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.