Most Currently
The last few days have been amazing. We lived
in Parada de Lucas which is the most dangerous favela in all of Rio. Drug Lords
run those neighborhoods and it is common to see men everywhere with massive
machine guns and walkie-talkies. It was amazing to be able to just love these
men and the people of the neighborhood praying for them and sharing the love of
God. Even just a smile brings joy to their faces. In the area fireworks aRe
continually going off signaling other gang members that cops are around because
the war is not the hugley between gangs, but between the cops and the gangs.
Also there is a law against stealing in the area, formed not by the government,
But by the drug lords. If you are caught stealing they will either shoot you or
cut off your hand. This all because if you steal then someone will more than
likely call the cops and that is what they do not want. It seems a little bit of
a contradiction, but for it being the most dangerous place in Rio we were not in
much danger of being robbed or shot at. We were not allowed to take pictures and
2 of our team members got into a little trouble with some gang members because
some gangsters mistook their cell phone and hand gestures as a them relying
information to the cops and taking pictures, but it was all sorted and the guns
were put away. Our time in the favelas was amazing just spending time with all
the kids that were around 24/7, having services in the streets, getting the
opportunity to share stories and testimonies in a public school, and getting to
spend the day at one of the nicest most famous recording studios in Brazil with
a very well known Brazilian Reaggae band. They let us sit in on their practice
time then let us have some time to jam with them in the amazing art facility. It
had practice rooms, recording studios, dance studios, and stages. An incredibly
beautiful place full of potential and promise from God! Before we left the band
and a DJ class that had joined in allowed us to pray over all of them and bless
their work in the area! The next day we left the favelas after spending the
morning sanding the walls of the YWAM base where we slept on the floors. We had
made a contact with a couple, who had a ministry in the dumps and we headed out
to spend the day praying and ministering with people who live in and out of
other peoples rubbish! A state of living no one is called to! We walked through
the many shacks and stacks of rubbish for most of the day. Stopping in homes and
praying for people as well as playing with the hundreds of kids that followed us
the whole day! That night we set up a film for all the kids on a big screen with
a projector. It reminded me a lot of Africa. Finally we headed out to a condo
that a family has graciously let us take over in the nicest area of Rio, Zona
Sul. Our life is so crazy we never have any idea where we are or what is going
to happen, but most importantly we stay open to Holy Spirit's direction and go
wherever the wind blows! Thank you to everyone who is continually praying for
us, supporting me and my team financially, and really being here with us in
spirit! So much love and blessings, Rachael Michelle P.s. for the most current
pictures go to my Facebook pictures and look under the instagram album!
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