has consequences by using theater and dance. 

When we arrived at one school, the directer told us they were only going to bring 200 kids, instead of the 600 they had originally said. They were afraid that things would get out of control with that many kids together:) (what would make them think that:)) Anyway, we explained that we drove 3 hours, and had to carry our 1000 pounds of equipment up three flights of stairs and that we needed them to bring everyone. We assured them we would keep order. (please dear God help us;))) So they did.

It was a challenge, but the Lord Jesus was greatly with us and gave us grace and wisdom to have a beautiful time with complete order and attention.We performed for almost 2 hours and the kids were so precious and excited. These children were from 10 to 16 and very poor. Many were orphans or had parents in prison, some were near homeless. 

They had never seen magic, hip hop, and all the acts that we brought them and continuously screamed and laughed in excitement. We taught about saying no to drugs, not joining gangs (which are the main issues the face living in this dangerous part of the city,) relationships, respect, and the love of Jesus.

At the end, all 600 kids, at the same time rushed us for hugs and attention. We spent another few hours talking to small groups, playing with them and giving them things (then we passed out;)). During the performance, two girls called me over and asked if they could have a hug at the end. They didnt ask for things, just a hug. They were all just starving for love. The next day we woke up to hundreds of messages from these kids)

Inside large prison

It has been a constant fight to gain the needed permission to work in the prisons of Brazil. I have attended probably 20 something meetings, written hundreds of emails, phone calls and texts to get in. And each time we start again. It is a fight against bureaucracy , corruption and just a general attitude of despair and no-one caring. but it is well, well worth the fight, and these are men and women that I will alway fight for. As our Lord Jesus said, "I was in prison and you came to Me..."(Mt.25:36) and "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them" (Heb.13:3) 
We are currently working inside one of the largest mens prisons in this city. It was built for 1,800 men, and currently holds 4,000 prisoners. We perform for about 400 at a time. The conditions are just horrible. The conditions the prisoners suffer are inhumane, and the animals in the zoo that is just out side the gate have better living areas (not exaggerating). 
The directer here is very kind and favorable and granted us access to reach many men. He also asked us to visit the school where his wife teaches which is 400 kids, most of whom have a parent in prison, so we will go there next week.

I perform Irish dance and have a "dance war " with my brother communicating that we can overcome the darkness that pushes against us each day.

Each time we visit we reach new sections of the 4,000  prisoners. When we walk by all the cells, it is so sad to see the men way back in there, no windows, no air, no light just crammed in and barely hanging on. They get one hour outdoors a week! 
We always try to bring candy, things to read and pictures to put up on their walls. On the way in and out we stop and talk to the men who didn't get to come. My mother has a beautiful voice and when she sings a beautiful song that she wrote in our presentation, everyone is in tears. She shares that no matter what they have done, God is a compassionate Father who loves them and calls them to Himself.
On one visit, part way into our performance, it started pouring, and the roof leaked horribly. So water was just pouring in from everywhere. The prisoners worked hard to rearrange everything, help us move our equipment and then get barrels to catch the water while pushing the floods away. We were able to continue and eventually it let up but it was crazy for a while:) We had a beautiful time with these men and they were so grateful . It was such a blessing to make them laugh and leave this horrible place for a while. Then fill their minds with new thoughts and with the hope of the Gospel and the love of our Lord Jesus.

Speaking to the men in a large prison here. 

On another visit, all the water and the power was out in the whole prison so a very bad situation was even worse. Everyone was down and more depressed than normal. It is like magic to see the spirit of the Father be with us and help us bring hope and joy to such a hopeless place. We do magic, theater and comedy acts, and to watch the men slowly get a spark of hope back in their eyes is priceless. They are not forgotten.  There gratitude is overwhelming and the saddest moment is when the guards call them back to their cells and they have to leave.

My sister as the easter bunny ;)

The other day we had a beautiful morning putting on an Easter party at an orphanage. We had a magic show, an easter egg hunt and of course, an easter bunny;) The children were so precious and excited. Nothing brings out the kid in you like looking for easter eggs;)! 

It was such a privilege to touch their little hearts and minds with the love of the Father. Easter eggs were too expensive so my genius brother found these little containers on clearance we could use and fill with candy. Plus we made up easter gift bags with some cool toys that the awesome people at Carnival Savers donated to us! 

We had a goat costume, (because, I mean who doesn't have a goat costume;)) So my mom added ears and turned into an easter bunny:)!! 

Take care you guys, don't let this lost, crazy world pull you down. Keep your head up. Way up. Look to the Risen Son. And even when the darkness tries to keep you down and surrounded with hopelessness and fear, stand up, take a breath and look to the one who walked out of the grave. When the walls of death try to make you forget who you are, remember the one who killed death, remember Jesus, and the glorious day when death died. 

Love you all,  fly high, - Ruth 

Jesus said:"‘I ascend to My Father and YOUR Father, and My God and YOUR God.’”Jn.20:17