Daughters of the King

So I got some strange "flea" bites, and they won't stop itching! They are so red and itchy...I asked another team member if she had hydrocortisone cream and her reply was "No, but if you spit on them, it will stop the itching" So because I trusted this team member, I tried it out, and it did seem to work, but I found out she had made that up. There are some things I miss about the US...one thing is hydrocortisone cream LOL...so anyways on Saturday night we had a prostitute come over to our home with her two children...here is a bit of her story...Her name is Danielle...she became pregnant when she was 13, she and her mother(her father was dead) were not able to support the baby, so while she was pregnant she became a prostitute, at 13, she felt like there was no other way to support herself and her child. Her words to us were "I wasn't harming anyone else, just myself, I mean the worst that could happen was I would get a disease" It was just completely heartbreaking to hear her say this, we reassured her that she is better and worth more than to be in prostitution. She has one other little girl who is 5, so a 10 year old and a 5 year old, and she is still in prostitution, but God is getting her heart, and we are loving her with His love. She has someone care for her children, that she pays, because she needs to try and rest during the day so that she can work at night. Both of her children have no father, one was shot to death over drugs and another is a thief and cannot be trusted with his daughter. You see the common problem in Brazil is not prostitution it's fatherlessness....60% of the people here do not have a father living with them. Danielle got into prostitution because she felt like there was nothing else for her, she wanted to be able to support her daughter and at 13, you really can't get a job, she also doesn't have much education. Danielle is a precious daughter of God, and we love her so much. We are praying she is able to get off of the streets and follow the passions and desires of her heart. We are giving her God's love, she doesn't even have value or purpose in Her life, she sees herself as worthless, it is just heartbreaking....her daughters have no daddy(of course on Earth, they have an amazing Heavenly Father) I was helping the 5 year old(amanda) ride a bike, and it just tore my heart apart that she has no daddy to help her learn this, I had so much fun playing with Amanda and Brenda(her 10 year old daughter) and I pray for them all daily. I know that prostitution is not right, God does not want that for Danielle's life or anyone's life...I look at her with the Father's eyes, I look at her with love, and I pray she is able to come off of the streets and show her girls and others that there is Hope, and there is more in life...that she is a daughter of God and He has special plans for her life. Please pray for Danielle, Amanda and Brenda with me, they are three daughters of God...thanks again for reading this...and for all your prayers...

Don't flush the toilet paper

There are many cultural differences that I am continuing to learn while I spend time here in Brazil...one that I always seem to forget is...don't flush the toilet paper, no place it nicely in the trash can placed conveniently next to the toilet...not fun, but when you try to flush it, it doesn't flush and then everyone knows an American used the toilet LOL...when washing dishes you will not dry them, just put them on the drying rack or shake them violently...when washing clothes(which I REALLY need to do) you will not dry them in a dryer, you put them out on a line and pray it doesn't rain...every day at lunch you will eat rice and beans with some sort of vegetable(I only eat it like once or twice a week)...you will not eat peanut butter and jelly because peanut butter is only imported and it costs an arm and a leg...ketchup tastes different, and isn't as good as American ketchup(heintz 57)...there is no diet pepsi(which I miss)...when driving on the streets in Brazil you make up your own traffic laws...and even if a police officer pulls up behind you with his lights on(I haven't seen a female cop yet) you are NOT being pulled over, only if they put on their siren...you drive in kilometers, not miles...you measure food in milliliters or liters...after midnight you do not have to follow stop lights, you are allowed to drive through them(without even looking!!)...of course the language is different....hmmm...I'm trying to think of other cultural differences...prostitution is legal...so that brings me to something VERY exciting...two transvestites came to our new house last weekend, it was so much fun just hanging out with them. They asked a lot of questions about the US(like is prostitution legal) the surgeries here to changes a person's body isn't as expensive as the US, so many men will have surgery to become a woman, I will never understand this, but I will always love them, because God has called all Christians to love the least of these, no one loves these people, they are so lost and confused they don't know their identity...the churches have completely rejected them...we hung out with the transvestites just like we would our friends, did they change over night-no, of course not...but I am praying they see the Father in and through my life :-) They see God in me...and ask questions and want to know more of God...I'm sorry that this post has been all over the place....I have a personal request...that everyone would think and pray for me...in the next week I need to make some BIG decisions on how long I want to stay here in Brazil and what I will do this Summer...I really need financial support to stay in Brazil, so check out http://www.shoresofgrace.com/about-us/ministry-staff/winnie-moyer and click on the bottom of my bio if you are able to donate....in no way am I saying you have to send me money...but I really want to continue what God is doing here, and that takes money...thanks again for reading all this...I pray for everyone who reads this and comments ;-)

culture shock

Culture shock seems to be a thing of the past...Praise God...every once and a while I have my moments, but it is much better than before. So, last week was a BIG week...our team leader and his wife(nic and rachael) had their baby girl (on Monday.) Rachael was very sick, and almost died, she lost 6 liters of blood...but thank God she is okay...it is a miracle she is alive...our God is so faithful! While they were having a baby our team was moving to a new house. We are very thankful for this new home. It is closer to the school and closer to the city(which means closer to every thing like grocery stores and humans LOL) It is not as secluded as the last place, and it is HOME, we only share it with our Shores of Grace team. Please keep our whole team in your prayers as we transition to a new place and as Rachael continues to heal.

So....today I went to the favela church, the place I love the most. I got to see my children and color with them. I was asked to lead the church in communion which was a whole lot different than the US...I was supposed to preach, but this got lost in translation, so maybe next time I will preach. I was very nervous being up in front of the church, it's not where I'm comfortable, but God can do anything in us if we are willing, and I am willing to let Him do anything in me. I just want to serve Him even if some things make me feel uncomfortable, He is teaching me so much, and I truly am believing the scripture that says "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."

Since I've moved to a new house I have very limited internet access for now. I am enjoying a small break at the mall right now.

I am also praying that as you read my blogs you will pray or think about supporting me financially. I am really not able to share God's love without each and everyone's financial support and also your prayers....so here is a website you can donate so that I can continue to share the love of God with everyone I encounter in Brazil

http://www.shoresofgrace.com/about-us/ministry-staff/winnie-moyer

thank you for reading this....if you have any questions email me at winnie@shoresofgrace.com or you may also send me a facebook message...I look forward to coming back the US and seeing all of you this Summer....but I am very excited about all God is doing right now in and through me in Brazil....