Jerusalem Sabbatical: April 2008

“Team Hilmar” returned from Brazil two weeks ago, but the impact of what we experienced there continues to amaze all of us. Altogether, we spent eleven days in the oceanside city of Rio de Janeiro, doing a variety of projects and building relationships with people of all ages. We learned about the culture of the country, and especially of Rio, the new Covenant work that Wainer Guimaraes and his family have begun there with a small group of believers who call themselves “Mosaico,” the tremendous needs that exist in that city, with its 1000 “favelas” (slums), and what the Church of Jesus Christ is like there. It was rewarding, insightful, challenging, and fun! Especially since our hotel was just one block from the beautiful Copacabana Beach! (Being a missionary isn’t always uncomfortable...)

We learned that our time in Rio was about much more than the work, the help, and the encouragement that we offered to people there. It was about the example that we presented; of serving, caring--in very practical ways, demonstrating love--in very tangible ways, not talking about it or theologizing about it, but doing it! In short, we were “incarnational!” We “enfleshed” what it means to be the body of Christ--the Church--serving the community. Here is how Wainer put it in an email to us after we returned home:

“First of all Peter, Magui and I want to say a big MUITO OBRIGADO, or, OBRIGADÃO! You guys blessed us beyond our prayers; in eternity (100 years from now) we will be able to fully express how thankful we are to God for your lives. Today when I met with a "big shot" of Christianity in Brazil (a very famous pastor) I was able to tell him not what we wanted to do, but what we have already started doing! And it was all because of you. The vision, which is not new (for Jesus did it first), of getting into where people are and serving them, is not just a "word" any longer but "the Word became flesh!" You were HIS hands, smiles, words, hugs, and demonstrated to the least among us that they are worth something; they are valuable. I saw pictures of you talking with them; perhaps not too many words were understood, but LOVE SPEAKS LOUDER ANYWAY.”

You see, in Rio the Christians do not get out and engage their communities and the people around them. Wainer told us that even though Christianity is growing at a ferocious revival pace, it is having very little impact on the corruption, social justice, and sense of hope in the city. Thousands are finding Church, but unfortunately most of these converts stay inside, led to give their time, talents, and treasure under a message that promises they will receive back from God ten time more. It is a system that is not preparing believers to go out and be Christ’s hands of grace in the world. Wainer is passionate that something must change in how the body of Christ is built up.

This is what “Team Hilmar” was all about. As Wainer said, the ideas he’s been presenting and trying to get people to understand are now no longer ideas. They are REAL! “The Word made flesh!” What an awesome privilege it was for us to be part of this process--this important piece--in the ministry that Wainer and “Mosaico” are seeking to create and be: a group of believers joined together to be a church that is engaged with the challenges of the world, as Jesus was, developing a mission that is always focused on reaching out with words and actions.

Which is exactly what we are trying to be about here at Hilmar Covenant: a church that is engaging the community! A church that is outward-focused (not inward, on ourselves, our programs, our needs). A church that is truly serving those outside the four walls of our building. Through our participation in this mission trip to Rio, we who were part of Team Hilmar were reminded what we are to be about here at home. And we learned first-hand the same kinds of things we are to do here in Hilmar. It was a powerful way to both teach and learn.

Most of our ministry happened in a place called “Bola Pra Frente” (which translates “move the ball forward”). This is an incredible place, in the middle of a slum, reaching nearly 1000 school-aged children with a safe, positive place to learn, grow, and play soccer. Two former Brazil World Cup soccer players, Jorghino and Bebeto, began Bola Pra Frente eight years ago in the same slum where Jorghino grew up. He wanted to give the kids living there the same chance he had to get ahead and achieve something with their lives. Using soccer ideas, language, and the game itself, the Bola students study English, math, geography, computer skills, music, drama, theater and learn job skills before or after their regular schooling, and of course they play soccer too. These kids were amazing! So happy, friendly, well-behaved, full of life--you could tell what Bola Pra Frente is already doing for them; for their self-esteem, knowledge, and hope for the future. The dedicated staff who works with these young people were fantastic too. They know they are part of something very important, and they give generously of themselves day after day, with very low pay. The great thing is that Jorghino’s and Bebeto’s reputations and connections bring all kinds of benefits to Bola: Nike shoes, socks, and uniforms, food items that the students can take home to help feed their families, special presentations (we witnessed a music concert and a special “Dengue Fever” presentation while we were working at Bola), and other educational helps.

Our mission was very simple and full of practical help. For the first three days at Bola, we painted two of the four cement block walls that surround the full size soccer field, which is really the heart and soul of the place. We did this in the blazing sun, with high heat and humidity--and we liked it! Someone provided 30 huge buckets of paint before we got there, so we only had to spend our project money on brushes, rollers, paint trays, etc. First we scraped the dirt and filth off of the cement, then we put a white sealer on the walls before painting them with a yellow-beige paint. Several of the guys on our mission team also repaired the high chain link fence that surrounds the court, so we left the place looking clean and nicely repaired at the end of our time there. During the second week, we painted two of the classrooms, cleaned out rain gutters, installed six large fans in various classrooms, and performed some other small tasks. One of the Bola leaders was especially grateful for all that we did. Many of these things were on his “to do” list, but he was always so busy with the kids and the program that it was hard for him to get to the projects we handled. He said he felt like he could breathe again, thanks to our assistance! One other very important part of our mission at Bola, at least for the two college students on our team, was playing soccer with the kids! The Brazil players were tough, but Becky and Allyson held their own!

When we left Bola, the staff gathered all of the kids in a big group on the soccer field. Some of them held up large letters that read THANK YOU, and all of the kids shouted out their thanks to us. Then they presented us with Bola shirts and soccer balls for gifts. We exchanged many hugs--and even more photos! It was a wonderful experience for every one of us.

Half of the team had to leave after one week in Rio. The rest of us were able to visit two other slums and see the marvelous opportunities for service there. The Babilonia slum is at one end of the Copacabana Beach, just two blocks off of the beach and street. It is built on the side of a steep hill, and is controlled by drug dealers. Wainer has already made some excellent connections in this location, so this is why we were able to visit. Our van was met at the bottom of the slum by an escort, who led the way up the hill to a gathering place. When we got out of our van, we faced two guys with AK-47’s who were checking us out to see if we belonged here or not! Fortunately, a community organizer named Isaias knew we were coming and he quickly handled the situation. The guys with the guns then faded away.

Isaias showed us his office and some classrooms that are used by the children in Babilonia, then we set off up the hillside to see the conditions that the people live in there. Up and up we climbed, using stairways most of the time. However, there were also places where the stairs were cracked and broken, or even non-existent, and Isaias told us how dangerous and difficult this made it for the people who live higher up the hillside, especially for the elderly. There is no other way to get around this part of Babilonia and so good, safe stairways are necessary for the community. We also saw the various kinds of homes and living accommodations that the people had managed to build and put together, and we met a number of the residents as we went along too. At the top of the slum, there was a beautiful view of the whole Copacabana Beach, in all its affluent beauty, stretching out from the base of the hill--an incredibly stark and shocking contrast to the living conditions where we were standing, there in Babilonia. The projects that needed to be done were beyond what we could do in the short amount of time that remained for us, so all we could do was affirm our support for what Isaias is doing in this very difficult location and pray for him. (If anyone would like to make a monetary donation to assist Wainer in the work he is hoping to accomplish in Babilonia, write a tax deductible check to “Hilmar Covenant Church” and I will be sure your funds get to Isaias promptly!)

The other slum we visited has a whole different kind of incredible assistance being offered to the community. Malvina is an 84 year old woman who, twenty years ago, received a call from God to open a preschool for children so their moms could go and get jobs to support their families. Malvina grabbed hold of this vision, and has been a strong, vocal advocate to see her vision become a reality. At its peak, “Ebenezer Creche” had about 80 preschool children coming each day into Malvina’s safe learning environment, where teachers and helpers offered loving care, structured programs, hot lunch and snacks, and other important assistance to these vulnerable little ones. Malvina managed to get funding from local government sources to help with the expenses of the Creche and she has worked tirelessly and sacrificially to keep the preschool going. However, in recent months this has become more problematic than ever. The government stopped supplying funding and as a result, two of the teachers had to leave, lowering the number of children who can attend the preschool, and making it impossible to pay the salaries of those who are continuing to work. Wainer wanted us to see this incredible island of light in the middle of the slum so we could consider ways of assisting Malvina and help keep her Creche alive.

The building itself is quite clean, full of light, and in good repair. However, there are very few supplies and resources for the children; very few books in the “library” (basically a three-sectioned rack on the wall), very few toys (we saw each child playing with just three or four legos in the playroom), and only a few playground toys (plastic cars, slide, etc.) on the second floor indoor playground. We felt we needed to remedy this situation immediately (at least a little bit) and so Carolyn, Mary Ann and I went shopping before we left Rio and purchased 15 books, two large containers of legos, a big bag of plastic balls, and several puzzles, which Wainer delivered to the Creche the following week. Since returning home, I have been in contact with Lynn Lea, the director of our Children’s Center, and we are pursuing ways that our daycare facility can get involved in an ongoing way with Ebenezer Creche to assist and support this powerful slum ministry in Rio.

You also need to know that Malvina is blind in one eye, nearly blind in the other, and has a pacemaker that is about ready to quit. Her health is too fragile to put in a new pacemaker, so when this one stops, Malvina’s days on this earth are definitely numbered. However, she is a woman of extreme faith! You can imagine why: she has to be! Considering the conditions under which she works and serves all those little ones, she must rely directly on God’s provision each and every day. We prayed with Malvina before we left--and I tell you, when Malvina prays, God is present in a mighty big way! Her strong voice cries out to the Lord, with sighs and groanings and faith-filled pleas, calling on God to provide all that she needs to keep the Creche going for another day. Praying in the presence of one who is so connected to the Lord is a humbling, learning experience. It is in stark contrast to the very different way most of us in our comfort, affluence, and self-sufficiency usually pray to God.

Another special experience for our team was meeting and worshiping with Wainer’s “Mosaico” group. We were there for their second “Celebradoration” on Sunday morning, when new people were invited to come to worship, to learn about the goodness of God, and to discover the unique way that Mosaico is trying to be the body of Christ in the city of Rio. Wainer used the opportunity to tell everyone about what Team Hilmar had done during our first week in Rio, and beautifully described the “Word made flesh” reality that we demonstrated on our mission trip. We met with Mosaico again, informally, for a time of food, fellowship, worship, and prayer together. It was rewarding to hear from the very mouths of these beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ what our presence and our example meant to them. They also presented us with a special gift of thanks to help us remember them--and all of the fantastic experiences we had during our mission trip to Rio.

Of course, we were tourists some of the time too! Because of the fantastic location of our hotel, just one block from the Copacabana Beach, we ate most of our dinners each evening at the many beach side restaurants that line that beautiful stretch of the Atlantic Ocean. There were also places to shop and barter for souvenirs and trinkets of all kinds. We were able to take the cable car ride to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain and also to drive up to the even higher peak where “Christ the Redeemer” gazes out over the sprawling city of Rio. This statue is one of the new “Seven Wonders of the World,” so were were especially delighted to be able to visit this location. And at the end of our second week, we splurged and bought airline tickets to fly inland to the famous and indescribably stunning Iguacu Falls, on the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. These falls are the second tallest in the world, and are easily the biggest, encompassing 270° and including as many as 300 separate falls when the Iguacu River is running at its highest stage. Many movies have been filmed here, including one of my all time favorites: “The Mission.” Our guide pointed out where some of the scenes from the movie were filmed, including the waterfall that Robert DeNiro climbed next to, dragging his “penance” up to where the Indians lived, far above the river. We were fortunate to be able to take a boat ride up the river to the base of the falls too, and on our way back our driver took our boat into one of the falls! The power of the water was unbelievable--and it was mighty cold too! We were completely soaked for the rest of the day, but it was totally worth it. While we were at Iguacu, we also enjoyed a huge “churrascaria” (meat buffet) dinner and folk arts show (music, dances, and costumes of all the South American countries), and a visit to a tropical bird sanctuary, where we walked through the cages of all kinds of birds (parrots, macaws, toucans, flamingos, and more) and other rain forest critters.

Now we are home, in Hilmar, full of memories, emotions, fresh insights and understandings, with new friendships and connections with people we grew to know and love throughout the city of Rio. We were given a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like in the country of Brazil, and though the immensity of the poverty and problems we saw there seem overwhelming, we were treated to many amazing examples of how love and care and practical help are being brought to the poor, the vulnerable, and the most needy in the city of Rio. This is, indeed, Kingdom work! It is the very same thing Jesus came and did so beautifully while he walked this earth. It is what we, who follow Jesus, are commanded to do as well, for “no disciple is above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.” (Matt. 10:24) There really is nothing quite like a mission trip to open a person up to new levels of faith. Mary Ann summed it up when she said: “There is absolutely nothing like seeing what God is doing around the world.” I would add: “There is absolutely nothing like being part of what God is doing around the world.” And of course this happens both in lands far away and in our own backyard.

May God continue to challenge us, excite us, and give us insight on how we can engage our community for the sake of His Kingdom. Amen.