thegoodfellas/blogset-br huggingface dataset:
Here it goes some pats of my newsletter I recently sent out!Hi!! Maybe you have wondered why I say Tatis time??? Let me explain. In the summer of 2010, we were hosting a short term trip from Oak Hills with Pastor David Holcomb. Since I am so short and look more like one of the kids, David (being really tall and loud) starting catching everyones attention for me by singing Its Tati Time! LOL Now that I have your attention, enjoy my newsletter!!!Its been 5 months Im in the USA and Im getting ready to go back home!!! Gods doing amazing things among the youth at our church, Pastor Heider Quintino, who has been attending our church for about one year is being used by God in amazing ways to reach those young ones. Pastor Heider is co leading our youth choir with Michael Pupo while Wellington is gone and building strong relationships with them. As a result of his dedication many of them are on fire for God and getting involved in leadership training, discipleship and evangelism! Praise God!Although I am sad to be missing all the exciting things happening at home, I can see that God is growing me so much in this time away. He is using this time to shape me in certain areas of my life that being here have allowed me to see and work on with Christ. Thank you Lord for being so gracious to me!Life is busy here, just like at home but in a different way. Raising support takes a lot of effort and the results take a long time to see, adding to that my own personal prob-lems and it gives space to worry. Im learning to live by Prov 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.Sometimes, unless a big thing happens we dont feel God is moving, we lean on our own understanding and trust what we think we are seeing...But check out what I learned: There are times when there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task. Routine is God's way of saving us between our times of inspiration. Do not expect God always to give you His thrilling minutes, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by the power of God. Oswald Chambers.He is taking care of every little and big thing! He is the crea-tor, worthy to be praised! Ive learned more than ever if I seek His face He will move in amazing ways that I didnt know.... While I was busy with details He raised my support to 59% in May and He has brought me to 73% last month!!! At the same time He has also been working out vital aspects of our relationship! I didnt real-ize how many BIG things God has been doing until I came to the place of worshiping Him and Him alone
for who He is, not for what He is doing for me. When I do this I dont give space to worry but in-stead sing a newsong to the Lord!!!Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. Psalm 117:1Prayer Requests.... Please continue to pray for my mom, Adesia. They found problems with her thyroid. She is taking medicines to see if it correct this. Also she has had back problems for a long time and she might need to have surgery because its not healing. . For all the 600 children we work with, for God to break their chains in Jesus! . Again, that God would continue to draw me closer to Him through my last month in the USA and forever!For people and churches respond to the Holy Spirit as He touches them to partner with us!Thank you a lot!!! God bless you,Tati
Christmas is almost over, at least for me. Feel like task is completed, we had 4 Christmas lunches in 3 different areas where Restoration Ministries works in. There was 450 children sponsored, about 300 sponsors who had an oportunity to practice God's generosity and love, giving one set of clothing, shoes and one toy for each child. There was about 70 volunteers, a short team from Corvallis, OR and Pastor Tony from New Zeland, all those people serving by cooking, cleaning up, sorting out presents, seting up the eating area, decorating, leading small groups and having a good time with our precious children. We repeated the same program in all 4 lunches. Sang fun songs, had them seated in tables according with their ages, led short bible lesson related with Christmas and the skit Corvallis team did, about the 3 trees who dreamed of growing taller and taller so they could be closer to God and bear good fruits to feed the people and animals God had created.For me, the highlight was see our volunteers seating at tables with a group of children, sharing about why Jesus was born and why those trees in the skit ended up not being used as they dreamed, instead they served as a manger, fishing boat and cross. It was a beautiful fellowship time with the kids, at got a chance to do that at Promorar Lunch, on Thrusday, Dec 15th.I did it once cause I was helping organizing all that! It was a lot of work, a lot prep, hours of planing, computer work, telephone calls, filed trips, meetings, shoping, etc.. On top of that, as I shared in my last post, we all have problems and struggles, churches and ministries are formed by people, and we are not different BUT as Corvallis team thought the kids: Even though the trees were cut down and did not serve God in exactlythe ways they had imagined, God helped their hopes come true in even bigger ways. The same is true for us. If we follow God's path, even though it may be different from our own, we will travel far beyond even our greates dreams! God sees far beyond than us!There were beautiful fruits past week that we were able to see and enjoy them but I believe there was many fruits that only the Holy Spirit witnessed, our battle isn't against flesh... Jesus was born on Christmas time, died and rose again, He overcame this battle and all we have to do is to wait until He rises in the clouds and take us to better place that no eyes has seen or ears heard, the things Jesus has prepared for those who wait in Him. Doesn't matter how long things takes, how bad circunstances can be, all the hard work we got to do, IN Jesus, the outcome is better them we can possible imagine, down here in Earth or in our future home with our Creator!We did all this Christmas events counting on God's grace and it was wonderful time! Thanks for all
of you who supported us in prayer!As we say in Brazil: Feliz Natal e um Prospero Ano Novo! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Yea!)In His Service, TatiDown bellow are picture of one of the Christmas Lunch, at Promorar, on Dec 15th - 145 kids!On the way to Promorar, a lots of gifts on those black bags and people were all underneath those! Setting up the place, we used a community center.The same place, full of kids!!Wellington and his dance team!!The tree skit I mentioned!Small group talks, it was kinda loud but it worked!!!Praying before the meal and thanking Jesus for born and rise again!Pastor William also led one group, we all got to serve the kids and have lunch with them!!!Michael, praying with his group!So delicious!!! Rice, farofa (seasoned with calabresa sausage and bacon), chicken and salad!Getting presents time!! On The left, Paula, she graduate English with me couple years ago, and volunteered to help us out!It was awesome, giving each child their present, hugging and kissing them and saying: "You are getting this present today, but the best gift ever already was given to you, Jesus!" all the volunteers did the same as they gave out presents!AREN'T THEY SOOOOO CUTE?Cleaning up!!!
I am back to Brazil, I cant believe! First day was very strength but as the days goes I am finding it easier than I thought, I am sure it is your prayers for my easy adjustment back here!A bunch of people came to the airport and had a big sign saying: Welcome to your reality, we love you! They were loud and made a big party at the airport, everyone else was looking to us! Yes WE ARE Brazilians! Afterwards couple people came to my home and I had breakfast with them! Later my father made a BIG family lunch, with a beautiful table set up and at night couple friends came over for a barbecue! I was able to witness at the bbq with some non-Chritians family friends! Praise God!Last Saturday we had a traditional event named "Noite Black" where couple gospel choir performance and many non-Christians come to see! I felt home! I was praising in my native language, in the language I first learned to praise my God! That was so special! On Sunday was great being at MY dear church!Enoy my back home pics! God bless you!People at the airport waiting for us!Huging my father!ITALIA!!!!!my friend, Ariane!Part of the crowd that came to pick us up at the aiport!Fancy family lunch prepared by my father and chef, Carlinhos!Braziian BBQ!!!!Jonatas!!!People praying for me!!!FEIJOADA! Brazilian dish!!!!"Noite Black" - Marquinhos singing!D noite singing!Pastor William pretending being a homeless among people and all of the sudden he get up and preach! That was a good eye opening for us, we tend to judge and not pay attention when God bring people that are needing us, even when they are right there!My dear friend, Isabel - she works at the computer lab!A lot people came to the event!They surprised Wellington and invited him to sing..he couldn t help and cryed...that was a special moment! Hello!What a good way to start a new year, huh?! As many of you know me and Wellington got engaged! We got many emails of people saying how happy they are for us and blessing us! All this brothers and sisters approval, up in USA and down here in Brazil, just confirms to me even more the beautiful work God is doing in my life! Many people are asking how was it, what are the details (mostly women, hahaha) so here it goes... :)We had planned a lunch for both of our families past Sunday at my house. When we all met to pray before eating, he surprised me, getting in his knees... :) It was so nice, having both of our families with us, and praying for us. My father and mother got very emotional and they were very happy, even if I'm 30 I will always be my daddy little daughter!That evening, we announced at the church, and if you have been in my church, you can imagine how loud they got! Pastors and church prayed over us, and it was right there, in front of the whole congregation that it really hit me...guess what? Yes,
I couldn't control myself and I cried a lot...what is normal for me! For a coincidence it was a mission service at our church and it meant a lot to me!We are planing to get married soon!Please keep us in your prayers, just like any other couple we are starting from zero, getting in that busy wedding process that you might know how much work it is and how expensive it can be! We trust in God! But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7The lunch was in the roof, where the BBQ is and the Laundromat as well!This is the view from upthere!I'm not normal!YES! I AM ENGAGED! Yes, in Brazil we wear the ring on the right hand!Engagement pictures!
Hello Friends!Life isn't easy, is it? Bible never said it would be. So, ministry isn't easy as well, just as life. Paul says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms:. Ephesians 6:12. When we go to those slums to do children's program, we are invading the enemy territory, a place that once was described as "the devil playground" by an American pastor who visited our church in Promorar and saw a big line to buy drugs. As we go in to bring light to those good people who lives there and are kept captive by the powers of this dark world, the same dark powers raises against us. It doesn't happen just because we are doing ministry, it happens because Jesus is our savior and in Him we find salvation, in Him we are light to the world. The devil DO NOT want no one to find salvation in Jesus and be light.Either we are lawyers, doctors, missionaries, volunteers, moms and dads, before being someone or something in the society, we have an identity in Christ, we are christians and devil will make whatever he can to stop us to live fulfilling life with Jesus. So...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Ephesians 6:18Just as in life, problems and devil tricks happens in ministry. Please pray for Restoration Ministries, as we go in those dark places, devil raises against the minsitry, our lives and our families. Be aware of enemy tentatives in your and your family life and pray against it!!!Life isn't easy, when we pray God does what we can't do to make our lives better and meanful...Little Graziele, we've been taking hundreds of pictures from kids who come to Agita (our children's program) to include in the card that goes for each Christmas sponsor! Some of the kids I do bible study with, at their house. I'm also teaching English for them after bible study. Please pray for them to be able to learn and keep English, they are slower in learning things...learning English will give them better jobs in the future! This is Tauane, Christna and Marcelo. Flavia comes once in a while, she is always cleaning the house for her mom and hasn't attended bible study that often. Tatiane (15) got pregnant and isn't attendending frequently as well. I included a new girl, Amanda (marcelo's sister, she isn't in this picture).Pedro, he is Tatuane (picture above) brother. As I do bible study in his home, he is also exposed to the gospel, and his family as well. He will be one of the 440 kids to get a Christams gift. We have developed a strong relationship with his family.Couple weeks ago, the "Chinese Church", who partner with us in many RM events did a celebration with us, invited
RM for a BBQ to celebrate this friendship that came from the partnership with their church! It was a good time! Doing ministry for Jesus has connected people from everywhere, from USA to Brazil, from China to East of Sao Paulo (known as the ghetto area) even if the "chinese are within the same city"! God is Great and He is the one doing everything, we, as body of Christ, just have to get together, do and celebrate!!! God bless you!Tati
Hello Friends!We had a break last January, it was a great time to spend with our own family, with one another and to have time to get things done around the house! In February we returned to our ministry activities. On Wellington first children's choir class at Promorar this year, he was welcomed with a surprise birthday party organized by the kids. They collected money among themselves to buy a gift and make him a birthday cake.Restoration MinistriesChurch celebrated 14 years last February. We had 3 services each day, Friday toSunday. Guests speakers preached, and bands from other churches were invitedlead worship with us. One of the services was very special to all of us. Cidosson named Marcio preached on Saturday. (Cido is the camp California keeper andMarcio accepted Christ years ago when Paulo Mota, Pastor William and Jonatasused to drive to camp every Thursday evening to lead a service). It was awesometo see and hear the fruits of someone's work by having Marcio preach theGospel.Some fruits we will see Praise God! Some we will never find out what happened, and some we will seestruggling but have a chance to fix! Mateus is one of those teens that grew upattending our programs. He is Leonoras grandson she cooks for the short termteams. Unfortunally he spent 8 months in Juvenal hall, but he just left. He washanging out with some other boys who decided to steal a car from a woman. Hesays he regrets this act. The week after he left, we took him to our churchfour day retreat (during Carnival). Pray for the Lord to open ways for him toget away from this life style and friends.Also cover our family inprayers! Pray for our health and protection both physically and spiritually. Prayfor Victor, for his beliefs and convictions to stay strong!Wellington's heart:The church was packed onthe last day of our celebration services! As I lead worship, I asked the churchattendees who had accepted Christ in Restoration Ministries, and many peopleraised their hands. It was the biggest reason of the celebration for me. Seeingthe kids that became teens and teens that became adults raising their hands wasprecious!I got good news for you!I got back to seminary. I had to quit in 2009, I am able to go back now. I have2 and a half years left. I have grown a lot during my time in seminary. It is agreat complement to the practical work. In the beginning, I didn't want to go.It is far and tiring. I drive one hour on my motorcycle to get there, and Idrive in the in the tension of Sao Paulo heavy traffic during rush hour! Itsdangerous, 5 motorcyclists die and about 55 get hospitalized per day in SaoPaulo traffic.My classes are Monday toFriday, from 7:30 to 10:45 pm. On the way back its another kind of tension, Ihave to drive while watching out for possible robbers. A local newspaper,Estadao, stated 45 motorcycles are stolen EVERY DAY in Sao Paulo. Although itis tiring just getting in and coming back, its been worth it! Jesus is goodand we do
have to get deep in His Word in order to serve Him better! Pleasepray for safety and encouragement.Tati's HeartOn Wednesdays I dedicatemy day to the people at the Promorar slum. While our staff do Agitas and homevisits, I meet with a couple women to do discipleship, I teach English and leadbible study with teens girls, and I meet with a group of women to share thebible, it is our women's tea. At the end of last year, I was wondering howeffective the women's tea was as I didnt see any ladies surrender their lifeto Christ. I was discouraged and looking into different programs in order tomake this group step forward. Talking to a friend, she encouraged me to simplykeep equipping them with His Word and let Him work. This year, before I wentback to meet with the ladies, I met with the lady who hosts the tea fordiscipleship Aleksandra. She shared how blessed she was to host this tea inher home, how she felt as part of Gods plan for the ladies in Promorar and howshe felt stepping forward to lead it with me. I wasnt able to see, but God wasworking in her heart. He was causing her to grow through hosting women tea.Please pray for the women we meet with every Wednesday afternoon! I see the needto start meeting with women at the Sapopemba slum. Please pray with me about itas I need to organize my time to be able to take on more.Business as a Mission- English SchoolWe have two classes inour pilot project, 24 students. Some are Christians and some arent. We hadsome drop offs last semester, but we were able to add 6 new students who hadsome knowledge in English in the current classes! More people wanted to joinbut we decided not to open new classes yet. Our teacher had to travel, so meand Michel Pupo stepped in and we are teaching this semester. At this point,while it is a pilot project and we are implementing systems, Im (Tati) running it anddoing all academic and administrative work. Michael is my senior teacher LOL -hes the only teacher! He helps me a lot as I have my other responsibilities atRestoration Ministries. We also hired two young people to be out assistantteacher with the goal of training them to lead classes in the future. They areErika Santos and Victor Barros (our son).Our curriculum is Bible-basedand our teachers embrace a biblical worldview, engaging in transformationalteaching and discipleship, while helping students move towards personal andprofessional growth. In one of the first classes of the year, we were learningfree time vocabulary. At the end of the class I wrote EC 3:1, There is atime for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens andtold them to write it down. One non Christian student said: When we were not inclass, I missed you guys sharing bible verses. They are so meaningful to us...I taught them vocabulary for different life seasons and how there is a time foreverything. Knowing that, they talked about how they would use their freetime wisely. We talked
about how there is a time to die. That night, Cidosfather passed away. The next morning, me, Wellington, Pastor William, and Edsonwent to the funeral down here the body has to be buried within 24 hours. Thevery first thing the pastor read when he started the service was: Ec 3:1. In mynext class I shared with my students this coincidence and told them that theman had just accepted Christ before he died, and that wasnt the end for him.We finished our class praying that day!Keep praying for thestudents' conversion, for Native American teachers who can stay for 3 to 6months, and for me as Im helping to put this school together from scratch.Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this LONG post! We will try to post more often and less text!Welington and Tatiane Barros
Countdown...8 days and I'll be back in Brazil! The last days are the hardest ones!!I'm so happy for what God has done up here, He did amazing things that I didn't know! Please pray that the next couple days go smooth.As most of you knows, I had a unexpected sirurgy, I had to take appendix out. It was a miracle how everything happened and God's hands was over the whole thing. I saw the doctor last Monday and he said I look good! He told me the recuperation would take 6 weeks and no lifting weight before it! It's been almost 3 weeks now!Being away for so long from home and all the sirurgy thing made me very homesick!!! God bless you and Thanks for all your support and prayers!A day before I get in the hospital, I was helping out with VBS at Oak Hills Church! Kids made a Brazilian chocolate dessert, brigadeiro!Teaching a Portuguese children song in Portuguese for the kids at the VBS!Visits at Home! Judy and Amanda!More visits! Stefanie and her mom!Evry Middleton made me a cake at Arts Camps! So cute!More visitis, but this one is a special one, BRAZILIAN visit! Patricia!Dear friends, Robert and Cathy, shared with Amy Middleton to take care of me after the hospital!So spoiloed, breakfast outside!Back to my life!!! (I was in pain that day!) Sharing at First Baptist of Aurburn!Dear friends came to see us at FBA!Lunch with Steve and Kim Clarson!Becky and Patrina!!Becky's family!Becky's beautiful family!My hospital experience with God and my friends! A velha senhora foi para um safari na Africa e levou seu velho vira-lata com ela. Um dia, cacando borboletas, o velho cao, de repente, se deu conta que estava perdido. Vagando a esmo, procurando o caminho de volta, o velho cao percebe que um jovem leopardo o viu e caminha em sua direcao, com intencao de conseguir um bom e farto almoco. O cachorro velho pensa rapido! -Oh, ohuuuuuuu! Estou mesmo enrascado! Olhou a volta e ve ossos espalhados no chao bem proximo a ele. Em vez de se apavorar, mais ainda, o velho cao, ajeita-se junto ao osso mais proximo, e comeca a roe-lo, dando as costas ao predador, fingindo que nao lhe houvera visto. Quando o leopardo estava a ponto de dar bote, o Velho Cachorro exclama bem alto: Cara, este Leopardo estava delicioso!!! Sera que ha outros por ai ? Ouvindo isso, o jovem leopardo, com um arrepio de terror na espinha, suspende seu ataque, ja quase comecado, e se esgueira na direcao das arvores, e pensa: Caramba!!! Essa foi por pouco!!! O Velho vira-lata quase me pega! Um macaco, numa arvore ali perto, viu toda a cena e logo imaginou como fazer bom uso do que vira: em troca de protecao para si, informaria ao predador que o vira-lata nao havia comido leopardo algum... E assim foi, rapido, em direcao ao leopardo. Mas o Velho Cachorro o ve correndo na direcao do predador em grande velocidade, e pensa:-Ai tem coisa! O macaco logo alcanca o felino, cochicha-lhe, o acontecido, e faz um