Me, me, me

I have been reading The Gospel According to America by David Dark, and I agree with him when he says that we have individualized our faith, taken it out of community, and say that it will have no bearing on decisions that we make in "other parts" of our lives. We run into problems with all three points. The problem with the first two is that faith is lived out in community in the Bible and we have taken the somewhat "isolated" giants of the faith (isolated because they were leaders) as our example to be isolated in faith. And I must confess that I myself have so often seen the bad in the Israelites -- their faults, that I have forgotten that they were on a journey too, and that they were passed over in Egypt because they did as the Lord said and put the blood of the slain Passover lamb on the doorposts of their homes, that they saw Him do miracles, that they wandered in the wilderness -- all as a community.
An interesting thing that I see in some communities today is that we tend to think that someone within the community that needs our help is an aberration, someone who may deserve what has come to them. But are we not all these people?
The problem with the third (that faith will have no bearing on the rest of our lives) is that it is simply impossible. Our decisions are always influenced (one way or another) by our background, our upbringing, and our story. May our lives and decisions be based more on Jesus's story than the wounds of our own.

Update for a new year

Hello friends and family!
Much has happened since I last wrote. Not in the way of teams, but in the way of Brazilian culture and fun!
I was blessed to be able to spend Christmas with Louise (a friend of mine) and her whole family. Brazilian Christmas is not much different than my own family’s Christmas, except for the hours. Dinner is at midnight, the beginning of Christmas day, followed by presents. Bedtime is not before 4 or 5 am, followed by a wake-up time late on Christmas day.
It’s been unseasonably cool here, but even though it hasn’t been hot (very often), it didn’t feel like Christmas. When you’re used to Christmas temperatures that are below 50 degrees F, a warm Christmas is weird!
I have been doing some language study and am enjoying learning the ins and outs of Portuguese and being forced to communicate in a different language. I love learning to be a part of the culture here, because it’s allowing me to grow and change and depend on God to do His work in my life. Getting used to a new way of life and a new way of doing things is a challenge that I can’t conquer on my own.
We have our schedule of teams set but don’t know yet where everyone is going. Sunday we started visiting churches (we visited 3!) and will visit 2 more this week. It’s pretty amazing to be on the preparation side of things, because the preparation is work that goes into the clinic long before the clinic ever happens. It’s the behind-the-scenes work that I missed by only being down here while the clinics were actually happening.
We’ll be having 2 all-Brazilian clinics this year, one at the end of this month and one in March. Next month we will be having English classes for our interpreters to improve their English. My hope is that through these classes they will become much better in evangelism, and that we would be able to encourage them in their walk with God.
One of my new jobs (aside from the pharmacy responsibilities) is working with our interpreters – deciding who will work which clinics, depending on how many volunteers we have and what kind of work we are doing.
Prayer requests:
-That my study of the language would be fruitful and that I would be able to communicate better every day
-That God would grant Ray & Sharon wisdom as they decide what areas to work in this year
-That even our Brazilian doctors would see the need to share the good news of Jesus with the patients we see in the all-Brazilian clinics
-That I would be able to work well with our interpreters, and that I would truly get to know them
-That we would be able to encourage our interpreters in their walk with God over this year
Thank you all so much for your prayers!
For He alone is worthy.

Resolutions? Nah.

JAX used the dirtiest of all dirty words in one of her posts the other day: resolution. I don't generally make New Year's resolutions, usually because I forget. But I also hate the thought of trying, in my own strength, with only my will to back my effort, to do something I haven't been able to accomplish before.
However, I have come up with a few goals for this new year and would love to hear about some of yours!
1. Get out of just reading Psalms and Proverbs (Read the New Testament once every 2 months and the Old Testament once every 6 months -- that's 5 chapters a day of each).
2. Journal daily -- from readings especially, and also from life.
3. Read some in at least one of the current books I'm reading daily.
4. Take time to be still (in silence, simply listening to the world around me and the God who loves me).
5. Pray specifically for others (I am pretty good at praying for myself).

A clean slate

I am excited about this new year and all that is coming with it.
Here's a list of things I am looking forward to:
1. Another year of doing my dream job, and being more involved in it than I have been in the past (since I live here full time now and can actually speak the language).
2. Family coming to visit (maybe we'll get my brothers down here!)
3. Friends coming to visit (you know who you are and that you do need to come)
4. Really immersing myself in the Brasilian culture and falling more in love with it every day (including getting what Amy calls a "holiday tan" since it's summer here)
5. More volunteer teams starting up in April

A very good year

If I really sat down and thought about it, I would come up with a post too long to post, but here's a recap of things that blessed my heart in 2006:
1. Coming back to Brasil!!!! (of course)
2. Living on the farm for 2 months with a bunch of other M's and keeping in touch with them now.
3. Living with my mom for 3 months while waiting on my visa and having her encouragement and advice, even when I didn't want to hear it.
4. Living in Birmingham for 3 months while waiting on my visa with a roommate and a job that were perfect for the time.
5. Getting to live around lots of college friends -- seems like most of them ended up in Birmingham!
6. Getting to visit college friends.
7. Helping JAX remember what it's like to laugh and be silly and relax with your best friend like you can do with no one else.
8. New friends scattered all over the world.
9. A Brasilian experience that I can call my own (though I miss Amy tons!).
10. My dream job.
11. A wonderul boyfriend who totally understands why I am here and not there, what I do, and Brasilian culture, having grown up here himself.
12. Knowing that I am missed (for whatever reason -- a common one seems to be my cooking) by people in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Houston (not to mention the family in GA & MT).
13. Learning (I certainly still don't have it down!) to rest in the loving arms of the One who has all things under control, whether it be how long it takes to get a visa, a perfect situation to live in during the wait, or even sending my roommate back "home" to the US so (if for no other reason) I can have my own Brasilian life.

Best Christmas Present Ever

Well, Christmas has been a little drawn out this year, since mom sent me 12 days of Christmas (which I got before Christmas) and so did dad (which I got today). My friend Corrie sent me an envelope full of cards from my Sunday School class, and what else did she include in it but SNOW! I love the fact that she wanted me to have a semi-normal Christmas (where it's cold) even though I am here close to the beaches of Rio! I am so thankful for my wonderful friends!

Well, I though I should let people know I'm okay after reading this article about the latest wave of violence in Rio.
I know that there are plenty of people worried about me, but I'm not scared. Know that that is not simply a cavalier attitude where I throw caution to the wind. I do exercise caution (like I probably won't be going to Copacabana by myself anytime this week and I don't walk around with a lot of money in my pockets, and I wouldn't, even if I had any!). God both exercises and stays His hand in full wisdom, drawing people to Himself in the process. Who knows, maybe I'll get to talk to someone who lost a relative or friend in this violence when we go out with our teams next year.
A little bit about our work (for those of you who don't already know): I am a missionary with the IMB, and we (I along with a team of 4 others) take teams of volunteers from the great state of Tennessee into the favelas (slums) of Rio to provide medical care and to tell them about Jesus and the love of God. An amazing job -- it has truly been a gift and a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of American life.

Brazilian Christmas

I got to spend Christmas at my friend Louise's house with her whole family -- a real Natal Brasileiro! We started with a family dynamic (a type of icebreaker/party game) and then shared our favorite Bible verses and prayed. We ate dinner at 1 a.m. Christmas morning! After dinner, we exchanged presents and finally went to sleep at 4:30.
Christmas day was a day at the beach -- a fine idea, as it was about 100 degrees outside, and Christmas night was spent at a church service commemorating and celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. His coming was long-awaited and expected by those who lived in His time, and today His followers are awaiting His return. We celebrate His first coming and await His second, when we will be with Him in glory.

12 Days of Christmas, Part 12

On the 12th day of Christmas, my mother sent to me:

For One More Day by Mitch Albom. Haven't heard much about it (having been sequestered in a foreign country for 2 months). Yay for a new book!

12 Days of Christmas, Part 11

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my mother sent to me:
Two very fun pairs of earrings that will certainly get put to good use!

Light of the World

Psalm 82 got me thinking this morning. I love the fact that it talks about defending the weak and maintaining the rights of the poor and oppressed. For me, at least in my life, that doesn't mean through law or politics (I am thankful each day that God created me as I am. Love to those of you in my life who are or desire to be in law, politics, or both!). Verse 5 says this: "They walk about in darkness." Do I think they walk about in the dark bumping into things because they sometimes can't pay their electric bill (a very real possibility)? Nope. They walk about in darkness because they don't know Christ. As a follower of Christ, one of the tasks that falls to me is carrying His message to others. I happen to live in Brasil. I happen to be a pharmacist who works on a team, bringing medical care to the slums of Rio. I would not be faithful to my task if I only took medical care with me. These people are not in darkness because they are poor or don't always have access to medical care. Sometimes that's even an advantage that helps them to see the hope that Christ gives. He has gone to prepare a dwelling place for us, His followers, His church, His bride. Because He came to this earth as a tiny baby (which we celebrate at Christmas), I have been rescued from the futility of the curses that were given to Adam and Eve in Genesis. Their curses brought death. Christ brings life.

12 Days of Christmas, Part 10

On the tenth day of Christmas, my mother sent to me:
Elton John's Christmas Party
Although I am sad it came near the end of the presents, I am excited because I will probably listen to it all year.

Tea with the queen

Well, not quite, since Brazil doesn't have a queen. This afternoon was an adventure. My friend has been telling me about this tea since I got here and we finally decided to go today. The picture is of me and her. Here's a rundown of the courses:

• Bread: cheese bread, croissants, breads filled with guava jelly, danishes, and Hawaiian bread, all served with butter and 2 types of jelly (yellow papaya and apricot)


• "Salgadinhos" (salty dishes): finger sandwiches -- ham & cheese, salmon, and sun-dried tomato with turkey; and baby quiches -- spinach and onion (not together)


• "Doces" (sweets): waffle (pronounced "WAY-ful") with honey, chocolate fondue with fruits in season, and cakes of chocolate, nuts, and some sort of fruit that we didn't recognize


• Drinks: water, juices of our choice, hot chocolate, and coffee

All of this was "a vontade" (as much as we wanted) for a fixed price. I couldn't put anything else in my stomach by the time the cakes came (thankfully, I was able to eat the fondue). Next time, I'm going to fast a full 24 hours in advance....

Lottie Moon

A friend of mine sent out her update today, and as I haven't really been diligent in telling people about Aunt Lottie, now is the time. The International Mission Board (IMB) takes up a special offering every Christmas for world missions. That offering pays for me to be here -- my salary, my apartment, my car, my health insurance -- along with over 5000 other "M's" around the world. I found out two fun things from her update:
1. Some clever person has started a blog written from the point of view of Lottie Moon. Apparently Lottie Lives.
2. One isn't restricted to giving to Aunt Lottie just at Christmastime (though that is certainly an easy time to give). You can go to the IMB website and give online, year round.
Thank you to everyone who makes it possible for me to be here through their giving, going, and praying!

12 Days of Christmas, Part 9

On the ninth day of Christmas my mother sent to me:
Travel-size Bath & Body Works. At least I can smell good while I sweat.

HOT

Oh, my. Summer starts tomorrow and it's already reached 100 degrees (actually 104 in places yesterday). AND the heat index (you know, the "feels like") was 112 today. I am pretty wiped out. The one comforting thought is that a friend told me that not even Brazilians can stand this kind of heat (this is the kind of heat that requires 3 showers in one day, all cold!).

12 Days of Christmas, Part 8

On the eighth day of Christmas my mother sent to me:
A grand SuDoKu book (complete with a little frowny-face in the "O" who, apparently, is sticking his tongue out at anyone willing to challenge him). I had run out of puzzles, so I am quite glad for this one.

12 Days of Christmas, Part 7

On the seventh day of Christmas, my mother sent to me:
A very festive Nutcracker ornament for my (still) non-existent tree. I have always loved The Nutcracker (the story and the ballet), since I was little. I used to dream of taking part in the ballet, and I absolutely LOVE the music! It always makes me think of Christmas.

Settling in

I figured this post was something worthy of shouting from the rooftops, but I will maintain my decorum. I have had more people over the past 3 or 4 weeks say (when they found out I was NOT Brazilian), "Oh, I just spoke Portuguese to you because I thought you were Brazilian." Which is all very well and good, since I speak Portuguese. PEOPLE HERE THINK I'M BRAZILIAN! How cool is that?

12 Days of Christmas, Part 6

On the sixth day of Christmas my mother sent to me:
A bag of Dove dark chocolates. Apparently they're healthy (what are cocoa flavanols, anyway?). And tasty. They are magical stress relievers. They're in my freezer right now because I'm scared that they'll melt otherwise.

I went to church tonight to hear the Christmas Cantata (Cantata do Natal) and it was pretty amazing. Brazilians love music, and so when they have the chance to sing, boy do they get into it! I had to laugh because some of the songs were a little different:
"Angels We Have Heard on High" was sung to a samba beat. My friend said "Only in Brasil will they put a samba beat and Latin in the same song, at the same time." And her sister added, "Yeah, and at Christmas too!"
"Hallelujah Chorus" was jazzed up a little bit, too. They sang it in the "classic style" last Sunday night and definitely adapted it to Brazilian culture tonight.
It's still weird to be hearing Christmas music when everyone in the praça is fanning themselves with the bulletin. But Christmas time it is!

12 Days of Christmas, Part 5

On the fifth day of Christmas, my mother sent to me:
A lovely retro-looking fleece throw blanket. That's definitely a laugh because while I will definitely need it during the winter (June, July, August), it's a funny present to open when it's almost 95 degrees outside.

12 Days of Christmas, Part 4

On the fourth day of Christmas my mother sent to me:
A little Santa ornament to put on my tree (that for some reason I haven't gotten yet).

More funny sounds

This is one I thought I'd never hear! I bought a CD today with Brazilian songs on it (in Portuguese) from the novelas here (very much like soap operas, but they run 6 nights a week for 8 or 9 months and then they're over). All of a sudden I realized I was listening to "Poison Ivy" in Portuguese. I have to say that's the bright part of my day so far.

12 Days of Christmas, Part 3

On the third day of Christmas my mother sent to me:
A really cool scrub top with none other than Strawberry Shortcake all over it! Yes, I am 28 years old, and yes, I did like Strawberry Shortcake when I was little. And yes, I do wear scrubs to work here, because in the favelas, when we're doing our medical clinics, that's how the Brazilians know who belongs to the team. I'd wear scrubs in the US all the time if I could get away with it.

12 Days of Christmas, Part 2

On the second day of Christmas, my mother gave to me:
The Break-Up, with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. Haven't seen it yet. (Mom, are you trying to tell me something?)

12 Days of Christmas, Part 1

My mom is so much fun. She sent me a package with enough presents for 12 days -- that's been a tradition with us for a few years now. I realize that the "real" 12 days of Christmas don't start until Christmas night, but I would rather start now, because my Christmas will last longer that way (I'm having Christmas with some friends after they get back from vacation, after Christmas).
And so, without further ado....(drum roll)
On the first day of Christmas, my mother gave to me:
A little stuffed cow ornament that "sings Christmas carols in his own language!" I pressed the button that says "Squeeze My Tummy" and all of a sudden he started mooing (yes, mooing) "Deck the Halls." Needless to say, it made me laugh. That's my Christmas music for the season.
Thanks to Allison for the suggestion of posting pictures!

Funny sounds

As I am sitting here at my computer, I hear the unmistakable sound of a vaccuum cleaner and wonder who is dumb enough to have carpet here in Brasil. It's certainly funny to hear sounds that are familiar to home in a foreign land. As you know, carpet is a great insulator of homes in the US to keep the heat in during winter. It's getting to be summer here and while it's not even close to being hot yet, our homes are built of brick and concrete and our floors are covered with tile. That helps ward off the heat (and laying on the cool floor when it's hot feels so good!).

Paradise and more

I'm currently living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Rio comes complete with mountains and the beach and is home to the world's largest urban forest (which you would know if you watched the CSI: Miami episode that was set in Rio).
With that said, knowing that I live in paradise, there are other places I'd love to live (or at least just visit now and again):
1. London
2. Florence
3. Just outside London in a big country house (Think of the professor's house in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
4. Australia
5. Greece
6. Cortona, Italy (the featured city in Under the Tuscan Sun -- it's just as charming as it looks in the movie!)
7. New York City (just to visit, not to live)
Maybe I'll get to all these places again sometime (and to Australia and Greece for the first time)....
Addendum:
In honor of Soj (you know I love you!), my only "continental" Portuguese-speaking friend, and others that I seem to have forgotten, I am adding to this list.
8. Portugal (and Spain, I guess -- I'd love to see the running of the bulls)
9. Egypt
10. India
11. Switzerland
12. Germany/Austria
13. Turkey (Should I go to Istanbul or Constantinople?)
Notice all the European countries on this list. Notice that France is not on it. I couldn't make myself like it the first time around (though maybe I could go visit the Louvre again.... Soj has graciously volunteered to be my hostess!).

Natal Igual

I went to church last night in Lapa (an area in Rio very much like Bourbon Street in New Orleans). A Igreja Batista Farol da Lapa (The Lighthouse Baptist Church of Lapa) is an amazing place with incredible ministries -- they minister to the homeless, prostitutes, transvestites, drug addicts, alcoholics, and anyone else that we would consider "down and out." During the Christmas season, they partner with several churches to throw a party for a certain number of homeless. Everyone comes in, the homeless people are able to take a shower and they receive a change of clothes and a new pair of shoes. There is a worship service and after the service everyone participates in a banquet as equals, for we are all equal in the eyes of the true King.

Domestic Goddess

As today is Saturday, I have been thoroughly unproductive. Except for my cooking. I love cooking because it brings out my creativity. Some people draw, some paint, some write, I cook.
For some reason last night, I began craving applesauce and remembered a friend who used to make applesauce all the time overseas. As I have no Christmas decorations (they're expensive here), I thought the smell of apples & cinnamon would raise the Christmas spirit in my apartment. It worked (and the applesauce was good)!

Advance apology

I apologize in advance to anyone who might ever ride in the car with me at any point during the rest of my life. It's not my fault I am learning to drive here in the concrete jungle that is Rio. A line from a song here is "Cariocas não gostam do sinal fechado." (Cariocas, that is, Brazilians native to Rio, don't like red lights.) If there's no one coming, why should one stop?

I finally got to go to the beach this morning. I am not the hugest fan of the beach, but since it's only 30 minutes away from my apartment, and since I am becoming carioca, I can't not go! It's just so much a part of the culture....

My friend J, who lives in the middle of the desert, is always complaining about the lack of grass where she lives. I must say that I thought about her this morning as I was walking to the bank to pay my phone bill. I know Brazil is supposed to be paradise and all (and it is!), but we don't have much grass here, either. They cut grass here with weed-eaters if it's a large patch, and if it's small, well, the hedge clippers come out.

Deal....or No Deal?

I don't know how many of you have fallen prey to the Deal or No Deal craze in the US (I must admit, I was often glued to the edge of my comfy chair in my mom's study waiting to see how stupid the person would be -- how is it that greed can overtake our best sense?). I was flipping through channels last night and saw a guy who looked very much like a Brazilian Gene Rayburn (who was once the host of The Match Game) asking the current contestant: Topa....ou não topa? I had to laugh.

Coffee heaven

So I know that there are other places in the world with good coffee, but I have stumbled into coffee heaven. Last night, a friend and I went "to shopping" (that means to the mall) and had cappuccino after dinner at Kopenhagen -- that's a chocolate store. They filled our coffee mugs up with chocolate shavings before they put the espresso in (and it melted the chocolate....), then they added the milk and foam to make it a cappuccino. And then we got to top it off with whipped cream (yes, we got coffee mugs full of that, too)! The good kind that's sweet, not just the plain whipped cream.
My friend Soj is talking about opening an imaginary coffee shop (complete with imaginary dog) -- I think it would be the perfect very real coffee drink to feature!

I wish I could say something exciting about today, but it's gross and rainy. It's not even warm (which it normally is, being almost summer here).

Questionable background

Someone asked me today if I was French. I've gotten German before, but never French.

Brazilian Weddings

So we had a Brazilian wedding to go to a few weeks ago. There are some big differences. First, the wedding was on a Thursday (that was the only night that the bride could get the place for the wedding). Second, Brazilian brides are always late. The wedding invitation said 6 pm but she didn't start walking down the aisle until 8:00. What's funny is that there were finger foods afterwards, but most of us didn't eat beforehand, so someone went and got us food. We sneaked it around both before and after the ceremony (we did have enough decorum to restrain ourselves during!).
The pic on the left is of the bride and me (in my all-Brazilian outfit), and the pic on the right is a package of the "contraband" wedding cookies. It was unlike any I've been to so far....

Goings on in Rio

Hello all!
Sorry I haven't updated you guys before now. I've been trying to wait for consistent internet access, but I have given up. It will come in time. My first few weeks (which have turned miraculously into over a month! Funny how quickly time flies!) in Brazil have been wonderful; I am so happy to finally be back home. After a road trip to Houston , I arrived in Rio on October 16th. My first team was a construction team from Hermitage Hills (right outside of Nashville ) Baptist Church . We, along with several Brazilians, laid block for 6 new showers (3 for men, 3 for women/children) at Igreja Batista Farol da Lapa (Lighthouse Baptist Church at Lapa), which started as a rescue mission. This church has a service for 75 homeless people every day, and following the service they receive a hot lunch and can take showers. These six new showers will make it much easier to handle the number of people who want to take a shower. We had to sift dirt to make the cement (dirt doesn’t come pre-sifted here!), and they mix the cement on the concrete floor.
On the 22nd I took a bus to Campinas , where most people come into Brazil to go through language training. My main purpose in going was to register with the Federal Police (everyone who isn’t a tourist has to do so) and test for my language level. Thanks to your prayers, my language came out at a higher level than I expected, though I will still do some formal training. I also got a crash course in Brazilian history and holidays, which was good, because now I will recognize and associate street and plaza names with historical figures and holidays. My registration with the Federal Police was easy and painless, praise God! For those of you who know a little about Brazilian culture, you know that it could have been pure insanity. I am back home in Rio , and got back just in time for Brookwood’s medical clinic (my home church). We had an amazing week in São Carlos , and I was so glad to see everyone!
One of the things that I noticed when S and I were coming over the mountain a couple of weeks ago was the abundance of offerings to spirits. They are certainly there all the time, but I think it was the man with the live chicken in his hand that really made me sit up and pay attention. I don’t know which spirit he was offering to, but some of the people here make offerings to spirits to appease them or to convince them to curse others. It’s actually a pretty complicated system, because a lot of it comes from the slaves and their African religion mixed with Catholicism (think: Haiti ), and it’s been around for so long. Please pray that these people will know the power of the one true God, who has the ability to subject all things unto Himself. Pray that they will know that He is more powerful than all of these spirits, for He created them in the beginning.
We don’t have a whole lot going on over the next couple of months (recovering from our teams and cleaning up the pharmacy), but beginning in January we will begin meeting with pastors and churches for next year’s teams. Please pray for the pastors and churches, that they will be willing and able to bring in and disciple new believers as a result of our teams. Pray also for R and S, that they would have the wisdom and discernment to choose exactly the right places for us to go. Please pray for me as well, for though I am so glad to be back home, it’s hitting me that I am here and that this is my life for now, away from family and friends in the States. Praise God that He has blessed me with a wonderful team to work with (American missionaries and interpreters), and that He reminds me daily that obedience is all He asks of us, and though grace may be free, it was not cheap for Him to give. Thanks so much for your prayers!
For He alone is worthy.

So I went to Telemar (the phone service) today to get my line connected in my name. "Within 10 days we'll get in contact with you to mark a time to come out." How are they supposed to contact me if I don't have a phone?

I live in a country where all the women are named Maria.

I pulled my first tooth in dental clinic today. Whoopee!

How exciting!

I have been told this week by our interpreters that I am "bem brasileira." That means I'm becoming Brasilian! (Except I'm still really pasty. That should change in the next few months....)

I'm back!

Well, I am happy to finally be home. I am without internet (so I'm using some other missionaries' computer, as they are gracious enough to let me come over and do so), and so I feel a little disconnected at times. Will post more soon.

I FINALLY GET TO GO!!!!!

After the long, arduous months of waiting, I got my visa in the mail TODAY!!!! (Dancing around the room as I write this) I will soon be home.

Addendum to an earlier post entitled One Book: I have long since given up on Vanity Fair (it was definitely boring me) and completed reading All the King's Men. Not sure how they've made that one into a movie.

I have been struck by my own reading choices lately (yes, I know they're my choices), simply because I have branched out a little and am reading things I wouldn't normally read. The Good Earth is on my Pulitzer list (though I'm not sure how it won the Pulitzer, since Pulitzer winners are supposed to be fiction that encompasses American life, and The Good Earth is about Chinese culture and set in China), and it's worth reading, especially if you have any interest in China.
The Black Dahlia is the first hard-boiled detective novel I've ever read (though I have tried to read The Maltese Falcon), and I am finding all of the background information quite cumbersome.
The Time Traveler's Wife (which I just finished) is certainly a worthy read, though you have to pay attention to which Henry is when. Sometimes I wish I were like Clare in the sense that she got to know so much before it happened, but then again, maybe that's too easy. Maybe she appealed to me because there is so much that I don't know, or maybe because she learned, in the end, to enjoy the Henry who was in front of her, no matter his stage in life.

Small reminders

So I taught a couple of classes at a (very) small high school in my hometown last week (on Brazilian culture, what else?), and I found out today from the teacher that the family that moved in across the street about a month ago is BRAZILIAN! Who would have thought, more Brazilians in my little hometown of 20,000 people? Of course, some kind of meeting is in the works.
God continues to remind me that He is using me right here, even though I am not where I had planned to be.

A new pet?

My friend Susanna called me last week to tell me about the exotic wild bird hospital that apparently exists in Jacksonville. Last night, as I was driving around town, I saw a shop called Wild Birds Unlimited. Obviously (hypothetically, of course), if the bird I purchased at WBU got sick, I would take it directly to Jacksonville's exotic wild bird hospital.

One Book

I got tagged by Allison, so here goes. The standard disclaimer (other than the Bible) applies.

One book that changed your life:
Journals of Jim Elliot edited by Elisabeth Elliot
Jim Elliot was one of a team of 5 missionaries killed in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956. His story is an amazing one, and his journals are a good reminder that the spiritual “giants” we esteem so highly are just like the rest of us. Does that discount their spiritual greatness? I don’t think so; it’s good to know that human beings can be human and still be mightily used in the hands of God.

One book that you’ve read more than once:
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
This was the only one of Jules Verne’s books that I ever wanted to read. I think I read it for a book report in the 5th or 6th grade, and I liked it so much that I checked it out at least 5 times that year.

One book you’d want on a desert island:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
They’ve got it all. Mystery, intrigue, evil, and a kickin’ plot that Lewis masterfully weaves throughout all 7 books, though each story can stand on its own.

One book that made you laugh:
The Reivers by William Faulkner
I’ve never really been able to enjoy any of Faulkner’s novels very much; I really didn’t have the patience to understand the story line, what with his stream of consciousness style of writing. The Reivers is the first Faulkner novel I’ve been able to read and enjoy. It’s a good reminder that southern culture can be pretty ridiculous sometimes!

One book that made you cry:
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I’m not generally a crier when it comes to books and movies, but when Rhett speaks to Scarlett at the end, telling her how much he has loved her all those many years.... I am saddened by the fact that she missed it.

One book that you wish had been written:
Those Crazy Vols: A Day in the Life of a Volunteer Coordinator
We take volunteer teams in Brazil, and could we tell some stories! This one might just get written one day....

One book you wish had never been written:
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos
I swear, I f I had to read about one more tryst in the New York City music scene, I was going to puke. Yes, it did win the Pulitzer Prize. That just goes to show that taste is VERY subjective.

One book you’re currently reading:
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
I don’t usually enjoy Victorian literature, but this one is pretty good. I think it would be really funny as an “updated” version, relevant to today’s culture.

One book you’ve been meaning to read:
All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren
A novel about a fictional character loosely based on Huey Long (governor of Louisiana in the late 30’s and early 40’s, I think). He was the reason that LSU has dorms in their stadium. The trustees wanted dorms and he wanted a stadium. An alternate title might be How to Manipulate the System So That Everyone Wins, But I Get the Better Deal.

I have only one left to tag....
Susanna

The big screen

I went to the Alabama Theatre this evening with some friends to take part in their summer film series. They play an old movie every weekend, and this one was The Sound of Music. I have never seen it on the big screen before tonight, and I must say, it was wonderful. I got a lot of the jokes I hadn't noticed before (the writing is very smart). Almost the entire theater sang along with the songs (except for the couple sitting in front of me, who looked around when people started singing like they couldn't quite understand why). And to top it all off, I figured out who Christopher Plummer reminded me of (or who reminded me of him). Lucius Malfoy. Next time you watch, see if you disagree.

A symbol of life

We took the Lord’s Supper in church last Sunday and I was struck by a curious thought. It is supposed to be (according to both Christ and Paul) a remembrance of Christ’s death. What about life? I know and fully believe that without Christ’s death, I could not enter into life, but without the resurrection, I could not enter into life either. It takes both. And so, if the Lord’s Supper is supposed to be a reminder of Christ’s death (I thank Him for that, for I need reminding), then what is the rest of my life supposed to be? As my logic goes, my life should be a remembrance of the life of Christ. God has given us a reminder of Christ’s death, and also a reminder of the fact that Christ’s death includes me – death to myself. Christ’s life gives me life. May I live life in a way that is like Him. As complicated or as simple as it may seem, I still cannot live a life like Christ’s without Him. May I live as though I am crucified with Christ (I am!) and remember that it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. May I live this life in the body no longer by my own effort, but by faith in Jesus, who loves me and gave Himself for me.
Romans 6:3-4 “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
I love the fact that while Christ’s death on the cross is central to Christianity, His resurrection is too. Without His death, I would be condemned to hell. Without His resurrection, I would be subject to an empty existence. As things stand, I have life because Christ has life. Wow.

Goodbye, Penny

I guess this is a week of goodbyes. Maybe that means I'll get my visa. :-) But I digress. I saw an article today about pennies. For years, people simply bartered goods where there was no money to be had. And in the big cities? There was no treat like going to the candy store and buying penny candy (and I'm sure that long ago, a penny got you LOTS of penny candy). It kind of makes me sad that pennies are being regarded as obsolete (though they have been regarded as such by many for many years). The fact that strikes me as ironic is, of course, that it takes more than a penny to make a penny. Literally.

Goodbye, Brasil....

Well, we're out. Of the FIFA World Cup, that is. If asked to be honest, I would say that Brazil played like there was no urgency until stoppage play at the end of the second half, during which they stepped up play considerably. Somehow I think that would've been good for the whole game....

Sunrises

I got up this morning about 5 to go to the bathroom. As I turned on the light, I had to look away because I was blinded, as my eyes were used to the dark. It got me thinking about the sunrise and how good (and creative) God was in making the gradual changes. We don't see all the light at once, so it's easier to see its beauty in place of the shock I feel as I turn on the light at 5 in the morning.
All throughout the Bible it speaks of God's holiness as something that we cannot see, lest we die. Holy and unholy cannot coexist; holiness and justice demand death for our sins against the Holy One. Christ provides that death, once and for all. As we "put on" Christ, that is, as we identify with Him and His death, His death becomes ours, and the blood that He spilled makes us holy. And His resurrection gives life. As such, we are worthy to dwell with God. I think that God reveals Himself to us gradually, for if we were to see all of Him and His holiness at once, we would be overwhelmed and in despair. But Christ is our only hope. He came to us so that we could come to God and know Him.

GO DAWGS!!!

So last night mom and I took a short road trip over to Athens to see the Georgia Bulldogs beat South Carolina to make the trip to Omaha for the College World Series. (And we got to see my brothers, who are both students at UGA). We sat behind the right field foul pole not on the kudzu, but farther up, by the green house (as it's called by the students). At the green house, a tailgate party commenced with about 25 students that lasted the whole game and ended with 150 or so students cheering wildly because even though baseball is a low-key sport at Georgia, it's still a sport. It's enough to get just about anyone excited.
Read the full story here.
In other news, we play Rice on Saturday at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Eastern Time). TV coverage is on ESPN.

It's official

I am not going to language school; I get to go directly to Rio (without passing go or collecting $200) and start work. Now all that's left is the visa. Without it, I'm not going directly anywhere.

Community

So I'm a bit of a stubborn I-can-do-it-myselfer (and an introvert!), and have been reminded over the past couple of days about what community means. There are days when I would rather keep my burdens to myself -- why bother others with them? I have been reminded that there are actually people in my life (even though I don't see them often) who want my burdens. Paul says this: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
Some days I'm not sure why I try to carry the world on my shoulders. No one has asked me to.

More than meets the eye

I read a news story this morning about the bird flu and thought about how many Americans would debunk this as crazy. I also thought about how real magic is to people in other parts of the world. People live their lives based on a balance of power and fear, and whatever shows the most power at the moment is where people turn. There is no standing on principle, because the whims of the spirit world place the final verdict on the lives of the people they rule.
That is why I go. It doesn't have to be that way.

Travel junkie

So I found this crazy site World 66 and had a little fun. Here's a map of the countries I have visited and/or lived in. The gray is a world of uncharted territory....

Back to Little Havana

Not really, but I am back in Miami. My (short) stay this time has already been much better than last time. I went to the Brazilian Consulate to turn my LAST document in, and I found out that they have already sent my documents to Brazil to be approved. I am a little confused about the fact that they have changed the type of visa I'm applying for, but hey, if everything is in Brazil, I can do nothing else about it. I'm hanging out and waiting on my office in Richmond to call me back to tell me I can go home today. Maybe....

A happy place

I have had a good 10 days away from home and still have 5 more! How exciting is that?! I am still in the US, still waiting on my visa. For a long time, I tried to figure out why I was still here. I have come to the quiet knowledge that there is something more, even if I don't know what it is. I can think of many reasons I am still here. God is taking me through some hard things, but this time has been good. It has been made much better by the presence of a certain someone (thanks, David!) listening and offering suggestions about life in general.

An Interesting Fact

My friend Liz, who lives in Japan, has an interesting tidbit from Japanese culture on her xanga site. Apparently your blood type has a lot to do with your personality. Mine is O. Decide for yourself if it's true....

Duck, part 3

Yes, folks, the day after Duck #2 we had Duck #3. Mom was home, so we were both running around the house trying to chase it out. Mom said this: "While he was up there [on top of the chimney] I should have asked him to put some chicken wire over the chimney." This is something we've been talking about way back since Duck #1, and we haven't done it yet, partly because we keep thinking that there will be no more ducks. Awaiting the presence of a duck in the house is not easy, you know. It keeps me on my toes!

Duck, Part 2

On March 23, I was graced with the presence of a duck in the house. As I walked past the study today, what did I hear but flapping of wings (it sounded like the poor thing was in a panic). Yup, another duck. He ran around the house and I finally caught him in my mom's closet. Every window on the front of the house was open, but he went out through the door -- I picked him up (in a towel) and set him on the front porch. I don't understand why they keep coming back. Our house is not built for ducks.

A lifelong goal

There was an article on the front of the Arts section of the AJC on Sunday about a woman who had read all of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. I saw it and was inspired. And so, my new project is to do just that. It will probably take years, but any project that isn't lifelong probably isn't worth much. Anything under "What I'm Reading" or "Books Read in 2006" with an author and date are Pulitzer Prize-winning novels and the date, of course, signifies the year in which said book won the Pulitzer.

I was reminded of some very wise words today (written in December):
"Your visa will happen one way or the other. I know it seems like a mount Everest but remember who moves mountains."

I have been wondering how quickly the Harry Potter books get translated into Portuguese, and I have found out. I am STOKED that #6 is already translated (though I can't actually buy it yet, as I am still in the US). I have read #1, #3, and #4, am making my way through #2, and #5 is on my shelf trembling in anticipation of being read. How exciting.

Addendum: I have read them all in English -- the above refers to the Portuguese versions.

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.

Chile, Day 1

We started off with the easiest check-in ever at the airport -- no one was in line when we got there, so we had plenty of time. The flight was very uneventful, and very empty from Rio to Sao Paulo. When we arrived in Santiago, there were men from the travel agency waiting for us and a few others. We found it very difficult to speak with them, because they spoke a breed of Spanish that is very difficult to understand (or if they were speaking Portuguese, a breed of Portuguese that is very difficult to understand). We had spoken with our agent in Rio, and he said that we should mark our passeios (outings) with the agents when we got to Santiago. However, they were already marked for us. We checked into our little hotel and went to sleep after a long first day.

Chile, Day 2

Well, we started with breakfast, as any sensible traveler does. We discovered that the coffee in Chile is not nearly as strong as the coffee in Brasil, so we had to live with weak coffee all week. We also found the wonderful delicacy of pan chileno (Chilean bread) that melts in your mouth. I could have eaten it for every meal!
We took a city tour around Santiago. We drove by several historic landmarks, and I understood little of our guide’s “Portanhol” (that would be Portuguese mixed with Spanish). We went into a coffee bar (around Santiago some of them are called “café con pernas” which means “coffee with legs”) and were a little shocked at what we found inside. It definitely was not a place for ladies -- there wasn’t even a women’s bathroom! There was one man in our tour group who insisted on talking politics with our guide. We got to see the Chilean army marching in a park, and the man made some very obnoxious comments about how the army was a job for people who couldn’t find any other job. That was just the beginning, but our tour guide finally gave him what for with a 5-point speech. The rest of our group was eternally grateful.
At the end of the tour, they dropped us off at the mall, where Amy and I got some great shopping done. I was very surprised at the number of American (and worldwide) brand names that were in stores. We had walked around the mall for a good while and lo and behold, there was a Starbucks! We don’t have Starbucks here in Brasil, and so it was a great taste of home for us.
After we left the mall, we took a metrobus to the metro station. It was amazing that we could get on a bus (we weren’t really sure where it was going but it said metro on it), get to the metro station safely, and get on the metro and get home, all without worrying about where we were or whether our purses would get stolen.
For dinner, we went to a fun little restaurant called “Aqui Esta Coco.” It’s apparently really popular and we should have made reservations. We showed up at 8pm (Chileans eat late) and they had a table left in the wine cellar. Apparently that’s where they put the tourists. We didn’t mind, though. I had a wonderful dinner -- a swordfish steak marinated in black butter with capers. Mmmmm! When we were finishing our meals, the man at the next table asked if he and his friend could come to sit with us (because they were in the corner and it was apparently cold and drafty). The man was from Belgium, and his friend was Russian-Italian and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We didn’t mind a bit, and we stayed and talked with them while they ate. We got into some very interesting discussions and thoroughly enjoyed exchanging ideas with people from other parts of the world.

Chile, Day 3

We woke up early and had breakfast (more of that wonderful bread!) and set off to explore the city. Santa Lucia was our first stop. Cerro Santa Lucia is the hill that Chile was founded on, and it is named for the saint of the date that Valdivia arrived there (Dec. 13). On the hill sits a yellow baroque castle with a fountain and statue of King Neptune. From the top of the hill, you can see the entire city and the Andes mountains that surround Santiago. Our next stop was the Museum of Bellas Artes. There were several interesting exhibits inside, and the museum was small enough to walk through and not have what I like to call “art overload.” We found a restaurant right behind the museum that we had been researching, called “Atelier del Arte.” Their menu items are named after famous artists and the restaurant is in a bright orange house that is strikingly different than the rest of the décor on the street. The menus are artists’ palettes complete with paintbrushes.
After lunch, we headed to the central market, where they sell fresh seafood and fruit and vegetables. We were accosted by several different waiters from the market’s 2 main restaurants, which are in the middle of all the booths. We had a really hard time convincing them that we weren’t hungry and didn’t want to eat again. Walking across the river from the market took us to Rua Bellavista, where there are several tourist shops full of lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone that is only found in Chile and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, where we were, there were no tourist shops to be found, so we walked for quite a while in search of them. Upon not finding any, we turned up Pio Nono towards Cerro San Cristobal. Since we were there, we took the funicular (a cable-operated train) to the top of the mountain, where we were treated to the strange view of palm trees on a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. We finally found shops that were to our liking and got some souvenirs and headed back to the hotel.
For dinner, we went to Applebee’s (only open 2 weeks) with some missionaries that we know. It was a strange thing to be in Applebee’s in Chile, even though the food was the same (and very good!)

Chile, Day 4

Ski day. We got started about 8:45, and I didn’t think we were ever going to get out of Santiago with the morning traffic. The road up into the Andes is thin and perilous, and I’m glad our driver didn’t have a death wish! I kept wondering how we were going to get up into the snowy part of the mountains, because when we started up the mountain, it was all desert, complete with cacti. We made the ascent far away from the smog of Santiago, and the mountain view was beautiful. We stopped almost all the way up to put chains on our tires. It was a sort of party, what with 10-15 cars stopped on the road doing just that.
When we arrived at Valle Nevado, I was definitely amazed at the ski slopes. They were nothing like they are in the Rockies, for the Rockies have trees. There were no trees here marking the trails and there was a lot of skiable area that wasn’t marked as a trail. We got checked in and started skiing and I was right -- it’s like riding a bike -- you don’t forget how to ski, which is kind of nice, because I hadn’t been snow skiing in 15 years.
We skied until about 4pm with a stop for a light lunch halfway through. We realized right before lunch that we had forgotten to get the key out of our locker, but when we checked, our stuff was fine. It is a place so different than Rio. We arrived back at the hotel sore and tired after a great day.

Chile, Day 5

We headed to Starbucks (what a dream!) and spent an hour or so there reading about the history of Chile. Yes, after our trip was almost over. We had an uneventful flight back to Brasil except for the PF (Policia Federal) agent who told me that six months out of the year was a long time to stay in Brasil. I always get a little nervous when it comes to immigration. But favor won out, and we got through with no problems. All in all, the trip to Chile was worth it and I would recommend it (both Santiago and the skiing) to anyone who wants a relaxing vacation.

Vacation

And a well-deserved one, at that. My roommate and I, after 3 busy months of teams, are headed to Chile tomorrow. We are going skiing at Valle Nevado, the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, and will hang out in Santiago for a couple of days. May we have good rest and not break any bones.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Every day is an adventure here, just some more than most. Last night was a really weird one -- we have an interfone (where someone rings the bell at the gate, and you can pick up a phone in your house and talk to them and let them in or not), and the telephone part isn't working. Someone decided that they desperately needed us to let them in the gate, and so they pressed and held onto the button. More than once. It got really frustrating after awhile knowing that I couldn't do anything about that, but it finally stopped.
About 20 minutes later (because it was definitely one thing after another), our doorbell started ringing. After a few times my roommate asked me to go downstairs with her to see who was at the door. We looked outside, and there was no one there. Creepy.... We called Ray (one of the missionaries that we work with) and he came to look at our doorbell, which by this point was ringing about once every 3 minutes. He took the box off the bricks outside, and lo and behold! There were animals that had gotten in there (a lizard and a spider). You would have thought they were poisonous. We are now doorbell-free and sleeping well.

So I am the type of person who likes lists. I like to make them and I like to check them off. I have to confess that I have been trying to do that in relationships (not to mention everyday life, some of which requires an agenda -- writing things down and actually getting them done). My errant thinking consisted in thoughts that there was a "right" way to be in a relationship or that there was a cookie-cutter mold that I and this other person were supposed to fit into. That includes both friends and family.
I am learning that I can't put relationships in a box, just as I can't put people in a box. Limits are good, and confinement is bad. Confining someone else to our own opinions and thoughts of them is like putting a goldfish in a small bowl. Our knowledge of them (and theirs of us) only grows as much as we will let it. And if there is no room to grow, whatever we have boxed in will eventually die.
Relationships are so much more than a list -- they are the stuff our lives are made of. They may last until death, or they may be given to us for a shorter time. What I am learning is that I should enjoy them for the gifts that they are.

Back home

I am back in Brasil now, and I am settled in. I have only been here for 3 days, though, so I am still having the "what am I thinking" moments. Last year I was ready to leave home. This year I was ready to come back to Brasil, even though I have left so many things at home behind. It was easier somehow, knowing where I would be living and who I would be working with, and how to get around the airport if anything happened and I couldn't find anyone who spoke English.
Feels like home!

Resting

I am discovering that resting is tough. I feel like I always have my eye on what's next, whether I know what's next or not. Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God." Paul said "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Phil. 4:11). I am perfectly content, but I want to know what's next! There comes the tough part of resting. But why in the world would God tell me what's next if it's not time to know? I mean, I already have enough to worry about for today -- why worry about things that I don't know about? Why worry about things that the Lord hasn't showed me yet? Yeah, it does sound pretty ridiculous.
I am discovering also that most of the things that I worry about are things that others don't even notice. And there I've gone and done all that worrying for nothing.

Struggling for what?

I thought at one time that my struggles make me less of a disciple and Christian, for they don't (read: aren't supposed to) struggle. Then I remember that Christ struggled. I think of His agony in the garden. I think of His decision to be born of a teenager named Mary in a stable in Bethlehem. The disciples struggled. The giants of the faith struggled. Much more is said about the state of my soul if I don't struggle. The defining characteristic of their lives was that they always returned to the Word of God and His promises. They had in mind that He has a plan, and that it is best, no matter how senseless it seemed to them at the time. They acted based on what they knew was a reality from eternity. They acted based both on what they had seen and the things that they had read in His word. And so I should follow their example.