Home

I made it home yesterday and am so glad to be here. It's still pretty surreal, but I'll get back into the real swing of things next week. Since this blog has been about my life in Brasil, I will no longer be posting on it, but will be posting here instead. A new phase, a new blog. Life after Brasil should prove to be pretty interesting....

One last vacation

Mom is here, and we just got back from Minas Gerais last night. She, A, S, and I went, because we had to stay in that pousada one last time, and we had to go back to the pewter factory and the blanket city and that little restaurant we ate at when we went horseback riding.

Needless to say, I bought more pewter. And more blankets (and placemats and napkins). I bought a few wedding presents, some for weddings that aren't even on the radar. But my big purchase, my shining moment, was a rustic china cupboard that I fell in love with the moment I saw it. I am still in a bit of sticker shock, because I'm not used to buying furniture at full price (even with a 10% discount). My furniture has been picked up along the way at antique stores and yard sales. Pictures to come on the other blog.

Packing

I was the honoree at a despedida (going-away party) yesterday with some of my fellow missionaries here in Rio. I am leaving Brasil in 10 days, and I am filled with bittersweet memories. This country that has been such a part of me is soon to be part of my past. But not too much in my past, because I am going home with memories and what others might call souvenirs. I received a real, official Brasilian flag that is about 5 feet by 3 feet, and I have added it to the huge pile that has to be packed. Here's a short list of those things that will continue to be a part of my life after October 1:

• a coffee/tea/dessert service for six
• two carved stone birds
• two plates with super-size mugs for soup and bread (or that's what I'll be using them for)
• several books
• a double hammock
• pewter goblets and candlesticks
• pewter and crystal toasting flutes
• a leather map of South America
• a painting
• the flag

I am slowly getting packed, most of which these days includes copious amounts of bubble wrap.

Latest update

Hi!
I know it’s been quite awhile since I last wrote, but that’s not because there hasn’t been anything going on around here. We’ve been super-busy, even during our weeks off.
We have had several teams, mostly medical. We have been to our annual mission meeting. We have started to make plans to close out the year. Two of my best friends have come to visit. My dad and brother have come to visit. My mom is coming at the end of September.
My most exciting news is this: I am engaged! D and I have been together for almost 3 years, and he asked me to marry him in July. Of course, I am now looking forward to going home much more than I was. Because of my visa (it expires October 15) and all the wedding plans that have to be made, I will be going home October 1. That means I will miss the last few teams, including the one I first came down with over 6 years ago.
As I look at closing this chapter in my life, I have been reflecting on all of the blessings He has given me (somehow, the hardships and sufferings have faded into the background). I met and have lived with AE, who has blessed me in so many ways. I have had the privilege of every member of my immediate family come and visit, some more than once. I have had several friends come to visit. I have had a love/hate relationship with this culture that is so foreign, yet so home. I have come to understand so much about how the Lord longs for us, and how He designed us to long for Him. If I had to pick one thing to share that I have learned over the past 6 years, it would be hard. So I will pick a few things that I am still learning. First, God is faithful. He always fulfills His promises, though it’s so often not in the ways we expect. Second, He is trustworthy to provide all that we need. Over the last 6 years, I have never been in want, even when I took a considerable salary cut. Third, He is sovereign. Everything that He allows us to pass through is for our good, and not for our harm. Even when it seems very different at the time.
Please continue to pray for R, S, and A, as they finish out the last month of teams and prepare to take the next step that God has for them. Pray for the teams as they come through, that God would show them Himself, and that they may show His love in the areas they minister to. Continue to pray for the Brazilian people, that God would give them eyes to see Him and hearts that desire Him.
For He alone is worthy.

*SIGH* I was reading this article this morning, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than usual. I mean, does anyone else see an opportunity here?

In summary (I know, I've written tons!), a group of American Christians had 315 Bibles confiscated at the airport, and they are refusing to leave China the airport (thanks to David, who kindly corrected my 6:30 am mind freeze -- chalk it up to early) until they get them back. Can I just ask the questions that are burning in my head? Thanks.

• Do any of them need a Bible in their home in the U.S.?
• Can any of them actually read Chinese (yes, the Bibles are in Chinese)?
• Do they realize they're coming off as jerks?
• Do they have no respect for authorities and laws that God has allowed to be in place?
• Has anyone thought about the fact that maybe, just maybe, the customs agent who confiscated them wanted a Bible and didn't know how to get one?
• Why are they asking for CHINESE law in ENGLISH? They're not likely to get it -- Chinese is the official language of China, folks.
  
• Why do we need more Bibles in the U.S.?

I see a huge opportunity to leave Bibles in China -- God can do mighty things with those Bibles. Stupid Americans.

Anyone else?

A bookish day

Yesterday was a good day in Brasil. We've got the week off (there's a tiny evangelism team here, but R is taking care of it) and so yesterday was reserved for lunch at the Outback and a trip to the movies to see "the new Batman."

Of course, between events we had to go to the bookstore (it's like a tractor beam pulls me in each time I walk by). I've been looking for classics that I haven't read yet (and/or should have read long before now), and I came across Anna Karenina. In English, not Portuguese. The fabulous bookstore here imports Barnes & Noble Classics, and they're not much more expensive than they are in the U.S. Price in dollars? $8.95. Price in reais? R$16,60. That's about $2 more than the price in dollars, if you convert it. But for a book in Brasil, that's really cheap, especially for a book that is 700+ pages and imported.

Anyway, I picked up the book, planning to buy it, and when I got to the counter, what did I discover? I had a bonus waiting for me. I had accumulated the required number of points on my loyalty card, and I got a R$15,00 discount! All said, I bought Anna Karenina for R$1,60, which is roughly $1. God bless discounts.

I am tired. There is no other way to say it. No matter how much rest I get, I am always tired. I stayed at the hotel last week, and having to be with the team constantly drains my strength, no matter how great the team is. I love being able to come home and rest -- I am an introvert to the depths of my being. Not to mention the fact that I had family here and had to entertain them.

We have 4 more weeks of teams before our full month's rest in September, when we will be packing and escorting my mom around Minas Gerais (and buying more pewter).

God continues to bring to my mind Isaiah 40:31 -- "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Being rejuvenated, renewing my strength, begins with sitting before the Lord and waiting on Him. My heavenly Father exudes strength, and He gives it freely, if I slow down enough to wait on Him. Do you know what it feels like to just sit with someone and be rejuvenated by their strength? I have friends who do that for me, some without knowing it. I am ready to get back to my regular schedule, now that I am at home, of sitting with God daily.

Sadness

One of our missionary colleagues who served in north Brasil (Belém, which is in the state of Pará) passed away last night. Please pray for the family she left behind -- not only her husband and five children (3 college-age boys and 2 pre-teen girls), but also her extended family in the US and her mission family here.

Big Shady is coming into town on Thursday. She leaves Hunts-vegas on Wednesday night and will arrive on Thursday morning. Big Shady and I have had some fun times. There was that incident with the sign and that other incident with a random party that got me labeled shady. By Big Shady's mom. That was embarrassing.

I have been realizing lately how much I miss my best friend. We've been in different cities for 5 years now, but I've missed her more lately. I am ready to run around Rio with Shady. One of the highlights will be her meeting Little Shady, my friend who claims to be "just a little shady."

A New Life

To my more than five, less than ten faithful readers (if you're reading and not commenting, send a comment my way):

As I make the transition from Brasil to the U.S. over the next few months, I will be making a blog transition as well. This site will continue to house goings-on from down here, whereas the new one will house postings and musings from this transition period forward.

The new site is here.

Suffering....and perspective

I am struck today by something that happens to everyone but few people are able to understand and reconcile: suffering.

My most recent bout of suffering that I would consider notable was a couple of years ago. I spent six months waiting on a visa to come to Brasil, and my suffering was loud. As I prepare to leave Brasil, I look back and wonder at how I suffered. I don't mean how much; I mean how. I fear that I suffered badly. I tend to wonder why things happen to me, in a very self-centered way. Why me instead of someone else? My limited vision tends not to focus on how God is using the current suffering to grow me up in Him. I just want it to be over.

My instincts react to suffering by trying to get out of it. Who wants to suffer? Yet Christ tells us that we will suffer. He tells us to expect it.

As I look back on where I was 2 years ago, I wonder what is coming that God was preparing me for. It may be nothing. It may be a terrible tragedy that is far worse than waiting on a visa. It may just be waiting for something else that I long for, that He has called me to do. I desperately want to suffer well when I suffer. I want to be Christ to others, even when I suffer.

My concept of suffering is weak. I don't face it head on, even if it is only somebody being upset with me. I have no experience with being beaten or shipwrecked or imprisoned for my faith. I am a lightweight when it comes to persecution. It's not something that is in my consciousness, because my idea of discomfort is the lack of 3 meals a day. My idea of persecution is someone making fun of my faith. Paul would laugh me out of the room if he were alive today.

I hate to keep on posting about being sick, but I'm still sick. I feel like my head is going to explode and my teeth are going to fall out. Not to mention the soreness I'm currently experiencing from getting really ambitious and doing ONE (yes, only one) set of 10 lunges on each leg. 2 nights ago. And the fact that my back is so out of line that when my chiropractor sees it, I will get chewed out. At least I can chew him out right back in Portuguese.

High point of the day: A massage at 3:30. Bliss.

It's cold here, and I'm only going to get colder....

We're headed to Atibaia, SP for our annual meeting this week, and the temperature is supposed to be in the 50's at night and might get up into the 70's during the day over the next few days. I'll be in internet range, but I can't think of anything interesting that I might care to blog about in the next week. It's all boring meetings.

I am, however, looking forward to getting away from the city for a week. The hustle and bustle is getting to me.

Icky...

I am sick. I have been feeling pretty run-down for the past couple of weeks, and I woke up yesterday morning with a sore throat. One of our medical volunteers looked at my throat, and it was pretty red and raw. She prescribed me an antibiotic, which I am happily taking. I am resting this weekend so I can get better.

I love working in a medical clinic, because it means free meds.

I was going to do a grand 300th post for my 30th birthday, but I seem to be a few days late. This seems more appropriate, at least today. It's where I am. Trust is crucial.

"God has hemmed me in to nothing, that I may have nothing, do nothing, want nothing, save Himself."
--Jim Elliot

Panic and provision

I have been sitting comfortably (or uncomfortably) in panic mode for about the past 3 days. Fortunately, it doesn't have anything to do with me crossing over into my fourth decade of life (that's the 30's, for those of you who are thinking you missed 10 years of my life), though the timing seems somewhat suspicious.

It has much more to do with being overwhelmed at the near future (the next year), because though the next year will bring much joy, there is certainly a lot to figure out. I am leaving Brasil in October. So then what? My questions are slowly being answered, but that just brings up more questions. Where will I live? What will I do? Will I have enough money to live on? What about a car? Is gas really $4 a gallon? Hmmph. It's about $6 a gallon here. But then again, I don't have to pay for it here. And then there are other questions that I know the answers to, but they aren't blog-worthy quite yet.

I am beginning to understand (though I am probably being overly dramatic) what it is to have to depend on the Lord for provision. He reminded me this morning that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and that He can proverbially sell some to provide what He wants for me.

Mission car, take 3

Not sure if you've been keeping up with me, but in the 20 months I've been back in Brasil, I've now had 3 different cars.

Take 1: A silver, 4-door Honda Civic. This car was awesome, except the radio was fritzy and the CD player never worked. Stolen a little over a year ago.

Take 2: A white, 4-door Ford Mondeo station wagon imported from Uruguay. As a result of the stolen Honda, we had "Igrejas Batistas" (Baptist churches) put on it -- all sides, and the license plate number on top. Just in case we had to search for it from the air. Somehow (maybe because the car is over 10 years old or maybe because the roads here SUCK), the torsion bar on the back right side got broken, and I can no longer carry heavy loads or people in the backseat.

Take 3: Upon driving up to my building today, what should be sitting in the parking lot but a black Toyota Corolla. Not sure what year it is, but it's at least a little beat up. The letters will be going on it soon. Here's to hoping we won't have any problems with it!

Overload

Our volunteers are the best, in that they always ask us what they can bring us from the US -- things we can't get here or things that may be expensive. We asked the team that is currently here to bring in Splenda, M&M's, and granola bars. Actually, we just asked one person. We got the equivalent of 3 boxes of Splenda, 5 boxes of granola bars, and SEVEN bags of M&M's (4 medium, 1 large, and 2 extra-large, including a bag of dark chocolate peanut). We will be fat and happy for at least the next few weeks.

Addendum: Amy found yet ANOTHER bag of M&M's in her backpack. That brings the grand total to EIGHT.

Mexican goodness

So David and I made taco Hamburger Helper last night. I know that may not seem like a big deal, but since we don't have it here.... I love all foodstuffs Mexican (though I'm sure there's something out there that I hate that I haven't tried, just like everywhere else), and David brought the Hamburger Helper for me. No Mexican meal is complete without...tortilla chips! Scoops, to be exact. They were an early birthday present. Apparently, my birthday presents are running along a Mexican food theme. Never mind that we have a fabulous Mexican restaurant that serves a buffet (complete with chips and sour cream -- two things we can't easily find in this city).
The fact that I am excited about a birthday bag of tortilla chips attests to two things: first, tortilla chips are scarce around here. Second, I love my man because he knows these things and exploits any little opportunity to make me happy.

A disappearing act....

I haven't written a prayer update for quite some time now, so here is the latest:
Hello once again from the beautiful city of Rio!
I know it's been awhile since I've written, but I kept putting it off because I was waiting for something to write about! In the past few months, we have had countless meetings with churches, I have done some traveling, and I even had the privilege of a visit from a good friend.
Our teams started a couple of weeks ago, with a basketball group from Belmont being our first. It is always amazing to me how God uses whatever skills we have to open doors for us to talk to people about Him.
We had a medical team last week in a new area and things went extremely well. Our next 4 weeks are full of teams, with no rest until July.
Please pray for our strength and rest, as we are already tired.
Pray for the next few weeks:
May 30-June 7 -- Brentwood in Vila do João
June 7-14 -- Youth team in Centenário (we are there this week)
June 14-21 -- Clarksville in Dendê
June 21-28 -- Columbia at Parque Independência
Pray that the people of Brasil will continue to be hungry for the Lord, and that we will be able to tell people about Him simply and personally. I have been studying 1 Corinthians lately and am struck by what Paul says in chapter 1 about preaching the gospel simply so that the cross will not be emptied of its power. May we remember that the message of the gospel is simple yet profound.
He alone is worthy.

90 minutes of pure emotion

As I write this morning, I wonder: "How does one describe a soccer game?" This article doesn't do much justice, but it gives the facts.

We had an amazing opportunity last night to go to a soccer game in Maracanã (Mah-rah-kah-nah). This stadium was built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, which had a paid attendance of 199,500 (actual attendance was estimated at 210,000). That's standing room only, folks. In the late 1990s, it was converted to an "all-seater" stadium, meaning that instead of bleachers, there are actual seats.

I thought that the crowd would be similar to that of an American football game. Boy, was I wrong. Never having seen a live professional soccer game before (only on TV), I had no idea of the excitement that it can incite in die-hard fans. Let me tell you, TV does not do soccer justice.

We got to the stadium about 8pm (for a 9:50 game), and the streets around the stadium were packed with people tailgating and making a ruckus. We soon found out that the guy that got our tickets had 15 in the "special chairs" and 4 seats in the "tribuna de honra", which are the two best types of seats in the stadium. The team went and sat in the special chairs (as there were 14 of them) with R, and D, A, and I got to sit in the tribuna de honra. Even explaining the tribuna is hard. If the president was there, that's where he would sit. We walked into an air-conditioned room and were informed that there would be snacks at halftime, though we couldn't take them out to our seats. We walked out to our seats and where were we but MIDFIELD.

At 8:30, the Fluminense fans were already in full force in the stadium. They had filled up their section and were waving flags and sparklers. As much as I say about it, there is no way to describe a Brasilian's love for his soccer team. The only acceptable reason for a man to cry here is a loss by his soccer team. The fans come with their radios, so they can listen to the game while they are watching it.

One of the only things that is actually on time here is soccer. I can mark time if I'm not looking at the clock. The games always start at the same time, so when I hear the huge boom of fireworks from my house on Wednesdays and Sundays, I know what time it is. Yes, I can hear them from my house. That pitiful sound from 2 km away is nothing compared to hearing it IN the stadium. The referees walked out onto the field, and the entire stadium erupted in boos. I looked for the "other" team, but they were nowhere to be seen. I finally figured out that booing the referees is definitely a requirement, no matter who you're cheering for.

The emotion surrounding the playing and goals is indescribable. I have never heard so much cursing and had to laugh, because every time something didn't go our way, we'd hear it again.... When your team scores a goal, expect to be deafened by the eruption of noise and hugged by everyone around you, even if you don't know them. You're all there for the same reason, after all.

At the end of events, the outcome was this: FLU 3, SP 1. The streets were packed with celebrating fans.

Brasil facts of the day

I saw this article over at Marginal Revolution and am amazed that the "middle-class" salary in Brasil is $635 a month. With the crappy dollar, that's approximately R$1050 per month. I currently fall into that category, but I don't have to pay rent or buy my gas or pay for car repairs. Thinking of it like that makes me wonder how Brasilians are making ends meet at all around here.
We work with the lower class and the poor of the poor, and I know that I have never known what it is to want for anything.

Emotions and rest

I am sitting here in between Julie's leaving and David's arrival and experiencing a lot of emotions. Gratefulness that my friend who lived across the world for 2 years got to come and visit, experiencing most of what I experience on a daily basis. Amazement at how alike we are (and how alike our men seem to be!). Jealousy that she is getting married in 2 months and I still have to wait. Anticipation that David gets here on Wednesday and disappointment that I can't see him until Thursday. Longing to be settled instead of being a vagabond. 4 years is enough. Sadness at the realization that I only have 5 months left here.

I am distracted easily. So easily, in fact, that I find it hard sometimes to bring a sentence (or at least a thought) to completion. The emotions above are mixed in with thoughts of what I have to do this week, and how I'm going to get organized, and how I'm going to get everything done. Included in those thoughts is how I'm going to finish the 5 books that I'm currently reading (plus the Bible), how I'm going to get caught up on all my TV shows (almost there with LOST), and general overactive mind. So overactive, in fact, that what's up there is a big ol' mess of jumble, and unlike my desk, where I can find things, I reach for things in my mind that just don't seem to be there. But maybe they moved out without telling me.

I have so much on my plate (some job-related, some self-imposed) that my journal entries have shrunk to the minuscule size of "Job 20-42" and "1 Chronicles 1-6." Is it speaking and thinking in two languages? Is it my inability to rest? Is it being ready to finish? Is it the fear of not being able to contain the words once they start coming out? I don't know. I know that I am tired, and that even vacation didn't really help (though it was amazing). I want to rest my mind, and I want to take care of myself, so I can be ready to do what needs to be done. But the rest doesn't come.

We went up to Petrópolis today, where the emperor's summer home is now a museum. It's about an hour outside of Rio, and the 10-degree difference was welcome! Petrópolis is in the mountains and has a heavy German influence, since Dom Pedro II (Brasil's second emperor) encouraged German farmers to immigrate to Brasil from the Rhineland.

The Summer Palace of the second Brazilian emperor, Dom Pedro II

Dom Pedro II's flower box -- notice that the box is made from granite.

Here is the shirt mentioned in the previous post. It's the guy on the right, though the guy on the left could fight him for it.

Versatility

We went out last night to Rio Scenarium, a "cultural pavilion" in Rio's old downtown area. They have live bands that play samba and bossa nova, and everyone dances. It's a place full of people, Brazilians and foreigners alike. We saw one particular man whose shirt would have been very useful for a number of purposes other than a shirt.

Julie and I went back and forth, trying to one-up one another with our suggestions, and we finally got to laughing so hard we were crying. Here is what we came up with:

• curtains
• sofa
• pillows
• ironing board cover
• toaster cover
• drapes
• chair
• ottoman
• dust ruffle
• tablecloth
• chair covers
• headboard (in a hotel only)
• placemats
• seat cushions
• shower curtain
• toilet paper roll cover
• toilet seat cover (the top part, not the actual seat)

Pictures to come. Your suggestions are welcome.

Newbie

I know that Julie got here a few days ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting this funny story that happened to her in the grocery store on Wednesday.

I was getting bread and this lady came up to her and started asking her where the crushed nuts were. Of course, she can't speak Portuguese, so I jumped in and started talking to the lady.
Me: Talk to me; she doesn't speak Portuguese.
Random lady (RL): Oh, okay. You mean she hasn't learned anything from you?
Me: Well, she just got here this morning.
RL: Oh, well she'll be speaking a lot by the time she leaves. I'm sure she'll learn.

When she walked away, I of course shared our conversation with Julie, who said, "Wow. I just got slammed for not speaking Portuguese."

The verdict is in....

Susanna has decided on her paint colors (see this previous post), and here they are:
Dining Room - Apple Green
Kitchen - Banana Peel
Living Room/Hallway - Chestnut Shell
Library - Burnt Orange Peel
Guest Bedroom - still unknown
Master Bedroom - Outdoor BBQ and Blueberry Champagne
Master Bath - Blueberry Champagne
Shutters - Blackberry Cobbler

Just a few things that have made my life exciting in the past week:

• seeing a man in overalls walking down the street (not that I haven't seen them before, but they do seem to be a little out of place here)
• the tablecloth catching fire at the Mexican restaurant on Sunday
• a man walking down the street with a guitar around his neck (no case) talking on a cell phone
• the group of boy scouts (or the Brasilian equivalent) on our metro car
• 2 pair of shoes
• a used-book store
• chocolate mousse
• anticipating Julie's arrival tomorrow

God is bigger

I have been struggling a lot lately, not knowing how to put my struggles into words. The struggle started a couple of years ago, and an excerpt from this post at internetmonk.com speaks for me. It's worth taking a look at.

A significant place in the life of faith in God is coming to the place of abandoning any sense of control, outcome or insured result. Why is that so significant? Because for many of us, in some measure and in various ways, we believe that God’s promises in scripture add up to God guaranteeing the GOOD outcomes that will honor him.

In other words, God will guarantee that the marriage will work, that the ministry will work, that the finances will arrive, that the health will recover, that the children will become Christians and that this life of faith will turn out to be “blessed by God.”

I was hitting the wall, over and over and over, because I realized this wasn’t happening, hadn’t happened and wasn’t going to happen. I’d been living an illusion. I’d gotten very good at it, and now someone- that same God?- was tearing that illusion away from me.

The God I’d believed in before wasn’t there. To the extent that he was the God who guaranteed outcomes, then God wasn’t there at all. The God who was there wasn’t playing according to my rules or to the rules I’d been promoting for three decades.

I am beginning to realize that not only do I like to be in control, I like to feel important. I like to know that I count, that my opinion matters. I am also beginning to realize that because of this attitude, I know a very small God. I want to know God in all His immensity, in all His glory, not as a being that I have or tame or control, but as the God who created the universe and has me as His own by right and desire. What good does it do me if I am important and I perish? By trying to be important, I set myself up above God. By doing that, I will certainly perish. One way or another, I must pass through death. Without Christ, I stay dead. With Him, I come back to life because He did. For so long, I have heard about Jesus paying the price for my sins, which is absolutely true. No one seems to talk about the possibilities of the resurrection life. But for me lately, that is the good news. Instead of the sin that still has effects in my life, and the sin that I still fall prey to some days, I have the wonderful possibility of a better life. What does not matter is whether things go "well" or not. What does not matter is that everything turns out the way I think it should. What matters is that God is revealed as He really is, not the way He appears to us.

Continental confusion

So I didn't write about this when it happened, because, well, I don't know. I guess that anyone who watches any sort of news would have heard about it. If you don't, here's the article. In summary, one of the USOC members wrote on a white board, "Welcome to the Congo" when he was down here during the Pan Am games last year. I had forgotten about it until I saw a bumper sticker tonight.

Wanna know what it says? "We love the Congo." Actually, it's we heart Congo (even better, right?). It's available in Portuguese and English, and I really want one. I am horrified that anyone (no matter what country they were from) would complain about Brazil in winter because it's hot. Not only because it's not hot (I actually get cold during the winter here), but because air conditioning is available in hotels, making it not-hot for those who are a little more sensitive to 80-degree heat.

I love this place.

My friend Susanna bought a house and I am excited to live vicariously through her decorating process. We started talking about paint colors last night and realized that all of her color choices (so far, at least) have something to do with food. Now our goal (because it's fun) is to have all of her paint colors related to food. Here's the starting list:

• Butter yellow
• Apple green
• Oyster blue
• Chocolate brown
• Marshmallow
• Mocha
• Midnight blackberry
• Geranium (I think they're edible)

Any other suggestions?

A little recycling

My friend Allison sent me this article about what's going on in São Paulo. There's apparently been a ban on outdoor media (billboards, neon signs, etc.) since the beginning of 2008. Truthfully, I had no idea, and it's certainly not going on here in Rio. We're as cluttered as ever.

I love the idea of repurposing, though I can't say I'm that creative. And what a perfect idea for São Paulo, especially since SP is quickly becoming a world name in fashion. I wish that we would get wise to the idea around here. I would love to see buildings, mountains, and sky without billboards.

Public Service Announcement

Kill mosquitoes. Use repellent (DEET, if possible). Check to make sure there is no standing water anywhere in your general vicinity. Don't take aspirin, just in case it's the bleeding kind.

Dengue fever is back with a vengeance in 2008, and I heard last night that the number of cases in the city of Rio from January 1 until yesterday IS GREATER THAN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES FROM LAST YEAR. Yes, last year. And yes, 26,688 is greater than 25,107. We're not even 3 months in. 31 people have died, I personally know 2 people who have gotten sick this time around, and it's not pretty. There aren't enough doctors or hospital beds, though the government is conceding more. Compared to the enormous lines outside the hospitals, it is little. How will it help?

While dengue is equal-opportunity, health care here is not. It makes me sad and overwhelms me to think about; the least of reasons is that there are some out there who think national health care (socialized medicine, whatever you want to call it) will solve the health care crisis in the US. It doesn't work in a country the size of my home state (Great Britain is roughly the size of Georgia), it doesn't work here in Brazil, and it certainly won't work in the US. A solution has to be out there somewhere; the trick is finding it.

Som do Céu

I had the opportunity to celebrate my Easter weekend with 300 of my closest Brasilian friends (and if you're Brasilian, that's how many close friends you have) in Minas Gerais. Every year, Easter weekend (here it's a holiday weekend lasting from Thursday to Sunday), Youth for Christ (Mocidade para Cristo) in Belo Horizonte hosts a music festival. This was year number 24, and the music was, as always, of excellent quality.

Christian (Evangelical) music here in Brasil has had sort of a sordid past. Missionaries came here with their hymns and didn't bother to put them into a style that the Brasilian people would understand or enjoy. As long as they did that (and sometimes still do), evangelical music would never be Brasilian. It would always be music that the foreign missionaries brought. If we are so concerned about getting the gospel into every language, spoken or written, so that people can hear it in their own language, shouldn't we be encouraging them to write hymns and choruses that fit their culture? I don't know about you, but I quite enjoy the updated tunes of Indelible Grace. A nordestino (a Brasilian in the northeast) hearing the gospel in their own dialect and storytelling style and songs in their own cultural context is much more likely to listen to the person who is talking or singing. The people in Goiânia are likely to listen to evangelical music if it's música caipira (sort of a Brasilian style of bluegrass music). And so forth. Yet the local evangelical church for so long has snubbed culture as a means to communicate the gospel. I think we are scared that the culture will infiltrate the church. That just goes to show that we have it wrong. We, the church, should be infiltrating the culture, using what people know to share the gospel. Jesus did it. Paul did it. We should do the same.

Talk about a waste!

Advance warning and disclaimer: The author is not responsible for how much time her readers waste by clicking on the link below. She is only responsible for her own time.

The NY Times Freakonomics Blog is currently on my bad list for this post, which contains this link.

I really should be doing other things.... Any brainstorming help with the puzzle would be appreciated! (Should have been more specific to begin with, though I probably will work on a limerick to post for the contest over at Team Redd)

Today's top 10

The top 10 list is a rare occurrence on my blog. Usually because I can't think of anything that would precipitate a list of 10. So today, I'm using someone else's. I came across this top 10 from the Internet Monk. If you are a blogger and don't find his post funny, you're probably included in that list somewhere....
H/T to Google Reader (sometimes their recommendations are worth it).

Rodízio heaven

Jenna's birthday was yesterday, and she had a blow-out party at Le Brants in Flamengo. She spoke highly of it and did some good promo for them in telling us about it. It's a creperia and pizzeria. You can order pizza, crepes, and pasta, but the best deal they offer is a rodízio for R$20,90 (with the dollar the way it is these days that's about U$13) of pizza, pasta, and crepes. They also have what they call "refill" (all you can drink -- usually drinks are ordered, served, and paid for by the can or bottle) for R$6,50.

On to the dinner portion of our event (and a little bit of explanation): a rodízio is a style of serving where you don't have to get up to go to the buffet. The waiters bring it to you! So, the waiters bring around pizza and pasta. I wasn't sure how the crepe part was going to work. Turns out, you order whatever kind of crepe you want and they bring it to you -- made right when you order it! They have at least 100 different options for dinner crepes (I had one filled with chicken, corn, heart of palm, and catupiry cheese, and another filled with chicken and heart of palm). Oh -- they have quiche also. Cheese, palm heart, mushroom, codfish, etc. The best part of the evening was the dessert portion. Pizzas and crepes. Crepes are still special order. They have everything from doce de leite (my American readers are probably more familiar with the Spanish spelling, "dulce de leche") to coconut to banana, honey, and cinnamon, to NUTELLA. Have I mentioned that I love this place? Doce de leite with coconut was one of my options, and Nutella with sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand milk for those of you truly from the south) was the other. They almost had to roll me to the metro station.

I will definitely be going back. Here's to hoping it's sooner rather than later.

It's the most wonderful time....

Oh, wait: that's Christmas.

Easter is quickly approaching and we all know what that means -- Easter candy! I have definitely taken advantage of the great variety of Easter eggs that we have here in Brasil (for an example of what they look like, go to Nestlé and click on "Ovos Nestlé"). They are hollow chocolate eggs, usually with a coating on the inside of the egg (like the white chocolate on the inside of a Kinder Egg). They also have snack size pieces of the candy that corresponds to the flavor of the egg. I have already eaten two (one from last year -- yay for refrigerators!) and have two more. I will probably buy more before the season is over.

As much as I like the Easter candy here, nothing, and I mean nothing, beats Cadbury eggs. If you're not familiar with them, well, I pity you. (For more information on Cadbury eggs, click here.) They sell them year-round in England, and if it were an option for me to live there, I would. Just because of the eggs. And the Cadbury vending machines in the Tube stations. Being in Brasil doesn't keep me from having (at least limited) access to these wonderful treats. AB is bringing me a few next week. She is my Easter hero. Behind Jesus, that is.

This is an egg I bought a couple of weeks ago -- milk chocolate with chocolate truffle candy inside.












This is what Sharon got me for Easter. I love the mini milk can and the old advertisements!

Dream a little dream

To those who have been keeping up with my sleep (or lack thereof) saga, just thought you might want to know that I am sleeping well again. I am even dreaming. Crazy dreams (that I think are a combo of No Country for Old Men, LOST, and the John Grisham book I'm currently reading), but I am dreaming. And that means good, deep sleep.

All things new (and white)

I could turn this into a really good post about how those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are made new, and will be made white (pure, clean, etc.) through His blood. But I've made my point. So I won't.
I got a new refrigerator today, and it makes me happy. It's not actually new, as I snagged it from some missionaries that left last year (they got it new last March or so). I didn't complain much about my old one, because it's what I had and what was available. My old refrigerator was a brown monstrosity, whose handles were hanging on by their last little piece of plastic. It didn't have a crisper. No place for meat and cheese. It wasn't frost-free. Mind you, frost-free refrigerators are a fairly new thing here in Brasil.
My new refrigerator, though not as big, is white, and makes my kitchen look at least a little bigger. It has a meat drawer and a crisper. And it is frost-free. What does that mean for me? That I don't have to clean the water out of the bottom of my refrigerator (at least) once a week. That I don't have to worry nearly as much about freezer burn. That I have a place to put my vegetables and fruits (and meat and cheese). That makes me happy. Call me superficial, but it does.

No Country

Jenna and I went to see No Country for Old Men tonight, because we had heard it was playing, and that it was good. I haven't decided yet if it's going to grow on me or not. Maybe I'll know in a few weeks.
The one thing that will stand out to me over the next few days is that Javier Bardem's character (Anton Chugrin) is creepy. He is a psychopath who kills even if he doesn't have a logical reason (though the reason is logical enough to him). The hairstyle he sports doesn't help. A mustache would have put him over the top.
The Coen brothers certainly managed to keep their humor in what is a dark story. I found myself laughing at much of the dialogue. Not necessarily because it was comedic in itself, but because some of the conversations had a strange comedic value when held up alongside the violence.
Worth seeing? If you haven't, the DVD is coming out in a couple of weeks. If you don't like graphic violence, don't see it. My recommendation? I'll abstain from one either way; I'm still not sure.

Lazy days

I have had the song "Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer" in my head for quite a few weeks now, so I decided to post. Maybe that will help.
Things around here have been quite slow, and I haven't been doing much. I have managed to find things to blog about, but most of my days are spent reading. One of my current books is Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira (Blindness) by José Saramago. I'm reading it in Portuguese and it's been extremely interesting; it's unlike anything I've ever read before. The progression of events and the way that he writes them leave a lot to the imagination; not in the events themselves, but in the details surrounding them. He leaves the reader to explore the emotions and gut reactions of the characters, from the doctor and his wife (he doesn't use proper nouns) to the soldiers to the boy with the squint who doesn't know where his mother is. The primary question I continue to ask is "What would I do if I were there? How would I handle it? Would I be able to handle it?"
Saramago doesn't use quotation marks (which is common in Portuguese, but he also doesn't start a new paragraph when someone new is talking -- he only uses a capital letter to begin the next "sentence"), so the book reads a lot more like stream of consciousness than an orderly set of thoughts or an orderly conversation. It requires that one pay attention. When I finish it, I plan on reviewing it over on a blog I have been invited to co-author, Worm's Book Report.
Maybe after this I'll be able to tackle (and get through) Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Here's to hoping.

Matters of the heart

One of our churches downtown has a free medical clinic on Tuesday mornings, and I have been blessed to be able to go and help out. I don't always feel like I'm of much help, but it's fun to be there. Most of the people we treat are homeless, though some of them are better-kept than others. Some are alcoholics and still haven't hit bottom; others are truly trying to establish themselves but can't find steady work; others are lazy and want to live off the work of others.
I usually don't leave the clnic broken hearted; my ministry here in Rio was solidified inside that church, ministering to "favelados" and homeless people. To be able to do what I do, whether it be in the favelas or downtown, I have to step back from the situation and look at it objectively. My emotions rarely get involved, because I would be a wreck if I allowed them to control every response I had to these people. Yesterday was a little different. God has been opening up my emotions lately to hurt for others. In saying that, I don't mean having pity on people or feeling sorry for them. I mean hurting in the depths of my heart. We saw a patient yesterday who has been in several rehab centers (including the one that the church has). He arrived at the church drunk. Again. He went to one treatment center where the patients couldn't even leave the facility to buy bread (though it was provided), simply to avoid putting the temptation of drink in front of them. He is addicted to cachaça (a Brazilian liquor made from sugarcane -- it's very available and very cheap) and doesn't eat much. He is the son of a pastor, yet his father's relationship with Jesus can do nothing to change this man's life. His family (12 of them, immediate and extended, as far as I could tell) has been praying for him for years. He is still alive. Still drinking, but alive. I can't help but wonder what God intends to do with him.
Another man came to us needing a bandage done. He was quite pleasant to talk to, but was in severe pain. He was wearing one shoe and one flip-flop. He had a wound on his leg that was severely infected. At some point in the past (Brazilians, and more specifically homeless people, have a sense of time and the passage of events that is hard for my North American mind to grasp), he was wounded with metal on his shin. I don't know if it was a factory accident, or shrapnel, or just a crazy one in a million thing. He was trying as hard as he could to take decent care of the wound, wrapping it with clean (?) bandages when he had them, leaves when he didn't. As the doctor and nurse opened the bandages, I had to leave the room. The infection was severe, his leg was swollen, and the open wound was putrid. As the doctor and nurse cleaned his wound, the smell dissipated. As hard as this man was trying to take good care of his leg, he didn't have the capacity or the resources to do so, and my heart went out to him. I wonder how many hospitals he had been turned away from before he saw us yesterday.
Something that Pastor Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church in Seattle -- check out the podcasts) said in one of his recent sermons was that God doesn't go to the nice houses and find the good kids to adopt them. He goes to the orphanages and picks out the worst ones. In other words, He doesn't pick us because we have been good, or because we will be an easy child to raise. In fact, we all at some point in time are the horrible kid in the orphanage who has no hope for becoming a contributing member of God's Kingdom. But God picks the hopeless cases. We try so hard to take care of ourselves, to fix our problems, to heal our diseases, but we can't. Sin is a disease that we have no remedy for but perfection. For us, that is impossible, but through Jesus, it is already done. God has given us the remedy for all our evils and ills. Why? First, because He loves us. Second, because we are cases that no one but God can do anything with. Sin's only remedy is Jesus. He alone can change us. He alone can turn us into a contributing member of His Kingdom. God is good, and He is powerful.

Exhaustion Redux

Last night was the worst I've had in awhile by far. 4 hours of fitful sleep were granted to me between the hours of 1 and 2 am, and 6 and 9 am. And we fell back an hour last night, so my body recognized those hours as 2-3 and 7-10. Needless to say, today I am ready to sleep early and much. Here's to hoping I will get some good sleep. I don't want to go the route of taking meds to sleep (except maybe the occasional Benadryl), so tonight (thanks to Al's and David's suggestions) I will be having turkey and carbs, and I will also be taking some chamomile tea. And I might hide ALL my clocks and go to bed when I'm tired. Which is now....

Step 1

Admit you have a problem. Well, I have a problem. I love books. I love buying them, opening a new one, finishing an old one, and reading them.
Things around here have been slow as of late, since our teams don't start up until May. I'm not complaining; it's giving me time to do a lot of stuff I want to do, like read all the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. I've come upon a new list, and I am attempting to read everything off Peter Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. A complete list of the books can be found here. About 20% of them are available to me from Project Gutenberg, and the rest will just have to wait until I go back to the US. Or will they? I went to the bookstore and bought 2 new books today, one by a Portuguese author, José Saramago (a Nobel laureate) and Atonement (in Portuguese; they didn't have it in English) by Ian McEwan. The problem is this: I already have over 40 books on my to-read list, most of which are saved on my computer (I heart Project Gutenberg!). Two more? What does that make me? Besides seriously addicted....

My lucky day (I hope!)

As most everyone who knows me well knows, I don't have the greatest luck with Valentine's Day. This year (so far) has been drama-free, except for the robberies that happened in my neighborhood, 3 blocks from home this morning. Thankfully, I was still in bed when those were going on.
I got an e-mail from David this morning, and all it said was "Good luck". You have to laugh at that.

Blog Tag

Allison tagged me to play!

I am scraping the bottom of the barrel for things to post about (it's Carnaval, and as I am not there, it's pretty quiet), so thanks to Al for giving me something to post!

7 Random Facts About Me:

1. I currently live in Rio de Janeiro.

2. I had 4 roommates my first 4 semesters in college. Trust me, I was the problem.

3. I regularly eat popcorn for dinner. I mean, what's the point in cooking for just me?

4. I love to cook. The more people I'm cooking for, the merrier!

5. I love to read and am constantly reading more than 1 book at a time. My mom has never been able to understand why or how I do that.

6. I am slowly going through the list of Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. I have read 18 out of 80 so far.

7. My favorite job ever is what I am doing right now (managing and running a pharmacy for volunteer medical missionaries), but my summers as a camp counselor run a really close second.


Game of Blog Tag Rules:
*Link to the person that tagged you.
*Post the rules on your blog.
*Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
*Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
*Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.


I'm tagging:

Susanna Julie Soj Jenna

On friendship

I am beginning to realize how important friendships are to me. You know, those people you have met along the way and will always be a part of your life, no matter who else comes in it. Having been able to see friends over Christmas, I realized that I have a lot more of those friendships than I thought. I am grateful that I have friends I can share my opinion with, who may or may not take my advice, but don't think twice about the way I say things. They know me, they know my heart, and they know I'm not telling them something out of spite or meanness. And so they take my opinion and do what they will with it, but they don't ridicule it; they respect it. And they don't get mad at me for saying it. Those with whom I can be unabashedly honest with are few, and I love them. That kind of honesty and transparency takes time, effort, and not a few disagreements. You have to know it's okay to be who you are, because you are just that. You have to know that if you don't change your opinion on something, your friend is still your friend. You have to walk together long enough to know that walking together is something you do because you want to, because you know the effort is worth it, not because it's something you have to do.
At first, there is no vision of something bigger. All of a sudden, you look back and realize it's been 5, 8, 10 years since that first random meeting, whether you had mutual friends, or your dates decided to ditch you, or you were both going overseas. And you are thankful that God has allowed those people to come into your life and stay. As frustrating as they can be, you are equally frustrating. But that's only because you want to see them make good choices and grow as people. They want the same for you.

Exhaustion, a temporary conclusion

At the risk of boring readers (and myself) by continuing to write about how tired I am, let me just say: I am sleeping. Not enough, but I am sleeping. I am no longer stressing about sleep. My room is considerably darker with the red display hidden. I have not taken medicine to sleep. I might just brave a nap this afternoon.

Exhaustion, Day???

I'm actually just too lazy to count backwards. I have been sleeping better, even over the weekend, which is surprising, considering I saw 2 intense films in 2 days (I Am Legend and Rendition). I have started doing my yoga before bed (apparently your muscles are stretchier at night and it's easier to do), and the whole hiding of my clock has been quite helpful. I'm still waking up in the middle of the night, but I'm not nearly as conscious of it because I don't have red numbers staring at me, mocking me.
The weather here has been prime for daytime sleeping (cool, rainy), and I am sorely tempted....

Exhaustion, Day 3

Not sure what time I went to sleep last night, but it was after midnight (my fault for staying up more than anything). I woke up several times during the night and am getting increasingly frustrated. I am holding off on taking meds to help the sleeping as long as I can (don't worry; I have a small supply on hand), but I am coming close to caving.
There is something in me really wanting to reset my body's circadian clock -- I got up at 8:00 this morning and am really wanting to get in bed right now. Problem is, it's not dark, nor is it past 6:00pm. Maybe if I'm like Paul and make my body obey me....

Exhaustion, Day 2

I put my clock with the big bright red numbers under my bed last night so I wouldn't be tempted to stress about what time it was. I'm really not sure how well it worked, though I know that it took me at least an hour to fall asleep. There are churches whose bells toll every 15 minutes -- that kind of defeats the purpose of my putting the clock under my bed, but at least I'm not tempted to look, right?
This morning at 7:05, my cell phone battery decided to signal its imminent exhaustion as well. Man, that sound is loud! I plugged it in and went back to sleep. My boss called at 7:48. My alarm went off at 8:15, 8:20, and 8:25. I got up at 8:55, read, did yoga, and went for a walk around the block. I have been busy this morning and am tired. Maybe that will help tonight.
On the sleep itself? It wasn't enough.

Exhaustion

I am exhausted. I have had some trouble sleeping over the past few days and I can't figure out why. A myriad of wonderings has passed through my mind, several times. Is it because of the creepy presence that's felt in my room from time to time? Is it because my room isn't dark enough? Is it because of the fact that I am now 3 hours ahead of the time I'm used to going to bed? Is it because my mind is always working, in 2 languages? Is it because I am always in "alert mode" here in Brasil, waiting for the proverbial ax to fall? Is it because I am anxious about getting to sleep?
I have no idea. And it sucks.

Not only in Brasil

I'm sure this could happen in a myriad of other countries, too, but why is it always me?
I went to the Federal Police yesterday to renew my registration and everybody was super nice. Except for the guy who doesn't really like anybody. Good going, right? Yup. Then I got to the last guy. He was also super nice, but noticed that my visa that I've gotten extended had been cancelled in my passport and I'm just in on a tourist visa. He still gave me the stamp in my passport and the little piece of paper that says I'm legally in the country (until October 15, 2008), but warned me that if my paperwork doesn't get approved in Brasília, they will send me an "invitation to appear at the Federal Police" and I will have to leave the country. One thing after another, right? I apparently was supposed to send copies of my papers in with my tourist visa paperwork letting the consulate know I was in the process of extending my visa. Our lawyer told me not to. How frustrating is that? His (the last guy's) exact words were, "let's root for you." Or something like that.
Pray that I don't get kicked out of the country.

2008 To-Do List

I suppose that since it's a new year, I should get into the psychologically appropriate spirit of setting goals. You know, new year, new goals and all. Especially since last year's were kind of a bust. I made a list yesterday of things to do daily, and I completed that list yesterday (1-3; I added 4 and 5 today). I'm hoping I will stick to them.
Here it is, and I may add to or subtract from it at any time....
1. Read/journal/pray
2. Read part of any one of the many books on my "currently reading" list
3. Yoga (apparently, because of my high-stress life and misaligned spine, I am a good candidate)
4. Exercise (not daily, but 3 times a week would be good)
5. Cook something fun every once in a while -- I can't bring myself to cook that much for just me (potato soup was last night, and boy, was it good!)

Back to "reality"

I arrived in Rio this morning safe and sound. No trouble with immigration or customs, though my bags were packed full of fun stuff that doesn't come from Brasil. All of it is for personal use, of course. My flight was uneventful, but there are a few highlights:

• - Before we boarded, I was sitting down eating dinner and a family (around 8 people, including 4 generations) came to sit down near me. The great grandmother needed to sit as well, and the chair I was in was closest to the rest of the family. They directed her to sit somewhere in the row of empty chairs next to me (farther away from the family) and I said, "I can move," thinking that the family would like to sit together. I immediately received a comically collective "NO!" from them. Not sure if it's because I was in the middle of eating my sandwich or because they really didn't want me to have to move. Either way, it was dramatic in true Brasilian fashion.
• When we boarded the plane, we all had little packets in our seats, complete with earphones (for the movie), a mask, lotion (I guess that they can put it on the plane, even if we can't bring it), toothbrush and toothpaste, and earplugs. It is the last I am immensely thankful for. I inserted them into my ears in an attempt to block out the roaring noise from the jet's engines (I was in an exit row seat on the wing -- praise God for those). About halfway through the night I awoke to the sound of a kid screaming. The sound was coming from a seat not near mine. I kept thinking, "Thank You, God, for earplugs," and wondered how much the screaming would have disturbed me had I been sans auditory protection.
• I was on the east side of the plane this morning and was blessed to actually see the sun rising -- from the thin ribbon of sunlight creeping over the horizon to the sun in full display. Full enough to warm me at 30,000 feet.

Boy, am I glad to be back.

It's here!

I am leaving this afternoon for Brasil, and I am skillfully procrastinating. I don't think I'll get everything in my suitcases (that I think are allowed to be up to 70 pounds, since I bought my ticket in Brasil). I don't want to weed anything out, because I will of course be in dire need of it if I don't take it. I'm acting like I live in the middle of nowhere, with no stores around me. And here I sit, typing instead of packing. Back to the undesired....

Just another day

until the mail lady came. Not the regular one, the express one. My passport came in today, and I will be leaving for Brasil on Tuesday evening. Yay! I am ready to go back, since it has been COLD here lately.