“I WAS Dead…”

The three most powerful words ever spoken, “I WAS Dead”. Only the man named Jesus could say that He WAS dead and because of those three words, we have hope. Just imagine the moment a thirty three year old man lay dead in a stone cold tomb. Three days passed and then the wind of new life blew across His body. His heart started to beat again. Since He had shed every last drop of His blood, new blood had to now fill His veins. His Father filled His lungs with breath and He stood up, folded the burial cloth, and walked out of the tomb. Since He had never sinned, the rules of death were broken and death itself could not hold Him. He fought. He won. He lives. Now we can live.  No matter how dead we may feel at times, how difficult our past or hopeless our present may seem, because Jesus rose, we also can rise from our ashes,  and live.

It is a really tragic situation here in Paraguay. The city is in extreme poverty and just a complete disaster. It was actually under a dictatorship until 1989 and then that party continued to rule all the way until 2008! This really effects the people and the way they are. Because of bad flooding in January, thousands of people lost their homes and are now living in temporary shelters right in the down town center. They have very little food, drinking water and no electricity or bathrooms. The need is just overwhelming and we are praying for the Fathers grace and wisdom to effectively help these people and touch them with His love. I wish I was rich because there is just so much you could do to instantly, long term help a lot of people, but like Peter said, “silver and gold have I none, but what I do have, I give you”. What we celebrate on Easter is the only hope for all humanity no matter what we may be dealing with. A man named Jesus WAS dead and is now alive, therefore we have hope.  

One afternoon I had a “chance” encounter and met the head organizer for city events here in Asuncion, Paraguay. We exchanged numbers and I later scheduled a meeting so I could explain to them the performance that my family and I do and we could discuss working together. When I showed up for the meeting, they told me the director was busy and couldn’t make it (even though I just confirmed it and had ridden my bike 6 miles in 95 degree temps to get here:)). Any way, as I began to get upset, they said, “don’t worry, he read the letter and was very impressed and told us to organize events with you” (I had previously sent a letter explaining the work that we do and that we offer it free of charge). So we were able to coordinate different events in different areas to reach the city. The municipality would set up a stage, bring seats, send out flyers and advertise on the radio and social media which drew large crowds.

Preforming for Independence day in Paraguay.

The government asked us to open their Independence day celebration concert. It was large event on a stage and it was an honor to participate in Paraguay’s most important day. The event was well organized and because of the quantity of performers, everyone had to be on a tight schedule. It was a very special day for my family and I, we each got to perform our personal act as well as our magic and group choreographies. Through each performance we communicate a message of the Fathers love, hope, forgiveness, change, second chance and family values.  My sister performed ballet, I did Irish step dance,  we did an act with fire and capoeira, a Tae Kwon Do choreography and clown acts and magic. We were excited to learn afterward that it was broadcasted on live tv for all of Paraguay. Days after people told us they saw us on tv and heard the message of the Gospel through us.

Talking with the crowd on the streets.

The government also organized an event on a board walk that runs along a river. As we performed, behind us there was a stunning sunset, and in front of us a full harvest moon was rising. A lite breeze came off the river and it was just a beautiful night. The crowd grew so large that many could not fit in to see. We were supposed to be on a stage, which would have allowed a lot more people to watch, but the crew that set up the stage put it on the wrong side of the street where there were no lights :(. Many had received the invitations and come from all over the city and from different functions of the government to watch. It was such a privilege and we shared so much over the three hours we were there.

We organized another event with the municipality in the center of the poorest area of the city.  This event was for the victims of the flood who are living in temporary shelters right in the city center. These people have nothing and are really suffering, especially the children. They were thrilled to get a free show and see all the magic. One little boy ran up to me with a beaming smile on his face and wanted to play with the bubbles I was making. His left hand had been completely burned off and his whole face was distorted from severe burns. He told me that his house had been burned down and he was trapped inside. His little brother said he always helped take care of him and they both just wanted to laugh and be held. Ill never forget his beautiful face.

Playing with the children after our performance.

This is where the children live at a certain school we visited.

Originally when I approached the director of the largest prison here in Paraguay, and asked for authorization to enter, he said we could only go in a small room on the side of the prison which would hold around 30 men. But after showing him pictures of others prisons we have visited around the world, and explaining that this was a big event, he allowed us to go in. 

This is the largest, most overcrowded prison in Paraguay and is a very, very bad place. Unlike most prisons we have been to, there were no “patios” or separate sections here. As in, all 5,000 prisoners were all walking around the prison at the same time and in the same area. Basically like a huge city inside a prison and just complete chaos. People shouting, the guards blowing whistles, little fights breaking out between the prisoners, soccer balls flying, guys crowding around and begging us for things, ecs… The conditions were just horrible with the walls covered in mold and crumbling, the smell was terrible and the men were starving because they barely had enough food.

We set up in the center and everyone crowded around. It took a lot of work to pull this one off and we had to be at the top of our game every second but the Lord Jesus was with us and we were able to share many things with them. We do a magic routine that has a message in it about time, eternal life and gives them a perspective beyond these walls. It really connected with the guys.

Performing a magic routine.

Another prison we visited was about a two hour drive out into the country. The director was so cool and allowed us to perform right in the main area so we were able to get the whole prison. As we started, there was some fire nearby that began to blow think smoke and ash into us. I thought we were going to have to leave but then as quickly as it started it stopped, and I thank God we could continue. Literally the entire crowd of 700 to 800 guys were so engaged and listening to everything we shared.

I do a skit where I use words written on large cards like, “Why”, “Remorse”, “Regret”, “The Past”, I drop the words on the ground in the pattern of a circle and I explain how thoughts about the past can keep us in a cycle of regret. So many times the cycle begins with the word “why?”, “why did I do that?” “why did he say that?”. We wander around and around in our mind as if lost in a dark forest going in circles of the same thoughts about the past. We end up right where we started, getting no where and change nothing only to start again. Then I take new words out of a New Testament like, “You have a future”, “you are forgiven” and drop them on the ground in a line leading away from the circle. I explain how we need new thoughts to change our mind. If we would study the Scriptures, we would find answers and new thoughts that will lead us into a future. 

One morning we had an event scheduled at the largest orphanage here in a city called, “Luque”. Most of us weren’t feeling good in the morning and we were really tired from back to back previous events. We thought about canceling, but decided to kick it out;) There was no way we could let these kids down:) 

The director of the orphanage was a very kind women and was so grateful and glad that we had sought them out and would come there. It was a smaller group, maybe 100 kids, but they were so precious. It just breaks your heart to see the pain and sadness in their eyes and know they have seen things and gone through things well beyond their years.

At one point in our show, in the middle of a clown act where my brother is crying because he has no one to celebrate his birthday, all the kids came up to him to hug him. It is a funny act about smashing a piñata, and usually everyone is laughing, but it was both touching and sad to see all these kids identify with him acting sad and lonely and having no one to celebrate a birthday with. Each child was so desperate for love and attention and desperately wanted to participate in everything.

We wrote a children’s story about a giant frog who feels all alone and wants to give up. Throughout the story we communicate the hope of the Gospel in a simple way and teach to not give up, but that God the Father wants us and loves us. We gave each child one at the end along with a bracelet we made. As we travel we make bracelets so they can have a memory of the day and all we shared. ( It takes a long time to make 500 bracelets :)). So many of the older kids wanted to participate and at the end a lot of the kids joint with us in a participation dance.

My brother on stage at a school using a costume he built to communicate how our free will is like a super hero.

We had a very special evening at the women’s prison here. The prison was built to house 200 women and now holds over 500, so they are in a very difficult situation. I was able to get chairs so they could all sit close and they were so grateful and engaged in everything we did. 

I sing a song about a wounded bird that flies again and I share how we are all in a sense, “a bird with a wounded wing” (like I shared at the start of this blog) and in our broken state, the Father is by our side and lifts us up so we can fly again.

Performing Irish step dance in a women’s prison.

At the end of our performance my whole family and I do a dance where we use all the dance moves we have learned from the cultural dances of the countries we have visited. Afterward, we invite others to join in the dance. It was so beautiful to watch as gradually all the women came up to dance. Many were in tears when we left. One lady told me it was the first time she had been given a bible and would treasure and read it always.

At the women’s prison.

The down center is taken over with temporary shacks and shelters.

My brothers in the middle of a really funny clown act about a dog chasing a clown who stop his ball.

My brother on stilts interacting with the kids.

We got up super early because it was a loooooonnnnnnggg drive to reach the largest juvenile detention center here. Traffic is insane because the street lights either don’t work, don’t exist or are taken as mere suggestions ;) Anyway, it was well worth the drive! 

Having a water ballon toss at the juvenile detention center.

Awarding prizes after the games we held at the juvenile detention center.

Performing at a school for troubled youth.

One of the many “neighborhoods” here.

We had been in contact with a school for children with special needs and we got to run a 10k race with them that was for their benefit. It went through the center of Asuncion and along the river. I was not in the best shape because of my leg injuries, but still ran it in 47min and it was fun to run the event with my family;)  After the event as the runners gathered in front of a large stage for the prize ceremony, I asked the director if I could say a few words and he gave me the microphone:) I was able to share with the whole crowd, about 7000 runners how even in difficult times and times of suffering, God is a Father who will help us and that no matter what we have been through, we can talk to Jesus and He will be there. I was thrilled to get that opportunity to share with the whole crowd. My mom actually took first place in her category and stood on the center podium to get her trophy! I was so proud of her!

 

Talking and playing with the kids afterward is definitely one of the best parts:) This is Shanon in the picture talking to me.

Another school we went to was in the poorest area in all of Paraguay and even the poorest in much of South America. Just getting to the school was quite a trip! It was a terrible dirt road, washed out by the rain that was one lane but two way traffic with dogs, roosters and people all over. We almost turned back because it was not looking good and we did not want to risk our van, but then a little kids ran in front of us and we realized the school was just ahead. The teachers and administrators came out to greet us and help us unload. They were so warm and grateful it picked up our spirits. 

Maybe you saw a while back there was a 60 min episode about a school that built musical instruments out of trash. Kids would rummage through a massive land fill of trash and salvage things they could make into musical instruments. Well anyway, that story was about this village and we drove right by the landfill. This whole area is one of the poorest saddest places I have seen. At the school there were 600 kids and we did two presentations, one in the morning and one in the evening. Of course many of the kids never left, so we were playing with kids and performing for some 8 hours:) Yes, we were dead!

My sister does a beautiful ballet dance that communicates the idea that we can go beyond obstacles and reach for our dreams. She starts all wrapped up in a black piece of cloth and then slowly unwinds into a ballerina. She explains how we all feel trapped sometimes by our own fear, by others, by our past, by circumstances, but if we can reach beyond ourselves, and reach out to our Father, we can find a dream greater than we imagine. A dream to love others and care for those in need.

Through the dance she teaches a “blind man” how to play a drum, (my dad acting), she helps a “homeless man” (my brother acting) and turns an argument into a dance (my sister and I acting). It is hard to explain it all to you, but it is a beautiful act that is very moving. At the end she chooses a few girls as volunteers and teaches them dance moves and gives them a little crown:)

The week before we left Brazil was super full:)! We presented at a different place every day, sometimes two a day. In one of the days, we drove three hours away up into a mountainous area. It was a long drive down a narrow windy road and we came in and out of  rain storms. We finally found the prison which was buried behind a small town. The workers were expecting us and very glad to see us. The temperature at this higher elevation was a bit cooler so that was really nice for a change:)  One man named David, told us that he had been set up to take the fall for a crime. In it all he was hit in the back of the head with a 2×4 and left for dead. He showed us his scars. In a song we share we have the words in it, “não desista” (don’t give up) and at the end he told me how much that meant to him.

We had a beautiful time visiting and performing at a large home for the elderly. It was so cool to see these beautiful, but sad people, slowly warm to us and then accept us like their family. The director of activities was a 17 year old girl! She was mature well beyond her years and really cared about the people she worked with. Her mom had died when she was 11, her dad just left and her grandparents were raising her. Seeing the kindness of her grandparents, gave her the desire to work with older folks and choose to lay down her life and love these people. She had a very selfless beautiful attitude.

She told me that 90% of the people in this home get NO visitors! Someone drops them off and forgets them. The home, which is Catholic based, pays for all the expenses including their care, food,  and clothes. This one man named, Theo, was really beautiful. At first when he came in he was really grouchy and even angry. But after a little “magic” and just talking to him, he became my best friend. He lost one of his legs in a hit and run accident years ago. As I pushed his wheel chair, he took me on a tour of the place. I gave him a chess board and we sat down and played a game. 

Love really is a weapon. Even a tiny amount can change a life. We have to always make an effort to remember the forgotten and love the unlovable, just like Jesus did. If you even make a simple effort to say, go visit the elderly, or boys and girls club, or homeless shelter, you will take away as much as you give. I imagine you have some kind of talent you could use to approach people, maybe you can play an instrument, sing, use a card trick or puppet or just your personality. The best thing you can give others is to give yourself, and let God use yo to show His love. The best thing I ever did with my life, was to loose it (Jn.12:25)! 

On my youngest brothers birthday, we visited a juvenile detention center and did two performances for two different groups. Both times we really got through to the kids. My brother was blessed to share the day caring about these young men. Many of the kids have come from broken families, had no parents or been through a tragedy.  We were able to reach a lot of really beautiful young people and give them some real direction. They were quick to learn, ask questions and participate. It was like they were just starving for love and attention.

The director told us that in 15 years of working there, and seeing other groups come in and talk to the kids, he had never seen anything like what we did. He said we were the first people he ever saw “speak their language”. That is why we use cool music, do a little rap, cool magic ecs, so that we can “speak their language” and reach inside them. We did a total of eight presentations for different groups at different youth centers in the city. 

An act where we use a net to communicate all the things that can trap us in life. Only by engaging our freewill can we break away and find freedom.

My brother “playing” with one of the guys.

“Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6“He is not here, but He has risen..” Lk.24:5

              The Rising Son (part of a poem I wrote).

                   

             

Life can be such a fight at times can’t it? Nothing comes easy and sometimes it feels like no one really cares. We can feel like we are lost at sea, just trying to survive the “waves” and “storms” of life. Sometimes we feel like we just really don’t matter. But you do matter my friend. You matter very much and most importantly, you matter to God. He designed the entire plan of salvation because He wants you to know Him. You are not just a number out there, floating in a sea of humanity. You are unique, special and beautiful. There is no one like you on earth. Look in a mirror and stare into your own eyes. Those beautiful eyes are proof that God exists and that He is good. God is not distant from you, even if you feel distant from Him.  He is near you. He is not an abstract cloud or doctrine. He is a Father. He sees you, knows you and knows your pain. If you could truly realize that are loved by God, it would enable you to forget about yourself, and begin to love others that are suffering. If you could realize how much you can matter to someone else, it would make your own struggles seem smaller and you would realize just how much you do and can matter.

Here in Brazil my family and I have been continually working in the prisons, on the streets, with the homeless and at special events.  God has opened many doors for us and we have been reaching a lot of people with His love. When I talk about prisoners, I imagine that many of you have the same attitude that I used to have. You have a thought like, ‘prisoners are criminals getting what they deserve, why give them special attention’? And of course, there are many serious criminals who have done horrible things and deserve to be in prison. But if I could just communicate to you what I have learned, I think it would give you a new perspective. First, many of these guys really are either innocent, or just committed a petty crime like a parking violation, or overdue bills, they can’t pay a fine, so they get thrown in prison and lost in an unjust system. Their paper work gets misplaced, their identities confused with other criminals and since they cannot afford lawyers and no-one cares about them, they just get lost. The majority have never stood in front of a judge or received a sentence yet they have been in prison for years. I know this first hand and have talked to many prisoners, family members, press, guards and officials in the prison system who have told me many such tragic stories.  

Second, most of the prison conditions here are inhumane and not fit for animals. They are so overcrowded that at times, the prisoners don’t have space to lay down. Since the government does not care, and they are the least priority on the social scale, they get no funds and there is not enough food, health care or basic necessities. In certain prisons, there is no sewage system, drinking water shortages and severe structural damage that is dangerous. 

Third, when you think about it, in the right, or I should say wrong, circumstance, all of us are just a mistake away from being in their position. Anyone of us could accidentally hit a pedestrian with our car, get so angry we throw something at someone and severely injure them, loose our job, end up on the street and be so desperate we steal to feed our family. So it is wise, and gives us compassion to consider this perspective and realize that we are all the same. We are human. We are fragile. We fail. We say, think and do things that we regret, sometimes there are no consequences, sometimes there are tragic consequences. And the last point to think about is that beyond our personal opinion, or what we think or feel, Jesus Himself said, “I was in prison, and you came to me…whatever you do to the least of My brothers, you do to Me..”(Mt.25:35) And again God say, “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated” (Heb.13:3).

We frequently visit one of the largest and worst prisons in Brazil. One day, when we were scheduled to visit, a certain patio, a part of the building structure had just collapsed and a major sewer pipe had broken. All the guys had to bring their stuff onto the outdoor part to try to clean it and everything was a disaster. The smell was just horrible. But the men had been anticipating our visit and really wanted a break from the nightmare that is their usual reality, so we decided we would figure out how to work around everything so we could give them a little laughter and hope. We arranged a certain area for them to sit and then brought all our equipment in. Its like as soon as we turned the music on, they got to travel to another places and leave the horror of these walls. We made them laugh a lot which makes me so happy. 

We do an act where my brother wears a mask with many faces on it. (it looks really cool because you can’t tell which is the front when he turns his head). Each face has written a word like, “the Past”, “Regret”, “guilt”, “failure”. In the act he comes to the Word, takes off his mask and gains perspective and focus. Its hard to explain but really effective. The prisoners were so very grateful and asked that we return some day. Later, the director of the entire prison wrote an article about us on their webpage explaining that the work my family and I are doing is having a very big and positive effect on the prison and that the doors are always open to us. This was a great blessing because to enter here it required a lot of work and convincing because of the gangs and danger.

We got the chance to perform at a really cool Catholic festival down town. So many families and people from all the surrounding cities came to this festival. Some to participate in the religious ceremonies, but many came just to get out and enjoy the holiday. We had a good spot in the shade so a large crowd gathered and stayed a long time. We were celebrating my dads birthday so it was extra special:) I even got the crowd to sing him happy birthday. My parents have been married almost 40 years and so they teach a lot of things that help other parents raise their kids and keep their families together. It is the love of the Father that can heal all our pain and make a family strong. A key to getting past arguments and mending relationships  is something very basic but rarely done. We learn it in first grade, but sometimes as adults, our pride gets in the way. Just saying the words, “I’m sorry”, even if you know your not wrong, can quickly diminish a situation and put an end to conflict. I really think that so much heart ache and even divorce, could be avoided if one party could just bite the dust, be humble and say those magic words, “Hey, I’m really sorry…its my fault. 

On another note, anyone see a minor problem with this picture:)? After a bad storm, all the electricity went out for our entire neighborhood. So just imagine, no one, including the local stores, has refrigeration, air conditioning, lighting ecs. and they are looking to the government to fix it. Then after a few days, these three guys show up with a tool box and one free standing ladder, which they lean against the shorted out wires they are “fixing”. Check out the guy at the bottom, “holding” the ladder. I guess if the ladder started to fall, he would….catch the guy? It’s kind of funny but really is just one of many things that shows how hopeless the situation is here and that the people get no help from their own government. 

We threw together that shade structure so the guys wouldn’t get to hot in the direct sun.

We visited this one prison waaaaaayyyyyy out in the middle of Nowheresville. I don’t know if I have yet seen such a forsaken place as this prison and the town that it was beyond. First we could not find it and got lost with our google maps constantly saying, “Make the next legal U-turn”… Yeah no duh! Finally we found someone who told us where to go and we had to drive miles down a really bad dirt road. There was no one around and even the guards at the gate had the attitude of absolute hopelessness and despair. We had to  explain again why an American family drove all the way out here and was trying to get in. 

Once we finally got into the patio, it was all in direct sunlight and burning hot. There was no way the prisoners were going to enjoy watching us while sitting in the burning sun so we had to figure out something for shade. They had a big piece of plastic, and we had string and a bunch of poles, so we all worked together and figured out how to rig it up tying it from the cell windows. It was tough because it was a windy day but we figured it out and they were so grateful.

Guards were not allowed to come in because it is just how it works with the gangs here, so it was just us and them. I love it when my brother gets a volunteer for a card trick. The volunteer gets to wear a microphone and really gets into being a magician and having fun. We do different things that allow them to get up and participate, they get a prize and it really gets everyone involved and engaged. We are working very hard to reach them. He met a man named Joao, who was serving 30 years. He saw his sister being attacked and in his fury, accidentally killed her attacker. He was a big time gang leader. He told us not a day goes by where he does not regret things he did. After we shared with him, he told us for the first time he began to understand forgiveness. 

We go down town to the streets often, sometimes at the end of a busy work day. There is always a “rush” in the evening when everyone leaves the city to go home. The bus stops are just packed. We are able to reach people from all walks of life, both rich and poor, old and young.  As well as just constantly talking to the crowds, through our performance we weave in the many beautiful truths of the Gospel. The need in this country is very great. There are so many new strange religions, churches and teachings here. Its like thirsty people drinking cool water when they hear that we are giving them the traditional, Scriptural message. A Father, sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to bear our sins. He died and rose again and offers eternal forgiveness not based on the works we do, but on faith in what He did. 

Our crowd constantly changes over and some people stay for hours so we are able to touch many, many people in the three to four hours we are down town. We have different acts that are geared to different people so that we can grab them as they walk by and put some solid thoughts into their minds. The martial art of Capoeira is popular here since it originated in Africa and was brought to Brazil by the African slaves. We tell a story about a man, who became a slave, to free the slaves as Jesus did to free us. We act out the death and resurrection in a really cool, non religious way to upbeat african/Capoeira music that really moves people. 

We always bring a lot of lunch packets to give to the many homeless and hungry that walk by and sit in our crowd. Some of the poor people know we always have food for them and are so grateful. 

There are just so many homeless on the streets and in the parks here. The rains can be very severe and flood the streets. The homeless suffer greatly and it is very hard for them to find shelter. We make up hundreds of lunches and care packages and then walk and drive the streets giving them out and talking with the people.  Thank you to the companies that donated rain ponchos, and sanitary items to us that we use to help so many people. It is amazing how even the simplest things like soap, a tooth brush, or a nice rain poncho, mean the world to someone.  May God really bless and repay those that decided to care and act on behalf of those in need. 

So many stories of suffering and tragedy. I wish I was rich and could help them in greater ways. I wish I could afford to get them a room sometimes, or new clothes, or constantly feed them but I can’t. But like the apostles of old said, “Silver and gold I have none, but what I have I give you….”  We can always give our time, heart and care about them. So many of them never even hear or speak their own name because no one cares and they have no one to talk to.  It means the world when you ask them their name. Keep  this in mind next time you walk by someone on the street. Just stop for a second and ask them their name, tell them not to give up. 

We visited a psychiatric facility. All the men suffer from mental disorders to various degrees. Some minor, and some severe.  Many of them had the mentality of a child, very simple and just wanting attention. They loved to paint and wanted to show us all their drawings. Some of them were almost completely normal, just something was slightly off in their brains. These guys would tell us how hard it was to be at this place, surrounded by others who had serious issues. Its like they have to fight to keep their sanity.

There was not a very good area for us to perform, since the whole building was very run down, but we were able to find a little spot out on some grass. They brought out groups of men and we were able to share many simple, but beautiful things with them. They really got the idea of the butterfly coming out of a cocoon. At the end one man, named Paulo, was actually brave enough to ask for the microphone and thank us in front of the whole crowd. He shared how he had never gotten a visitor and that his birthday was in a few days and us coming was the best gift he could get. It was really touching and the director and social workers were so shocked that he was able to speak like this in front of everyone.

There is a relatively new prison that was built to accept prisoners from some of the over crowded prisons, but it is filling up so quickly that it soon will become over crowded as well. We performed for a group of young men. At first, they were very skeptical of who we were and what we were going to do. Often times evangelical preachers will come in and just preach at them and they dread that. Some of these preachers actually tell the prisoners they need to tell their families on the outside to tithe the churches of these preachers! Sick, I know. Anyway, after we did this hilarious clown routine about a “soccer player” and a “dog”, they were laughing hard and all with us. Then after we “win” them, we are able to share serious things with them about change, about forgetting the past, about using the time they have here in prison and about beginning to talk to the Living Father. By the time their names were being called to go back to their cells, they were like our family and did not want the day to be over. I make up little gift bags for them with little toys, candy, games and things to read. They were so grateful and gave us each a hug. The prison director printed a story about this day on there national web page and he and all the workers told us that these men never get visitors. It was such a privilege.

At another prison in a city way out in the country, we did three presentations, each for around 200, to 300 guys and were able to reach one entire section of the prison. The area was not ideal because there was not much space and the acoustics were a nightmare, but we figured it out:) The men here were very sad and had long sentences. It took work to get through to them, but by the time we left, we were family.  

My sister made a magic trick that looks like a miniature prison. She shows it empty inside with nothing except steal bars. Then she makes a flower appear inside. She teaches how even in this terrible place, life can grow. In the place of our hardest suffering, God can bring something good if we yield to Him. In the “soil” of suffering, a tree can grow. We have a poster that my brother made that shows a tree growing behind bars. 

Before I did my Irish style step dance, I shared how people can say so many things about us and we have so many lies in our mind about our future. Like when I had my accident and broke my leg, the doctors told me I would never walk the same again, but now I am dancing. Our future is not written in the stars. We decide who we are and who we are going to be. Even if they are going to be in these walls for a long time, they can still choose their attitude and the kind of man they want to be. No matter what happen in our past, we can have a beautiful future. Some of the men were moved to tears when I shared and they really listened.

We took a trip to Rio during the week of Mardi Gras. Literally millions of people flood the streets every day. We performed on the streets and beach board walk and also made beautiful flags with Portuguese messages on them that we carried in the large crowds.  The beaches were just crammed packed and we walked them with our flags talking to the people. 

Countless people would come up and want to talk and take the flyers we were giving out (we gave out 30,000 beautiful color flyers all together that said, “don’t give up, you are wanted” on the front). We also had many Bibles to give out and talked to people who had never read the New Testament. I couldn’t believe the hunger and how grateful people were that we were there. Many told me that we made their carnaval.

One young man told me he stopped believing in God because of all the hypocrisy in the churches. He really listened to everything I said and said he would start again to seek God on His own and read the Scriptures. His name was Stefano. Another young girl had seen us in another city and did not get the chance to talk. She was so excited to see us again and eager to listen. Her name was Francias. We talked to people who had seen us in Argentina, Chile and the US. We talked to people from Egypt, Italy, England and many other countries.  A young women told me that even though she is acting happy, her heart is so sad and she is suffering inside. Her mom had died of cancer recently and she felt so alone. Her name was Tamaries. She said for the first time in a long time she found hope. Many groups of young men were eager to listen and hungry to find something that could give them purpose. Like all of us, they want to matter. 

The main beach, Copacabana, which is usually full of upper-class people, was now packed with 1.5 million poor people. Most of them were 18-30 range. I could not believe the attitude of these young people. They were so different. Humble, broken, eager to listen, making an effort to come up.  One kid was just like “I know, I know, you’re right, what are you telling me about Jesus? What is this?” The look in his eyes was that he was about to cry. Here these kinds of kids live in “Favelas” which are massive slums that go up a mountain, full of garbage, sewage, and crime. The majority were not “punky” but deeply wanted to hear and know what we were saying. Two kids in camo shorts came up asking for a bunch of our flyers, I was skeptical, but gave them each a pinch. Then they walked up and down the beach and just passed them out saying “you need to read this, this is profound”. They were sincere. They gave them to all their friends and just wanted to be apart of it. 

There are certain churches here that are very corrupt and scam people into giving them money in the name of God. Plus the government is very corrupt and does nothing to really care about or help the citizens. So many are just at the point of giving up. To be able to bring them the hope of the Gospel and tell them that God really cares about them and remembers them was such a privilege. Many news papers reported on us and people were just shocked by the love and courage they saw in seeing American come to their dangerous city to help them. 

We stood outside the Sambadrome and talked to just floods of people going in late at night. I had always thought the whole Carnaval, Sambadrome thing was really something and would be like the ultimate party for all these people. But it was so nothing. Since the government is corrupt and takes all the funds, there was literally nothing for all the poor and the crowds to do. No beads, no games, no floats no decorations to see. The rich can go inside the Sambadrome  (which is a huge 90,000 stadium) and see the floats, but the poor can only observe from a distance, sitting in bleachers separated by a river of sewage, no exaggeration. It was really sad. 

Performing in an orphanage in Southern Brazil.

Getting kids to participate in our performance.

My brother running a game at the orphanage.

Performing at an event in a poor area.

Performing at an event in a poor area.

Giving out Christmas gifts with our special giant frog and elves.

The down town plaza has been very, very busy these days leading up to Christmas and we performed in the center for large crowds. I love just being on the streets in down town city areas. It is difficult because you’re just out there and any thing can happen, but you reach people from all walks of life. 

We had so many people that came up to us and told us that they had seen us from other events. It made us realize that we are reaching this whole city. A few men actually saw us perform inside a prison  when they were a prisoner, and now they are free! This one guy came up to me the other day and leaned in to whisper in my ear that he had just got out of prison. He remembered me performing my Irish dance inside his prison and telling him about how to focus his mind and leave the past in the past. He wanted me to know that he was changing and that what I had shared really helped him. It meant a lot to me. Sometimes you just don’t know if anything you do matters, you just hope. Like sowing seeds, maybe one seed will change someones life.   

Its tough on the street because you have to deal with drunk people and  crazy people wandering through your crowd, cops, traffic, thieves and lots of things you would never think of if you didn’t see it. Its a lot to handle, but being able to reach so many people makes it all worth it. One lady in the crowd told us that she thought we were there just for her. Her mom died of cancer and she was really going through it. She said at times she felt like she just couldn’t make it and wanted to give up. She said after listening to all we shared she finally found hope.  

There are so many homeless and many of them will just sit in our crowd and listen.  We always bring food and care packets for them and they are so grateful. Its not like there are levels of people in Gods eyes. There are no rich or poor, Brazilian or American, Republican or Democrats. We are all the same. Children in need of a Father. Souls that need His love. We had some gifts left from the orphanage that we gave to many of the kids and that sit in our crowd. They love the magic. There is one little boy who lives on the street with his mom. He was really sweet and wanted to help us in anyway he could. We had a cool soccer ball to give him;)