Stay Home

In My Father's House.

Hi guys, 

How are you doing in these hard times? I pray you and your families are safe, healthy and that God would have mercy on all of us and give us His grace. 

I can't believe how in a matter of like a week, the whole world changed. Here in Brazil a week ago we were in a women's prison and in the packed city center, ministering to so many, now everything is shut down.

Beautiful sunset I got out the window of the plane on the flight over here.

A city of over 20 million now has deserted streets, long lines in the stores and temporary hospitals being set up. So fast your perspective can change on what your priorities are. 
It is so hard for the homeless and poor, because they depend on the public to survive, either by selling goods or working or begging, now they have nothing and nowhere to go. Many of the prisons we were just working in have had escape attempts and riots in them as men panic with lockdowns and no visitors. The conditions of the prisons are so horrible and many men depend on their families to bring them extra food and hygiene supplies. Many place have trouble getting soap or keeping the water on, much less extreme cleaning routines. 

Shot of Sao Paulo from the roof of our apartment. 

So often we find ourselves saying that we just don't have time for this or that. Our job, school, certain activities or recreation, keep us tied up all the time every day. Sometimes we don't even take time to care about those around us or love those closest to us like we should. We say we don't have time to study the Scriptures  or seek our Father like we need to. Well now we all have nothing but time. Everything has been stopped except time. 

Some say maybe this is Gods judgement on the world, maybe it is the beginning, but I think  it is His mercy, to stop everyone in their tracks and leave us without excuses to get serious about seeking Jesus. In one second all the things that used to be so important, getting to work on time, a weekend ball game, shopping, school, are now irrelevant. 

I encourage you my friend, to seize this time. Maybe it will all pass quickly and go back to normal, I pray it does and every one is ok. But while you are there in your house, with your family or alone, make an effort to seek the Living Jesus like you never have in all your life. You will never regret it. 
Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. ...I am the way..." John.14:2
So let us still our minds, still our fears and enter the "Fathers House". Stay here, at "home". 

With my sister performing in a prison. 

We might not always have what we have right now. So, let us set aside time in our day to get into the Word, to think, to pray and to sincerely care for those around us. Start with the Gospel of John. Write parts down, think about them. Take time to pray, to talk to Jesus with words from your own heart, seeing Him as a brother, listening to you.  Ask Him to help you, to teach you and above all, to save you. Nothing else matters. 

Have you ever had something right there at your fingertips but you let it slip away? Everything you need from God is right there at the fingertips of your heart. All you need do is act. Things that seemed impossible, can change on a dime, now, tonight on your bed, in the morning, turn right instead of left, change your mind, slide to your knees, feel bad instead of self-righteous, take back that word. What if all you have to do is ask Him for help? Maybe you just need to hear words come out of your mouth that you never heard before. Like “I’m sorry” or “I shouldn’t have said that” or “I changed my mind” or “Can you give me another chance?” or “Can you help me I have no idea?”. 
If at times the tension builds from being stuck in the same house with maybe a family member that is hard to get along with or something, see them through the eyes of compassion. Realize that they are trying to deal with their stress, fear and pain too, they just might not know how to, or take it out on others. 
We are each at different levels of maturity and deal with our problems in different ways. Sometimes even saying we are sorry, when we are clearly in the right, can make a big difference in keeping peace and building bridges. Get creative in ways to pass the time and help others. Make someone laugh. Make up a game you play by phone or text. Draw a little picture or doodle and caption it with something encouraging. Write a short poem or story and send it to people. We can do so much more than we think when we THINK:)/

Performing magic in a prison in a city 6 hours from Sao Paulo. 

When everything we fill our time with is taken away, we can then see who we really are. Life is not determined by the circumstances around us, but by what is within us. It does not consist of the things we have, but that which we give to others.

As I travel the world, I have seen many horrible things and some of the worst places on earth. I have seen war, death and unbelievable suffering and injustice. I have been in and know people who are in tragic situations. I spent time in a wheel chair in extreme pain and now have a rod and eight screws in my leg.  But I have learned that when it seem everything is taken from us, something great is given to us. A choice. Not a choice of where we are, but a choice of the attitude that will determine who we become. Self pity or pride will ruin us. Humility will change us.  To have nothing, to be broken is an advantage.

Consider Jesus. He was homeless, hated, and alone. He had nothing. He ended up in prison, falsely accused and awaiting a death sentence. Yet He WAS LIFE.  In Him was a source so strong it killed death!  When a man is fused with the Spirit of the living Jesus something real and actual comes WITHIN him, that will become like a living river.  This life is not deterred, determined or diminished by any physical circumstance. It thrives on, and grows from, a man who has been broken and stripped of everything but faith. 

Everything is nothing without “life” and Life needs nothing to be everything.

Down town Sao Paulo before the city went on lock down. We get huge crowds while performing in the center and at parks. 

Before this all hit we worked extensively in many prisons here in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We received more requests than we could keep up with and have 9 prisons pending when/if things open up.

The city center is so mobbed with people. At most all hours of the day, especially lunch and evening, there are multitudes just rushing about. We get huge crowds of people from all walks of life and spend hours teaching the Gospel and ministering to so many people. We always bring food and care packages for the many homeless that are everywhere. 

The Mardi Gras season here draws millions of people to the streets and we were out most every day during that time,  reaching the crowds. We made these large beautiful banners with inspiring messages on them like, "Don't Give Up, You are not alone, seek Jesus". So many people that join the parties to try to escape their pain and fill the crack inside them but are so disappointed that its just nothing. 
The parties pass, and the sadness, pain and emptiness remains. We reach them at this time with the the love of Jesus that is beyond it all, He forgives us and is there for us. Normally here, all the churches close and the pastors leave the city during this time to, "not be tempted by Carnaval", which I find so absolutely ridiculous when this is the time to reach so many. 
Jesus would be on the streets, not inside a nice building. He went to the people, He didn't ask the people to come to Him. We talked to so many people who were so grateful we were there. Some that would break down in tears to know that God is a Father, and there is hope for their life.

Gatherings of up to a million people take over the streets in most major cities in Brazil. We spread out to reach as many as we can during this time. 

One of the prisons we visited was one of the larger ones in the city of Sao Paulo, holding some 2,500 men. It is double capacity and each section is over 600 men. Because of recent fights and prison violence, we had to perform our show in a small area for 150 guys at a time. This situation was very difficult and taxing on us, but we were able to reach the majority of the population by doing multiply shows back to back.

The head of security allowed them to cram the space full which was usually never done, and the guys were so excited as they came in. We had to keep our show to an hour, so we could do several shows in a day. But we were able to share so many things with the guys and really bring them hope, laughter and the love of the Father. It is just amazing how laughter and our magic routines, are such a key to get them to unlock their hearts and allow us the opportunity to leave a seed inside. 

When we came back to this prison the second time, the guys surprised us by decorating the whole area where we were to perform with hand written banners they had made and gave us each a gift they made at the end. 

We took a bus 8 hours to the city of Belo Horizante. They asked us to visit a prison there and even though it was so far, it was a special case with a lot of guys and a special situation. Plus we were able to reach a gathering of over 5 million people down town and have an effect on the whole city. We slept on the bus there and back which saved us having to get a motel:) Yeah, I'm cheep like that ;)

The guys at the prison were so touched that we came to them, some had remembered us from our last trip to other prisons in this city. One guy at the end named Christian, told me he had been in prison for 20 years and had never seen anything like our show. He said for the first time he understood the Gospel and found hope. He was in tears when we said good bye. 

Talking to an inmate named, "Christian" at the end.

At another prison on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, that we returned to a second time to reach a new group of men, they had set everything up for us and anticipated our arrival. They even had coffee ready which made me love them so much more.;)

When we arrived to area where we perform, we were so surprised to see that the guys had decorated the area with these beautiful, calligraphy hand written posters welcoming us by name and thanking us. They had lights up, and everything ready. All the guards were excited and they had media there to capture everything. Afterward they gave us each a beautiful hand made gift. It was a very special day.

Some of the gifts the prisoners gave us. 

We also performed here at the largest female prison in Brazil as the beginning of an event they had for the International Women's Day. This prison is built on the grounds of the infamous prison, "Carandiru", maybe you heard of it. I think there is a movie about it. Anyway, back in the 90s there was a horrible massacre there and just tragic situation. It closed and now the woman's prison is built on the grounds.
The event we did there was organized by the State, with the Governor, Mayor, and press present. The head director also invited around 15 other directors from other cities to come and watch our performance. After the show, the response was overwhelming with requests to perform at these facilities. Some over 3 hours away. They brought together over 350 women and we had a beautiful time sharing so many things with them. It was also my moms birthday, so it was especially special to share the day with them.
So many beautiful ladies came up at the end just full of gratitude and tears, thanking us for giving them hope.

Outside a prison facility with the directors. 

I was training for a marathon here but it got canceled. I am still hoping to run the distance this coming sunday, just in endless loops around a block near where we are staying :) But I will be sending prayers your way, so reach out and catch them and seize this time to learn what it means to enter the Fathers House. 
Ok, well goodbye for now beautiful people. Never let the circumstances around you, steal the heart within you. Keep your head up, focus on Jesus. 
Stay strong, Stay healthy and most of all, Stay in the Fathers House, Stay Home. 
                                                Love ya - Ruth