| Dennis Wood of Trinity church, Congleton, visited Brazil as a representative of the Chester and Stoke-on-Trent District. This is his report. Dennis was a member of a group of seven people visiting Brazil from Britain. He encountered and shared life experiences with many different people there. During this wonderful experience he had the privilege of spending a weekend with members of a church in a favela (a shanty town or slum), worshipped in a plastic tent church in a new homeless camp, visited the Methodist Community of Street People sandwiched above and below major highways, and visited a Roman Catholic Base Community. | ||
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'The only description I can possibly give to my visit to Brazil is 'a life-changing experience'. The visit was arranged in partnership between the Methodist Church in Great Britain and the School of Theology of the Methodist University of São Paulo (UMESP). I was there from July 30 to August 11 on the campus of the University in São Bernardo do Campo. |
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| A total of seven Methodists from Britain met with five Brazilians, one Ecuadorian and one Argentinian, all Methodists, under the guidance of members of the School of Theology. The aim was to study and reflect on mission challenges in the present time. Quite simply, that aim was achieved with interest. | ||
| We encountered.... We encountered and we shared with many different people, using interpreters, but also sign and picture language, and the language of Christian love. In addition to our fellow Methodists from Britain, Latin America and the University, we spent time with the ordinary people of São Paulo, including those without homes and the “street people”. From this wonderful experience, I have selected
four areas that I particularly want to reflect on and share with people. |
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A garage for a church I was extremely privileged to spend a weekend with members of a church in Vila Campestre. This is a 'favela' (usually translated as 'shanty town' or 'slum'). They have so little, yet so much. They have so much joy, so much love of God and each other, yet their church was cold and draughty and with a front door like a garage door. They are growing both in faith and in numbers. |
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As a group we were able to visit a new homeless camp which had just been formed in São Paulo. This was the single most moving experience of my time in Brazil. Walking round this vast encampment of 4000 “families” – and one tap – it was difficult not to have tears in one’s eyes. But we were able to share in an act of worship in a plastic tent church, which can only be described as electric! We were delighted to be able to support this homeless movement (the MTST). Members of our group met with the press and the whole group wrote in support of MTST to the President of Brazil, the Governor of São Paulo and others. |
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The Methodist Community of Street People We visited the Methodist Community of Street People at Bela Vista, São Paulo, sandwiched above and below major highways. I was struck particularly by the hopelessness in the eyes of some of the people – and those were the ones who weren’t looking at the floor. On the other hand, I was equally struck by the light in the eyes of those people that I was really able to engage with and give dignity to. |
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Visiting a Roman Catholic Base Community, we were shown around 3 favelas by the priest and his lay workers. Many of his congregation want him to spend more time in his church, but he sees his calling in mission to the poor in the favelas. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1st Corinthians, 124 |
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I pray that my experience in Brazil will help us as we look at our mission here in Britain. I would be delighted to share my experiences with others wherever and whenever I can. Please contact the circuit if you would like to know more. Dennis |
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