The city of Sao Paulo covers an area of about 580 square miles and holds over 11,000,000 people. The wider metropolitan area of Sao Paulo includes 29,000,000 people making it the second largest city in the world. It is a city of great extremes - wealth and poverty - celebration and despair.

Our connection in Brazil begins with missionaries Chris and Melody Julian. They are specifically assigned the task of sharing and living the story of Jesus with college students in this enormous city.

Chris and Melody have started Bible studies on the campus at McKenzie University (25,000 students enrolled) and at the University of Sao Paulo (60,000 students enrolled) and other areas in Sao Paulo.

Their heart and desire is to continue to be about God's mission by launching a number of new communities of faith in the midst of college students in Sao Paulo.

While our desire is  to be apart of this movement of God in the midst of the college community in Sao Paulo, our goal is to continue in helping them develop a relevant and missional family of faith in this city.

There are many ways we could use the talents in our family of faith to come alongside the Julian's and Zoe Brasil, as they live the story in Sao Paulo. For now ...

1. Pray, Pray and Pray again...

2. Keep up with all that God is doing through Zoe by connecting at http://concretejunglebrazil.blogspot.com/

3. Begin to save some travel cash & vacation time for a future trip to Sao Paulo

4. Live the Story in Nashville -- and be prepared to Live the Story in Sao Paulo

Donations

Flood relief donations are still in need throughout the Metro Nashville area. Items in bulk, pallets, or packed large quantities are preferred and are a priority. Various bulk items needed include:

Bulk Non-perishable foods – canned meats, canned vegetables/fruits, box cereal/pasta, baby food/formula, peanut butter, and boxed meals.

Bulk Supplies, Accessories and Tools – Shop Vacs (wet/dry vacuums), baby diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves/boots, brooms, mops, fans/dehumidifiers and generators.

Cash and Monetary gifts – can be made on the web with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee at www.cfmt.org or via phone at 888-540-5200.

All bulk and large quantity donations including money can be processed through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Companies and corporations are encouraged to lead the way with bulk donations, but citizens who can donate these items may also do so.

Citizens donating non-bulk or small quantities of the needed items should contact the Community Resource Center (CRC) at 911 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203. The email contact for this location is betsycrc@comcast.net .

I am thankful for the heart of the Mosaic community as we try to serve others in the aftermath of the flood. Right now, it can be a little chaotic with so much to do and not having a central "brain" to coordinate it all. For those of you who can give some time, here are a few places to call and they have coordinators onsite to direct volunteers.

(BRING GLOVES AND DEMOLITION TYPE TOOLS-HAMMER, CROW BAR-IF YOU HAVE THEM.)


BETHEL WORLD OUTREACH CENTER - Brentwood Campus
If you would like to join Bethel’s efforts with Samaritan’s Purse, here is how you can help. Join the Samaritan’s Purse volunteers as they go on the field and work. Volunteers come in batches every week and you can help for one week at a time, one day, or even a couple of hours. Volunteers should be at least 14 years old to help, but minors will need an adult chaperone.

If you will volunteer during the day, you can come to the church any day from Monday to Saturday at 7:30 am. Be prepared to work until 4:30 pm. Meals will be provided for day volunteers. Our address is 5670 Granny White Pike, Brentwood TN 37027. Phone 615-371-1000, info@bwoc.org


CROSSPOINT CHURCH - Bellevue area, www.crosspoint.tv
Teams of volunteers are working Wed – Fri, May 5-7th from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. We are sending teams into neighborhoods throughout Bellevue and West Nashville that were most affected by flood damage. Projects are focused on helping residents clean out damaged property, remove carpeting and drywall. If you are interested in helping, meet us at our BELLEVUE CAMPUS at 9:00 AM any or all days. Cross Point Bellevue is located at 7669 HWY 70 South in Nashville TN just a few seconds East of I-40 at exit 196.

All volunteers are welcome. Your help is such an encouragement to these families! We will also have a full day of volunteering Saturday, May 8th from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Location details to come.


HARPETH HEIGHTS - Bellevue area
Needs some people to help several of their members in the Belleview area who really need clean up assistance. If you can help, please call Bernie Smith at 615-945-0433 or Ruth at 615-476-6623. Tell them that Lewis McMullen asked you to call them. I know many of you might already be involved with other places but if you can help it would be appreciated!


TWO RIVERS BAPTIST CHURCH- Pennington Bend area - Jerry Highfill, 642-4973. Call for directions/instructions.


I will not be able to work on Friday. If there are any questions, please contact the site or coordinators.

Thanks so much for being willing to serve those in need. This will be an on-going effort so if you are not able to serve right now, there will be opportunities throughout the coming days and weeks.

Finally, pray for those affected, and for those serving, that Jesus will become more real to them and the entire world.

Tim
(Thanks Tim for this info)

HAITI EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

On Tuesday a 7.0 earthquake devastated Port Au Prince, the capital of Haiti. As the body of Christ, our desire is to embody Christ’s presence in our world during times like this. You are encouraged to consider involvement in the following ways:


 
Pray: for the people of Haiti during this difficult time.

We have access to the God of all creation in prayer. There is perhaps no more powerful resource we have then to turn to our Father and seek him on behalf of the people and the tragedy in Haiti.

Here are some ideas of things to pray for: rescue of people trapped in buildings; comfort for families who have lost loved ones; timely delivery of essential relief supplies (water, food, shelter); mobilization of essential relief personnel and equipment; discernment for those on the ground as to the best relief strategies; Christ’s church in Haiti to love and serve their hurting country during this difficult time; a timely rebuilding and restoration of the city’s devastated social structure.  

Give: a donation through

Living Water International  http://www.water.cc/
BGM  http://www.brentgambrell.com/
Sweet Sleep http://www.sweetsleep.org/

Why these organizations when there are so many great organizations?
In Mosaic we long for our community to give through any healthy organization. And, we have people in the Mosaic Community who are connected to some of these healthy organizations. (i.e. listed above) They are well respected organizations with quality disaster response experience, and we are blessed to have the opportunity to serve and give through these ministries.

Go: Let's begin to dream how and when we might be a part of the restoration process in years to come.


“the soul of the city” prayer

Join the Mosaic Community as we pray & read together with one heart and soul over the next few weeks. Encounter our Father and Pray:

Mosaic Week 1 of Prayer “the soul of the city”

Take some time and read Acts 1:12-15. This takes place after Jesus ascended into heaven following the resurrection. The church, at that point made up of 120 people, went back to the upper room.
Look at verse 14. "All of these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer together.” There were four basic divisions - gender, race, geography and theology - but now men and women were together. Go to Acts 2:1; "When the day of Pentecost did come . . ." Pentecost was the day that God gave his Spirit “. They were all together in one place." Unity makes the way for the out-pouring of Pentecost. In verses five and nine, there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven, showing diversity of people. Look at verse 11; there were even Jews and Arabs.
Continue praying & reading together with one heart and soul this week. Encounter our Father and Pray:

Sunday January 17th
That God might exalt His name in the city. -- Exodus 34:5; Psalm 46:10

Monday January 18th
That God will extend his Kingdom in this city. -- Matthew 6:10

Tuesday January 19th
That God will burden His people for those in this city without Christ.   -- John 4:35

Wednesday January 20th
That God would create a passion for prayer among his people who will join together in prayer for the city.   --Luke 10:2

Thursday January 21st
That God will reveal “persons of peace,” in this city. -- Acts 10 & 16

Friday January 22nd
That God will reveal Himself among those not following Christ. -- James 5:17-18

Saturday January 23rd
That the children of God living in the city would exalt God and his son Jesus Christ.   --Acts 4:29

In the context of community groups, Mosaic Nashville is well set up to serve the city. We do know that everyone's attention during these weeks is softened to serving the community so let's capitalize on that. Thomas Rose has started a project called “Christmas Ninjas” that is a rich way to serve some kids that have lost a parent in the last year. We want to collect gifts from the list below and have our community groups disburse them.

So, join in & bring your gifts to community groups or our gatherings through December 20th.

(New items Only Please!)
Infants 0-3: Safe Toys, Diapers, Linens, Soap & Powder
Boys & Girls 4-11 yrs.: Toys, Games, Books, Art Supplies, Sports Equipment
Clothing: Jeans, Socks & Underwear, Sweatshirts
Teens – 12 and up: Jewelry & Watches, Games & Crafts, Electronics, Clothing: Jeans, Sweatshirts, Socks & Underwear
Stocking Stuffers: (for all ages) Balloons, Stickers, Crayons, Small Safe Toys,
Puzzles, School Supplies, Small Games
Other Needs: Trash Bags– (30 Gallon Heavy Duty)

Who We Are

Living Water International exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water, and to experience “living water”—the gospel of Jesus Christ—which alone satisfies the deepest thirst.

Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to help the church in North America be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving the poorest of the poor. 600 million people in the world live on less than $2 a day. 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water.

For all practical purposes, these statistics refer to the same people; around the world, communities are trapped in debilitating poverty because they constantly suffer from water-related diseases and parasites, and/or because they spend long stretches of their time carrying water over long distances.

In response to this need, we implement participatory, community-based water solutions in developing countries. Since we started, we’ve completed water projects for 7,000 communities in 26 countries.

It all began in 1990, when a group from Houston, Texas traveled to Kenya and saw the desperate need for clean drinking water. They returned to Houston and founded a 501(c)3 non-profit. The fledgling organization equipped and trained a team of Kenyan drillers, and LWI Kenya began operations the next year under the direction of a national board.

That pattern continues today; we train, consult, and equip local people to implement solutions in their own countries.

Remembering the life-changing nature of that first trip in 1990, we also lead hundreds of volunteers on mission trips each year, working with local communities, under the leadership of nationals, to implement water projects. It’s hard to know which lives are changed more—those “serving” or those “being served.”

Our training programs in shallow well drilling, pump repair, and hygiene education have equipped thousands of volunteers and professionals in the basics of integrated water solutions since 1997.

LIVING WATER INTERNATIONAL KEY FACTS

• 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world’s population. (WHO-UNICEF)
• 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day. (UNDP)
• LWI projects providing safe water and hygiene education at an average cost of ten dollars per person, for a lifetime. (LWI)
• The simple act of washing hands with soap and clean water can reduce diarrheal diseases by over 40%. (UNICEF)
• Providing water and hygiene education reduces the number of deaths caused by diarrhoeal diseases by an average of 65%. (WHO)
• Water-related disease is the second biggest killer of children worldwide, after acute respiratory infections like tuberculosis. (UNDP)
• The weight of water that women in Africa and Asia carry on their heads is commonly 40 pounds, the same as the average airport luggage allowance. (UNDP)
• Water and sanitation infrastructure helps people take the first essential step out of the cycle of poverty and disease.


WATER-RELATED DISEASES
• At any given time, half the population of the developing world is suffering from one or more of the main diseases associated with inadequate provision of water and sanitation. (UNDP)
• At any one time, half of the developing world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water-related diseases. (UN)
• Around 90% of incidences of water-related diseases are due to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene and is mostly concentrated on children in developing countries. (WHO)
• Intestinal worms infect about 10% of the population of the developing world. Intestinal parasitic infections can lead to malnutrition, anaemia and stunted growth. (WHO)

WATER USE
• The average North American uses 400 liters a day. European uses 200 liters. (UNDP)
• The average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water every day for their drinking, washing and cooking. (Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC))
• On current trends over the next 20 years humans will use 40% more water than they do now. (UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Agriculture accounts for over 80% of the world’s water consumption. (UN Environment Programme (UNEP)


EDUCATION AND ECONOMY
• 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases. (UNDP)
• 11% more girls attend school when sanitation is available. (DFID)
• 40 billion working hours are spent carrying water each year in Africa. (Cosgrove and Rijsberman 1998)
• Households in rural Africa spend an average of 26% of their time fetching water, and it is generally women who are burdened with the task. (DFID)

Water. It is at the heart of a daily crisis faced by a billion of the world’s most vulnerable people—a crisis that threatens life and destroys livelihoods on a devastating scale.

Unlike war and terrorism, the global water crisis does not make media headlines, despite the fact that it claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. Unlike natural disasters, it does not rally concerted international action, despite the fact that more people die each year from drinking dirty water than from the world’s hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes combined.

This is a silent crisis experienced by the poor, and tolerated by those with the resources, technology, and the political power to end it. Yet this is a crisis that is holding back human progress, consigning large segments of humanity to lives of poverty, vulnerability, and insecurity.

At Living Water International, we are addressing this most basic of needs by helping deprived communities acquire safe, clean water. Our goal is to substantially ease the global water crisis while addressing root causes such as injustice, oppression, and abject poverty. As this happens, communities and worldviews are transformed—both among those in desperate physical need, and among those who have been blessed with much.

If costs us an average of $0.98 to provide clean, safe water to one person for one year.  Our goal is simple. Our vision is clear. As a part of rearranging our spending habits in this time of Advent, Mosaic has set a goal to give to Living Water International. For every $10 dollars a child can have water for life.

Be apart of providing water by giving to Living Water International through Mosaic at any of our gatherings.

The "north" community group (@ the Linne's) won't meet this week due to the holiday.