welcome to the jungle..

camp.. it's the almost perfect life. throw in the brasil factor and we've made it! about an hour drive out of the bustling city.. the camp we're working at is truly paradise. seated on the doorstep of the brasilian tropical rainforest, the jungle canopy is all you see for miles upon miles. it's gorgeous.. it's hot. the camp itself is in need of some major renovations. whatever buildings are still standing from this old ranch are on the edge of complete deterioration. the rest are just ruins dotting the hillside. it's a unique and beautiful landscape. with five dogs running around and one horse, with more on the way.. it's a true scene from south america. the forty acres of property that is the camp has such potential. it's awesome. and aside from the fun activities you can do in the jungle, such as vine swinging, running from hornets, jumping over rattle snakes, and picking ticks off your body.. all of which i've had the pleasure of experiencing thus far.. the camp will be a place to train brasilian pastors and missionaries.. to minister to their needs and equip people to be sent out either into sao paulo or elsewhere as God's hands and feet in this dark city and hurting world. it's exciting to be a part of and even thought we're here for a short six months i'm comforted by the fact that God has chosen us to be here for this length of time. i have no doubt He's going to use us somehow, he already has! and it's only been a week..

with this said, the camp very much mimics the city. just as the jungle paradise is side by side with the largest city in the world.. inside sao paulo the very rich live alongside the very poor. mansions sit right beside the favellas. all over the city there's sections of town that are shoddy shacks and apartments built on top of each other.. packed with people. often dangerous places you wouldn't want to go into alone or at night. today we had the privilege of walking through one as we picked up the favella kids for kids club at the church. it was incredible to be such a large part of these kids lives. it was a very special moment for me as we could barely communicate.. even with a translator. yet there was this bond and just immense love between us. we were sharing prayer requests during the teaching time and each one of the kids asked to pray for their family, friends, and new friends as they put their arms around us. it was touching to have been able to connect with these kids, who literally have nothing, after spending just a few hours with them. it's cool because they were some of the happiest, funniest, crazy but plain old fun kids i've ever met. and my prayer is that thru showing them God's love which i can feel pulsing thru my veins for them.. that i may be as much of a blessing to them as they've been to me. 

i think i'm going to like it here.. and i think the time we spend with the favella kids will be my favourite..