5 Things You Should Know About Carnaval

1.            Spelling = Carnaval. That isn’t a typo. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t let the Brazilians know. It is their claim to fame: The biggest party in the world. Wikipedia says that 70% of annual tourism to Brazil happens during Carnaval (This is where New Orleans got the idea for Mardi Gras). Only Brazilians can turn a three day holiday into a month long celebration: not much gets done in the new year until Carnaval is over.

2.            Blocos. The official picture of Carnaval is one big party that revolves around parades that are presented by different Blocos. Think Macy’s day parade with sexy women dancing the samba instead of Snoopy. Blocos are different groups/clubs that get together and give themselves names (like "o cachorro lambeo tua cara" --the dog licked your face), sell matching shirts or crazy outfits, have a band, and at least one Trio Electrico (fancy ones have floats), which is a truck with huge speakers on the roof and a dance floor on top of the speakers with singers/dancers going crazy on top of that. Carnaval is the time to forget, it is the time to dress up and be someone else, to let it all go.

3.            A Catholic holiday. Carnaval culminates on Fat Tuesday. The basic idea is to get in as much as you can before Ash Wednesday, which begins Lent, the 40 days until Easter, and traditionally a time of self-denial. That is the only part that resembles anything religious. For most Christians in Brazil, you do what you can to get away from Carnaval, so most churches have a church/beach camp. Carnaval leaves a big mess everywhere, especially in people’s lives with violence, addiction, and prostitution. Carnaval accounts for about 80% of annual beer consumption in Brazil, and probably the same statistic for prostitution.

4.            The dark side. While Carnaval is full of bright colors and laughter, for the many in poverty, Carnaval is dangerous and victimizing. Many with money come and take whatever they want--and then leave the pieces. The ones who suffer the most are the children, whether they are at home and their parents/neighbors are drunk, or they are in the street selling beer and snacks, or pick-pocketing. It is not uncommon for children go to missing or get lost during Carnaval. There is also a high level of drunk driving and violence.

5.            The bright side. This year, Pastor Flavio and Cajueiro Claro had church camp, and some of the children from Living Stones were able to join them for a time of worship, fellowship, and fun on the beautiful Brazilian beach. It was a wonderful time where the children were able to be a part of families who loved them and showed them what it was like to live a healthy life. Please pray for the children who were not able to have this experience. We thank God for his protection and safety this Carnaval (Which ended last Wednesday).

Eduarda, from Living Stones, came with her mother, who recently gave her life to Jesus

Personally Involved

It is always a wonderful time when someone gives their time, money, and energy to come to Brazil in person. This year, we have summer trips and opportunities ( wrbrazil@gmail.com to learn more), as well as some different people coming for a semester to teach English at the school (wribrazil.com/teach to learn more). But three people are planning on coming to assist specifically with Living Stones: Cyndi Winzeler (my mother), Koral Potter (my good friend), and Caid Ferguson (my boyfriend). If you would be interested in helping them out with funds, or presents for the children, they are working to bring something special for each child.

Please keep Cyndi Winzeler’s health in your prayers, as this is a step of faith for her to visit 150 of her god-grandchildren. Cyndi and Koral will be coming from April 12-May 7^th, and assisting with our Mother’s day programs, doing home visitations and encouraging the families to be strong in the Lord. Caid Ferguson will be coming later in the year, teaching soccer and basketball with Living Stones/Athletes in Action, and sharing his passion for Christ. To help with their trips to be God’s hands in Brazil, please go to www.wribrazil.com/rachel.html and then type their name into the comments area. It will go directly to their needs while they are in Brazil.

Carpina Trash Dump January

(food baskets)

On December 22^nd , the church got everyone together to bring a special sit-down holiday dinner for the families at the trash dump. This included sending home a food basket with each family, to make sure they had enough for the holidays.

In January, someone donated some bicycles—the most coveted of gifts for the children in Brazil!

They are almost finished building a home for one of the families!

Mussurepe January

In December, Vovo Bel (Grandma Isabel) had a wonderful Christmas party for all of the Living Stones children. She also invited and had food baskets for each of the families, making sure they had enough for the holidays. In January, they have continued to have church services once a month, and this month Marco’s mother gave her life to Jesus. Vovo Bel is praying for the day when a church building can be built and services can be every Sunday! Pray for leaders to be raised up for this community.

Cajueiro Claro January

(Mercia, with some of the food baskets that were donated)

Pastor Flavio and his new wife Mercia enjoyed a lovely honeymoon and vacation in December. January they have begun again, working together with many new projects including changing up the program at Living Stones. Since the beginning, it has been open four mornings a week. But, with the school system, only half of the children could attend, since many of them went to school in the mornings (Public school in Brazil is 4 hours a day, either morning, afternoon, or evening).

This year, we are trying out having two morning and two afternoons, to be able to expand the influence and opportunity to more children. One day the focus is on literacy and basic math, the other on sports and activities (the first must be attended to receive the privilege of the second). On January 20^th, Pastor Flavio had a parent meeting and lunch to explain and begin the new system. Things are going well, and everyone is looking forward to the special Carnaval camp coming up next week. The church put together a snack booth, selling food to raise money for some of the children from Living Stones to go to church camp during Carnaval, one of the few ways to get away from the many drunken parties, that are often dangerous for the younger children.

There was a big disagreement and problem with the soup ministry in December, and the owner of the restaurant was close to ending to program that provided over 12,000 meals to Living Stones families last year. But thank God, everything has been worked out and is running smoother than ever this year!

January Summer Break

January is Brazil’s summer break: when people relax, head to the beach, and wait for Carnaval (Brazil’s big Mardi Gras party) to begin. But at World Renewal, they had an intensive training and outreach time in Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, a town a couple of hours from the headquarters in Carpina. Many people from different community church plants came together to infiltrate this town with the love of Jesus. We are excited to see how things went, and what God has in the future—perhaps even a Living Stones ministry to help begin a church there. More information is at http://www.wrbrazil.blogspot.com

2013 Wish/Dream List

After talking with all of the Living Stones workers, this is a list of our dreams/wishes for 2013:

BIG PROJECTS/GOALS FOR 2013:

1.       Monthly supporters giving $30: www.wribrazil.com/foundationbuilder. Our current giving is at $400 a month. We need a minimum of $1000 a month, at least $1500 to grow.

2.       $20, 000 for a Kombi: www.wribrazil.com/trek

3.       A shaded dining hall/outside bathrooms for Cajueiro Claro (construction project)

4.       Two classrooms (with walls) for teaching in Mussurepe (construction project)

5.       Building for meeting/serving at the Carpina trash dump (construction project)

6.       Workers to teach basketball/soccer for Athletes in Action, workers to do home visitation/birthday party ministries.

7.       Encouragement of current leaders and new Brazilian leaders being trained

8.       Adding/assisting to Carpina/Guadalajara programs, making them Living Stones projects

9.       Beginning, with Athletes in Action, a program in Lagoa De Itaenga in the spring, and in Tracunhaem in the fall (Living Stone #7!)

10.   Our Easter program (Kits for Kids), Mother’ day program (Moments for Moms), Children’s day (Literacy for Living Stones), Soup/food program ($5 For 5), and birthday/Christmas program ($10 for Them) to continue/go well.

SPECIFIC GENERAL SUPPLIES:

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

2.       Math games/basic skills like flashcards and worksheets

3.       Zip lock baggies of all sizes  

4.       Birthday and Christmas cards for each one of the kids

5.       Posters to decorate the walls (with minimal English): maps, blank posters to use as whiteboards, calendars, attendance lists, birthday lists, and holiday posters

6.       The cube evangelism tool

7.       Dry erase markers/wet erase markers

8.       Small lotion/perfume bottles, gifts for mothers

9.       Quality art supplies (not easily gotten in Brazil)

10.   MP3 players

11.   Speakers (good quality, to have/teach music)

12.   “Journey through Bible Lands” Candle Discovery serious

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

14.   “Best Ever Games” Les Christie

15.   Activities/art projects for Valentine’s day, Easter, Passover, Mother’s day, Father’s day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas

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

17.   BBQ sauce, peanut butter, individually wrapped candy

SPECIFIC SUPPLIES BETTER BOUGHT IN BRAZIL:

1.       Hygiene products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, combs, and shampoo)

2.       Portuguese Reading/Literature books to teach basic reading and writing  

3.       Money for internet, to offer computer classes in Cajueiro Claro

4.       Sports equipment—always needed

5.       Seeds and such for planting a garden at each Living Stones

6.       Uniforms for the children