posted Aug 18, 2008 12:59 PM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 18, 2008 1:03 PM
]
Today is Sunday, and the last day of presentations for the choir. We
sang in the morning at the Liberdade church. They have completely
rebuilt their sanctuary and it is beautiful. The worship service is in
both Portuguese and Japanese language and so this morning, also in
English. Mary and I shared about the choir during adult Sunday school
(about 65 in attendance) and fielded questions. They were interested
in how the Youth Choir got started, how the kids are prepared
spiritually for missions, etc. It was a wonderful opportunity to give
God praise. Who else could put together a choir made up of members
where no musical talent is required and where the directors have no
formal musical training.
In the afternoon, we presented at a Nippon-Brasilian facility where
many non-Christian people were invited. Minoru introduced the song,
"As the Deer" through sharing his testimony - a touching and powerful
one because of the special meaning this song has for him and his family
- a song that he had seen touch the heart of his father before his
father had passed away. His testimony touched many, including the Youth
Choir members. It was hard to sing the song afterward.
Another blessing: There was a woman Tim Maki had spoken to about
Jesus and who he invited to one of our concerts when the choir was in
Sao Bernardo do Campo in 2001. She came to that 2001 concert. She
also started going to church. She was at our presentation this
afternoon with her husband. She and Tim recognized each other right
away. What a joyful moment that was. Praise God!
By the way, we found out that there is a Brasilian toothfairy! And
according to Mariru, the Brasilian toothfairy is more generous than the
American one. So she has written a thank you note and hopes the
Brasilian toothfairy will come back to get her note.
We all send our love. We are bursting with grateful hearts to all
of you and most of all to our Lord Jesus Christ for all He is doing
here in Brasil and in our individual hearts.
Bonnie
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posted Aug 16, 2008 9:27 PM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 18, 2008 1:02 PM
]
We arrived in Sao Paulo close to 5 in the morning. The Sao Paulo
Holiness churches (Bosque, Liberdade, Sao Bernardo do Campo and Santo
Andre) have all partnered together to take care of us. We are sleeping
at the Holiness headquarters (as we have done each time we are in Sao
Paulo) all together. We have breakfast delivered to us or we eat meals
at the churches.
The pictures today are all taken at the Bosque church. Yes, the
Bosque church has an inside soccer/basketball court. The church
members barbequed beef for us - only one of many dishes served for our
lunch that afternoon. (By the way, in all the churches, we noticed
that the church members who are cooking all wear caps that cover their
hair. Hmmm - maybe a good idea for our churches too, especially those
that prepare lunch every Sat? What do you think, Steve - our resident
restaurant inspector?) We had an evening concert the day of our
arrival in Sao Paulo at the Bosque church and were surprised by Jiane
Li and her mother who were in the audience, as well as Chiemi Nakashima
(Nakasuji homestay in 2002) and her parents. Chiemi was able to see the
projection of the Portuguese translations that she did for some of the
songs the choir sang in English as well as hear Will Furuyama recite a
bible verse in "perfect" Portuguese. (Chiemi had recorded the bible
verse to help Will practice).
The flowers you see believe it or not, are potted plants at the
church. We have no idea what type of flowers they are, but they are so
unusual and beautiful.
Today, Mariru lost a tooth. She told some of us that she wondered if
there is a Brasilian toothfairy. Well, nothing to loose, so she will
be putting her tooth under her pillow tonight.
Soon
we will be heading home and missing Brasil very much. God has traveled
with us every step of the way. We have had such an awesome time,
showered with tons of blessings. Thank you for all so much for your
prayers.
Bonnie |
posted Aug 16, 2008 11:11 AM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 16, 2008 9:27 PM
]
We arrived today in Bauru for lunch. The Bauru Holiness Church started
as a mission church 4 years ago. Then Pastor Mitsuo Namba treated all
of us to ice cream. This was an all natural home-made ice cream shop.
I had abacaxi and acai sherbet and pistachio and briadierro ice cream. Yum. I loved the acai most of all.
The church used our presentation as an opportunity to invite the
community to the church. He had earlier in the day bought plastic
chairs at Walmart so that he could have 80 seats in the church and
prayed that people would come. Almost all the seats were filled - 65
people came. It was a wonderful success. The Youth Choir talked with
40 people after the concert about the gospel. God is working a miracle
among the hearts of the Brasilian people and among our Youth Choir
members. I can only praise God for all that He is doing and believe we
all have hearts filled with joy.
Tonight we leave for Sao Paulo and sleep on the bus.
Bonnie
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posted Aug 16, 2008 11:04 AM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 16, 2008 9:26 PM
]
We left Tres Lagoas in the morning and arrived in Bastos in time for
lunch. Then went to a school for a cultural exchange. The English
teacher there helped the students prepare a very nice welcome and
fellowship with us. They prepared a slide show about facts of Brasil,
and the Taiko club (only started 2 years ago) also presented several
wonderfully coordinated and dramatic orchestration of drums. There was
typical Brasilian snack foods to eat and the girls taught us some songs
and dances while the guys played soccer. At our presentation that
evening at a local theatre (Antifeatro), there were 200 in attendance!
We slept at the school - the boys on the floor in one classroom, the
girls in the other classroom. The next day, the students arrived at
6:30 in the morning. It was the fastest we ever got moving so early in
the morning only to learn they had arrived that early in order to play
another game of soccer with us before classes started. We really are
enjoying the warmth of the Brasilian people.
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posted Aug 16, 2008 11:03 AM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 16, 2008 9:25 PM
]
We are in Tres Lagoas today, and as you can see, making many new
friends there, too. They are feeding us well and we are still eating
well - Brasilian style which is 4 meals a day. We performed at the
Japanese Brazilian Center today and talked about the gospel with our
gospel bracelets to 87 people. Praise God!
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posted Aug 16, 2008 11:00 AM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 16, 2008 9:25 PM
]
Hi everyone,
On Aug 12, we spent the day at Bonito - and went
snorkeling in the spring fed river. It was so beautiful! We swam right
next to the river fishes. There is an animal sanctuary and a hospital
for sick animals and birds to have some time to recuperate before they
are released back into the wild. You can tell how much fun we had. It
was a long day, but a fun filled day admiring and in awe of God's
creation. On the way back in the bus, Mariru fell asleep eating her
dinner - literally in the middle of chewing her chicken.
|
posted Aug 16, 2008 10:57 AM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 16, 2008 11:00 AM
]
posted Aug 13, 2008 11:28 PM by Ji Yun Son
Hello church family,
Today was a play day - spent the day
snorkeling, swimming, and hiking in Bonito - a beautiful natural river
area that is fed by spring water that bubbles up from underground. We
snorkeled along side the local fish down the river. It was the most
amazing experience - because of the natural beauty of God's creation.
There was a zip line into the river water in a natural pool of water
surrounded by small natural waterfalls. Once again we wonder how
anyone can deny a creator God when you see a place like this.
August 12, 2008
The
Campo Grande church people have been so generous, thoughtful, giving -
what a blessing they have been. Not only do they prepare about 4 meals
a day - they packed so much food on the bus today, we didn't even eat
1/2 of it (sandwiches, fried chicken, pom de queso, coffee cake,
apples, bananas, coffee cake, chocolate cake, lemon cake, chips, bags
of candy, guarana, water and I'm sure I left some things out). When we
arrived back at the church there was fried rice and cabbage salad
waiting for us. The Holy Art (Kings Kids) did a song and dance for us.
Then there was much taking of pictures, saying goodbyes, exchanging of
gifts with the church people until midnight. One of the members who is
a professional editor for television, took Kenny's videos and made a
short CD and inserted pictures of the cities that we visited. The
giving of this church has been unending. We cannot even begin to thank
them for everything they have done for us. It will be hard to leave
Campo Grande in the morning.
Tomorrow, Carlos Tanaami-sensei will accompany us to Tres Lagos. We
will arrive there for lunch, take a shower and have a few hours rest in
the afternoon before our presentation, we were told tonight. We will
find out tomorrow where and for how long we will present.
We are all well. We all miss you, but I don't think anyone is home
sick yet - we are having too good a time - such a blessed time. We are
reminded constantly about God's care for us and it has been truly a joy
to be His servants.
Thank you for sharing with us - partnering with us in prayer.
With much love in Christ, Bonnie
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posted Aug 11, 2008 10:18 PM by Ji Yun Son
| Today is Monday, Aug 11 and the Campo Grande church is
treating us to a day in Bonito tomorrow (Wed) which
is located at the south end of the pantanal. We leave from the church
at 5:00am tomorrow. This church has been an amazing blessing. They had a sukiyaki fundraiser to pay for our snorkeling at Bonito. They won't let us pay.
Today we presented at 2 schools. One of them was in a "tough
school" (I am not sure how to otherwise describe it), but the
principal told us many of the kids are on drugs and drink and have
other difficulties in their lives. I think the skit that the choir
does hit home to some. One young girl told the pastor's wife that she
saw her life flash in front of her eyes while watching the skit and
tears welled up in her eyes. She wants to go back to church. Our
presentation at that school if solely for the salvation of this one soul
was certainly worth it and I think all the choir members could see
that blessing from God. It was a deeply heartfelt experience to see God at work.
We so appreciate your prayers and support. We are all well. Our only ailment is Garrett who has a slight
cold. We are praising God for this incredible experience.
Bonnie
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posted Aug 11, 2008 10:04 PM by Ji Yun Son
[
updated Aug 16, 2008 10:59 AM
]
|
