New Blog Site

Greetings from Brasilia!

This morning I met up with the medical team from our church in Boca Raton here in Brasilia. Tomorrow we'll be heading off to Palmas to begin a week of ministry. Our team of doctors, nurses, and translators is joining with some Brazilian doctors, dentists, nurses, hair cutters, etc. for a huge week-long free clinic. The organization that we're joining picks a different Brazilian city each year to have this huge event--after each day of giving free health care, there is a church service in the evening. Although many of these people have serious physical problems, it is often their souls that need the most healing.

Anyway, this is all just to say that as part of the medical team, (well, I'm a translator) we have a different blog. It is located at: http://brazilmedical2006.blogspot.com

And since the hotel here in Brasilia has fast internet, I've been able to upload some pictures from last week into this blog, so scroll down on this page and take a peek!

I miss you all!

--Joy

Quick note from Araçatuba

Bible Study time

Greetings from Araçatuba!

Just a quick note here at the end of camp. Things have been going pretty well these last few days, especially in the area of language--thanks for your prayers! I have had some of the girls teach me some slang words, which helped me to understand them better, and helped them realize why I was giving them blank looks at some of the things they were saying!

Yesterday I competed in the final stages of our version of Brazilian Idol. I am really really glad that I spent so much time last year translating and recording a bunch of songs, and organizing all of my performance traks onto one CD--it´s been a really fun time picking out a different song or two to perform each night!

It will be sad to board a bus and leave Araçatuba at noon today! I have really fallen in love with this little town and the people here--families like the Harmons, the seminary, the camp, the little churches, the kids. I am praying that the Lord would let me come back soon!

Today and tomorrow will be spent traveling from Araçatuba to São Paulo, and then to Palmas. There are some logistical problems involving Ben´s plane ticket to Palmas that still have to be worked out, so please pray for things to go smoothly and safely!

I miss you guys!
--Joy

Camp Harmony

Team Barcelona at Camp Harmony

Greetings from Araçatuba!!

These past 3 days have been spent at Camp Harmony, home to George Harmon and his family, as well as several acres of space that can host over 100 campers. I had originally come to help out with the music, but they were short on counselors, so I spend the nights in the 40-girl dorm and pass the days playing soccer, volleyball, water balloons, relay races, and plenty of Bible Study! We are divided into 2 teams which compete in every aspect of life during the week, from sports competitions to bathroom cleanliness. Ben Neff is a counselor for the guys on our team, and so far, Team Barcelona has been doing very well! Last night I helped our team by singing in a camp version of Brazilian Idol. Tonight will be phase 2 of the competition!

Pastor George Harmon is Ben´s mom´s brother, who had a dream for many years to have a camp in Araçatuba, where church groups could come for retreats during the summer and winter holidays. He and his brother had worked in radio ministry for many years and started a seminary here in Araçatuba before starting the camp. Uncle George´s 4 kids are helping out with the music and other activities at the camp, and his wife leads the girls´ Bible Study in the mornings. This week´s theme has been Wisdom, and we are digging into the book of Proverbs.

I am enjoying getting to know the 17 girls on my team ages 11-16--some of them were raised in church, some of them are at camp for the first time, some are from very poor families. Being a counselor comes with a lot of blessings, especially when the girls want to hear about the US or learn words in English, but the language factor for me has been an especial challenge. Depending on what kind of environment the girls are from, some of them use a dialect that I have a lot of difficulty understanding. After doing fine in Atibaia for 2 weeks in a Portuguese-only environment, all of a sudden I´m back to feeling frustrated that I can´t understand what the girls are saying and they´re frustrated that I can´t understand them. This, combined with the tiring schedule, late nights, early mornings, and responsibility over so many girls, is my prayer request for the rest of this week! On the positive side, yesterday, I DID score my first soccer goal ever!

My Heroine Ruth Harmon

I took an overnight bus from São Paulo that arrived in Araçatuba on Monday morning. I got to spend a few hours at John and Ana Harmon´s house, which meant I got to meet my heroine Ruth Harmon. "Grandma Ruth" came to Brazil as a missionary in 1936, traveling by horseback with her husband to bring the Gospel to the Indians. Her 4 children and many of her grandchildren are now involved in full-time ministry, many of whom I´ve gotten to meet this week! I had written a song about Grandma Ruth, (who was a pianist and a teacher herself) which I got to play for her on Monday!

There is so much I could tell about Araçatuba and the people I have met here, but I don´t have a lot of time to use the internet, as you can probably tell by the lack of blog posts the past few days. I might take some pictures on Friday before we head back to the São Paulo airport to catch our flight to Palmas. Thank you for your continued prayer--God has been faithful in supplying the energy that I need (sometimes in the form of Brazilian expresso that I´m drinking at the moment). I am SO thankful that He has found me worthy of serving the Kingdom here so far away! This week has been filled with new friends who also have hearts for ministry in Brazil, and it has been so encouraging and exciting to meet so many members of the Harmon family of friends!

Thank you for praying! Abraços,
--Joy

Rua 25 de Março

Rua 25 de Março
Originally uploaded by joywilson.

Greetings from São Paulo!

I think one of my favorite things to do in a new city is to get to know it on foot, and WOW have we been doing that! I have always disliked tourist-y stuff and prefer experiencing the culture as a member of it, not as an observer. For me, the best way to do that is by walking on the streets in the center of town, going into stores, sitting in parks, and navigating the subway. And there you have a summary of my past 2 days in São Paulo!

Yesterday (Saturday), we went down to a famous street called Rua 25 de Março, which is where people from all over Brasil come and get their goods wholesale to sell elsewhere. Translated: Everything you can imagine, really cheap, REALLY crowded. It's technically an actual street, but at noon on a holiday weekend, the few cars trying to pass through were quite unfortunate. I LOVE being around so many people--but don't worry, I've learned to be careful about my belongings in a place like this.

Old Men in the Park

We have also had the opportunity to visit some city parks. Like, huge Central Park-style city parks, with lakes and vendors and playgrounds and sports fields and bridges and guitar players. What I love most about Brazil are the people. I love watching people and meeting people. Parks are a great place to do this.

I have also enjoyed getting to know Igreja Batista de Esperança. Last night we had a fun time at college group, and I met a big part of Ben's church family. This morning I got to sing/play in the service ("Your Grace Still Amazes Me"), which I will also do this evening ("Lord Have Mercy"). This church has a seminary with around 80 students, and one of the 4th year students gave the message this morning. In Brazil, you can become a pastor after only 4 years of college.

I've had a good time getting to know new friends. A group of us went out to dinner at Burger King after the service last night, and we went to an art museum this afternoon! It was only $2 to get into the museum, but even that small entrance fee instantly put us in a high-class world, with high class people. It was weird to go straight from that environment to the subway, a few meters below. This juxtoposition of rich and poor peppers the culture of Brazil. You have big fancy houses right next to the favelas, and makeshift housing one block over from booming commerce. It's easy for me to think "Why don't these rich people help the poor that live in their backyard?" until I look at myself and realize that here I am, blessed to be an American with a college degree, living just an 8-hour plane ride from people with whom I can share what God has given me.

Tonight after the service, I will take an overnight bus to Araçatuba, which is 7 hours away. I wish I could spend more time here in São Paulo. Last year, I didn't like the city too much because the sheer enormity overwhealmed me, but getting around town these past few days has really helped me appreciate the culture and the atmosphere and realize that it really isn't as scary as I thought!

I have to go now, and I don't know when I will next have an internet connection, but I'll try to stay in touch!

Abraços,
--Joy