Wow its been awhile

Hey everyone!!!
I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have written! My computer broke, actually the power chord on my computer broke. So I took it in and had them fix it, but then it still wasn't working, so I brought it back, and they fixed it...this time it worked for a few minutes but then stopped. So I brought it back again and I hope that everything is going to work well.
Ok so starting out, right after I wrote my last post Mark and Ali had to make a trip to the U.S. Mark's Dad is in poor health and Ali is starting a masters degree in Missional Leadership. So they were out of town for three weeks...festa festa festa (party party party)...ok not really, but this time was really good for me because I spoke more Portuguese and had to take a more head on role than I was before. I had to make some mad dash trips into the city. I now have a Sao Paulo bus/metro pass and I can manuvure my way pretty well on the subway system. I'm continuing to improve in language but its still tricky for me.
When Mark and Ali got back they were here for a week and then they had to leave town again to go on a couples retreat with people from the Church. While they were gone Carioca, Barbara, and I were left with two incredible boys Joab (pronounced Joaby) and Paulo Joao( the Portuguese equivalent to Paul John) to watch and ensure they where safe... I will not lie, it was a challenge...so props to everyone who has ever been a parent and anyone who is thinking about being a parent.
Another big thing that we were apart of was Passion, a conference for University age people in Sao Paulo, it was really interesting and we had a blast there.
Lately we have been trying to move the homeless ministry in a different direction and Mark has some huge plans that could change this whole thing in the next few months, but right now we are trying to build community among the homeless people and us in order to move away from doing things for them but to start doing more with them.
So several things are happening, but one of them is the start of a community garden where we work together to grow part of what we eat together.
There are so many things going on, but everyday is different, sometimes I could be mentoring youth, other times I'm helping with people who don't have houses, and other times I'm chopping down bamboo behind a shady bar outside of town with a machete to use for projects that Mark has. I'm learning a lot Samba, Jujitsu, Portuguese, Forro, how to cook better, patience, politics(btw its elections season here too), love, and how to remove ticks. It's a crazy world but I'm loving Brazil,
Hope everyone is well
Paz
Brandon