Friday, July 27, 2007
Flight Info for Families
The team will be arriving home on Sunday, July 29th on TAM flight 8074 at 6:00PM at the Miami Airport. Please check flight times on Sunday before picking up your team member. REMEMBER... they do have to clear customs after they arrive. We look forward to having everyone home and hear about their fantastic week of ministry. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel.
Campo Maior is Changed
Our apologies for not blogging yesterday. Dr.Naus practiced his portugues with the owner of the cyber cafe, and thought he told him that it is open 24hours, but obviously Dr.Naus needs more practice because when we went last night, it was closed. But no worries.
So far we have seen over 500 patients this week...and we only have this afternoon left of working in our clinic. We have had some amazing
patients. Yesterday was a very touching and emotional day for some of us. A man with Parkinsons came in, who was just suffering from so many other issues on top of the Parkinsons, and his grandson desperately wanted to get some medicine to help him, but we just didn´t have anything to give him... it was so hard to look them in the eye and tell them, ´sorry, there is nothing that we can do´. Later on, for me, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, walked through our doors. A couple had a 19 year old parapeligic son. When he was born, the doctors told his mom that she could take him home and let him die because he was in a coma for 5 days and wouldn´t live very long...but she told us that she took him home and since has been blessed with her wonderful son for 19 years. The whole visit touched us immensly. The boy couldn´t talk, 
couldn´t walk, but he always looked around for his father, and would look intently into his father´s eyes. And his father would pick him up, just like you would a baby, and hold him in his arms. It was the kind of beauty that brings tears to your eyes. Later on last night, they attended the rally, and the pastor spoke to them directly, because he himself raised a disabled boy... and he gave them an encouragement that was so wonderful.
The evening rally´s are bringing many people to know the Lord. We were able to share our Heart Skit, which they all enjoyed. Dancers dance and perform mini-dramas, we worship, and the pastors preach with such a passionate, roof-raising, vigor. And after the rally´s we all walk to
the center of town and hang out around all the people, and dance and do some street ministry. That is really such a fun thing to do...go out there at night, and just dance for the Lord, not caring what people think and who is watching. Its all about God.
We are consuming our daily Fruits, Fruits of the Spirit that is. Patience (or as KJV calls it, Long Suffering) seems to be a hard one. Patience with being tired, with the patients we see...patience with patients. Today we are chewing on goodness and gentleness. Being gentle in how we react with the people, and also with eachother... the Lord has really hand-picked each one of our team members, because it is obvious looking back throughout the week how each person here is and has been essential to our work. If just one was missing, we would not have been the body for Christ that we are.
Its hard to say personally how each of us is doing... but I see that Dr.Naus is bringing such joy to the patients, making them laugh, even the ones that are so stoic in their faces, stone-cold....somehow the Jolly doctor makes them laugh! Dr. Dorfman, aka. double-D, is like a big poppa bear to us, and I have never seen someone handle so many gross feet with such ease!
Dr.Meg is hilarious. I think I have met the smartest woman in the world! Bianca is spreading joy like no other, talking with her patients, and flashing her huge smile, keeping them happy while we wait for the next available doctor. Kelley is incorporating her acting abilities as she translates, its great! She has them mimic her when she has run out of ways to talk to them. Gabe is using that portunol like no other, and is staying flexible as we pull him in 5 different directions. Cassie is sweating buckets outside and talking to the patients all by herself as she takes everyones blood pressure. She is building very strong fingers as she pumps that cuff! Chase is pricking away all those diabetic fingers, and is such an encouragement to us, always having something positive to say. Lisa is jumping on every opportunity to pray over the patients, and keeping our clinic organized, somehow managing without a translator!!! Daniel wins the award for the most improved....he has grown miles since the last trip to Brasil... he runs around all day with a group of the young brazilian boys, helping out when needed. And Katia, she is listening like she has 6 ears and talking like she has 3 mouths....all over the clinic. She is going to need to rest big time after this week! And all 11 of them have blessed me so much, in laughing, in playing, in goofin around, in prayers, and just in being there and having patience with me as I am translating. Everyone is such a blessing. And all the people of this project are just so humble, and allowing God to work through their hands.
Campo Maior had been changed.
-In Him, Kirsten
So far we have seen over 500 patients this week...and we only have this afternoon left of working in our clinic. We have had some amazing
patients. Yesterday was a very touching and emotional day for some of us. A man with Parkinsons came in, who was just suffering from so many other issues on top of the Parkinsons, and his grandson desperately wanted to get some medicine to help him, but we just didn´t have anything to give him... it was so hard to look them in the eye and tell them, ´sorry, there is nothing that we can do´. Later on, for me, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, walked through our doors. A couple had a 19 year old parapeligic son. When he was born, the doctors told his mom that she could take him home and let him die because he was in a coma for 5 days and wouldn´t live very long...but she told us that she took him home and since has been blessed with her wonderful son for 19 years. The whole visit touched us immensly. The boy couldn´t talk, 
couldn´t walk, but he always looked around for his father, and would look intently into his father´s eyes. And his father would pick him up, just like you would a baby, and hold him in his arms. It was the kind of beauty that brings tears to your eyes. Later on last night, they attended the rally, and the pastor spoke to them directly, because he himself raised a disabled boy... and he gave them an encouragement that was so wonderful.The evening rally´s are bringing many people to know the Lord. We were able to share our Heart Skit, which they all enjoyed. Dancers dance and perform mini-dramas, we worship, and the pastors preach with such a passionate, roof-raising, vigor. And after the rally´s we all walk to
the center of town and hang out around all the people, and dance and do some street ministry. That is really such a fun thing to do...go out there at night, and just dance for the Lord, not caring what people think and who is watching. Its all about God.We are consuming our daily Fruits, Fruits of the Spirit that is. Patience (or as KJV calls it, Long Suffering) seems to be a hard one. Patience with being tired, with the patients we see...patience with patients. Today we are chewing on goodness and gentleness. Being gentle in how we react with the people, and also with eachother... the Lord has really hand-picked each one of our team members, because it is obvious looking back throughout the week how each person here is and has been essential to our work. If just one was missing, we would not have been the body for Christ that we are.
Its hard to say personally how each of us is doing... but I see that Dr.Naus is bringing such joy to the patients, making them laugh, even the ones that are so stoic in their faces, stone-cold....somehow the Jolly doctor makes them laugh! Dr. Dorfman, aka. double-D, is like a big poppa bear to us, and I have never seen someone handle so many gross feet with such ease!
Dr.Meg is hilarious. I think I have met the smartest woman in the world! Bianca is spreading joy like no other, talking with her patients, and flashing her huge smile, keeping them happy while we wait for the next available doctor. Kelley is incorporating her acting abilities as she translates, its great! She has them mimic her when she has run out of ways to talk to them. Gabe is using that portunol like no other, and is staying flexible as we pull him in 5 different directions. Cassie is sweating buckets outside and talking to the patients all by herself as she takes everyones blood pressure. She is building very strong fingers as she pumps that cuff! Chase is pricking away all those diabetic fingers, and is such an encouragement to us, always having something positive to say. Lisa is jumping on every opportunity to pray over the patients, and keeping our clinic organized, somehow managing without a translator!!! Daniel wins the award for the most improved....he has grown miles since the last trip to Brasil... he runs around all day with a group of the young brazilian boys, helping out when needed. And Katia, she is listening like she has 6 ears and talking like she has 3 mouths....all over the clinic. She is going to need to rest big time after this week! And all 11 of them have blessed me so much, in laughing, in playing, in goofin around, in prayers, and just in being there and having patience with me as I am translating. Everyone is such a blessing. And all the people of this project are just so humble, and allowing God to work through their hands.Campo Maior had been changed.
-In Him, Kirsten
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
We are not in Boca anymore...
What an amazing team God has put together !!!
The team has such a wonderful positive attitiude and the energy level is elecrifying! These kids only have 2 speeds: GoGoGo and snore. They love every part of this journey but especially love interacting with the Brazilians, both the locals here and the over 250 other short term missionaries who rode 60 hours on a bus to get to this one stoplight little town in the middle of nowhere with wandering donkeys and cattle. The town is truly getting blessed in both physical (medical, dental, food and clothing donations) and spiritual ways. Many local people previously involved in the Spiritualism side of extreme Catholicism are understanding for the first time that God, the creator, through 
Jesus LOVES THEM unconditionally. It is powerful to see so many come forward in the evening rally,s eager to profess their understanding and acceptance of our Lord Jesus!
Our team too has been blessed spiritually (while being challenged a bit physically - sure it,s a dry heat but it is still 96 degrees !! We are studying the Fruits of the Spirit looking in detail into a Fruit of the Day starting during our morning devotions but threading the theme throughout the day. Joy on monday, Peace yesterday and Patience today. God is using the different Gifts He has given us beautifully as everyone has fallen into their role creating a highly efficient Love-dispensing Medical Team. We saw over 120 patients yesterday and will see even more today. I wish my office functioned so efficiently. Even young Daniel has been put to work getting finger sticks to check for diabetes. Oh, how he is maturing. The translators are exceptional. Lisa is the all around Mom and makes sure everyone is cared for. Casey and Chase can skip the first year
of Medical school after this week. They have seen and are beginning to diagnose many common and uncommon conditions. Dean is injecting, Meg is prescribing and I am laughing (or being laughed at - not sure)
Keep praying for energy, safety, and independent spiritual growth for each member - - I am seeing God work in deep, life changing ways in several of us Gringos.
. . . . . . . . . Uncle Mo, XiXi Doi, Dr Dimples
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
2nd day, and getting a system down....
Last night we attended the Rally, for amazing worship (even some songs that we all from camp knew), and a great sermon with an analogy of a tree branch that hast been pulled off the tree. Without the roots and the trunk we have the appearance of being alive, but we are really dead. Such a great and simple analogy! We are seeing tons of people coming forward and giving their lives to the Lord. Even some of our patients that come to see us during the day are attending the Rally at night, and hearing the word of God preached. Its a beautiful thing that is happening in this town.
Today we just finished a very long day of seeing over 110 patients!!! Can you believe it??? All day long, its prick of a finger (Chase, Cass, and Gabe), blood pressure taken (all Cass), and then they come to us (me, Kelley, Bianca, and Katia) for the interrogation time. Where does it hurt? For how long? Do you take any medication? etc etc etc. Its so much fun! The little old ladies are the best, we have come up with a formula, the higher they are in age, the more places on the body that hurt.... completely makes sense, but its really funny when you are looking a 80yr old woman in the face and she is telling you that her WHOLE body hurts.... we laugh and laugh with some of them. Other times, its painful to watch. Dr.Dorfman had one patient who had a major infection in her foot that he had to cut open, drain, and pull out awfully gross things. Chase and I watched, wondering how much we could take before passing out! That poor girl! Other patients are heartbreaking. Katia and I spoke with one woman this morning who was deeply suffering, she had lost her father as a young girl, raised her brothers and sisters by herself, had gone through horrible things such as a rape, and just overall was suffering greatly. We comforted her as she cried and cried. Later on today a young boy came in who was extremely sick, vomiting and all, so we desperatly found some good medicine for him. This town is truly experiencing God´s love through the Braga Project. Its such an amazing thing to see, people filling the halls of the school where we are working, hearing children laughing and singing songs, and watching the people all smiling and being prayed over. The hearts of the other workers here are just overflowing with love, its very humbling to see others with such a passion for the Lord. Please continue to pray for our engery-levels to remain strong and high, that we are all well rested, and that we can continue to see as many patients as the Lord brings to our doors. Pray for our doctors too. To keep the joy, and remain cheerful.
In Him, Kirsten
ps. Cass loved the cds!!!! Thanks Shelbely, and Rach!!!!
sorry for no pictures, the computer flopped and we couldn´t upload any.
Today we just finished a very long day of seeing over 110 patients!!! Can you believe it??? All day long, its prick of a finger (Chase, Cass, and Gabe), blood pressure taken (all Cass), and then they come to us (me, Kelley, Bianca, and Katia) for the interrogation time. Where does it hurt? For how long? Do you take any medication? etc etc etc. Its so much fun! The little old ladies are the best, we have come up with a formula, the higher they are in age, the more places on the body that hurt.... completely makes sense, but its really funny when you are looking a 80yr old woman in the face and she is telling you that her WHOLE body hurts.... we laugh and laugh with some of them. Other times, its painful to watch. Dr.Dorfman had one patient who had a major infection in her foot that he had to cut open, drain, and pull out awfully gross things. Chase and I watched, wondering how much we could take before passing out! That poor girl! Other patients are heartbreaking. Katia and I spoke with one woman this morning who was deeply suffering, she had lost her father as a young girl, raised her brothers and sisters by herself, had gone through horrible things such as a rape, and just overall was suffering greatly. We comforted her as she cried and cried. Later on today a young boy came in who was extremely sick, vomiting and all, so we desperatly found some good medicine for him. This town is truly experiencing God´s love through the Braga Project. Its such an amazing thing to see, people filling the halls of the school where we are working, hearing children laughing and singing songs, and watching the people all smiling and being prayed over. The hearts of the other workers here are just overflowing with love, its very humbling to see others with such a passion for the Lord. Please continue to pray for our engery-levels to remain strong and high, that we are all well rested, and that we can continue to see as many patients as the Lord brings to our doors. Pray for our doctors too. To keep the joy, and remain cheerful.
In Him, Kirsten
ps. Cass loved the cds!!!! Thanks Shelbely, and Rach!!!!
sorry for no pictures, the computer flopped and we couldn´t upload any.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Playing Doctor....Grey´s Anatomy- Campo Maior
This morning i woke up to gabe snorring in my ear and tickling my foot. well not really but close. today was great! we woke up and did devotions and ate breakfast before our first day as what we call doctors. everyone loves us because were american "doctors" but in reality there are only 3. Throughout the day we saw 70 patients ranging from people wanting there blood pressure taken to dr. dean cutting around a lady's sore on her foot that was a result of a diabetic wound. we saw some people with scoliosis and several with worms. Cassie and i used almost all of the supplies for the blood sugar level test and even had one lady that had a blood sugar level of 497! the dentists with the group were 
pulling teethe left and right. medically we had a great day and it was very exciting! we had several people come to know the Lord as a result of fellow christians talking and praying with them. I know this is jumpy but there is a lot to say in such a little time. the translators were great! Kelley, kirsten, gabe and bianca are the translators and so far i would say that gabe is the best. His portunol is the best brazil has ever seen! However, by friday i will be translating for the entire group! it takes time but im getting it... although we saw only 70 people today which is much less than last year, its ok b/c the catholic church in town is extremely against evangelism and are discouraging the community from coming to the project. no worries tho b/c we know that God is going to bring the people to us! this is satan trying to get in the way but we are continuing to pray. After our first day, everyone is getting along very well and we are enjoying our time with the locals.
pulling teethe left and right. medically we had a great day and it was very exciting! we had several people come to know the Lord as a result of fellow christians talking and praying with them. I know this is jumpy but there is a lot to say in such a little time. the translators were great! Kelley, kirsten, gabe and bianca are the translators and so far i would say that gabe is the best. His portunol is the best brazil has ever seen! However, by friday i will be translating for the entire group! it takes time but im getting it... although we saw only 70 people today which is much less than last year, its ok b/c the catholic church in town is extremely against evangelism and are discouraging the community from coming to the project. no worries tho b/c we know that God is going to bring the people to us! this is satan trying to get in the way but we are continuing to pray. After our first day, everyone is getting along very well and we are enjoying our time with the locals.
-Chase
ps. notice, we have a repeat of Kris Colucci and her infamous motorcycle ride from trip #1
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Its Only Just Begun....
Finally all 12 are together!!!! The Naus family came first... to pave the way in Campo Maior with silly english sayings like`No problemas` and ´take it easy´. Then the rest of the group arrived in 
on Saturday night, after traveling for over 24 hours!! The flight stopped in Manaus, and then got stuckon the ground due to absolutely no radar in all of North Brasil....making that beginning of the trip a little tiresome. I joined the group this morning, after staying with the Pastor and his wife last night...they are the most open-hearted couple, so warm and welcoming! I was so excited to see the 11 other faces this morning. Today we all met the rest of the Braga Project members, a cheerful group from all over, ready to serve, preparing the various stations, cooking food, and all living in cleaned out school rooms.... very amazing what the Lord is preparing to do here. We spent a small part of the day getting our rooms ready to see the patients, we separated and organized all the medicines, set up the examining stations (you can see Dr.Dean Dorfman´s is all neat and 
organized, definately a type A personality!), practiced taking blood sugar levels (on Katia´s donated thumb), and then 
even practiced translating and how we would check-in and organize the patients. We can truly feel that excitement growing in our group, within the entire group of the Project, as the Lord is opening up the way for the people of the town to come tomorrow.
on Saturday night, after traveling for over 24 hours!! The flight stopped in Manaus, and then got stuckon the ground due to absolutely no radar in all of North Brasil....making that beginning of the trip a little tiresome. I joined the group this morning, after staying with the Pastor and his wife last night...they are the most open-hearted couple, so warm and welcoming! I was so excited to see the 11 other faces this morning. Today we all met the rest of the Braga Project members, a cheerful group from all over, ready to serve, preparing the various stations, cooking food, and all living in cleaned out school rooms.... very amazing what the Lord is preparing to do here. We spent a small part of the day getting our rooms ready to see the patients, we separated and organized all the medicines, set up the examining stations (you can see Dr.Dean Dorfman´s is all neat and 
organized, definately a type A personality!), practiced taking blood sugar levels (on Katia´s donated thumb), and then even practiced translating and how we would check-in and organize the patients. We can truly feel that excitement growing in our group, within the entire group of the Project, as the Lord is opening up the way for the people of the town to come tomorrow. 
The Lord gave us a few hours this afternoon to relax, but most of us decided to forgo the relaxing, because who needs to relax when you have a pool with huge waterslide just around the corner!!! And it was a private club, but the gentlemen decided to allow all of us crazy Americans in to play.... so we all rode that slide over 20 times, even Lisa Naus gave it a go! Definately the way to cool down in this hot hot weather!
Tonight, we just finished dinner (mmmm, rice and beans, even Cassie likes them!), and we have a huge prayer rally we will be going to soon. We are all excited and ready to see what the Lord has in store for this week. Its only just begun!
In Him, Kirsten
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Preparations For Our Trip
Our team met up 2 weeks prior to leaving on the trip to pray and distribute medicine. We all ask that you pray for safe travels down to Brazil, and for the other groups to make it safely as they travel up from Rio. We hope to humble ourselves and serve as 
many people as we can, helping them, praying for them, and giving them medicine to assist whatever ailments, or problems they might be suffering from. Our team is all very exciting to be a part of this wonderful mission, and to be led by three very talented doctors: Dr. Naus, Dr. Meg, and Dr. Dorfman. We have 2 students from the medical field on the team, Chase is a pre-med student, and Cassie is a nursing student. The rest of us will be assisting any way needed, to translate, pray, run errands, etc.
many people as we can, helping them, praying for them, and giving them medicine to assist whatever ailments, or problems they might be suffering from. Our team is all very exciting to be a part of this wonderful mission, and to be led by three very talented doctors: Dr. Naus, Dr. Meg, and Dr. Dorfman. We have 2 students from the medical field on the team, Chase is a pre-med student, and Cassie is a nursing student. The rest of us will be assisting any way needed, to translate, pray, run errands, etc.Different parts of our team will begin traveling this weekend, and we all will finally end our travels in a small town just Northwest of Teresina in the state of Piaui. Piaui is a very dry, hot, and poverty stricken state within Northern Brazil. Our work will most likely be very tiresome, and Dr. Naus promises to make us work as hard as possible :) But the Lord will be working within the Braga Project and it is such a glorious thing to be loving on the people of Campo Maior.
As a team, we will attempt to blog as much as we can, depending on internet access there...
Thanks for your prayers as we prepare and depart on our trip! Much thanks!
In Him, Kirsten
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