Repouso bem-vindo, obrigado Brasil para uma experiência maravilhosa! Welcome home, thank you Brasil for a wonderful experience! Local 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City member, Jeffrey J. Davis, recently returned from a two week mission trip to Recife and Igarassu, Brasil. Brasil is a mixture of races and cultures… it started with the Portuguese, Indians and Africans. During the XIX century many Europeans joined the process; especially Italians, Spanish and Germans. It is considered one of the countries with the highest level of miscegenation.
During his stay in Brasil, Jeff was able to accomplish four things along with aid from other volunteers of Transformational Journeys: 1) the construction of six concrete columns for one wall of the future education center, 2) taught the older boys deductive reasoning and math skills with the use of dominoes, 3) along with Jerry Newsome, as J&J Consulting Services, provided program feedback and 4) a home visit to the housing project in Recife with two beneficiary families.
All construction was performed by hand. The only tools used were pliers, hacksaw, shovel, etc. Concrete forms were 
made of wood boards and nails; re-bar (metallic material used to add support to concrete) was cut and shaped by hand. Concrete was mixed like batter; with shovel. To call it manual labor is an understatement. Also, concrete was poured by shovel being lifted and tilted, going down hand crafted slide. After completion of the columns for this wall, 5 members from the group donated funds to purchase 6 preformed columns to complete the other side
The game of dominoes is an excellent way to watch the mind at work. Jeff and Jerry Newsome were able to overcome the challenge of languages, broken English meets broken Portuguese. The lessons the boys learned that day will forever be cherished.
As J&J Consulting Services, Jeff and Jerry offered Moab Silva and the leaders of Friends Forever feedback on the current program. They provided an outline for community and political involvement, methods to sustain and advance the program, and a succession plan so that the vision may continue to shine brightly as a beacon of hope for those in need.
In Brasil, people are placed at disadvantages based upon the class they are born in to, not race or skin color. The only way to jump class is thru education. All over the world, the theme is consistent, EDUCATION. Opportunities must be created for children to learn so that there may be a bright future. What they see is what they’ll be. Mentoring the 100 Way; all over the world, we need to mentor every day.
