pRaYeR rOoM LaUnChEd...

We launched the prayer room on Sunday at 9pm... it has been amazing... I haven't been having much time to stop and write but I hope after this week I'll have some days for that... Meanwhile I just wanted to post some pictures and give thanks to God for all that is already happening...Me, Ton and Marcia spent some days "transforming" the class room into a cosy place of prayer... I love doing that... I don't know what it is...
but it just feels good to prepare an environment for people to be in the presence of God... finding intimacy... finding rest... finding freedom... finding Joy... finding GOD...being touched by God's Love and led by His Spirit to pray...

we were praying that people would get involved... and it was amazing to see a bunch (more than 10 I guess) of old ladies arriving at the school door at 5pm, ready to come into the prayer room... I could just smile , but I had to say that it would start only at 9... they went to have a look of course..."Oh, it's so beautiful", they commented... 



At 9pm we came, me and Ton, while the others were on their way walking... and there they were, the same old ladies, and some more, waiting already...we went up, I explained the idea of the prayer room and read the things we wrote as most of them cannot read or write... they were sharing with me before how they would love to know how to read, but unfortunately at those times they didn't really have opportunities to study... with 7 years old they were already working in the fields...

I asked them to sing the "Our Father in Heaven..." as they sing at mass, and that's how we started, then I made a prayer and just sat on the floor with the guitar and worshiped... I closed my eyes and I couldn't dare to open them anymore... I just felt lots of people coming in and out... I felt the room was getting full... around 11pm I stood from my place to drink some water...the old people were still there, there were younger people, children... I could see the peace and amazement in people's faces... some people came to me saying how they liked it and giving thanks...

I thank God, because only He could make it happen the way it happened... it was a beautiful beginning... Ton said the next day that there were probably more than 100 people who came in and out...the Mayor came as well and sat in front of the wall where all the paints are...he made a heart and wrote "PAZ e AMOR" (peace and love)... so sweet !!!

Now it's the 3rd night and I'm here alone... my heart is filled with thanksgiving and joy... many more people arrived today and the walls of the room are getting filled with beautiful prayers from many open hearts...
It's also nice to be downstairs at the door as people come in and ask about the room... I've been having really cool conversations with people I have never spoken to before...
well, I could share many more things that have already happened, but I'll write more later...I'm ready to be alone with God again...
God is here in this place !!! and not only here, but spread all over...

pRayEr & sErViCe wEeK...

We're almost ready for our week of prayer and service in the village of Povoa de Atalaia... this year we'll have new components and we're organising all things together with the Mayor, which is bringing a whole new dynamic to it... we're having the rainbow people who are here willing to help and also excited with the event...some will go to the "Boom Festival first", so I believe it will be a bit like a "cultural shock" for many...

The whole week will happen in the village...the 24/7 prayer room will be hosted in the old Primary School...we also shared with the local priest, Paulo, and he liked the idea, so, hopefully we'll have many young people from the catholic parishes coming too...

from monday until friday we'll be serving the village in different ways, like cleaning the woods from trash, arranging the village little garden's and maybe painting the village Hall...we'll have our meals there as we'll be able to use the kitchen in the village Hall... 

On the weekend comes a different programme : we'll have a "Social Fair" with different portuguese organizations who are focused on areas like "poverty"(OIKOS), "fair trade"(COOPLANETA), "Ecology"(GAIA) and "Immigration & Racism"(SOS Racismo)...we're also having a stand from the "Mount of Oaks Community" and Ton will present the "Sewa Ashram" as well... Josh and Rosie might have a stand as well with "Permaculture" information...

There will be seminars on these areas too , and I'm curious how people will respond to this as it is something new in this region...

We'll have some workshops as well, of circus, graffitti and basket making... in the night we'll have some traditional music concerts and performances... and of course, food and drinks throughout the night...
It's going to be fun... and I hope people will be touched and transformed...
That's our hope!!!

if any of you are interested to come, here are the directions from a last year post...or you can just come to Povoa de Atalaia because we'll be there most of the time...look for the village hall or the "Ringue" (soccer concrete space) ...bring a tent and sleeping bag to camp at the Mount of Oaks...Bring Joy, a servant heart and lots of Love

mY SisTeR aNd nEpHeWs cAmE 2 VisiT...

This is already old news, but anyway, I had it written and had no time to upload pictures.

it's been busy these weeks, and too hot to be sitting in front of a computer...sorry !!!

Edna, Pamela, Mafalda, Joshua and Nelson came for a few days to visit...it was so nice to have them over...Joshua and Nelson grew so much since last time I saw them... they are so sweet...  I'm a proud aunt ...
here are just some pictures...


they love water...you can tell ... here's Joshua "helping me"...

both having a bath in a bucket 

we found out that Joshua likes hats...just like her aunt...Look at him, so cute !!!

Tomorrow I hope to post about the prayer week that is about to come...

PEACE...