I am so glad that we can travel together as a family. Diana is such a wonderful wife, mother, friend, and help-mate. She did her share of counseling, too.

There was another family with kids at this camp. Mathew was a good companion for Charity, too.

Rancho Paumar, in Itatiba, SP
is a wnderful camp. It was a great time spiritually, and physically.

More Carnival Camp pics Feb 1-5, 2008

I'm having trouble getting pic to download....come back later for more 2008 Carnival Camp pics

More pics of the 2008 Carvival Youth Camp.

FYI - Carnival should be classified as "carnal-val". That is why most churches try to offer a camp, or other activity during the 5 day event. Sure, the lights, colors, and sounds may appear enticing, beautiful, and harmless, but ask the police about violence, traffic deaths caused by alcohol, etc. during the week of, or the maternity wards 9 months after the fact, about unwanted, fatherless children.....and the list could go on.

We have been in Brazil going on 21 years, and I have yet to see anything good come out of carnival, except the fact that we have an opportunity to get to a group of youth AWAY from the world at a camp.

ALSO, last year, in the USA, one man at a church, after seeing one of our video clips, made the comment that it looked like we were on "perpetual vacation."
Well, what better place to do evangelism, discipleship, family seminars, and church seminars than at some of the most beautiful camps, beaches, hotels, and scenery in the world. Brazil is beautiful, and no, we do not work with Indians (only 1 percent of all missions in Brazil is indigenous), and yes, we do enjoy serving the Lord in a beautiful creation that HE created. I'm not sure what type of place we are supposed to live, or what type of place we are supposed to work in according to a comment like that.
ANYWAY, Brazil is beautiful, God is good, and He has called us to win the lost at any cost, to share the Good News to ALL peoples, and to baptize and disciple new believers, teaching them to obey the Lord, by our example.

From Feb 1-5 we enjoyed a special time with 135 college and career youth from the Independent Presbyterian Church in Alpha-Ville, São Paulo. This is our second youth camp in two years with them. We have also preached for the youth, and the church, on different occassions.

This camp was different, as about 98 percent were followers of Jesus Christ, and very dedicated. Their pastoral and youth staff are very dedicated to the Word of God, and strong on discipleship.

I spoke 5 times on the book of Daniel, asking at different times if they were willing to take the challenge and, "DARE TO BE A DANIEL". - 1. To purify their lives, and remain pure for the sake of the gospel; 2. To seek out Godly friends that would pray with them, and help them in their Christian walk; 3. To not bow down to worldly pleasures, nor temptations; 4. To be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ, even when not politically correct; 5.To do right in God's eyes at all times, even though it may cost them their lives.

In the end I reminded them how God sent an angel to remind Daniel that he was loved by God, greatly (chapter10), and that Daniel was promised a reward for his faithfulness after his death (last verse of book of daniel.) Two college students gave their lives to Jesus Christ, and another 14 said, "WE WILL TAKE THE DARE!"

GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL DECISIONS!