Yes, I'm going to church mom.

A wave of rainbow cloth bands that read, "Lembrança do Senhor de Bonfim da Bahia" completely submerged the surounding gates and any other surface available of the most well known and appreciated church in Bahia, Senhor do Bonfim. They fluttered much like the long green and tan grasses of the coast. The small swaths of cloth, innumerable and purposely placed, represent the hopes, dreams, and prayers of the citizens of Salvador. The same way these people gather to celebrate the independence of Brazil on Seite de Setembro, they congregate to peacably voice their opinions concerning current conditions in Brazil. While Olympic stadiums seemingly appear out of thin air in one or two years, public transportation, education, and health policies lack funding and or haste in their execution. Salvador specifically sits on top of an unused and inoperable subway system. Fred, a guest speaker at the home base, spoke to us just two days ago about huge endeavours recklessly undertaken by the government that resulted in large quantities of funds misappropriated and or undesired repercussions. From the hill where the church sits one can see a large portion of Salvador. The colina sagrada as they call it marks the end of a five kilometer trek beggining in Barra on Seite de Setembro. Shortly thereafter the march, as with many other celebrations and holidays, protestors will gather to ask for basic infrastructure and policy improvements. Brazil seems to be doing a splendid job of exercising their democratic rights and their government appears all the better for it with people like Joaquim Barbosa taking charge and fostering national progress.