"WHY DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A STORY ROPE?"

CENA - São Paulo, Brazil  (3 of 3)  After the workshop, I went out by the materials table. One of the guys at CENA was picking out some materials to make a story rope. 

“Why do you want to make one?” I asked. “Because I want to use it when I work with people here.”   Our friend saw the story rope as a valuable tool to discover how people land on the street. It usually always has to do with broken relationship. The story rope helps a person see their journey through life and where it all went wrong.  The truth that they are in God’s story, offers hope, in the middle of Crackland. 

Photos: My friend Diane with CENA worker and Crackland.

"CAN YOU USE THE STORY ROPES AT CENA?"

CENA - São Paulo, Brazil (2 of 3)  

After telling their stories with their story ropes, I asked the group if they thought the story rope would be a helpful tool in their ministry at CENA and how might they see it used?

Without hesitation two leaders gave their ideas. One said she would use it in September on the three day retreat they were planning to have with women of the program. Another said she would use it in April at a special event she was planning for a group she was working with on the streets.

After that discussion, I brought out the golden cording and stretched it out with the help of 2 people holding the ends.  This was God’s Story Rope.  We are each connected to His story.  Our future is not rooted in the past.  

But Joseph said to them, “Don't be afraid…You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good.  Genesis 50:19-20 

They spontaneously moved forward, putting their ropes on God’s rope, connecting each of their stories to His.  That's me in back row on right.  photoshop-poster edges filter
To be continued.

STORY ROPES IN CRACKLAND

São Paulo, Brazil (1 of 3)

The 16th and final storyrope workshop of my 6 week trip to Brazil and Peru, was at CENA in São Paulo, Brazil. 

CENA is in Crackland aka the mouth of the garbage. The mission there helps the street people - the prostitutes, homeless, crack-addicts and transvestites.

 I was invited to show them how to use the story rope. Perhaps they could use it in their street ministry.

We had an afternoon workshop with 9 attending.

Photos: 

• Outside the 2nd floor window looking down into the courtyard. 

• Young adults from Germany serving at the mission. They stood right by the materials table - set up in the hall and created their ropes. 

To be continued.

Click here for a great video made by the CENA people, showing their work and the people they serve in a 3 step program, in the city and out on their farm.