April Prayer Letter

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 Ministries Church celebrated 14 years last February. We had 3 services each day, Friday to Sunday. Guests speakers preached, and bands from other churches were invited lead worship with us. One of the services was very special to all of us. Cido’s son named Marcio preached on Saturday. (Cido is the camp California keeper and Marcio accepted Christ years ago when Paulo Mota, Pastor William and Jonatas used to drive to camp every Thursday evening to lead a service). It was awesome to see and hear the fruits of someone's work by having Marcio preach the Gospel.

Some fruits we will see – Praise God! Some we will never find out what happened, and some we will see struggling but have a chance to fix! Mateus is one of those teens that grew up attending our programs. He is Leonora’s grandson – she cooks for the short term teams. Unfortunally he spent 8 months in Juvenal hall, but he just left. He was hanging out with some other boys who decided to steal a car from a woman. He says he regrets this act. The week after he left, we took him to our church four day retreat (during Carnival). Pray for the Lord to open ways for him to get away from this life style and friends.

Also cover our family in prayers! Pray for our health and protection both physically and spiritually. Pray for Victor, for his beliefs and convictions to stay strong!

Wellington's heart:

The church was packed on the last day of our celebration services! As I lead worship, I asked the church attendees who had accepted Christ in Restoration Ministries, and many people raised their hands. It was the biggest reason of the celebration for me. Seeing the kids that became teens and teens that became adults raising their hands was precious!

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 have 2 and a half years left. I have grown a lot during my time in seminary. It is a great 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 I drive in the in the tension of São Paulo heavy traffic during rush hour! It’s dangerous, 5 motorcyclists die and about 55 get hospitalized per day in Sao Paulo traffic.

My classes are Monday to Friday, from 7:30 to 10:45 pm. On the way back it’s another kind of tension, I have to drive while watching out for possible robbers. A local newspaper, Estadao, stated 45 motorcycles are stolen EVERY DAY in Sao Paulo. Although it is tiring just getting in and coming back, it’s been worth it! Jesus is good and we do have to get deep in His Word in order to serve Him better! Please pray for safety and encouragement.

Tati's Heart

On Wednesdays I dedicate my day to the people at the Promorar slum. While our staff do Agitas and home visits, I meet with a couple women to do discipleship, I teach English and lead bible study with teens girls, and I meet with a group of women to share the bible, it is our “women's tea”. At the end of last year, I was wondering how effective the women's tea was as I didn’t see any ladies surrender their life to Christ. I was discouraged and looking into different programs in order to make this group step forward. Talking to a friend, she encouraged me to simply keep equipping them with His Word and let Him work. This year, before I went back to meet with the ladies, I met with the lady who hosts the tea for discipleship – Aleksandra. She shared how blessed she was to host this tea in her home, how she felt as part of God’s plan for the ladies in Promorar and how she felt stepping forward to lead it with me. I wasn’t able to see, but God was working 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 need to start meeting with women at the Sapopemba slum. Please pray with me about it as I need to organize my time to be able to take on more.

Business as a Mission- English School

We have two classes in our pilot project, 24 students. Some are Christians and some aren’t. We had some drop offs last semester, but we were able to add 6 new students who had some knowledge in English in the current classes! More people wanted to join but we decided not to open new classes yet. Our teacher had to travel, so me and Michel Pupo stepped in and we are teaching this semester. At this point, while it is a pilot project and we are implementing systems, I’m (Tati) running it and doing all academic and administrative work. Michael is my senior teacher LOL - he’s the only teacher! He helps me a lot as I have my other responsibilities at Restoration Ministries. We also hired two young people to be out assistant teacher with the goal of training them to lead classes in the future. They are Erika Santos and Victor Barros (our son).

Our curriculum is Bible-based and our teachers embrace a biblical worldview, engaging in transformational teaching and discipleship, while helping students move towards personal and professional growth. In one of the first classes of the year, we were learning “free time” vocabulary. At the end of the class I wrote EC 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” and told them to write it down. One non Christian student said: When we were not in class, 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 for everything. Knowing that, they talked about how they would use their “free time” wisely. We talked about how there is a time to “die”. That night, Cido’s father passed away. The next morning, me, Wellington, Pastor William, and Edson went to the funeral – down here the body has to be buried within 24 hours. The very first thing the pastor read when he started the service was: Ec 3:1. In my next class I shared with my students this “coincidence” and told them that the man had just accepted Christ before he died, and that wasn’t the end for him. We finished our class praying that day!

Keep praying for the students' conversion, for Native American teachers who can stay for 3 to 6 months, and for me as I’m 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

Engaged!

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 17:7

The 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!

Blessed Christmas!!!

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 Próspero Ano Novo! (Merry Christmas and Happy New Yea!)

In His Service, Tati

Down 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!!!

Yes, Spiritual Battle do Exist!

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 6:18
Just 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

Last Prayer Request Update!

Hello Friends! Updates from my last prayer requests post!
Hip Hop Events: We had couple events with our hip hop group and brother Jack from SAC. Two of those events were secular and they invited us, Christians, to join them, we were free to share the gospel and we did. At one of them, most of the famous national wide knowned rappers were on stage and they payed very careful attention when Jack shared. People appreciated our hip hop group, reconizing their music. Recently our group added couple new people and decided to change their vision, they want to go outside of the church walls and reach out people out there through hip hop.  It was their first event outside of church, and they did very good, their lyrics really talks about the reality their public goes through and brings the answer..Jesus! Please keep pray for them, they are called "Cartel SP".
Hip hop is one of the languages within culture of the people we work with. It´s part of their being, their stories, what a blessing be able to use what is part of them to tell them who they are, who they belong to and what they are on Earth for: to praise God! We have used this music style as a tool to do missions, to take the gospel through a language they can hear and understand very well!
Christmas Sharing: Thanks for your prayers!!! We have gotten sponsors to give a Christmas gift for 416 children!  Now, we have to get all of those gifts and organize ourselves to pass them out in three Christmas celebrations in different communities we work with. Our church and a partner church ISP - "Chinese Church" are working together to have a big celebration with them. A short team from Corvallis - OR is coming to help us out!
Usually, where our kids live, Christmas means time to get the family together, to have fun and get drunk. We want to have kids sitting at a beautiful Christmas table and have a meal with loving christians sharing a special moment, have a small discussion on the table about Christmas real meaning and after they are done get their gifts! Please, pray for the organization those 3 big outreaches, for the people and kids involved, for energy and everything go smooth!
Downbellow are pictures!
God bless you! Tati

Nov15th - Cartel SP (hip hop group). Some of the guys are from our church and three others from a different church.

Nov 15th - Translating Jack as he shared before and after his performance.

Nov 15th - It was raining all day long, we left church 8:30 am and got back 12:30 am, it rained all day long and all of us was soaking wet!

Nov 15 th- We were alowed to sell "barbecue" to fundraise! It was very hard with all the rain!!!

Nov 15th - Pastor William and Wellington barbecued all they long, didn´t complain and had a lot of fun together!

Nov 19th - Secular Event that different RM segments was invited to perform, here Capoeira doing a great job!!!

Nov 19th - Pastor Antonio pouring out his heart as we sang and played!

Nov 19th - Cartel SP and Minister Jack performing one song together, Portuguese and English! Awesome!

Nov 19th - What a huge responsability translate what the person is sharing from his heart! Oh Lord mercy on me! Jack shared a little bit of his testimony and God´s love!

Nov 19th - Wellington doesn´t allows me to sing at RM choir (I don´t know why, I don´t think I sing that bad...), at least Pastor Heider let me "pretend" I played the keyboard...hahaha

Nov 19th - RM Choir performed and had the audience go crazy! It was a lot fun!

Nov 19th - So cute to see Italia playing! Praise God for his life!

Nov 19th - Special firend played with us that day: Our dear friend Jonatas!!!

Thanks so much for all your encourgament and prauyers! Keep praying!!! God bless you!
Tati

Prayers Request...

It´s been a while I don´t post anything...I´ve been very busy with so much going on...I tend to post just big things and send newsletters...but a friend of mine told me I should post day by day stuff so people know what is going on and know how to pray!

Well...here it goes a little of what is going on...Getting ready for Christmas, I´m leading the event "Christmas Sharing", finding 470 sponsors to give a pair of shoes, clothing and a toy for each one of the kids. I´m working with a group of 4 people from our church and a partner church, plus all the people who are helping each one of us, promoting this. Last year some American brothers joined us on this event, it was a blessing but this time, for several reasons and to amke easy for us, we are doing this with Brazilian people. But you can help us on prayers! Please pray to find each sponsor, pray as well for them, many aren´t christians and we are sharing Jesus with them through this. Also for us don´t worry and get stressed, to totally lean on God!

As you might know, I´m dating Wellington Barros.  We know each other for a long time, and we are looking forward to build a new family where Jesus is the center! Please join with us on prayers!

Hip Hop events..we will have 3 big events related to Hip Hop, (Nov 15, 18 and 19th) a north american brother, who is rapper is coming down to joing us, Jack. Him, our choir and our hip hop band will be performing. All of those involve evangelism and many youth from our church are getting read for this. Pastor William and Pastor Heider are leading the evangelism team.

This is the card we are giving to each sponsor with the picture of the child they are blessing!!!

We celebrated one month dating at MC Donalds! We were so exhausted (and starving) after a full day under hot sun (80F and dry) taking kids pictures for Christmas that MC Donalds was the closest and fastest place!

Thanks a lot for your prayers and support!! I will keep you posted through my blog about those events!!!

I am in BRASIL! Back HOME!!!

I am back to Brazil, I can’t 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!