Brazilian group gathers on the Sunshine Coast

Leiser da Silva, a member of the NoosaCoolum Salvos, has started a weekly Portuguese-speaking gathering on the Sunshine Coast.

Leiser came to the Sunshine Coast from Brazil. His wife Laura is Australian.

After settling into the community, they discussed with their Salvos officers (pastors), how they could connect with the substantial number of Brazilian expatriates living in the area.

Late last year they opened their house for a weekly family-style gathering or a ‘Grupao’ in Portuguese. Time together involves a meal, prayer, music and a short message by Leiser.

Laura is a qualified English language teacher, so when the time is right, she wants to start English lessons.

“We are just trying to create a place where people are embraced, can flourish, and find a place where they belong,” Leiser says.