Monday, February 9, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Saturday Afternoon!
We were able to do some sightseeing today. Our hosts arranged a tour of a chocolate factory in Gramado. It smelled wonderful and tasted great as we sampled their creations.
We went to Black Lake where we enjoyed the cool shade by the lake, visited shops, and enjoyed talking with our hosts. Then we went to the beautiful Caracol Waterfall near Gramado. The countryside in and around Gramado is picturesque with rolling hills, flowering trees, and hydrangeas growing wild along the roadways.
In the evening we were escorted by our camp hosts--leaders, camp counselors, and their families to a Brazilian restaurant called a Churrascaria, a barbecue where the meats and some of the vegetables are cooked on large skewers over hot coals. After dinner, singers and dancers came on stage and performed traditional music. Then we went to see a church that changes colors. The lights were placed on the church to highlight its design making us remember God, His creation, and the reason we came to Brazil--to share His love through teaching English as a second language.
Saturday!
Our classes were fun with lots of activities and games, teaching English and providing opportunities for the campers to use the English they already know. Getting the kids talk--using English--getting them comfortable with the language moves them from knowing English to speaking and understanding English.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Daycare Kids Eating Their 1st PB&J!
After the campers went home, we went to visit with the Day Care children here on the campus. We taught them "Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah" and made them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They were so cute and sweet as they were learning their very first English words.
Last Day With Students!
We are getting to know the kids as we spend time with them. One way is by writing Dialog Journals. The campers write to us answering a question or whatever they want to write. And then we write back to them about what they wrote. Some began writing immediately about serious issues in their lives. Others wrote about ideas, dreams, or about their families and themselves. It takes some time to write to each camper in their journal, but it is worth it and fun to learn about them and their lives.
In chapel after supper, an American missionary (in fact the husband of my music workshop partner here at the camp) is sharing the whole story of the Bible. He has condensed it down, but it began at creation and then we learned about Noah and King David last night. He has created the presentation as a graphic novel that is being projected onto a screen. The campers are fascinated learning about Biblical heroes. Our camp theme this week is on heroes, both superheroes and Biblical ones. We learned about Paul tonight.
We have had very positive response to the English Workshop baking apple pies. Pies are not part of Brazilian cooking, so it has been a new experience for the kids. Even the cook here at the camp liked the apple pie.
We made tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches for them for lunch, along with peanut butter and jelly. We brought the peanut butter with us because it is not readily available here. The have even written songs about the American food we have been preparing for them. They liked the chocolate chip cookies also.
Thank you so much for your prayers for all of us working together at the camp and for the campers.
We had our closing program yesterday morning following a short class time. We were able to present certificates to each of the kids for studying English this week. Each class demonstrated what they learned in class acting in a skit or singing a song. The skits were very active and fun. In-between the class presentations, the kids sang the songs they wrote in their music worships. Each group wrote a song in English using the melodies of one of the camp songs they learned substituting their own words. All three songs had at least one verse about the American food we prepared for them.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Thursday!
Two campers try out archery at the carnival today!
Monday:
The campers came today. We have 2 boys and 11 girls ranging in age from 14 to 21. Their English is generally high level from beginners to the advanced students, so it will be a fun challenge working with them.
We started preparing tonight for cooking 3 American meals for them--breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each on a different day. The kitchen at the camp is large and we had at least 10 of us--Americans and Brazilians--all working and fellow shipping together. What a joy to be in God's amazing family!
Tuesday:
We are doing an English Workshop each day. We have 3 of them which the camper rotate through--baking apple pies, making various crafts, and the one I'm working in-music in English. We are working on 'camp songs' starting with learning a little history about how 'camp songs' began. I am working with another American, but she is a missionary here in Brazil. She is also a gifted musician playing the piano for our workshop. We worked so well together that it was obvious God worked everything together forming us into a team. The campers wrote their own song which we will be singing for our closing program for this week in camp. We all had a great time together!
God has been so Good! We are working with the staff here at the camp and they have been so helpful in guiding us through life at the camp, working along side us in the kitchen, and as we have been worshiping together. We can't help but feel blessed by God for this time to spend with such gifted people on this camp staff here in this beautiful country. Praise the Lord, for He is Good!
We are getting to know the kids as we spend time with them. One way is by writing Dialog Journals. The campers write to us answering a question or whatever they want to write. And then we write back to them about what they wrote. Some began writing immediately about serious issues in their lives. Others wrote about ideas, dreams, or about their families and themselves. It takes some time to write to each camper in their journal, but it is worth it and fun to learn about them and their lives.
In chapel after supper, an American missionary (in fact the husband of my music workshop partner here at the camp) is sharing the whole story of the Bible. He has condensed it down, but it began at creation and then we learned about Noah and King David last night. He has created the presentation as a graphic novel that is being projected onto a screen. The campers are fascinated learning about Biblical heroes. Our camp theme this week is on heroes, both superheroes and Biblical ones. We learned about Paul tonight.
We have had very positive response to the English Workshop baking apple pies. Pies are not part of Brazilian cooking, so it has been a new experience for the kids. Even the cook here at the camp liked the apple pie.
We made tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches for them for lunch, along with peanut butter and jelly. We brought the peanut butter with us because it is not readily available here. The have even written songs about the American food we have been preparing for them. They liked the chocolate chip cookies also.
Thank you so much for your prayers for all of us working together at the camp and for the campers.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Part Of The Team Arriving!
Left to right:
Lacey - Indiana
Sandy - Colorado
Amy - Colorado
Sue - Colorado
Patti - Georgia
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