FIRST OFF I NEED TO QUAILFY MYSELF BY STATING THAT THE LETTERS ON THE KEYBOARDS HERE ARE WORN OFF SO SPELLING DOESN´T COUNT.
YESYERDAY WE TOOK A TRIP TO THE FAVALA´S (SLUMS) OF SAO PAULO. WOW !!! MY CAREER HAS TAKEN ME TO SOME POOR AREAS IN CALIFORNIA BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. THE HOMES ARE MADE OF WHAT EVER MATERIAL CAN BE FOUND IN THE AREA. SINCE THERE IS NOT MUCH TO BEGIN WITH THERE IS NOT MUCH TO BUILD WITH. SOMETHING LIKE THE SANTA ANA WINDS WOULD DESTROY THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY. IT´S AMAZING WHAT THESE FOLKS CAN DO WITH STRING, WIRE AND A PALLET OF WOOD. THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY THANKFUL OF WHAT THEY HAVE AND EVERYTHING IS KEPT NEAT AND TIDY. IT MADE ME VERY SAD TO SEE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS AND VERY FORTUNATE AND GREATFUL FOR WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR ME AT HOME. THE ONE THING THAT IS SCATTERED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IS IS GODS LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT´S THICKER THAN THE HUMIDITY.
THE CHILDREN THOUGHT I WAS A HUMAN JUNGLE GYM. I HAD KIDS ON MY SHOULDERS IN MY ARMS AND HANGING ON MY LEGS. AND THE KISSES ON THE CHEEKS WERE ABUNDENT. I KNOW IT JUST WASN´T THE GUM THEY WERE AFTER. FOR THE LADIES COMING DOWN IN JUNE, BRING AN EXTRA SUITCASE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WILL WHAT TO BRING THE KIDS HOME. ALSO THERE IS NO SENSE OF FEAR. THE PEOPLE OF THE MINISTRY ARE WELL RESPECTED AND THEY ALL KNOW WE ARE THERE FOR GOD´S WORK.
ON SUNDAY NIGHT I ATTENDED THE CHURCH SERVICE. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND POWERFUL. IF YOU DIDN´T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS SAID YOU CERTAINLY FELT THE PRESENCE OF GOD. I ALMOST GOT THE CHURCH EX-COMMUNICATED AND US KICKED OUT OF BRAZIL. DON´T THROW OUT THE PLASTIC COMMUNION CUPS.
EVERYTHING IS USED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
TODAY WE HAVE MORE CONSTRUCTION AND I AM HELPING IN THE ENGLISH CLASS. THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING. I PLAN ON TEACHING THEM ROBIN´S (MY WIFE) OAKEY LANGUAGE. SO THE CARS WILL HAVE TARS AND THE WALL HAVE WINDERS.
HOPE ALL IS WELL AT HOME AND I ENCOURGE MANY LAKESIDERS TO COME ON THE TRIP IN JUNE. IT WILL BE THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

IN HIS NAME,
DAVE DRUMMOND

P.S. I LOVE YOU ROBIN AND KIDS