Filling up the calander

So, while I've been busy over here trying to keep track of my flight details, (what a hassle - baggage limits are a nightmare)  my friends in Brazil have been busy making plans for how I'm going to spend my time there. As outlined below, my trip is developing in to three distinct time blocks.

Week One

Upon arrival I'll be met by my friend Sam who will be over in Brazil visiting family. He's bravely offered to meet me off the plan at 6am! I'll get to spend some time with him and his family there. However two days later it's off to camp! We'll be away at camp Monday 11th  - Friday 15th July. I'm SO excited about this. For children who spend every day living in poverty, often with a lot of responsibility and duty of care for parents or siblings, the chance to go away for five days with friends just to play and have fun - it's more than some of these kids can dream of. Family holidays are not an option when you struggle to meet your basic daily needs. To be part of a really special trip and to be part of the memories that will be created is a real privilege.

Week Two

Caio & Dot will depart for their  trip to Holland on the 18th July. Casa Semear will be closed until the 1st August and the Meikle family will get a long over-due vacation. I'll have a few days to myself (18th-25th) to settle in to Sao Paulo life and work on my Portuguese. Hopefully during this time I might also get to visit one of the Compassion centres in Sao Paulo. I'm currently a Compassion UK advocate and part of my work means I can visit these centres when I have the opportunity. I will hopefully also spend a day with the Meikles.

Week Three

During this week I'll pick up my contact with the ABBA team. I'll get to go out to the streets of Sao Paulo with Luke and see some of his work there. Luke's work involves getting to know some of the children who live on the city streets, particularly those in an area called "Crack Land" (I'm sure you can guess the reasons for the name). Many of the children living there are addicted to substance abuse and survive by getting involved in petty crime. The ABBA team help to trace the families of these children and, where possible,  reunite them. In some cases they bring the children to the rescue houses for rehabilitation and either work on reconnecting the original families or finding foster families. Luke's Sao Paulo Diary gives colourful insight into life for the street children.  I will also spend some time with Delton who's work is similar to Luke's. I'll get to work at Elohim for a couple of days - one of the rescue houses for the boys who come in from the streets.  Last year I briefly got to see round Elohim and meet some of the boys there but didn't get to invest much time in getting to know the staff or the residents.

Weeks Four - Seven 

Casa Semear will open again and my days will be spent there getting involved with the programmes for the children and the teenage girls. Hopefully the camp will have helped to build (and re-build) some good relationships with the kids already. No doubt I will also get roped into doing some more painting and plastering if it's required!

As I've said before, you can make plans but life in Brazil often doesn't stick to the plans  you make! My itinerary has a good variety of things for me to do - time to get better acquainted with the ABBA team, a chance to experience a range of places and projects and of course some time to relax and see a little more of Sao Paulo. 

In the mean time I'm still working towards the Big Live Show to raise some more funds for Casa Semear. Last year the Big Live Show raised around £1500 for Semear and took us over our £10,500 target. Not sure if I have a target this time around but as they say, every little helps! For more info drop me a comment or an email and I get back to you asap.