Mila & Gleisa

Mila 

Gleisa

These are two of my friends that live on the streets in Brasilia. Just about everyday I see them when I'm going to work and I always pray that someday their situation might change. I've never had to opportunity to take their portrait until the other day. They were more than happy to oblige, and being typical women, they were of coursed concerned about how their hair looked. Mila is married and can not walk very well because she has a bad right knee. So, she's always sitting on the hard concrete trying to sell Jewelry that her husband makes but tells me she doesn't sell much. Gleisa, unlike Mila, is not married and tells me she eats whatever scraps local food vendors throw out. I meet her one night after it was raining and she drying her feet off with some newspapers she had found in the trash. Neither women have ever ask me for anything but occasionally I'll give them some money or buy them a cup of coffee or a snack.  The Bible says you will always have the poor and weak with you. So, I know I can't help everyone just the ones I believe God has placed in my path.

Just Drums

Bruna, pound out the the rhythm. 

Cristina, giving it all she's got for the local news camera.

Izabell, I think she was the Drum Princess. 

A group of young lady samba drummers showing off their musical skill to prove a point, that all you need is a good beat to make a crowd happy. Well, there's more to it than that but, the drums are the foundation of most music in the world today from Rock to R&B, Latin and Jazz,  you name it there's a beat. After all where does music come from? It's all over the scriptures especially in the book of Psalms. And not only that, drums is among the oldest instrument in the world along with the cymbals and of course the human voice.

Bahian Women

More Colorful Outfit

Traditional White Outfit 

Women of Salvador Bahia, dressed in traditional outfits. Some outfits are more colorful than others. From what I understand they were originally more on the plain white side but over time became more colorful to help attract tourist as they walk by the local shops where they work.