There's a Willsonball Pit in Brazil!

How far is Evergreen's reach? Well - there is now a Willsonball Pit in Fortaleza, Brazil. How - you might ask? If you keep reading - you'll find out.

I like to share stories about our staff here. Not just our adventures of staff who work with us through the year but of staff who leave camp at the end of summer and have different kind of adventures. We have so many staff that return to university and college to pursue what God has set on their hearts. Some of our staff leave here and head to Bible schools all across Canada and the world. We have staff at Capernwrays or YWAMs in Belize, Austria, France and New Zealand right now. It's amazing to think of where in the world our Evergreeners are right now.

With all that in mind, I'd like to take this moment to share the story of one of our past staff and where in the world she has found herself. Felicity, or better known as Hulkuin,  has been a camper, staff, and volunteer at Evergreen for many, many years. Felicity has also been a student at Rocky Mountain College in Calgary and as part of her program - she gets to serve in an international missions organization for several months. Here's her story:

Life at a Brazilian Orphanage

Hey, team! Felicity here.

I was a staff member at Camp Evergreen for several years and recently packed up and moved myself to another continent for a few months. In case you’re curious as to what a staff alumni is doing in another continent, keep reading.

Fortaleza, Brazil, is the 7th most dangerous city in the world. Not only that, but it also has the highest amount of child prostitution. The economy here is not doing too well, nor is the government, and the people here are definitely telling of the consequences of the actions of those in power. There are slums (favelas) next to malls, street kids on almost every corner, and yet - if you happen to google pictures - the beachfront looks amazing. Tourists see what is beautiful and modern while the Brazilians are faced with the sad truth of the corruption in their country.

Recently, I gained this opportunity to be an intern at the Davis Lar Orphanage for 5 months. In a blur of commotion, I find myself in midst of kids who yearn to be loved, for the love that they have previously seen is typically far from what we define it as. I have become part of a team who desires to raise adults that can confidently contribute to society and break free from the chains they were once enslaved in. They might be little, but they have seen more of life than I could even imagine.

During my time here I will be hanging out with short-term teams that come in (typically from the States… so I’m definitely known as the Canadian) as well as teaching English and setting up a database so that the directors can track numbers and kids in a more efficient way. Most importantly, I get the honour of pouring out love on these kids that have been rescued from traumatic stories.

It’s basically like camp

Brazilian Willsonball Pit

(Yes, that is a “willsonball pit.” The kids don’t really know how to play it… it’s a work in progress)

Now for those who have spent more than a day or two at camp, you begin to understand what some of the rules and expectations are. For instance, don’t scare kids in night games… wear shoes in the kitchen… wash your hands before serving or handling the food… don’t touch clean dishes with dirty hands… pick garbage off the floor … etc.

So imagine this orphanage being like camp. There are kids separated into houses based on age and they each have a tia (house-mom) that lives with them. They are assigned chores, go to school, some of them learn English, some of them learn to sew, and some of them learn trade skills so that when they reach a certain level of maturity and age, they can be transitioned into society. They come together for lunch, and while there is no singing of prayers, they definitely come together as a community and the kitchen serves them. Meals usually involve some kind of combination of rice and beans… or rice and beans… or rice and beans…. you get the picture. Hairnets are mandatory in the kitchen - whether that’s doing dishes or cooking the food. Now the fun part? That’s the only thing that’s mandatory. Walking barefooted in the kitchen happens quite frequently. A giant tarantula in the giant? Just kill it with your shoe and sweep it outside. All in a days work, right?

We also play night games. While we did have a few tears shed last night as there were people running around with terrifying masks, what worried me more is that we were playing in the dark in a field where a 2 meter boa constrictor lives. How none of them were terrified of that, I have no idea.

I would also very much appreciate your prayers:

1. There is a giant learning curve in my future as I need to learn Portuguese. I have already learnt lots, but there is much more to learn.
2. Maintaining health; there are many mosquitos that carry dengue and zika, as well as other random diseases that I would rather not catch. I would really prefer that my time here will not demand hospital visits!
3. Most importantly, pray for these kids and then some. Pray for the communities that surround these kids and for the community where you find yourself. While everyone knows these kids have experienced slavery, sexual exploitation, abandonment, abuse, etc., the same stories may be found in your community. Pray that God will continue to make Himself known to the world and be wiling to be His hands and feet and to do the dirty work. Put that smile on in the mornings, let the kid grab that milk jug just one more time before you tag them; walk that extra mile and let God use you to bring hope to this word.

That’s a little bit about me and what I am up to these days. I hope that wherever you find yourself reading this, that you take a moment and appreciate indoor plumbing that brings warm showers. While it is too hot here for warm showers, having a cold shower is not nearly as fulfilling as a nice warm one should be.

Tchau amigas e amigos,

Felicity Vanderlist

AKA Hulkuin