"Tourismo"

Today's Pictures (over 100!)

Today began (too) early with breakfast and devotions with Pastor Jim. Today was going to be a day of "tourismo" (sight-seeing/playing tourist). We also met a lady named Suzie (at least that's the American spelling of her name). She shared with us part of her story. I learned more of her story as the day progressed. I found out that she was there to lead us through our first "Tourist" stop of the day - the Dona Marta favela (slum). Suzie grew up in Dona Marta, and was involved in the gang that rules the area, as well as a major part of the drug trafficking in and out of the favela. When she was a young teen, she went to a Nazarene clinic for treatment for asthma. While there she was introduced to the Nazarene church, and more importantly, Christ. After asking Christ into her life, she was placed in hiding for some time, while attempting to leave the gang (usually anyone who leaves the gang does not survive the process). By God's grace, she was successful, and has been a key part in the church's ministry in Dona Marta.

After a good time of sharing and prayer we waited for the tour bus that was to arrive at 8:30AM to take us around Rio all day. At 8:50, the bus showed up and we all loaded up for a trip into Rio. Our first stop was Dona Marta. Dona Marta is a large slum on the side of a very steep hill. At the top of the hill (642 steps!) is a Church of the Nazarene! That was our goal - to make it to the church, and hopefully return with everyone. This is the church that a Work and Witness trip from Hutch First Church in 2002 helped work on. Over 13,000 people lived in this very poor part of town, with very rough living conditions.

As soon as we got off the bus, Suzie left the group and went ahead. When she returned, I found out that Suzie went to the police station at the foot of the hill to check in, and make sure it was safe for us to enter. She then went a little further and checked in the with gang leaders as well. We were ok'ed by both groups. After some briefing by Pastor Jim, Betty and Suzie, all 24 of us started walking up hill along an old road. The briefing included information like do not take pictures unless our guides say it was ok. And don't take pictures of anyone with guns. (Guns?) Stay together, and don't stare at anyone with guns. (Guns?) And don't worry about the guys with guns, they like it when the church is there. Guns? Not just hand guns, but big automatic pistols, many extra clips, and uzi sub-machine guns. And lots of them. Though I was very uncomfortable with this for the first few switchbacks, my attitude quickly and quite unexplainably changed. Though these teens and men were the "bad guys," they were very happy to see us there. They always smiled and greeted us with the universal thumbs up sign, happy that we were there to help. So though I never completely became comfortable with the gang, I felt like we were safe. And having Suzie there played a huge part in our safety. Thank you Suzie!

The road continued up the hill for about 100 yards, and then ended. From there on up were just stairs. Lots of stairs! At the end of the road Suzie showed us a huge pile of bags of rock and sand. She asked us if we would please help carry these building supplies up the hill to the Nazarene Computer School. The supplies were needed for renovations that are going to take place next week at the school. The computer school is an incredible ministry that is teaching the children of the favela skills needed to get jobs in Rio and other places – something very important in helping people out of the slums. So most everyone grabbed a bag (or two - I think Adam might have grabbed 4) of sand or rocks and started up the steps. Walking up the steps was hard enough. But add 40-100 lbs. of weight going up steps was not easy. After several breathing breaks, we made it to the school.

After dropping off the supplies, we headed up the hill again. I cannot begin to explain here what I saw on the way up that hill. The few pictures that the group and I managed to take does not tell the whole picture either. What I do know is that for some reason I am blessed. Beyond what I ever imagined, I am blessed. Me in my worst situation that I have ever been in pales in comparison to the conditions that some of these people live in every day. Fresh water outside their homes; raw sewage flowing down the stairs; electric lines piled on top of each other that you frequently had to duck under to miss; fresh water leaking onto the electric lines; construction with wood beams, thin plywood and sheet metal – on the side of a steep hill! Those 642 steps up and down Dona Marta will always be with me in ways that will take a lifetime for me to understand.

Reaching the top and seeing the Nazarene church was an awesome ending to our trip. Well ending isn’t the right word, because we still had to take 642 steps back down. On the trip down, I grabbed a handful of Twizzler licorice sticks to give to the children that we saw. The expressions on the children’s face was priceless – you would have thought I had given them a gold coin! I did learn a new word (sounds something like, “couma”). The first group of kids I gave Twizzlers to asked me many questions, but only one in English (“What is your name?”). When I couldn’t understand what they were asking, one of our translators came up and told me they were asking if they could eat what I gave them. I smiled and then told them my new word, which means “eat.” I also learned later at dinner that when I was waving at the kids (by holding up my hands and bending my four fingers at the palm up and down), I was really telling them to “come here.” No wonder some parents looked at me funny when I gave their child a piece of candy then told them to come here!  Now I know to move my hand side to side to wave!

After arriving at the bottom of the hill again, we loaded up the bus and left for “Corcovado,” or Christ the Redeemer. But when we were on our way there, Christ’s head started to disappear into the clouds. By the time we arrived at the train to take us up the mountain to see the large statue, Christ was completely hidden by the clouds. I resisted making any “second transformation” jokes as we decided that it would not be a good time to go up the mountain. So as plans often are on Work and Witness trips, we decided to change and headed to Copacabana beach.

When we arrived at the beach, we spent an hour or so visiting the feira (pronounced, “fayda”), or a street market. While there I purchased my family (oops – sorry, guys, you have to wait). I also got me one.  I’m glad we had guys that could speak Portuguese and knew how to barter, or this while Anglo American would have paid way too much!

After our shopping trip, we went to a churrascaria for lunch. A churrascaria is a very nice restaurant that serves all-you-can-eat meat. I loved it! After the salad (which I skipped to allow more room for the meat!), the servers would come around with huge skewers of meat, and carve pieces of them onto your plate. I had sausage (the second best meat of the night), lamb, pork, and about 8 other cuts of beef. They did this for probably close to an hour – meat after meat, cut after cut! The best meat of the night was a garlic-cheese covered filet mignon. It was delicious! I also enjoyed a drink that is very popular here in Brazil, and I have grown to love – Coca-cola. At the end of the meal we were served ice cream over fresh papaya and pineapple and a very small cup of espresso. Not just any espresso, but some of the strongest espresso I have ever drank. With two packs of sugar and a quarter cup of real whipped cream, I quickly drank mine, and asked for another one!

After everyone had eaten their fill (and then some!), we were supposed to head to Sugarloaf Mountain. But low clouds and drizzle changed that plan as well. So instead we headed downtown Rio and took a ferry across the bay to Neteroi – another area of Rio. The ride across the bay was absolutely beautiful (as long as you didn’t look at the water – it was pretty nasty). When we arrived in Neteroi, we walked around for a few minutes, saw a McDonalds, enjoyed another Brazilian drink (Coca-cola), then took the ferry back (while making really bad imitations of “Titanic” and singing “My Heart Will Go On” at the top of our lungs).

Our day of playing (playing – who is playing?) tourist was over, and we loaded up into the bus and headed home. When we arrived, we had the option of staying at the house and preparing ourselves ham sandwiches, or going to Pastor Pedro Paulo’s grandson’s 1st birthday party. Most of us opted for the latter. And what a party it was! About 300 people met at a huge meeting/party place just a few blocks from the pastor’s house for the largest birthday party I had ever seen. And we ate and ate (chicken, rice, potatoes, cake, caramel popcorn with chocolate sprinkles and coconut, candy apples, cookies, and more) and drank about 10 cups of my favorite Brazilian drink, Coca-cola (ok – you get the idea!). This birthday party was bigger than any wedding that I think I have ever attended! The party started at 6:00PM (we didn’t arrive until after 8:00), and was still going strong at 10:00 when we left. Pastor Pedro Paulo took the opportunity to greet the people, as well as preach a sermon on “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” What a great time we had!

Well, it’s now 2AM Sunday morning, and another party across the street just ended an hour ago, and people a few blocks away are still firing off huge barrages of firecrackers. The noise of people walking down the street has started to subside, and I’m getting a little sleepy (I guess that the espresso and Coke is finally wearing off! ). Tomorrow we are going to Sunday School in the morning, and church in the evening (when they have their main Sunday service). I will “see you” tomorrow!

Mark