Christmas Celebration and Year in Review: 2014

It is amazing to see what an effect Living Stones can have on a whole community. If you want to see what that looks like--visit Cajueiro Claro.

They had a wonderful Christmas celebration, complete with presentations:

And, of course, presents:

God bless you all for your consistent giving, which has enabled us to continue on!

Fourth Anniversary of the Church and Painting the Church

November 2014 marks four years of ministry as a church in Cajueiro Claro: let the celebration begin!

But don't forget all the hard work to paint the church (also an annual tradition).

And finally:

Children's Day at Cajueiro Claro

It has been incredible to see the transformation of Cajueiro Claro, a rural town (with about 30 families) a couple miles off the main road, Cajueiro Claro had no community cohesion or even a school: now the church is the center, a safe area everyone knows they are welcome at. 

Ten years ago, an exhausted ministry gave their building and land to World Renewal, hoping that maybe they could reach this hard, closed community for Christ. A pastor worked for a couple of years, coming in weekends to minister, but still, not much progress was made. In 2010, Pastor Flavio began walking 30 minutes each way every day to come in and minister to the children—winning the hearts of the community. Through Living Stones, a church began.

Around 30 children are ministered to almost every day, as Pastor Flavio and his wife Mercia (due in January with their first daughter), live in one of the Sunday school classrooms of the church. Over 15 of the older children have given their lives to Jesus, many of whom are now running the worship and mime team for the church! Over ten women have given their lives to Jesus, through the women’s ministry, and we are praying for the men to come and join what God is doing. 

The party, with the help of Shelbyville Community Church and Bibles from Molly's Pennies from Bibles program, had over 30 children and lots of laughter. We began by walking through the community, praying and bringing kids with us.

We then played in the sand, "Pin the house on the rock" game, blew bubbles and got to know the kids (special thanks to Craig Olson for all of the amazing photographs). 

At the beginning of our story time, the kids had practiced and had a special presentation for us.

We had a great time of singing and telling the parable of the wise and foolish man, and then Pastor Flavio called up the children, one by one, to read and receive their Action Bible (in Portuguese). 

After a bit, there were still quite a lot of Bibles to give out, and no more children were coming up. Flavio asked incredulously, "No one else knows how to read?" (There were still plenty of more children--even older children) "Well, we will be working on teaching you. And once you do learn to read, the Bibles are here, waiting for you."

Safe and Cold

Pastor Flavio has made it to the USA, and will be here from September 13-28. He is enjoying the food, the people, and trying to survive the weather.

Pastor Flavio shared at Morning Star Friends church, and Rachel Ferguson translated on September 14th, and then shared in a high school the next day.

Please pray for Flavio, as he has important meetings all over Ohio, and then travels to Kansas for a college mission's conference, and then to Colorado and home. He is quite anxious to return to his lovely wife, as she is five months pregnant with their baby girl, Heloise Laila Travassos. 

Women's Ministry

We are so thankful for the vision of Vicki Jordal and a missions team that went down to Brazil last year:

The woman's ministry at Cajueiro Claro just celebrated their first year of consistently meeting. There are around 22 women who participate in this, and in the past year, ten of them have come to know Jesus!

How amazing to see these women, and their children grow: the children from the Living Stones program have now put together a worship band:

Pastor Flavio put together a video of pictures from the year of women's ministry here, and of course there was cake:

Pastor Flavio Comes to the USA

Please keep Pastor Flavio and Mercia in your prayers as Mercia is pregnant with their first child. Flavio will be making a trip to Ohio and Kansas for a couple weeks in September, his first trip to the USA, and their first time apart.

Please pray for wisdom, as traveling to the USA is difficult, especially when you don't speak English (Pastor Flavio speaks "Flavish," and is very creative with his communication). Also, please pray for the meetings he has planned, that he would stay healthy in the busy schedule, and be able to truly share his heart and vision for the ministry. 

VBS with Morning Star

Morning Star Friends church assisted Cajueiro Claro (and many other friends/volunteers) to have an amazing VBS for the kids at Cajueiro and Mussurepe:

We are so excited to have Cassie Hlebovy back in Brazil and working with Living Stones! You can read her blog here and we want to make sure to credit her and the Morning Star team for all of these great pictures (and Flavio)!

Cupcakes Creating Change

Morning Star Friends church missions trip has included this young lady, Riley Matchinga, who used her cupcake making skills to teach the women at Cajueiro Claro how to make/decorate/sell cupcakes as a side income. 

Decorated cupcakes are a recent "cool" bakery treat in Brazil, and are currently in high demand at events and stores. This is a valuable skill for many of these women, who are barely getting by. 

We are so excited for the new opportunity and ministry for/to these women! 

Gravata Ministry

Pastor Flavio and Mercia led a group of the children from Living Stones Cajueiro Claro (in matching mime team green shirts) to minister in the city of Gravata (close to two hours away).

It was a wonderful and exciting opportunity for the kids in Cajueiro Claro to minister to others.

And those in Gravata were blessed spiritually and physically.

We are so grateful for the Kombi to get them places, and for those involved in the Trek for Transportation for helping to make this happen! 

Recently, 5 people have given their life to Jesus, including some men from the community! Praise the Lord for breaking down hard hearts and bringing healing to their lives.

In Time of Need

This video was done by someone in Paudalho who is upset about the current political party in power, and how they have had no doctors in any of the hospitals in over a couple of months.
The situation is critical, with this man, who suffered a motorcycle accident, laying on the ground for 2 hours before an ambulance came. In the video you can see some of the members of the church helping, with Pastor Flavio taking charge in getting some bandages and getting him on the ambulance.
We are so glad that he knows basic first aid and could be there in this time of need! Pastor Flavio asks us to pray for this man, and many others in the community who are suffering without a doctor's care.

The World Cup

Pastor Flavio is using soccer as a time of celebration together for the children and community of Cajueiro Claro.

They invited everyone to come and watch the game on the projector (a larger screen than anyone has at home), and there was a full house, including many men from the community who would not normally come to church. 

They also had a time of worship, and sharing God's Word

What a neat opportunity! Special note: Pastor Flavio's wife, Mercia, had a medical scare with the pregnancy, and was put on bed rest for ten days--but is now doing well (as is the baby). Thank you for your continued prayers!

Sara (youth worker) and Mercia

Mothers Celebrate

The children in Cajueiro Claro celebrated their mothers, and the church had a wonderful time for Mother's day. Last year when the Mother's teas began, Pastor Flavio's wife Mercia continued the idea, meeting monthly with the local ladies. This has resulted in exponential growth in the church:

We are also excited to announce that Mercia will also become a mother soon!

Congratulations to this amazing couple who is serving the Lord with their whole hearts! 

Easter Celebration

Cajueiro Claro had a wonderful Easter celebration this year

It is amazing to see the children growing up so quickly

The music lessons that Pastor Flavio has been given are being put to good use:

(Camila on the guitar and Leticia on the drums)

Recently, the women of the community surprised Mercia with a cake:

How wonderful to see the desire to give back and share the love of Jesus.