Laughable or not

I can't decide. For those of you I have talked to, you know LOTS of tears were shed over this, beginning about 3 weeks ago. Went to the Brazilian Consulate in Miami to apply for a visa on Monday and sat in the wrong office for 3 hours. Right city, right street, right building, right floor, wrong office. If I hadn't lived in Brazil already, I would have wondered why no one told me when I signed in. Having lived in Brazil, I didn't wonder. By the time I figured it out, the visa section had closed for lunch. Hmmph. And then they wouldn't accept my documents Monday afternoon (understandable, since they only accept visa apps from 10-12). Went back Tuesday morning. The lady at the counter told me I needed a missionary visa, though that's not what I was applying for. Went back at 3 to talk to her supervisor (she told me to come back) and my docs were still sitting on her desk waiting to be looked at. E-mailed her to make sure all my documents were in order, and it turns out I was missing one that I needed from Brazil. Hmmph again. E-mailed my boss in Brasilia and he sent me a letter asking the consulate to reconsider their requirement for that particular document for lots and lots of reasons. Mailed that to the consulate this morning. We'll see what happens. All I can do now is wait and do what they tell me to.

Foiled again!

Hmm. Who would have thought that going to Miami would be so complicated? I know I will get there in God's perfect timing, but today that's not fast enough! And then I think I might should be thankful because I have a job.... I just feel like I'm wasting time when I could already be there learning language or something else useful.

Next!

Got my documents back today from the Brazilian Consulate (funny how they are much faster than my own government!), so I hope to go sometime next week to apply for my visa. Hope to head "home" soon.

Adventure for the morning

I found a bird (it looked like a duck) in the house this morning. It flew down the chimney (which is why I am doubting its identity as a duck), got ashes all over the floor, and proceeded to walk/fly around the house. First of all, it scared me. Second, I was walking around opening every window in the house trying to chase said animal out a window or the door. Needless to say, I was laughing out loud. A lot. Especially while trying to get the bird out from under the dining room table. The opening of the windows was successful; he finally flew out. Now I have to sweep and vaccuum.

Frustrated

I am waiting on paperwork. Who would have ever thought it would be from my own government, and not that of a laid-back South American nation? Most of my friends are ticketed and leaving next week, while I am not sure how much longer I'll be here. It's very frustrating. BUT, on the other hand.... I am having much time to pack, though I don't have to worry about the possible unavailability of deodorant like one of my friends....
I am trying to have a good attitude, but I am ready to go home.

Almost done

So I have 5 full days left in Richmond. I am ready to go home (to Brazil). It's looking better -- my documents are at an encouraging place in their rabbit trail.
I am driving to Georgia in a few days and am looking forward to a weekend at the lake with friends.
The next month or so will be spent traveling to Miami (to apply for my visa), tying up loose ends, and visiting friends in various places. Home is calling....

FOUR -- I got tagged!

Four jobs I've had:
Chemistry Lab Assistant (which consisted mostly of me answering questions while the prof went outside for smoke breaks)
Summer Camp Counselor
Pharmacist
Missionary to Brazil

Four movies I could watch over and over (set is one entry):
Princess Diaries (1 & 2)
Dead Poet Society
Casablanca
City of God (Cidade de Deus)

Four books I could read over and over (a whole series counts as one, excluding the Bible):
C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia (yes, all 7)
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter (all 6 out so far)
C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity
Journals of Jim Elliot

Four places I have lived:
Carrollton, Georgia
Birmingham, Alabama
Mentone, Alabama
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Four TV shows I watch:
Sorry -- what is TV? If I had to pick:
Arrested Development (before I was informed that it is over)
The Simpsons
Gilmore Girls
Crossing Jordan

Four places I have been on vacation:
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Santiago, Chile
London, England
New York, New York

Four websites I visit daily:
Yahoo!
Barnes & Noble

Team Redd

-- Allison tagged me!
Currently (until I get my visa), the Consulate General of Brazil in Miami

Four favorite foods:
Any kind of Mexican food (it's all the same, right?)
Anything from Italy (tiny restaurants in Cortona preferred -- you know, the family-owned kind)
Brazilian stroganoff
Tiramisu

Four places I'd like to be right now:
Back in Rio!
Houston, TX (those of you who know me know who's there)
Curled up by a fire with a good book (if we had fireplaces here, that's where I'd be, as it's snowing again today)
New York City (minus the snow)

Festive meal

Last night we had the craziest meal ever -- heart-shaped ravioli that was PINK. I must admit, it was a little weird to be eating pink pasta, but it was quite tasty. What was for dessert? What else? Red velvet cake!

A lot more weather

I think we got 4-5 inches of snow overnight. We had fun this am with the snowball fights and sledding -- things I never get to do, because I live too close to the equator (below and above) to get much snow that I can play in. Props to the facilities team who was out at 7 am shoveling snow off the walkways (I think they got to drive a mini-snowplow and I'm a little jealous 'cause I think that would be fun).

A little weather

It's finally snowing! We're supposed to get 3-6 inches in the "metro" area with 1-3 more inches in outlying areas (we are definitely in the middle of nowhere here). We'll see how much fun we have playing in it. They've actually provided toys for us so we don't have to swipe the cafeteria trays to use as sleds.

Adventure for today

So we set off the fire alarm in our quad today (not in my apartment, but still...). We were trying to cook pizzas and one of the ovens had oil in the bottom. Usually, when the (very sensitive) smoke detector goes off, 3 different volunteer fire departments respond to the call and maintenance has to wait until the building has been cleared to turn off the (very loud) siren. We stood outside for about 20 minutes in the wind and finally got our picture taken with the fire truck and the firemen.

So I am definitely here in Virginia having adventures. My roommate is one whole foot shorter than I am (that's twelve inches, for those of you who are measurementally challenged). We have had "special meals" a couple of times, and we've had to eat only what was put in front of us (for those of you who know me, you know that wasn't a problem). In other words, no going to the vending machines after lunch because you didn't like the food.
The first special meal was Middle Eastern in nature. It consisted of meatballs (ground beef, but if we'd been in the ME, it would have been lamb -- ew), a "salsa" made of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions, and a pita-type bread.
Yesterday we had a Caribbean flavor -- pork that looked strangely like barbeque, corn and flour tortillas, salsa (the kind you eat with chips), and black beans and rice. Now let's talk about these black beans and rice with no seasoning. I am used to having them seasoned with garlic and onion (the Brazilian way to eat them), and these had nothing. Not even the tiniest bit of salt. One of our tablemates asked what gave the rice its color. "Bean juice" was the quick answer. I'm not sure he knew what I meant...

It's getting colder (and wetter) here with no promise of snow. Honestly, what's the point of being cold and wet without getting to play in it?

Being a slacker

So I'm in Virginia for 7 weeks "learning how to be a missionary." I am still amused at all of the people running around like crazy looking for books and such to read (that were assigned by their regional offices). I also feel like a slacker because I'm not doing anything. Props to my regional office for sending me our books 6 weeks ago!

"But the Cross is final. There is no turning now, no halfway stopping place." Journals of Jim Elliot, June 18, 1948
I am having to remember this these days -- that the Cross means death. Either death to myself and my desires, or death to what the Lord is doing in me. If I die to myself, God can produce fruit in my life. But if I do not die, there will be no fruit. (John 12:24)

Hope is a good thing

Psalm 51:4: “Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge.”
(The end of the Portuguese version translates “Your sentence is just and You have reason to condemn me.”)
I have sinned in such a way that God’s sentence is righteous and He has every right to condemn me. This is the gravity of sin – He is right and has every reason to condemn me! But I can also ask for mercy; because Jesus died and was raised again, my sins are gone. His spilled blood takes away (leva) my sin, so that I do not have it anymore.
That is the message that He wants me to take to others – our utter defeat because we have disobeyed God (we cannot obey Him perfectly, for no one is perfect) and the hope that we have because Jesus stepped in to take away the punishment for that disobedience.
The message of hope can break down barriers.

Tenderness

Treating my femininity and delicateness (which some days I am sure I don't possess) with care, not out of fear, but out of respect and awe because of its otherness.
I am beginning to realize that my view of someone caring for me is steeped in provision of my physical needs (food, shelter, etc). I also know full well that it's not the whole story. The Lord is opening my eyes to what that really means through His caring for Israel.

"To wait open-endedly is an enormously radical attitude toward life. So is to trust that something will happen to us that is far beyond our imaginings. So, too, is giving up control over our future and letting God define our life, trusting that God molds us according to God's love and not according to our fear." --Henri Nouwen

Thank God for small favors

Just read the following article about the national shortage of pharmacists:
Pharmacist Shortage Worsens Nationwide
Boy, am I glad I'm not going back to the US to work (quite yet)! I leave Brasil on Saturday and will be at home visiting family and friends for 6 weeks before I am off to Richmond, VA for a 7-week training course that all new IMB missionaries have to go through. God willing, I will be back in Brasil in March for another 2 years. That's more than enough time for the shortage to pass, right?

Psalm 35

It has been quite awhile since I have put something down here that I feel is "of substance." I hit a wall today, yet the Lord opened the floodgates and gave me this:
The Lord is opening my eyes to know what kind of battle is going on for my life. He knows that He already has my soul, and so the true fight is to see who I am going to live for -- myself (or Satan) or for God? I am coming to the realization that I am not the only one fighting that battle, and that is such good news to me! I have tried and tried for so long to conquer the enemy and have been so unsuccessful. Watchman Nee’s The Normal Christian Life is helping me to understand that my efforts, no matter how well-placed, are efforts of the flesh. The Lord is teaching me that sometimes I am to stop fighting and let Him do the work. That brings new meaning to Psalm 46:10 -- “Cease striving, and know that I am God.” Instead of living in the flesh, I am to live in the Spirit. What does that mean? Sometimes I am not even sure; however, I do know that all of my fleshly efforts must stop to let the Holy Spirit work in and through me.
I have been going through David’s feelings in Psalm 35 -- I am feeling them too! He begins with a plea for the Lord to contend with those who contend with him and to fight against those who fight against him. Not only that, but to come to his aid and to brandish the spear and javelin against those who pursued him -- to threaten his enemies and scare them off, even. Now, David was the mighty shepherd who struck down Goliath with a sling and a stone, who killed both the lion and the bear with his hands. Why should he need the Lord to fight his battles for him? Yet he did. How much more do I need to rely fully on the Lord to fight for me! He needed to hear that the Lord was his salvation -- he asked the Lord to hear that phrase.
As it was with David, there are those who seek my life and plot my ruin, though they are not people. They are the powers of darkness, set on my ruin -- set on taking my trust away from the Lord and putting it in myself (or in them, even). Set on cutting me off from the vine, when that is my source of life. I see this battle as one where I have fought and fought and when I have just about given up all hope, the Lord comes in and saves my hide. I didn’t weaken the enemy in any way for Him to be able to handle (you know, like loosening the lid of the pickle jar for the next person). He allows me to fight so that I can see my own weakness and fall into despair. I know that sounds funny, but there is good news at the end of that -- He rescues the poor from those too strong for them.
Verses 11-18 describe somewhat my current wave of feelings. The enemy sends forward ruthless witnesses who ask questions that have nothing to do with the real issue. I entertain them as if they were worthy to be thought on; I take them into my mind and my heart as if they were family, as if they had always lived there, as if they are truly at home there. I do know that if I am not careful, they will take up residence and stay. They are only waiting around to watch me fall, which actually gives me new motivation to stand firm. Verse 20 really hit me because it’s the culmination of those other verses -- if there is nothing to accuse, then they make something up. As I was reading that verse, another one came to mind, Romans 8:33 -- “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” Wow. No matter what the enemy accuses me of, I am justified in Christ. Of course, if I am living in sin, then the Lord has to search my heart and show me that. But accusations that are solely of the enemy are what I am talking about here. He has accused me of many things that I have taken to heart, but the scales are beginning to fall off and I am beginning to see them for what they are -- lies.
David pleads with the Lord to awake and rise to his defense, to be not silent. He wants to be vindicated, not in his own righteousness, but in the righteousness of the Lord. He pleads the Lord not to let his enemies think they have won; he asks the Lord to put those who gloat over his distress to be put to shame and confusion, to be clothed with shame and disgrace. And as for those who delight in his vindication, where does he turn their praise? To the Lord. And to top it all off, he praises the Lord. A song that begins in distress ends in praise. Let mine be so as well.