Christmas and Tests of Freedom

By now you might know that Brazil will have a new president on January 1, 2011. She is Dilma Rousseff. The 26% of the population who voted in the run-off selected her by a 55% 45% margin.

Though she's had socialist roots for some time her goals seem to be to carry on what president Lula has been doing for the past eight years. Though just yesterday I heard him say, "She will have to forge her own platform." Time will tell if and how that platform might affect what we are doing here. Until change comes we'll continue to do what we've been doing.

One of those things is making preparations for our coming Christmas Cantata. This year will be a bit different than last year. We will be presenting at the same rest home, orphanage and markets. But we've also added a play that Alexandre has written. Our Cantata and play will tell the story of Creation and Salvation.

We've also been granted permission to make a presentation at WalMart. WalMart down here is a BIG deal. It is a relatively new addition to the Brazilian market and is considered a very cool place to visit. 99% of our kids have never been there even though it is just twenty-five minutes away.

Thinking of our new president elect, the first woman Brazilian president, and the good old U.S. of A., try presenting a Christmas cantata in a WalMart in the Land of the "free" and home of the brave. It might be an interesting test as to whose freer than whom!

The combined kids and adult choirs will sing several Christmas carols and the orchestra will play several as well. Junior is working with the music and Alexandre is directing the play. Dawn and I are involved in both choir and orchestra.

Pray for us. Yesterday (Monday, November 1) we had an orchestra practice here at the house and it was really rough.

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