Campinas, Brazil – May 8-18, 2023
Tuesday, May 9:
After nearly thirty hours of long layovers, traveling on buses, vans, and jets, the mission team of 22 people arrived in Brazil. Upon landing in Brazil, they went to a Brazilian restaurant, Apaloosa’s Churrascaria, which had fantastic food and was quite relaxing since the team got very little sleep on the overnight flight. They were able to meet missionaries Natal Losnach, and his two sons, Jonathan, David, and many other local Brazilians that were with them.
Wednesday, May 10:
The mission’s team had breakfast bright and early then headed to the church at 8:30am. The team split up into three groups, construction, medical and the children’s ministry. The construction team tiled, primed, and painted while the children’s team left and walked through the favelas (slums) and schools handing out flyers for the VBS, medical clinic, later in the afternoon. They broke for lunch and soon after VBS had commenced where they face painted, made the children balloon animals, did crafts, and much more. Although there were few children the first day of VBS, the team was able to make bonds and play with the children. The medical team had few come to the clinic, but it was available.
Thursday, May 11:
The construction team finished pulling up tile and others began painting the inside of the church auditorium. At VBS many more children came, and they made jump ropes with the kids. Everyone enjoyed the jump ropes including the adults so much that for the rest of VBS all they did was play with the jump ropes! Later that night the team had dinner at the church, followed by church service from 8:00-9:30pm.
Friday, May 12:
The team handed out invitations for VBS and evening church services. They went to Districts 28-29 which were the poorest neighborhoods and had the most drug dealing. They came across a woman with a bad infection in her foot with many other health issues. Sarah Stewart, DO and the missionary, David, went and got her antibiotics and delivered them to her. Then later the team went back to the hotel for a couple hours before going to the night church service and eating dinner. As usual the team worked on tile and painted during the day.
Saturday, May 13:
This morning the ladies and men split up. The ladies went to a market where everything was handmade and had at least 100 stores. The men went to the favelas where they made balloon animals for the kids and worked on the tile and painted. The ladies then went to a small coffee shop and got Brazilian food. The team then met back at the church just in time for VBS. More than 70 children came to VBS. The first day we only had around four and the VBS gained almost 70 kids!
Sunday, May 14;
This morning the team had breakfast at 8:45am before heading out to the Mother’s Day morning service from 9:00-11:30am in the city of Campinas. After church the team went and had lunch at Apaloosa’s Churrascaria. The team split up into groups, some went to David’s house for fellowship, and some went back to the church and finished tiling and painting. Then afterwards, they went back to the hotel where we all met until leaving the hotel at 5:30pm for the 6:00pm church service. After church at 8:00pm the team left the church and stopped at McDonalds for dinner.
Monday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 16:
The team did a couple of days of sightseeing before packing to head home. They went to a local park and visited some markets to buy souvenirs, and enjoyed the sights of Campinas, where the work for the trip took place. The team also visited the largest mall in Latin America.
Wednesday, May 17:
The team flew out of Sao Paulo at 9:30pm. Before they flew out they visited the zoo which is the largest in Latin America.
Thursday, May 18:
The team arrived in Boston at about 10:30am after an all-night flight. They took the Concorde bus from Logan airport and arrived back in Bangor that afternoon. *It should be noted that numerous people came to know Christ including our 2 van drivers who walked the aisle to trust Christ. Church services were held nightly the entire time we were there accept May 15 & 16. It was a fantastic trip, and the host missionaries were phenomenal. Many kids and parents who came from the slums for VBS and the nightly services were touched by the gospel.