3rd Blog...One month in!

A lot has been happening in the past few weeks since the kids have com back from vacation and we have settled into a normal schedule.

1) Lee Ann and Matt have been teaching photography to the students at Irval de Cima on Mondays. They are planning on creating and selling a calendar with the pictures the students take; the proceeds will go to supplies for the students. While they are busy with that, I have started teaching English to some of the older students. The morning group is easy to work with since there are only 5 of them, so we get through more material and they have more time to ask questions and practice what they learn. The afternoon has more older students, so unfortunately they don't  get the same one on one attention as the morning kids. BUT, each one of them has a desire to learn English and is trying hard.

2) I started teaching Capoeira to the Irval students on Wednesdays. They love it! Some aren't too interested, but many are very excited to try this new and exciting sport. I talked to Klecius, my Capoeira teacher, and he is going to allow 4 students train for free at his gym! This is a great opportunity, but we will only choose two students. ( Only b/c they have to take a bus on their own to meet us in Imbau and then the bus to come back to Imbau, from Telemaco, doesn't arrive until after 11:15pm. They will then sleep at our home until we send them back to Irval the next morning) A bit of a complicated process to participate in a one hour class, but worth it. Now, the challenge for us to choose two kids. I already choose one boy, Rivael, who has a great passion for the sport already and doesn't go to school b/c of complications created by his father.The other student, Lee Ann and Matt are helping me pick….we are thinking about taking the son of the cook at Peti. He has great potential and is very responsible.

3) We are hoping to start a craft class soon, to teach painting and crochet.

4) I will be going to the Capoeira event in Campo Largo this weekend with other people from our gym and I am very excited. :)

5) Matt, Lee Ann, and I have volunteered to help the youth group at Sao Jose (our sister parish) every Sunday night after mass. The group is small, but connected and welcoming. I've never worked with teenagers, so I'm praying God will guide me and the others to help these young people closer to God. Any and all suggestions/help will be welcomed and appreciated!

6) The three of us have decided to take a road trip with the people of Sao Jose to Aparecida de Norte, another city in Brazil near Rio de Janiero in which Our Lady appeared many years ago. It is a city with a lot of cultural and religious background and is a big tourist spot for many people, somewhere I have been wanting to travel to. The church was struggling to fill the last 5 spots so they agreed that if someone could fill 3 spots, they would give that person the other 2 spots for free.. we were so quick to jump on that one! After mass we talked to the priest and the 3 of us are officially traveling with them at the end of September, the best part being that we have decided to take two of our students to fill those free spots since they would never be able to travel on their own! Padre is happy to have the spots filled and we are thrilled to have the opportunity and the chance to take along kids who will truly appreciate the city and would otherwise probably not be able to go.

God bless!