Needs and Dreams for 2014

Current monthly giving: around $700 a month

Basic needs to continue: $2000 a month

Fully supporting each Living Stones: $6000 a month

Dreams to accomplish all of our goals: $7000 a month

Each dollar counts, but what we desperately need is faithful giving by people who understand that the children need to be provided for all year, not just Christmas (wribrazil.com/foundationbuilders). A monthly gift of any amount helps us be consistent supporters of our brothers and sisters in Brazil.

12 Need and Dreams for 12 Months

1.       Cajueiro Claro’s basic budget needs to be raised from $750 to $1000 a month (400 food, 250 transportation, 200 salary for cook, 150 general supplies)

Dreams:  a computer lab/program for the kids: $750, and a cafeteria area for Living Stones/the church: $1500

2.       Mussurepe’s basic budget needs to be raised from $250 to $1000 a month (400 food, 250 transportation, 200 salary for cook, 150 general supplies)

Dream: Two classrooms for teaching: $750

3.       Belem, a new ministry with Pastor Flavio in Paudalho needs $500 for start-up costs and $500 monthly (300 food, 200 salary for cook)

Dream: Gravata needs between $200-500 monthly (250 transportation, 150 general supplies, 100 food)

4.       Easter, Mother’s day we want to make sure each Living Stones program is able to share and open up for a celebration with the community on these important days. (wribrazil.com/kitsforkids and wribrazil.com/momentsformoms) $500 for Easter, and $500 for Mother’s Day

5.       Guadalajara needs more church volunteers to help out and assist, and Luizinho, who leads the sports ministry, needs $150 more a month in personal support

Dream: Guadalajara is not receiving any funds from Living Stones at this time, we would like to begin supporting them up to $1000 a month

6.       Kombi—needs 5 new tires: $150 each, $750 for all. We will be having the Trek for Transportation June 7 to raise money for maintenance and gas (wribrazil.com/trek)

7.        VBS in USA churches to raise funds for children in Brazil

8.       Lagoa is not receiving any funds from Living Stones at this time, we would like to begin supporting them up to $1000 a month. They are also in great need of workers/volunteers.

9.       The Trash dump is still in upheaval as they work towards relocation, which (by law) is to be completed in 2014. We want to continue working with them through and after the transition.

Dream: The Trash dump is not receiving any funds from Living Stones at this time, we would like to begin supporting them up to $1000 a month.

10.   Children’s day Literacy celebration in October (wribrazil.com/literacy) $1000

a.       Rachel and Caid Ferguson having a Living Stones Conference to unite, update, and provide resources.

b.      Shelbyville’s short term missions trip and Children’s day celebrations, providing books/toys/Bibles for the children

11.   Thanksgiving: making sure the children are receiving food on a regular basis, and spending a time of prayer and fasting in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ (wribrazil.com/5for5)

12.   Christmas we want to make sure each Living Stones program is able to share and open up for a celebration with the community (wribrazil.com/10forthem) $500 for Christmas

Dream: Someone to be raised up to do home visitations/Birthday parties for Living Stones

Jim Winzeler in Brazil

(Note from Rachel, Living Stones coordinator and daughter of Jim:)
I've been asking my father to write down his experience in Brazil with Living Stones. He has been dragging his feet about this, which surprised me, because of the obvious impact that it made in his life. After going to Cajueiro Claro, he and Pastor Flavio came up to me with big hugs and tears.
"Rachel," He told me, "All your writing and pictures didn't even explain 20% of how it really is. I've been hearing about this for nine years, and now I finally get it."
Even though my father was only in Brazil for 8 days, and most of that consumed with wedding preparations, it meant so much to him and the children (who had been looking forward to meeting "Rachel's dad" for months). I will not be able to explain to you how much it meant to me. Yes, short-term mission trips are expensive. And if you want to explain your way into not going, you will find a way. But some trips are just made to be.

From Jim: Someone asked me what they would pray for me while I was in Brazil. I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t been accustomed to praying/being close to God for quite some time. “I want to be able to fit in,” was my reply.

Little did I know, but God would answer that prayer in more ways than one.

I had no clue what to expect in Brazil. My main concern was just getting there safely—I just knew the plane would crash: how could God have any other thing planned for me, considering the way I had withdrawn from Him the past several years? Besides, maybe it was the easiest way out—I wouldn’t have to be around and depend upon other people.The last thing I wanted was any new or different situation. Going to Brazil would make me face my depression and despondent way of existing.  

God had prepared a place for me to “fit into” in Brazil, where he would draw me out of my self-imposed exile. From the welcome reception at the airport and the wonderful sight-seeing tour of one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen (Olinda), to the International school, where I would call home for the next 8 days, God began his work of restoring His life in me.

 (Olinda)

God used this trip in several ways. First, He re-opened my spiritual eyes, ears, and heart to Him. I cannot begin to list all the ways He revealed Himself to me during this trip. Suffice it to say that He started to draw me back to Himself, and that is continuing on to this time.

Second, the wedding of Caid and Rachel. All the preparations, all the places to go, all the people to meet who were and are a part of Rachel’s life and now Caid’s, and the privilege of being a part of the wedding itself.

Thirdly, being able to go to two of the communities where Living Stones ministries meet. It cannot be put into writing the dichotomy of the beauty of Brazil’s scenery as the backdrop to the places where spiritual needs were being met. The three hours of interaction that were being given to these children on a regular basis results in hope for the children—physically, mentally, and spiritually, these children were being touched by the people who had been called by God to provide for them.

And therein I have the answer to why it’s taken me this long to write this down—I found that I was in the same place as these children at Living Stones—needing to hear that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The Living Stones ministry is about providing a place where children who are born into a place on earth where (as the human eye can see) there is no hope of a productive life, can be shown the true meaning of a life of abundant living, of eternal life, of living the life Jesus created for them.

Isn’t that why I was there? To rediscover the meaning of life, to discover again the life of Christ? Isn’t that the ministry that we all need to be involved in? To receive from Him and then to give to others that which we’ve received? It’s just so much easier to see in Brazil. The contrast of not having, versus the “having” in the USA. But each one is in the same position, we both are spiritually in need, which can only be met by someone sending and someone going.

May each one of us have our “Brazil” to awaken us to our total need to the Lord Jesus and then to go and tell others of the One who is their Creator and through whom they can discover the meaning of life.

10 Perfect Present Ideas

1.       Become a Foundation Builder

Child sponsorship through Living Stones provides for a child, a church, and a community (wribrazil.com/foundationbuilder)

2.       Buy a present for a child in Brazil

Provide a birthday party/holiday present for a child who wouldn’t normally receive one (wribrazil.com/10forthem)

3.       Feed 5 Children

Giving $5 provides for 5 children to have a hot meal (wribrazil.com/5for5)

4.       Magazine Subscriptions

Sign up for Living Stones e-newsletters at buildinglivingstones.blogspot.com. Other amazing ministries are gfa.com and wordmadeflesh.org

5.       A Real Letter

Forget Hallmark and sit down to write a letter that they can treasure forever

6.       Photobooks

Blurb.com has options for as low as $6 for books of pictures, poems, recipes, or your creative works/memories

7.       Homemade Cookies and coupons

Breakout your Pinterest ideas, and then add some coupons for future service in something meaningful

8.       Make Memories

Find out their love language (physical touch, gift giving, acts of service, words of affirmation, or quality time) and then give them that gift.

9.       Volunteer Together

At a soup kitchen, friend in need, baby-sitting for someone who needs a night out, hanging out with someone lonely…

10.   Passion

The greatest gift you can give someone is YOU being passionate about life and what you can do to make a difference.  Begin the wave of something great.

An amazing 2013

Living Stones has 5 different programs running, currently on a $1000 budget (ideal is $1000 for each Living Stones program). This year:

·         17,000 meals served

·         280 children enrolled at Cajueiro Claro, Mussurepe, Trash dump, Guadalajara, and Lagoa De Itaenga

·         250 Birthday parties

·         300 involved in the Literacy program

·         600 children heard the gospel

·         Vehicle (Kombi) was purchased for Living Stones .

As far as finances, $14,150 was spent ($4,800 on food, $4,800 on transportation, $2,100 on salaries, $2,150 on special events and promotional costs, and $300 on general supplies). Donations were $16,250, so we have over $2,000 rollover for 2014! Praise the Lord! Note: the Kombi was $17,500, but that was stored in a separate account and given over in a one lump sum, and so counted separately. If you have any other questions about finances or accountability for Living Stones or Rachel Ferguson, please write to amobrasil99@hotmail.com. We are firmly committed to using every cent given to us wisely and with accountability. 

Merry Christmas from over 250 children in Brazil! 

Cajueiro Claro:

Mussurepe: 

Trash dump:

Guadalajara:

Lagoa de Itaenga:

The Wedding

On November 9th, over 100 children from Living Stones (Trash dump, Cajueiro Claro, Mussurepe, and Guadalajara) were able to come and be a part of Caid and Rachel's wedding. Rachel has served in Brazil for 9 years, and been the coordinator of Living Stones for the past three years. For many of these children, it was the first wedding they had ever attended:

You can read more about the event here:

http://rachelsnewday.blogspot.com/2013/11/washingtons-car.html and 

http://rachelsnewday.blogspot.com/2013/11/making-special.html
Rachel and Caid are now back in the States enjoying the holidays with their families. Rachel will continue to be the coordinator for Living Stones, just on the USA side of things. She will still be in charge of checking finances, writing the Living Stones blogs, sending out monthly information and newsletters, and raising funds for Living Stones through speaking/meeting with churches and individuals.

Caid and Rachel are excited with the special opportunity to partner with Shelbyville Community Church, who is taking on Living Stones as a church ministry! They are sending a trip to Brazil in October 2014, and Caid and Rachel will be helping them to prepare for it, as well as praying (and hoping!) to go along with them as they help Living Stones celebrate Children’s day 2014.

Caid is working on finishing his degree (he has over 90 credits) in Urban Leadership at Crossroads Bible College next year, so they will be living in Indianapolis, close to friends and family, during that time. They are both looking for jobs and opportunities as God leads them in this new life together, as well as praying about what God might have for them in the future—whether in the States or abroad.  

Merry Christmas and God bless you--From the Fergusons

Jackson Visits Brazil

The dump. I’d heard of it before, of course — it’s one of the many stories that Rachel uses to pitch her Living Stones projects in Brazil. Its stickiness factor lies in the shock of it, so it always remained in the back of my mind. But before today, they were all just words.

“There are kids living at the dump, rummaging through garbage to pick out scraps of recyclables, pieces of cardboard piled in a bundle to sell. Their parents work for less than half the national average salary–lucky if they make 150USD a month.”

Sure I felt bad for them, but these were just words. Statistics.

***

On the back of a moto, I flew towards the outskirts of Carpina, a city in Northeast Brazil of 80,000 inhabitants. We rounded the corner that opened into a driving school, and a few moments later, dirt paths lined with garbage indicated our descent into the dump.

The smell came first. I thought about all the trash bags in bins beside the toilets, holding dirty tissue paper and who knows what else. The plastic bags I’m seeing everywhere now contain rotting fruit peels and discarded toiletries. Bloody hospital waste. Vomit. Strewn for miles in all directions, decomposing and stinking, exacerbated by the Brazilian heat.

All of Carpina’s daily waste is brought to this dump and overturned onto the waiting arms of desperately needy workers.

I met these workers today. They didn’t wear masks or gloves or boots. They couldn’t afford these. Do they even know about the danger?

Their soiled faces, wrinkled and dark from the sun, squinted into a smile as I zoomed past.

We eventually stopped in the residential area, mere steps from the open-air dump. Rachel was already off her moto, tousling the kids’ hair, and making them giggle. I hesitated. I couldn’t help but think about disease and germs and cleanliness and I kicked myself for not having enough love for them. Rachel's people come every week to visit these children, to play with them, to feed them, to teach them, to remind them that they are not trash, forgotten by society. Why is my heart not there? Why is this fear of getting dirty suddenly rising and holding me back?

But I couldn’t process it all then. The kids have already noticed my arrival and are staring at me curiously, excitedly; their mothers tiredly looking on at the scrambling chaos from the sanctuary of their small houses.

Rachel introduces me in a string of rapid Portuguese, which by now I’ve heard enough of to understand: “This is my friend, Jackson, who I want you to meet. He’s from China!”

I plaster a big smile on my face as these kids beam brilliantly at me with their big chocolate eyes and adorably missing teeth. I try the handshake, but it dissolves into a hug as they move closer. Again, I felt the rush of shameful repulsion – their sticky hands were just picking through toilet paper, their bodies are covered in the slime of the dump. But as I look into their faces, their gigantic grins and dancing eyes, I keep my own smile plastered on and mutter the few words of Portuguese I know, tousling the kids’ hair and poking their sides.

Rachel gets up to show me a bit of the neighbourhood: a house made completely of garbage here, a tragic story of respiratory disease there. She asks the kids to stay with their moms, but they follow us nonetheless – a little boy grabs my hand and leads the way to a shoddy shelter with a tin roof, where they hold their weekly gatherings. Another boy brings along his most prized possession: a yellow bicycle with peeling paint and the chain falling off, probably the discarded toy of some other kid in Carpina. With his helmet resting lopsided on his head, he poses for a picture.

I guiltily take out my DSLR – it’s a luxurious burgundy, and all the kids clamor to touch it. Rachel pulls a boy off of me, telling him he can’t take the picture and that the camera belongs to Jackson—but he persists, making shutter noises and moving his head close. He was also the one who took me by the hand. He’s my favorite, I decide, and I feel a little bad about not letting him handle the machine.

We bring the kids back to their moms, where I take pictures of Rachel with the kids before she asks to take pictures of me.

In all the pictures, I am smiling too wide. It’s a stark contrast to the plight of the kids, wearing only underwear that don’t even fit, and swarmed with flies. Much too soon, I left the dump, throwing one last glance over my shoulder at the plumes of black smoke rising from the ashes of burning trash. Not even 10 minutes later, mansions appear on both sides in Carpina. A boardwalk with patterned tiles glitters, lined with joggers in the afternoon sun. Not even 10 minutes down the road there are fellow Brazilians living a life the dump kids will only dream about.

I felt horrible. I hated the way I was repulsed by the dirty hands and the snot-covered faces. I hated how I spent less than half an hour there, brought out my fancy camera, took some pictures, and then whizzed away on my moto, never to see them again like I was some entitled tourist peeking into their impoverished lives so I can write a story about it afterward. I hated that I couldn’t do anything—that the difference between my being there and them being there was just, as Bono puts it, “an accident in latitude”.

20% of the world live in extreme poverty, a friend pointed out to me that afternoon. That’s one in every five people. How terrifyingly startling.

She told me the first time is always startling.

“It’s good to feel this way, because it shows you have a soul. Return to see it again,” she urges me. “Maybe not here exactly, but everyone needs to see this extreme poverty.”

I peeked into the lives of some real people today. People, just like you and me, who were simply born under different circumstances. Souls attached to bodies in different places. There was a connection, a realization that they were exactly like me but simply living elsewhere. That scared me, and I reacted in fear and disgust. But really, we’re not all that different, the children of the dump and I.

“It is startling how, sometimes, we must first be brave in order to be kind.” – Asad Chishti

I wasn’t brave enough that day. But I’m hoping to return one day and by then, I’m hoping I will be.

Rachel Remembers it's a New Day: Making Special

Rachel Remembers it's a New Day: Making Special: She spilled beans and orange soda down the front of her white flower girl dress. I took her into the kitchen and rinsed her down the best...