There are some things that haven't happened yet — we need to add an adult class and a computer class — but those things will happen in time. The need is great here, and, as the saying goes, the harvest is plentiful, but before we add any new projects we need to make sure that we have both the personnel and the finances to see it through. For example, we have adult students that want to take class, but we need a place to meet outside the favela. At the right time, I'm sure we'll find the right place.

I have preached a couple of times at the church. I have to use a translator, but I have gotten the hang of it and it seems to be working fairly well. I had insisted from the beginning that my role here would be primarily related to the development of the school, but I keep getting asked to do "preacher" stuff. That's the way it is with the ministry. Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back me in. But, I suppose I'm OK with it if they are.

I lead worship at of our meetings in Morro Azul, and I did the music for Children's Church in Catete last Sunday. The school, which is exclusively my project, is separate from the church. I oversee all aspects of the management and administration of the school. My agreement with the church was, initially, that they can use my building for their meetings. During my stay here the lines have become somewhat blurred between the two because I have been involved with both. However, on paper the school and the church remain two separate and independent projects with different leaders.

SPIRITISM
A couple of times on Friday night I have come across an interesting display on the curb of certain intersections in the city. I have noticed little stacks of red roses, cigarettes and crackers. Turns out these are Spiritist offerings given so that certain "spells" will be implemented. Spiritism is a type of black magic religion practiced here—mainly in the favelas. In fact, there's an elaborate "altar" built here, as you turn to walk up the hill.

Unlike Christianity, in Spiritism (Macumba is what it is called here) there doesn't seem to be a requirement for being good or for having goodwill toward others. People use this ritual to cause someone to fall in love with them, or to force the breakup of someone else's marriage, or to get a job, or get a person fired, or to make a person well, or to make a person sick, and even to end a person's life.

People take this kind of thing seriously here. Brasilian Christians tend to believe in the power of Spiritism, but they believe the power of Jesus is stronger—and my American cynicism (regarding the superstition of black magic) is not really appreciated. Ricardo told me a story about some Spiritists who tried to cast a spell on his family. It was a serious story, but since Ricardo speaks broken English and often confuses long vowels, it was difficult not to smile when he told me, "In 1982 the Spy-ritists tried to dead my mother." Their plan didn't work, by the way. Ricardo's mom is now 76 and going strong.

Interestingly, though, a young woman was arrested in Brasilia last week as the "intellectual author" for the murder of her father. She had visited two Spiritist mediums and paid them to cast a spell on him that would cause his death. He died, but as the result of gunshot wounds, not voodoo. Regardless, the authorities took the spell seriously.

FINAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT BRASIL
When I came here the first time in October 2004, I thought my work here would be brief: get the school going, arrange the funding, and go back to the states. I thought I might visit for a couple of weeks every year—squeezing in visits to the school around my vacation. I see now that this isn't how it will be. I imagine I will be spending a great deal of time here— 3 or 4 months a year, maybe more. God has given me a vision for what can be accomplished here. This is something I never saw myself doing before. I'm still not clear on the details, but I know what I'm supposed to do next—and that's all I can ask for. 

But, for now, it's time to go home. I'm actually beginning to complain about prices here. When you begin to feel like 35 cent pizza and 50 cent coffee is "too rich for my blood" — it's time to go back to the states and visit Sbarro's and Starbucks for a little perspective.