Where did Waterfall of Souls get its name?

Its a charming name isnt it? When anyone goes with us there they always ask, "So where are all the waterfalls?" We always knew that there is a waterfall within walking distance from the community so we thought that must have been what those people meant when they named the city.

The truth is, Waterfall of Souls got its name because of its many murders! There have been so many people killed and thrown into the woods here that the name of this city became "Waterfall of Souls" because of its many deaths!

Most of the people living in Waterfall are related to each other... Then thinking about this I started thinking... How many of these childrens parents or Grandparents were murders? Probably many! This city had no problem "turning a blind eye" because they are mostly all family and they knew what people were capable of doing, not to leave out the fact that this city is far removed from any other city and seeing a police car is a rare sight... Imagine how it must have been 50 or 60 years ago!

Waterfall of Souls has been a cradel of fears, secrets and death for so long! Now we have invaded this city with love! It has made a difference! My hope is that "Waterfall of Souls" will one day mean "flouishing with life" instead of "marked by its many deaths".

You have helped this dream to be set into motion! Mission teams, Prayers, Support, and in every way you have and are helping through us to make a new history here!

The 7th Day of God was Man's First Day of Life!

What does that mean? So what? God created man on the 6th day, On the 7th, God rested! Man's first day of being alive and breathing was a day of rest!!!!!

If that doesn't "touch your heart" then please read the words in the funky colors above again... If it still doesn't speak to you, then maybe you are living through something different at the moment.

For me that is the most profound and beautiful thing I have heard in a long time! In the first moment of existence was "REST"!

The first order of business for man to take care of was to "REST"...

I just find this whole thought a blessing! Maybe you will too!

God bless you!

Saturday & Sunday 8-24-08

Kids trying Tai Chi class with daddy!

This weekend I had a very special time with my children! Shalom walked into my room with a cup of water and spilt it on the floor but close to the electrical cords... I said, "what did you do!?" and Shalom began to cry and ran out. I saw her heart! She was truly broken because she thought she had ruined something of mine... I saw her in a real moment of crises! I called her to come into the room and called her to my lap on the floor. This, I thought, is one of those moments she may remember for the rest of her life, how I handle this could make a big difference. So I told her, "this is just stuff! You are more important than any of these things!" She said, "I know that you dont have many things and that your things are important to you." Once again I knew she saw deeper than just the act of spilling water on the floor. I just held her and told her how much I loved her.

There was a movie out about something about a "boy from mars" which was a story about a boy that had been really disfunctional and how a man touched his life... I didnt see the whole movie, but what i saw showed a boy having broken an item and said something to the degree knowing that the man wouldnt want him any longer because he had broken something of value... The man in the movie took the boy to his kitchen and took out all his plates and took turns throwing them with the boy, breaking them on the floor to show that all his things werent that important.

I want to "mark" my children in a positive way... Using my moments with the children to make sure they understand that they are loved and not missing the big moments because of stuff! We cleaned up the water together and both had a warm feeling in our hearts. This moment may be a moment that she remembers in 20 years and it may not, but I will never forget it!


Samuel teaching Sunday school today... It was a smaller group today but always good!


Andrea playing games with the children...

Meet Samuel's Dad!

Sr. Paulo is Samuel's dad and even though I have known the family for a number of years, I never really knew what Samuel's dad does for a living. Its always a special privilege for me to visit a person at their place of business.

He works at Fiat Automotives as well as part owner of a business that makes retainers for Orthodontists. This man can do precision work by hand and knows what he is doing without having to measure everything out even to the millimeter! That's pretty incredible!

I remember Pastor Lowell telling me that his father made precision parts and that he couldn't fathom the expression "give or take an inch", that everything he made had to be as perfect as humanly possible. I live in the world of "give or take an inch", so its impossible for me to imagine what its like to live by "millimeters of perfection".

I stand in awe of those that have such technical minds! Just something to ponder... While many have the luxury to thing in terms of "close is close enough", I remember my 6th grade teacher saying, "close is only acceptable in horse shoes and hand hand grenades".

Samuel has a couple of motorcycles and this one in the picture is one that he hasn't been using for some time, so he has extended me an invitation to borrow it for a while to get myself acclimated to riding on a daily basis again. What a privilege and pleasure to have an opportunity to "ride again". Thank you Samuel!

8-17-08 Waterfall

This week I wanted to get in a shot... So here I am at song time with the kids...

Raquel teaches each week and the kids are growing! Some profess that they "belong" to our church now. They dont allow any more pressure tactics from the neighborhood church. Some are too young to make any decisions... Our job is to love them.


Lucas with Eduardo playing during the teaching. Sometimes we can get them in to pay attention... but for now they get sidetracked in their desire to play, at least they choose to be with us during our time at Waterfall.

Today in Florestal and Waterfall!

Look at the beautiful yellow trees that just from last week to this week have bloomed! Everywhere we went it was with constant reflections of how only God could create something that just "stands out" so brilliantly as these trees do.

Purses and flip flops had been left from the group to distribute to the children at Waterfall, and today we gave them these special gifts. The children participate and show up and give their attentions to us. They know that they are loved!

Today as the girls made "reflections" on paper on their greatest memories in life, one of the girls "Katia" wrote two things... "the day I met you" and "my birthday". The reflection paper was given to Raquel and as she read them, we were talking about how important our being in this place is to these children.

Believe it or not I actually got in a picture today... there was no way to do it and have good lighting, because there is no place to set the camera down, and since I am always taking the pictures, well its hard to show you everything else and get in the photos with everyone else. One thing I can tell you Andrea, Raquel, and Leandro, and Samuel and Pedro are all people that I thank God for, because they are part of the work. Each week different people come, while others are working or have other family obligations, but what a privilege to work with these great hearts!For Lunch we stayed with Dr.Carlos. A Welshman named Dean is here and made lunch for everyone! What a treat! We had a beautiful table of food set before us, and apple pie and cheese cake to top it all off with hot tea!

Tonight we listened to him speak, (Dean on the right) spoke on "not being ashamed of the Gospel" Romans 1:16!

Getting back to "normal"... Life without the groups...

No easy way to get back to "normal"... When the group leaves and when Sarah left, well thats what I would call a "low point"... Lots of sad faces and remembering moments where we were sharing with others and talking about how God used them and touched lives! Smiles, but sad hearts. Cant say I know what its like to climb a mountain, but I do believe its accurate to call our time with others "mountain top" experiences. The truth is though we cant "live on the mountain tops". Life is the "climbing" and the "trailing through the valleys".


Today we had a good crowed at Waterfall of Souls. There were even a couple of guys in the mix.


This little fellow was sitting along the road... I know you have seen cows before, but he was such a cute fellow we just had to snap his picture.


On the way to Waterfall every Sunday we pass a gas station where we stop for a break each week, and there is a store that makes those "cement" yard decorations. In the middle of everything is this 20 foot tall "jesus statue". I guess its supposed to look like the one in Rio, but it is a poor replica. Its one of those objects that you wonder, "who would buy such a thing", but then back home in Asheboro, N.C. there is an Army Navy surplus store that sells cannons for $25,000 that have no practicle purpose whatsoever... Anyway, if youre in the market for a 20 foot jesus for your front lawn bring your pick up truck down and we will "hook you up"! You can put it right next to your cannon!


Back in Contagem at my home church here the church has remodeled a bit and just had a drop ceiling installed. My, My, arent we getting fancy!


Pastor Wesley is being given an opportunity to go to Cuba to minister, so please keep him in your prayers.