I (Beckie), have just returned from carnival in Ouro Preto. I went with a few people from our house here and loads of other people from YWAM bases and Churches to evangelise during carnival.
Carnival is a big party, a celebration and also an excuse to indulge your flesh before lent begins.
What were some of my observations? (I could write a LOT)

• noise
• rubbish
• devils horns and pitchforks
• people leaning out of windows to look
• shouting
• dancing
• Brazilian JOY
• old poor men collecting cans to recycle
• transvestites
• beer
• loud drums (day and night)
• sweat
• lust in eyes
• bright colours
• drunks
• Catholicism
• young girls inappropriately dressed
  
• desire to find entertainment somewhere
• beer glasses on necklaces
• street sellers
• REALLY loud drums
• people walking in a daze
• beer
• SO many people

We spent a lot of our time as a team together, seeking God before going on the parades and chatting to people in the streets. It was amazing and exhausting. God has so much love for His people, how good it was to try to share that with people who feel condemned and alienated from God.