This weekend 40 Brazilians came to stay on the ranch for a retreat. If you knew what the ranch looks like you would know that there really isnt a specific place for 40 people to stay overnight, so people were packing like sardines in any building with a roof and furnished floors. After the intial shock of having so many people here (about 12 people are usually ever on the ranch, including us) it was actually a lot of fun. So on Saturday after noon we were all given free time till the meeting that was supposed to happen later in that night, so the boys got a great idea, lets ask if any of...

Change.  Such a difficult thing for me usually.  Yet for some reason, I find it easier on this trip.  If you asked anyone at home to describe me here are some things you might hear: nice, quiet, reserved, works when asked, not a fan of school work, often lazy when not properly motivated, and almost never talks about herself on any deep level. Then last night we had what is called a feedback session.  It is a time where we tell each other what we feel or notice about each other, whether that is building them up with compliments or offering constructive criticism. ...

  So why is it when it comes to the time to write a blog, my mind goes blank and I cant think of anything to say. But here I am, I have been gone for three weeks now! The time is flying by, and just going to go by even faster. We have alot of ministry opportunities coming up, and I am beyond excited! One of the things will be doing is leaving the ranch for two weeks and will get to work with this wonderful woman. Alot of which will be working in the slums with kids. Yay!! The people I am spending my 2 1/2 months are amazing, and im learning so much from them. Through our...

So I don’t have anything deep or wise to say just yet.  My week this week has been characterized by one thing: paint.  We have been painting two different buildings and they have been a challege.  One of the buildings is going to be a coffee house and we have been repainting the trimming around the windows and door green.  I now have green paint imbeded into my skin, and my hair.  I wish I had gotten a picture but the day that I painted the rafters of the coffee house was the day that I gave up trying not to get paint on me.  I had paint EVERYWHERE. ...

                       So this Thursday, as a team, we started a book study on the book “Radical” by David Platt. We’re only on week two, and I’m only two chapters in, but I decided to take some time to write what I’ve already been convicted about. In the first two chapters alone, the author talks about his experiences in an underground church in Asia. The people in that church were so hungry for God’s word, and so in love with Christ, that they...

So of course we didnt get to meet this woman till just after we had our communication time so none of us wrote about her but if Communication day was on Saturday night I think I can say with certainty that half of our blogs would be about this woman. But of course we have had a whole week since then and so much has happened but I will fill you all in.   Last Saturday we met a woman named Elisangela, at least thats how she pronounced it, but for short people call her Alissa (I spell it the same way as my name because its said the same way all the Brazililans, and pretty much anyone whos...