We are in Vitoria!

Hey guys, it´s Joann here. Sorry we haven´t been able to blog, but we have been up in the mountains with no internet since Friday! We just got to the hotel. We attended Livia and Benahia´s church and afterwards ate these huuuuuuuuge hamburgers, Brazilian style. YuMmY! Let me tell you about these past few days. Thursday was absolutely amazing. No words can express how much we truly love and care for these children.

We started out the day we some games: tug-of-war, fuchiball (that´s soccer for you americanos), and dodgeball. In the evening we had church service. It was probably one of the most amazing services I´ve experienced in my life. God prescence was with us in that room that night. You can tell these children love God so much. The worship was so amazing and fun. That is one of the many things that I will miss when we return back to Florida.

The children said that they wanted to give us something for coming out there and being with them, but they said they have nothing except maybe a shirt to offer. So, instead they created a rap, a dance, poster boards and letters! These kids are soo cute and so talented. Afterwards, they did an altar call and so many kids went up. It was incredible. God is doing miracles in this ministry. Then they prayed for us. Wow, that was intense. Not one eye was dry in the place. We only spent 4 days with these children and already we had so much love for one another. Well, the first day we couldn´t even communicate that much with the children because of the language barrier. However, we learned that hand gestures are very useful. But, words do not even need to be spoken. All these kids want is to be given attention and to be loved on.

After a lot of hugs, kisses and tears we went into the game area to announce the winner of the competition. Of course it was Amallello(Yellow)(Jorden, Alissa, Livia and my team!). We beat everyone in soccer! Plus we had the best chant (sorry White Team!).

After the Yellow Team was announced number ONE, the kids had to go to sleep. We all felt like celebrities because they wanted autographs, pictures, and e-mail addresses. We were all sad, but it was an experience that I would do over and over again. These children have impacted us in so many ways. We all feel so blessed to have the opportunity to come to this country to share the love of God with them.

We all got to bed pretty late, past midnight. We had to wake up at 5 a.m.! Ouch...not too much sleep. And then we were off to catch the plane to Vitoria to attend the retreat with the college youth group from Livia and Benahia´s church. First we went to their church where they served us a very delicious Brazilian Lunch and then took a tour of the new facilities that they are building. God is doing wonderful things with that church. Then we took the looooong bus ride to the mountains for the retreat center. Can we say car sick?! But it was worth the drive. The place was AMAZING (and so was the food!) But the people were even better. They are so welcoming and friendly. From Friday until tonight (Sunday night) we have spent time with them. Their services are so fun. People get really into it here with dancing and clapping. Melissa, Annie, Linda, Tina and I were learning some cool moves to some songs that they were playing.

The church was so accomodating. They wrote all the lyrics in Portugese and English. All the signs around the room were in both languges. And they all tried to communicate with us in English. They treat us like family here...it´s a really great feeling.

Anyway, it´s getting really late here and we have to get up early in the morning. We will be staying at the second orphanage tomorrow. Please keep us in your prayers.
I´m going to copy off Linda and say: Hi mom and dad! i love you and miss you!
Mario, te quiero mucho and I´ll see you soon! You all better take me for some American food when I get back. I´m loving the rice and beans but two weeks....that´s a lot of beans haha. Take care guys!

Love,
Joann

P.S. Sorry about my badly spelled Portugese but the computer is very slow here and i´m too tired to look it up.

P.S.S no pictures today...no USB!