Baby in Brazil

Caid and Rachel Ferguson are happy to announce that we are expecting a baby June 17, 2015. With Caid finishing his bachelor’s degree spring 2015, we have decided to begin our ministry together in Brazil, and welcome our new baby into our lives there. 
Rachel has been serving as a missionary in Brazil since 2004, and been the coordinator of Living Stones since 2009. Caid has joined the ministry full force, serving in Brazil in 2013, marrying Rachel, and now leading our family in future ministry. 

Our needs are in two phases:
Phase 1 is raising $10,000 for airfare, birthing expenses, and basic relocation costs. We are also asking for a small group of faithful monthly supporters, who feel called to minister with us. We need $1,000 a month for basic living costs.

Phase 2 is when we return fall 2015 with specific and concrete plans, welcome you to meet our child, and raise the funds for a vehicle. Thank you for your care and interest on the adventure that God has called us on!

If you would like to join our support team, you can give online at Caid and Rachel Ferguson
Or mail a check to made out to World Renewal
address: World Renewal , P.O. Box 399, Greenfield, IN 46140 (Enclose a note/memo on the check with our names on it)

Incredible Trip

Caid and Rachel Ferguson, joined with Rachel's brother John, enjoyed being in Brazil from October 9-18. During that time, they met with all the Living Stones programs (John took pictures) and leaders, discussing the past, present, and future. They were also able to meet with the board of directors and receive guidance on things to come.

On October 19, they were joined with the group from Shelbyville Community Church 

We visited a different Living Stones each day, praying for the community, and having a Children's Day party where we passed out Bibles. Craig Olson is an amazing photographer, who has captured the magic: 

Mussurepe Day 1

Desterro Day 2

Trash Dump Day 3

Guadalajara and Lagoa de Itaenga Day 4

Cajueiro Claro Day 5

Finishing up Day 6 and 7

Trip to Brazil

Caid and Rachel Ferguson, Coordinators for Living Stones, are headed to Brazil from October 8-25. Please keep them in your prayers as they meet with people and plan, dream, and love on all the kids. But they are not going alone. Each of the seven people going on the trip with them has prayerfully considered why they are going, and what God may have for them. Please take some time to pray for them, and hear their stories (John is traveling with Caid and Rachel, the rest of the team is coming on the 18th)
John Winzeler(Rachel's brother)
Craig's Story (Leadership at Shelbyville Community Church)
Taylor's Story (Craig's wife)
Susan's story
Larry's Story (Susan's husband)
Tom's story
Mark Farnsley

Foundation Builders

This month we are taking some time to highlight a specific aspect of Living Stones:

One time gifts help us with specific projects, but it is the faithful monthly givers ($30 or more) that allow us to consistently provide over 1,500 meals a month and disciple around 200 children weekly. We are so grateful to these families and individuals for being our Foundation Builders:

The Nolens

Mrs.Steen

The Warrens

The Flinks

The Weilands

The Lindmans

The Barwinskis

The Leonards

Ms. Powers

The Wrights

The Zaletas

The Millers 

Without these people, many of whom have been faithful givers for years, we would not be able to continue. Through them, and generous one time gifts, we have our $1,000 monthly budget. But we are currently working to support six different ministries, each of which, even part-time, need $500 to function properly.

Our monthly $1000 is being stretched to support three programs, and the other three are either on hold from lack of funds (Lagoa de Itaenga), or supported/running through other ministries (Guadalajara, through Glory Sports/Athletes in Action, and the trash dump, through volunteers from Firm Promise Baptist church).

In October we will be setting our yearly budget, and are hoping to be able to provide more for our brothers and sisters in Brazil--but we cannot without more Foundation Builders.

30 people giving $30 monthly can double our monthly budget and provide for us to support our current programs better.  60 people giving can allow us to fully support our current programs. 90 people giving $30 monthly can allow us to grow and begin new Living Stones programs in communities that desperately need it. 

Since the beginning of Living Stones, it has been individuals who have made Living Stones happen. But it has always been our dream that churches in the USA would come alongside churches in Brazil and "adopt" them--forming reciprocal relationships that benefit both communities and create lasting change.

Brandywine Community Church has been the first to do this, adopting Lagoa de Itaenga. Shelbyville Community church is sending a vision team next month to be able to pray for and adopt a sister church as well.

Compassion International and World Vision work wonders in the lives of children. But imagine your church adopting a church, reaching out through the children, and changing the entire community. Imagine sending missions groups to them, and them sending missions groups to you. Imagine the children in your church growing up knowing the children of their church in Brazil--and what an impact those long term relationships will make.

Please consider becoming a Foundation Builder. And please pray about asking your church to partner with a church in Brazil through Living Stones. http://wribrazil.com/foundationbuilder/

Mid-year Report

So far in 2014, over 10,000 meals have been served, and over 200 children have been impacted on a weekly basis.

We had a wonderful year in 2013, with 17,000 meals served, 280 children regularly enrolled in the program, 250 birthday parties, 300 in the literacy program, 600 hearing the gospel, and a vehicle purchased for Living Stones. 

2014 started differently, with Caid and Rachel Ferguson in the USA instead of serving on the field. Pastor Flavio Travassos has continued running Cajueiro Claro (livingstonescajueiroclaro.blogspot.com) and Mussurepe (livingstonesmussurepe.blogspot.com), and opened another Living Stones program in Belem (livingstonesbelem.blogspot.com). Pastor Ricardo has had to limit the program in Lagoa de Itaenga (livingstoneslagoa.blogspot.com), due to lack of funds and workers. Those working at the trash dump (livingstonestrashdump.blogspot.com) have moved, but the ministry continues with new volunteers from Firm Promise Baptist church. The ministry at Guadalajara (livingstonesguadalajara.blogspot.com) has changed leadership, but others from Athletes in Action are stepping in and doing a wonderful job. 

The Living Stones programs have done well, with special events such as Carnaval camp (Youtube: “Carnaval and Children in need”) , Easter celebration (Youtube: “Easter Celebration Rachel Ferguson”) Mother’s day celebration (Youtube: “Moments for moms Rachel Ferguson”), and World Cup Evangelism outreaches. 

We are thrilled to see different US churches come alongside and support their brothers and sisters in Brazil. Some of those who have blessed us with support include: Brandywine Community church adopting Lagoa de Itaenga, Lifepoint helping with the Literacy program (wribrazil.com/literacy)  , Brookville Road Community church assisting with the Birthday party program (wribrazil.com/10forthem), Greenwood Community church supporting Caid and Rachel Ferguson, and Shelbyville Community church sending a vision team to Brazil to further support Living Stones. Special thanks to Morning Star Friends church for all they did this summer (buildinglivingstones.blogspot.com/2014/07/morning-star-friends-mission-trip.html), and for everyone who helped us raise over $3,000 for our transportation expenses (wribrazil.com/trek). 

A List of Needs

Most of the time giving money is the most convenient and helpful, since mailing supplies to Brazil is a hassle. But as we are getting ready for a mission's trip in October, we are filling up our suitcases with lots of goodies for the kids. Please pray about contributing some of the following needed items:

For the mission's trip:

1. Fifteen durable plastic table clothes (colorful party kind)

2. Individually wrapped candy for 400 kids 

3. Gift/goody bags for the kids to take home candy, prizes, craft, and Bible

4. Carnival style games to play at each Living Stones (6 programs) 

5. Prizes for games (small fun things: Hot wheels style cars, kites, small “build it” kits for boys, Hair supplies, nail polish, drawing supplies for girls—think dollar store items)

6. Craft things to do for 400 kids 

Bring to leave for Living Stones

1. Shin guards and socks for playing soccer

2. Soccer balls and basketballs

3. Pregnancy clothes for Mercia (she is about 5 foot 4)

4. Baby clothes for baby Travassos (don’t know if it is a girl or boy yet)

5. Milky way candy bars for Flavio

6. Games (that don’t require a lot of English: Uno, cards, connect 4, memory, dominos)

7. Zip lock baggies of all sizes, gift bags for presents 

8. Small lotion/perfume bottles: gifts for mothers

9. MP3 players (that plug into speakers) and Speakers (powerful, to have/teach music to a classroom, use in mime ministry) 110/220v

10. “Scripture Pictures” 52 visually interactive Bible stories for kids

11. Hot wheels style cars, kites, small “build it” kits for boys

12. Hair supplies, nail polish, drawing supplies for girls 

13. “Where’s Waldo” or “I Spy” types of books, storybooks with lot of pictures and few words

We can also use donations to buy food for the parties in Brazil, books in Portuguese, and other supplies that are cheaper to get in Brazil. 

Morning Star Friends Mission Trip

We are so excited to have Cassie Hlebovy back in Brazil and working with Living Stones! You can read her blog here. She has returned with a missions trip group from her church, Morning Star. They have been busy blessing others through many talents, like cupcakes, visiting Belem, visiting Mussurepe, Basketball in Guadalajara, and VBS in Cajueiro Claro.
They are also helping at the International school with construction projects and English camp! A big thank you to them, and to everyone who gives/invests in these mission trips!