March 2012- PAC's Going Back!!

That's right. Princeton Alliance Church is sending another team to Brazil, from March 30-April 7, 2012! But things will be a little different this time around.

This team will be the first team going to Hope Mountain, the other "Hope Unlimited", located in Vitoria. For those of you who don't know, Hope Mountain has seen tough days this past year and, only by God's grace, has kept thriving. With limited funds and expensive operating costs, Hope Mountain faced closure twice in a year's time. Thankfully, right in God's timing, the Brazilian government said they would help offset some of their costs for a period of time. So with a few more months to spare, the 25 boys at Hope Mountain can stay and continue to grow in God. If you were to talk to Philip Smith, co-founder of both Cidade dos Meninos and Hope Mountain, he would tell you that through this experience, the boys have grown exponentially in their faith and he wanted to make sure they had a team visit with them. Many of the kids there have never met an American or heard someone speak in a different language. The team that's leaving Friday was originally going to Hope Unlimited and Cidade dos Meninos to work on the boys' dorms there. Instead, we get to see both campuses and be blessed by all of the 225 kids Hope cares for. Yes, BE blessed BY the kids.

As a team, we've faced some tough challenges already, from health to visa to car to house issues. But that only means that God is going to do something AMAZING!! We are armed with plastic Easter eggs and tons of candy for an Easter egg hunt at both campuses. Plus, we've got lots of sports equipment, school materials, crafts and a telescope we can give the kids to show them we love them. We'll have to do a little work while we're there (paint a 330-foot hallway in three days) but the work will truly be done in our hearts. That's one thing we know for sure!! And, man, are we all excited!!

So as you keep up with us through the blog, please pray for the team members: Arlene, Karen, Lynn, Stephanie, Janet, Edson, Colin, Kay, Mark, Nayla, Antje, and Jannell. Pray for our safety, clarity of mind, unity, humility and for the kids of Hope. We can't wait to come back and tell you what God did!!!

Tchau!! (That was your first Portuguese lesson. It's pronounced "Chow" and means "Goodbye". Stay tuned for more!)