Monthly Archives: February 2016

Monday, February 29th – Catholic based women’s prison

The press heard about the work we are doing in the city and sent a crew to document our performance in this women prison. They were really taken with what we do and the effect it has been having. They printed articles and broadcast a program on the evening news. We are hoping this will lead to more opportunities and more open doors. My brothers do a comedy act that is just hilarious, I have seen it a thousand times and I still laugh and look forward to seeing the crowd react. In short, a “dog” steals a soccer a…

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Sunday, February 28th – Central Park

I love performing for families and it means so much to people, especially poor families, that we do not ask for money and that they can just enjoy our show and not feel like they have to give us anything in return. We do a theatrical act and narrate  a story where a caterpillar becomes a butterfly and realizes that if he gives up what he knows, he can become something new. After we dance a choreography, we choose little kids from the audience (sometimes too many little kids and it gets a bit chaotic :)) and give them butterfly wings…

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Friday, February 26th – Maximum security prison

We had to ask permission from the prisoners in order to be allowed to go in. They of course have no idea who we are or what we are going to do. At first they assumed we were staff because we were dressed in black and did not want us to come in (we wear black uniforms simply because they hide sweat and dirt in the extreme heat.). After some explaining the head guy let us in and after about 30 min (of making them laugh and stumping them with magic) we had won them all. We were able to teach…

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Thursday, February 25th – Women’s prison 90km away

The conditions at this women’s prion are better as in cleaner, but the prison is in a city way in the middle of no where and looks like an abandoned warehouse. Again, they never get visitors because they are so far out here and all the women are very sad and depressed. In the pictures you can see an act we do about soil and seeds. Certain soil is better than other soil for the cultivation of plants. There once was an island that burned to the ground but then from the ashes a vine grew that contained the sweetest grapes ever…

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Tuesday, February 23rd – Construction project inside a prison

With some calculations, planning and letters, my family and I were able to get the authorization and the supplies to install the plumbing for a number of patios. My father and brother are construction minded so we were able to come up with a practical way to repair the situation. MY whole family worked on this project along side some of the prisoners and guards. It took a number of trips just to get all the piping from the hardware store to this way out in the middle of nowhere prison. This prison had no septic system and raw sewage…

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Friday, February 19th – Working with the homeless at shelters and down town.

We put together about 100 meals, loaded our van and spent the day with people on the streets and at a few shelters down town. I think some of the most beautiful people I have met are homeless and I have become friends with some of those that can always be found in the same spot down town. One guy, whose name is Ronaldo, has no legs due to polio and its really hard for him to move out  of the sun, yet he still always has a smile and upbeat attitude. Another man, named Leo, has a teenage son with…

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Tuesday, February 16th – Government run prison 80km away.

On the way to the prison we passed so many small villages that were barely standing. “Houses” were mere shacks, kids played in fields full of trash, there was no running water or electricity and they were in the middle of no where. We found ourselves asking,  If this is how the common people live, can you imagine what the prisons are really like? At this prison the head guard was actually from Ireland, and really loved when I danced Irish step dance for all the prisoners. This was the second presentation we had done for this prison and the other…

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Monday, February 15th – Largest Prison

We stayed after our presentation for a long time, talking to the men, teaching them games, exercise routines and bits of english. I love teaching the game of chess and giving out a chess board (which were donated to us by ChessHouse). When the evening came and the guards called that we had to leave, all the men gathered to gather and shouted, ” Que volte!”, come back. It really touched us. The gang leader who was in charge of the patio and reluctantly gave us permission to enter, ended up asking if he could have a Bible. We have visited this prison…

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Friday, February 12th – Prison in a City 70km away

We always want to bring the men a snack or treat of some kind but to get anything in this large of a quantity is expensive. So we came up with the idea of making large batches of pop corn (since its cheep) and bagging it into 300 or 400 bags. It takes a lot of time on a small stove and obviously in the big picture, its nothing in comparison to the immense needs they have but at least for a moment, it really cheers them up. We also give out reading material, Bibles, and inspiring posters as well…

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Wednesday, February 10th – City Park

My mother made most of the costumes we use, including large skirts and culture shirts for us. We do a version of their “Gaucho” cultural dance which is a dance you do with a partner but in a circle. Even though we have a ways to go before we are even close to as good as they are, the crowd is really touched that we try and care enough about their culture to do it. After we do it, people will participate and show us other steps. This dance is like a key to open hearts and win peoples trust,…

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Friday, February 5th – Worst Prison in Southern Brazil

When we came in with our all our equipment to perform, an entire swat team went in ahead of us with weapons drawn to sweep every area and cell, it was really incredible. This prison is so far in the middle of nowhere that most of the prisoners never get visitors. The conditions are horrendous. It is considered one of the most dangerous in the region and when we first approached the director, he said there was no way we would be allowed to get in because they could not secure our safety.  After a long time of explaining to him…

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February 4th – Severe Flooding

Today is my dads birthday and we had two events scheduled, however we had to reschedule them because the street out our door was completely flooded as was the only road to reach our destination. The power was out for a while so no fans or fridge, but don’t worry, eventually ONE guy with flip flops on showed up to fix the power for 250,000 people. Oh yeah, this looks hopeful! The main power box is literally right below my window so every morning I got to watch (and hear) the fixing process. With a chisel, he eventually dug a hole…

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Wednesday, Febuary 3rd, Down Town, Mardi Gras Celebration

Mardi Gras is huge in Brazil! Mostly in the Northern Cities like Rio and Salvador, but even here in the South, large crowds fill the streets to celebrate. We were invited to various festivals and were able to touch people from all over Brazil.

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Tuesday, February 2nd – Festival of the Sea

We performed for a very large Catholic festival that was for families in a poor neighborhood. Before we were even set up there was a big crowd waiting and everyone instantly got into our music. We do an act wearing all neon with high energy music. One of my brothers wears a cool costume he made out of heater ducking tubes and my other two brothers plug into him like he is charging them. A bit hard to explain, but through the act we convey the idea that we each have a free will, and if we engage our will to think, to love, to care,…

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