So, I figure it was about time for me to write something here. After all, this is John's and Stephen's blog. It's late here, so I'm not gonna try to write anything pretty, I'm a Brazilian, it takes me a while to write in english.

If you are following this blog, you pretty much know about what we are doing here. The English Class, helping at the project, church and etc. It really has been a great time for us!
I am really grateful for the opportunity to see the things that I have seen before, and be awaken again for the things that truly matter in life.
The apostle Paul said, that without love we are only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I don't know about you, but I'm dying to make my life count! I believe that through simple but real acts of love, we can truly make an impact in the lives of those around us. Every time that I come back here, I see people being changed, I mean completely changed by the power of love. I think we all get a chance to either live our own lives and try to make the best out of it for ourselves, or to live putting other people into perspective. We need to open our eyes to the world around us and do something about it!
"What if..." Just kidding.


Please keep following this blog, Kazak has been working hard on it hah. Though it shows the experience of two men in Rio, this is not gay by any means. I would like to use this opportunity to say hi to my beautiful girlfriend Ariana! I love you so much and I cannot wait for you to get here!

Estevão

Awesome sunset in Sao Fransisco-Niteroi

A view of the city and her slums

Trekking a mountain to get to a favela from John Kazaklis on Vimeo.

Today we went with Estevao's dad, Sergio, to the top of a mountain that overlooked the city and the slums. We took some footage and shots for a video that Sergio wants to present at the MonaVie convention in 2 weeks. Here in the video, we are on the way down the mountain going through a slum and heading back to the neighborhood below where we began the trek up. With the video that we are going to make, Sergio wants to share his vision that God gave him on the city and the slums and through the video, motivate others to catch the vision and have a heart for the city like he does. It's crazy how people choose these hillsides and mountains to build their homes...they have no where else to go.

mudslides

Driving down one of the main roads in Niteroi, we passed by one of the slums that was devastated by the mudslides over a month ago. Since most slums are built on mountainsides or hills, it leaves them vulnerable to mudslides. This photo only shows one of many, many locations in Niteroi.

first class of teaching English

Today was crazy because we found out that we were going to teach a group of Brazilian adults English and Estevao and I had about 4 hours to prepare. Despite all the craziness, it went really well and we're super excited! We have a class of about 25 eager people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s that are ready to learn English. We will have class every Tuesday and Thursday night for the next 4 weeks and teach them more of the conversational side of English instead of grammar. We will keep you updated with how the class goes! God is good!

Estevao playing for the kids!

Estevao played and led some kids in a couple of worship songs

first week!

So today we headed over to the MORE Project where we met with some people to figure out exactly what we're going to do this week. We met an awesome social worker named Andrea. We will be shadowing her for two days as she helps families with their needs and there different situations. With Andrea, we met this woman that came to the project asking for food to feed her family after her home was completely destroyed during the catastrophic mudslides last month. She told us that she has seven children of her own and that she's also taking care of her grandchildren. In response, we went with Andrea to the supermarket to buy essentials for the woman and her family- rice, beans, milk, sugar, etc. Around that same time, Estevao was helping Rafael, the MORE Project's dentist, with pulling a little girl's tooth out! All Estevao said was that there was lots of blood and screaming. It's amazing to see how the MORE Project is tangibly helping those that don't have in the slums surrounding the project. We are truly blessed and we forget that sometimes. We will keep you updated with more to come this week! Peace

welcome

Welcome...Bem Vindo from John Kazaklis on Vimeo.

good morning Rio!

arriving to Rio Airport

on the plane about to land!

a beginning...

This summer, we will both be in Rio de Janeiro working, living life, and experiencing what God has in store for us. This blog was created so that you, our friend, can have a glimpse of what is going on with us in this "cidade maravilhosa." We love you guys and we want to share all of this with you!

John and Estevao