É muito bom estar em casa! (It's very good to be home!)

  So I have been back in Brazil for 2 weeks now! Wow, I can't believe it! As I've told several people, I feel the Lord has called me to work with children and teens who are at risk, in need and in bad home situations. And now that I am here in Brazil (where there is a massive need in this area) I will be involved in this type of ministry!

 This week I began volunteering at a community development project called Mao Amiga (Friendly Hand.) This project is a part of YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and works to transform the community through tutoring, computer classes & jewelry classes, sports, discipleship and etc. This project is led by a couple, Samuel and Denise Kamiyama, who are an amazing man and woman of God and are very devoted and persevering in their job. God has been using them so much and I am so excited to be able to work with them after knowing them for 7+ years. I will be working there three times a week. I will be involved in several areas of the project. I will help Samuel in a computer class and help teach an English class. I will also assist the teens in creating a catalog for jewelry that they make and also take part in the discipleship classes, as well as helping out in any other way that is needed. 

  I was able to help in a couple of different classes last week, getting to know the project and kids better before I began working there. My favorite day was probably in the discipleship class. We spent time discussing the situation in Japan, being it the day after the earthquake, and prayed for the nation. It was interesting to see the kids response about the whole situation and it opened up the opportunity to share about God's character and how he is a caring God who feels our pain. I have enjoyed the project so far and am really looking forward to these next few months and all that God will teach me and see what he does in the kids life!