Internship Updates: It Might Get Loud

First, I would like to apologize for the delayed update. It has been a couple of crazy weeks. Being busy, though, is a very good thing.On the 17th-19th the church in Itu hosted Max Lucado as he began a

Brazil

book tour. I was able to help organize the church and film some of his words to the church on Saturday and Sunday.

On Tuesday the 21st I went with Mark Kaiser to a drug rehabilitation center in Itu called Centro Terapêutico Christo Vive or CTCV (roughly: Therapeutic Center- Christ Lives). Mark visits on a weekly basis and leads a devotional on Wednesday mornings. We spent the night on Tuesday and Mark gave me the opportunity to lead the devotional in the morning. I talked about manhood and relied on “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge which I have been reading this summer. I was able to interview some of the men at the center and hear their story for a short video explaining the work the center does. It was inspiring to see these men facing their demons with such openness and fighting for each other. It seems rare to see men fighting and forming a brotherhood with each other in today’s world. If I have found one thing to be passionate about this year and during my time here in

Brazil

it is the need for Christian men and women to become true men and women of God, not merely caricatures of what God intended us to be. Of course I am 21 and none of this comes from some “holier-than-thou” attitude, but I do feel and see a need to pursue a true manhood within my life.

From the 24th-26th, the Itu church hosted the group Acappella. They had a performance at the church on the 25th and sang during church on the 26th. The whole weekend was very exciting and exhausting as we dealt with organizing a concert. The performance was amazing and church service was inspiring. I was able to help with planning and organizing while translating when necessary. This past week (30th-6th) my parents and I came down to Brasília to help the church receive Acappella. In essence my parents and I were Acappella groupies for a couple of weeks. My mom wore a bandana and did the sound checks, my dad wore a sleeveless shirt and made sure each member had fresh sharpies and wrote out the set lists, while I wore aviators and took care of security. What we actually did was mostly translate. I was able to translate for an interview Acappella did on a national radio station and then an interview on a national TV station here in Brasilia. The group was a lot of fun as we toured Brasilia (the city where I was born and have not visited in a long time). Acappella and the Lancaster family have a true passion for what they do and it blessed the church here in Brasilia in some amazing ways.

Unfortunately the fun with Acappella ended Monday as they headed back to the

. The past three days I have been sitting in meetings with my parents as they continue to work with the leaders and mission team here in Brasilia. It is good to see the work in Brasilia continued and that my parents have been able to come back and see the work they started 27 years ago carried on. I have also been interviewing the leaders and mission team for my parents to use next time they return to the

to update their supporters.

That brings us to now. That didn’t take as long as I thought it would. This next week I hope to finish the video projects I have been working on and enjoy time with my parents and friends before I leave on the 16th. I will have a final report over the whole Summer once all is said and done. Once again I cannot begin to thank each of you for your prayers and support. To God be the glory. Amen.

Max Lucado at the Itu Church