I (Beckie) have had my first week with my adorable (and at times challenging) group. It has been a really good experience working with Laura (an American friend here). It means that we have to rely a bit on one another for the Portuguese (me relying more on her). Our weekly plan has worked out really well, we seem to have a good balance of all activities, and the children have really enjoyed it. They especially love their swimming lessons, and the free play they had in the pool on Thursday. We are still hoping to recruit a few more boys, and went onto the streets to see if we could find some, hopefully we will manage to fill up our places and have an opportunity to impact more lives.

We (Maarten, a Dutch guy, and I) have started the new work in another part of this favela...but it is very difficult to verbalize exactly what it is. It is basically walking around praying and seeking God for change in that area, that His kingdom will come and the community will be transformed. So, we begin simply by walking around and praying but also talking to the people who God puts across our path. Today is only the second day but it is quite a strange and interesting time we are having.
Yesterday, for instance, we were taken on a walk into the area by the leader of Luzeiro who knows the area quite well. It was his task to show us round some of the favela so we did not get lost - quite an easy thing to do with all the twists and turns. During this time we ended up being invited in by a family and the lady of the house sent her son to buy some fizzy drinks for her guests, even though it was clear that she could not afford it. An interesting start.
Today, we helped 3 children pull a big old microwave up a hill so that they could sell it for scrap. We attracted a lot of attention in doing this because we, 2 strange white guys, were dragging it and it was making a lot of noise - it was too heavy to carry. We saw the kids again after they had sold it and they managed to receive R$1.50 for it, the equivalent of about 45 of our English pence. They then used the money to buy a small tin of food for their family!
I don't always know what to make of what we do and see sometimes. But all I can do is trust in God and love those who I meet with His love...if it means drinking fizzy drink or moving a microwave.

I (Beckie) have been preparing for my group this week, it was really good to discover that some of the really needy children that were worked with last year will be coming again. It has been great to have complete freedom in how we (Laura and I) want to plan our week (unlike the 'national curriculum'). Although we do aim to cover 5 key areas of development (physical, social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual). I am looking forward to it, and am nervous, has my Portuguese improved enough to do all that I want to do?
Dave has also had some great planning meetings about his new work. He is excited about working further up into the favela, and has been learning more about some of the dangers of the place (murders every day), yet, this has excited him all the more.

Good news!!! Josiah has had 2 better days at school, we are SO pleased. Although it is going to be difficult for a while for him, it's brilliant that he has had a more positive experience. God hears our prayers.

This week we are doing training, to better equip us and fire us up for the coming year for our work with this favela. However, bigger to us than any of this is the fact that our children are going to school. Particularly, that Josiah is going to a Brazilian school, something he really doesn't want to do. I keep thinking each step will get easier, yet it doesn't. I feel like I am laying my child on the altar, and having to walk away, not really sure how God will deal with this.
Josiah has had his first proper day, he said it was worse than he imagined (and he thought he would hate it). Somehow, we all have to keep going with this, and trust that God will help in it all. We love our children dearly, we want to love our Lord more. We sing so many songs in England about willingly surrendering, I guess I didn't expect it to hurt so much.
Thankfully, we have many encouraging people here, to stand alongside us. We also have MANY lovely people back home praying for us. All I can do is rely on God's grace for he has promised that it is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12.9), I must not be discouraged for God is with me (Joshua 1.9)

It really does seem like we are the other side of the world..... I have heard that England has more snow, and freezing conditions, it's hard to imagine.
This week has been SO hot, 38 in the day, and it feels like 30 at night. Then today, whilst walking up the hill after our 'end of school holiday' icecream, the storm began. We love the dramatic thunder, lightning and rain that we get here. The rain was wonderfully refreshing at first, then it began to pour. What was so strange was that as the rain hit the ground it was almost instantly evaporating and we were breathing in steam.
Then as we were walking up the steepest bit of the hill (nearly home now), Gideon said "I've lost my flip flop". When I told him to get it, he couldn't actually see it. The flip flop (new) was sailing down a gushing muddy river. So, we went running (as best as we were able) after the flip flop, much to the amusement of some Brazilians standing in their doorways. After a quick prayer for the flip flop to stop, we did manage to grab it before it made a dash down the next hill. Sadly, this meant we then had to climb the steepest hill again.
Also, Dave managed to get a photo of some lightening....after 78 attempts and here it is: