Letters from Brazil — Part Five Dishes Aplenty and Forest Solace

Dear Friends,
Another week has gone by here in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I am on a missions trip, and have been writing about my travels.
During my first week I stayed in Itaporanga, Sao Paulo, where I learned some of the Brazilian culture. The next week, a huge group from Easton, Pa. and one from Maryland arrived to help with two winter (seasons are reversed from North America) camps held at North Valley Bible and English Camp, also in Sao Paulo.
For the next two weeks, we prepared for and conducted both camps and many children came to Christ.
Along the way, the missions group and I have seen and experienced many things that allowed us to become closer to God and to develop a greater appreciation for each other and Brazil. This brings me to this past week, Week Five.
After the group from Easton, Jeff, from Maryland, Andrea, Josh, Tyler, Vanessa and Sonny went home, the remaining members of the group stayed at the camp for one more day. While here we cleaned up the camp and got it ready for the church coming from Campinas; which rented the camp to conduct their own ministry.
The next day we went back to Atibaia, to the home of Marcos and Sue Souza, owners of the camp. We were here for a few days to rest and prepare for camp. While here, Marcos and Sue went food shopping to buy the items needed to feed the 120-150 who were expected to come that Friday. I was able to spend some time with God; praying and reading His word from the Holy Bible.
On Wednesday all of us went to a huge shopping mall where we spent some time hanging out with each other. It was Mike, Dany, Marcos, Sue, Samuel, Samara, Samuel and Samara’s two children (Yuri and Shelly), Samara and Dany’s five cousins and I.
While here we went to Playland, a huge arcade at the mall. Mike and I played many video games, including a virtual soccer game that he beat me in many times, Dany and her cousins played air hockey, Marcos and Sue grabbed a bite to eat and Samuel and Samara spent time with their children; we all had a good time.
When we left the mall, Mike pointed out that the security, inside an outside of the mall, was very tight. We saw quite a few security guards in the mall; as well as cameras. In the parking lot, there was a guard tower and an electronic gate at the entrance/exit of the parking lot (the gate is just like the gate at the Acme Market in Cape May; you just do not have to pay to get in here).
I had asked Dany if it is like this at all the major stores here in Brazil and she had said yes. Once we left, we dropped off Dany and Samara’s five cousins at the bus terminal; they were nice people and I was glad to have met them. Afterword, Marcos and Sue went food shopping and Samuel and Samara treated Dany, Mike and I to dinner at a buffet.
The buffet was very nice; it was sort of like Old Country Buffet back in the States. So I felt like I was at home when we ate there. I did not eat too much though and I told Samuel I was sorry about it; but he was okay with it. We left the buffet and waited for Marcos and Sue. While we waited, the five of us talked, joked around and enjoyed each other’s company. Once Marcos and Sue arrived we went back home. Samuel and Samara, as well as their children, however, went back to their home in Sorocaba and we would not see them until Friday, the first day of the camp.
This all bring me to Friday, the day of the camp. This camp was different from all the others because the church from Campinas did everything, even sound for their music. They used all their own equipment and had their own itinerary. So all the group and I could do was cook food, serve food and wash dishes. But when I say wash dishes, we washed dishes! I was on dish duty and kitchen clean up along with Mike, Carlos, Carlos’ son and his son’s friends. Our job was as follows: arrive at meal time, have the serving team (Dany, Monica and Samara) serve food and wait for dishes.
Once dishes arrived we washed, washed, washed! Then we would dry the dishes, put away the dishes, clean the sinks and clean our area of the kitchen. This is what we all did for six meals. By the last meal time, God gave me the speed to wash so fast that I would have made my mother (Joan Decker) proud if she saw me. I love my mom and she loves me, but when it comes to dishes she always does them because she knows I’ll take an hour for five plates and a spoon. But that day she would have been impressed.
During the washing I was able to watch some of the church’s service and it was awesome. I was so happy to see so many people coming together and worshiping Jesus. It made me happy to see such a thing and to be part of helping them with their ministry. I even said to Mike, “Man, look at all those people worshiping God; it’s awesome.” He agreed.
During the time I was not working I was able to relax. One day I took a hike up into the forest/ jungle. There was a trail I followed up into the mountains; it was just me and God. I kept walking this trail, which led me to a small stream and waterfall. I went up the waterfall, which was just a little bigger than me, and I came across a three way dirt road. Two of the roads led to houses and the third went to an area unknown to me. So after I spent some time praying and reading my Bible, which I had brought with me, I went down that third road.
This road lead me to a fork. The fork went either left, up a large hill, or right, toward more trails. I went left and I had to walk up a steep hill until I reached a mountaintop. Upon the mountaintop were the sounds of chainsaws and the sight of thousands of fallen trees. Reason being was that I had made it to an area where guys cut down these trees to send to paper companies to make paper.
So while I was up there I read more of the Bible and prayed some more. Afterward I walked down another trail that brought me back to the fork. I then went back to the waterfall and after slipping on the wet rocks twice and getting all wet and muddy, I got back on the trail and made it back to the camp. I was gone for about three hours, but I was really able to become closer with God.
I had not spent time studying the Holy Bible for a long time. It felt good to spend time with Jesus again. My hike was amazing; it was an adventure into the unknown for me. I was surrounded by tall trees and the afternoon sun was beaming through them. When I was on the high mountain, reading, a strong wind came and blew the trees with such a force, it was like hearing an ocean wave. It was me and Jesus and I had a great time.
Once the camp had ended, many of the people from Campinas came up to us and thanked us for our work. Once they left we cleaned up the camp.
Since there won’t be another camp until October, all of us had to put valuable items in the worship hall for safe keeping. Then, it was time to take Mike to the airport. Marcos, Sue and Dany had to attend to other things and Samara and Samuel had already gone home. So Monica, Marcos Jr., Mateus (Monica and Marcos Jr.’s son) and I drove Mike to Sao Paulo International Airport. It was strange to see Mike leave, he’s a great guy and very close to God. He helped us out a lot. We said our good-byes and we went back to the camp.
So now it is July 31, it is only Marcos Jr., Monica, Mateus and I at the camp. This coming week we will be heading to Sao Paulo city in order to help Marcos Jr. with organizing his youth group, which will be starting Aug. 5. So pray for us that all will go well and I will write next week. God bless and keep reading.
Sincerely, in Jesus’ name,
Richard A. Decker
(ED. NOTE: Decker is 17, a resident of Court House, and a senior at Middle Township High School.)