A Visit to the City of Sau Paulo

Hello everyone,

Like most days here, the past few have been busy ones. Even on our days off, we are helping with the chores around the base, and playing with all of the local kids. Sunday night we were invited to a church in another Sao Paulo community (I cant quite figure out the geography of this place. There seems to be about 1000 communities in Sao Paulo alone). Church in Brazil takes place at night, so thinking that we were going to need to leave around 6 we were all ready to go. At seven we actually left (time means nothing here, just like Uganda and Nepal). Panicking that we were going to be late, we made our way down a few dark paths towards a bus stop. Being cautious not to step on any tarantulas (yuck!) we almost missed the corral snake that was stretched out across the path. One of my interns almost stepped on it! Corral snakes are one of the most poisonous snakes in the world! That wasn't the only close encounter with an animal that day. I was sitting in the middle of the soccer field, just outside the base writing in my journal and looking over the community of  Franchesco Morado when I heard people shouting my name. When I turned around I saw two horses galloping towards me! I am already afraid of horses but this really didn't help my fear. Luckily I was able to get out of their way, but it was scary! Back to our church adventure though, not really knowing where we were going we piled onto a bus, which drove about 150km/hour up and down huge hills and over pot holes. Buses do not stop for other cars or pedestrians, so we had a few close calls! The bus took us down town Franchesco Morado and we got on the train that runs through all of the major cities in Sao Paulo. An hour later, we arrived at the city where the church was, and were directed into two strange cars, where we had to pile on top of one another. 

To avoid carjackings, or red light robberies, the cars do not stop at traffic lights, so our drivers just made their own rules of the road! It was an insane hour, and quite the trek to attend an hour church service!

Church like any other global trip was amazing. The service did not start until we arrived, even though we were an hour late! We were welcomes with hugs and kisses and I was asked to go up to the front and speak on behalf of the team. I was really nervous, but Thaigo was up there with me translating everything that I said into Portuguese. He also translated the entire service for us which was really nice. At the end they called up our entire team and had us stand in a semi-circle. The entire congregation raised their hands and prayed aloud for us! I think it was a really powerful moment for my team. People in so much need, and who need so many prayers themselves, praying for us! It was really great! 

Today we had to get back on the train, and make our way to the city center of  Sao Paulo. At times the streets almost seemed like we could have been in scary streets in downtown Calgary. Graffiti covers all of the walls, and around every corner their are people who have build homes out of scraps that they have found. Beyond all of the poverty and homelessness are huge business buildings, and shopping centers. It reminded be of the problems that are going on back home, that are just pushed aside. 

There is a street downtown called the Crackolauge (The land of the Crack) that we will be going to later on this week. This is a street dedicated to individuals struggling with addictionswho are all pushed into a small corner of the city and ignored. We are going to hear their stories and serve them hot chocolate. One of the boys on our team is an addictions Councillor so I am really excited for  him to be apart of this project! 

I can hear the kiddies from the classroom! Time to go attempt to teach some more english!

Peace and love!

Ps- Do me a favour and say a little prayer tonight that we live in a country that is safe, and that we live in homes where there is food on the table, and roofs that do not leak! That is more than most people in Brazil can pray for!

xoxo

Tory