Photo 1: Alison with Donna GonGon and her Cake
Photo 2: The girls on Crazy Sock Day
Photo 3: Angela Fielder running the show from the back
Photo 4: Jacob playing games
Photo 5: Kaelyn and Trudy ganging up!
Photo 6: The Brazilian McDonald's Experience for lunch

For starters, we would like to correct a statement that was made in a previous blog. We said that we had a Portuguese feast, but Marney quickly corrected us after she read the blog saying, “Portuguese can’t cook! It’s a Brazilian feast!” Sorry for that error!

Yesterday was a day full of blessings from God. We had many more campers and were ecstatic about that. Jacob’s group tripled in size going from only 4 to 12. The other groups grew as well. The camp schedule continues to get smoother each time we do it. We are all getting used to the hectic schedule and it is more fun each time as well. The ride home in the van/bus was very educational yesterday. We played a brand new game called “joshopedia.” Josh knows the most random information any of us have ever heard, so we decided to quiz him on the facts he knows (it really is actually pretty amazing). It quickly spread to a categories style game, giving the participants only 30 seconds to tell every thing they know about whatever category is shouted. Fun and educational all in one, who would have ever thought! Alison has officially had the most celebrated birthday ever. I cannot even count how many times we sang happy birthday to her in both Portuguese and English. The cake dona Gon Gon made her was AMAZING!!!! It was chocolate with coconut inside covered with enough fruit to last Alison a lifetime. Of course, we all shared this delightful treat with her for dessert after our awesome dinner.

It has become a tradition to have nightly outings looking for the great wildlife in Brazil. Thanks to Jacob’s knowledge and videographer skills we now have National Geographic footage of giant Brazilian ants. Of course, still no giant frog. Hopefully tonight on our night hike! After our adventure, some of the leadership team (aka Trudy and Ruby) decided it would be funny to pull pranks on our birthday girl. They, along with their roommates put some heart balloons under her pillow and mattress and short sheeted her bed. Alison did not realize she even had a balloon under her mattress and she thought Hamunda, the lady who graciously cleans up after us, made her bed wrong. This kept the whole room up laughing all night and Ashley had to go tell Ruby and her room to stop laughing so we could sleep. Funny how the tables turn!

After that exciting night many of us got up early and went to milk the cow. For most of us it was our first experience doing that. Some were not so great, while others were pros (Brent). We had a blast and the cow was definitely relieved, in more ways than one, might I add. With the lack of sleep and staying up to late doing extra-campular activities, we were all worn out today. We still managed to make it through and love every bit, only with God’s strength. The campers had loads of fun playing drip, drip, drop and other water games in recreation, making slushies in wacky science, and making sheep in crafts. Each day we are learning more Portuguese and the campers are learning more English. It is so exciting to see how God is transforming not only the campers, but their family and onlookers as well.

Last night we were also able to hear a little but of what God is doing through the camp this week. Andre shared some stories with the team which were encouraging and has show us that God really is using this experience in the life’s of the campers. We have had parents and grandparents already talk about the change in their children, and some people in the apartments around the church that have never been here have decided to come. We have also heard that most of the children that have attended the camp are not members of the church and many of them do not have any church background at all. And lastly we have even had a spiritist mother send her child to camp; this is huge as she would probably never be in a church if not for this setting.

God has clearly done amazing things thus far this week and it is going to be so hard for all us to leave a place we have come to love. Thanks to all of you who have been faithfully praying for our team. Please continue to pray, as tomorrow could possibly be the biggest day for the campers. Their families are invited to all come tomorrow and the pastor of the church will be giving a message to everyone. Mrs. Trudy will also be explaining to the families about WinShape and what we have been doing here. JD has had the opportunity to pour into the lives of two boys who are too old to be a camper, but still wanted to hang around. He is talking them today again and is going to ask them about the Lord. God is amazing an has been faithful through everything, what more could we ask for?


Mallory- loves Fufa!
Ashley- had fun milking Agnes, the cow.
Brittany- milked a cow this morning!
Jessica- is still saying cade sapo? (where is the frog??)
John David- has a girlfriend named Catalina.
Nicole- enjoyed her trip to the Brazilian McDonalds
Jacob- is busy with a much bigger group during the day and being our resident frog professor at night
Alison- Ramunda made my bed backwards…haha!
Josh- can’t believe that Brazil only has 24 hours in a day.
Kaelyn(me)- cannot believe tomorrow is the last day of camp!
Brent- found his new calling in life—milking a cow. Columbo is scared his job will be taken away.
Angela F- two days with no naps= really tired.
Speedy- is glad that Brazilian kids love camp as much as kids back home.
Julie- Portuguese is much easier to read than to speak, but there are things that transcend all language barriers: smiles, hugs, cheers, music, and McDonalds! Missing you AG & D! ps- your daddy got wet in a game.
Angela R- is certain she is going to have WSCIP withdrawal when this is over, but is striving to act like it never will be.
John- Is busy getting wet as he is playing water games with all the kids!
Trudy- her experience of mixing Nesquick over the years has definitely come in handy when mixing kool-aid for wacky science.
Marney and Andre: says hey to Team 1!