Someone has it out for us. Friday evening, the radar in Brasil went down and all planes were prevented from coming into the country. Our group coming in Saturday was not able to come in until Sunday morning, and our group going out Saturday was not able to go out until Sunday (even with some extra unexpected happenings, everyone got out Sunday night).
Yesterday, as we were going out to our job site, we heard a sudden "POP!", and what was it? One of the back tires on the bus shredded and burst. Thankfully, it wasn't the front tire, and the bus company was able to send another bus to come and get us. I can't wait to see what's going to happen today.

La la la la la la (I can't hear you)

So for Harry Potter fans all over the world, the final chapter has been written, published, and sold. Unfortunately, my copy has not yet come to me. It is currently in Tuscaloosa, AL (or will be before midnight tonight), and I will get it next Saturday from a volunteer coming down (props to Susanna who bought it as my birthday present).
In the meantime, I want no one telling me how good it is, or who dies -- that's as bad as the internet spoilers. I am staying away from articles about the book, and I will come out of hiding and join the discussion sometime after I have finished reading it. Until then, happy reading, and I want to know nothing!

Though we are out doing evangelism this week, we managed to find some time to get some tickets to one of the Pan Am events. We even got to see the US play, though they lost. It's kind of weird watching beach volleyball when it's freezing (relatively speaking) outside. The wind from the beach makes the temperature drop from 22C to about 17C (that's about 62F).
One thing I noticed was that most of the spectators were booing our players. Now I know that we are not always well looked-upon by the rest of the world, but I am sorry that our athletes are having to reap the consequences of things like this. Living in another country, seeing how the rest of the world sees us, makes me want to do everything I can to expand the horizons of our citizens.

The world is here!

Or at least the Americas. The Pan American games started on Thursday and there are people everywhere. I must say that it is very strange hearing so much English and Spanish, when one is used to hearing Portuguese all the time, every day (except from our volunteers).
I'll take the Portuguese, please.

Happy Birthday

to no one in particular. Or to everyone whose birthday is today.
I love the fact that when singing "Happy Birthday" in English and Portuguese, the atmosphere automatically gets louder when the language switches. You guess which is louder, and therefore, more fun.

So it's been awhile....

It's not that I have lacked things to post; I have lacked time.
We are currently at our general meeting in Atibaia (a small city outside of São Paulo) and I am trying to kick a cold. It's interesting what the body will do when it's worn out. I love being the only one here under 30 (except for the missionary kids) because I get my own room to rest and be quiet and be apart. And because I get to soak up wisdom that the older missionaries have in so many areas. And because I actually get to listen to sermons in English. So often we missionaries are feeding, feeding, feeding others simply because we are in the position of leadership. We are also sheep. It is so easy to forget that those in leadership need to hear the words of God from others just as much as others need to hear it from them.
Remember that when the opportunity comes up to give your pastor or leader a word of encouragement. They need it more than you think.

Top 10 things I love about living here, in this place, at this time

1. It's exactly where I am supposed to be. After confirmation upon confirmation, I know this in the depths of my heart.
2. Being able to get up early enough to avoid being woken up by "the praying lady" -- she prays the rosary and Ave Maria at 7:15 am. Every morning. Over a loudspeaker. She sounds a little like Charlie Brown's teachers.
3. The anticipation of volunteers (and goodies from the States!) coming every week.
4. The privilege to watch God change the lives of our volunteers through one little week out of their year.
5. A team that works well together and does its best to keep everyone un-stressed.
6. Being able to get anywhere in the city on public transportation (and knowing that I don't have to).
7. A car that screams out that it belongs to the Baptist Mission. This one actually makes me laugh every time I talk about it.
8. A culture that I am coming to love and hate and laugh at. Laugh at, mostly.
9. A small group of friends who understand my passion for this particular country and a larger group of friends who understand the urgency of missions.
10. My job. I get to do what I went to school to do, without the pressures of US-style medicine.
11. Learning daily that God is for me, and that He just wants me to be available to waste some time with Him.
12. Not knowing how to count. And not being able to contain the top 10 list to just 10 things.

Sick

Yesterday was spent in bed. I got out and moved to the couch about 2:45, only because the phone rang and I got up to answer it. I am surprised I am moving around today, but then again, I am not breaking out in cold sweat and an urge to vomit every time I stand up. Good for me.
I hate being sick. When I am in the bed, I feel like I am wasting time, because there is so much to be done. My to-do list grows if I don't stay on top of it, and I get so overwhelmed that it's not all crossed off. (On the other side of that, I am not sure what I would do if it were all to get crossed off, so I procrastinate on those last few things....)
God is good to remind me (He must be trying really hard) that it's not always about the things on my to-do list. It's not always about getting things done. Sometimes it's about seeing another's need in the midst of confusion and tending to it, even if it gets in the way of everything on your to-do list. Sometimes it's spending time just sitting with God, even if it feels like you're wasting time. Sometimes it's doing the same with friends. Sometimes it's taking a nap to recharge before you can tackle that exponentially growing list of things that have to be done yesterday. Sometimes it's being sick.

A new stamp for my collection

I received my new driver's license in the mail today (my other one was in my car....), and I noticed that there were stamps on the envelope. You may think that stamps on an envelope are normal, but around here, my letters usually get run through the machine, because my post office doesn't have stamps. I looked closer and saw the mitre on the stamp and thought, "Hey, a pope stamp." Since the current pope was just here, I thought that was a good commemoration. Upon looking more closely, I realized that it wasn't the current pope on the stamp. It was the latest dead pope.

Flexibility

We have a youth team here this week that is doing evangelism and giving Bibles out in houses. In this area, there is a grid of houses with paved roads and an area that is not yet paved. The houses in the unpaved area are mostly made of plywood and plastic sheeting. One of the women we came into contact with earlier this week lives in a house (if you can call it that) that is about 4 feet by 7 feet with a bed and a stove. The walls are not solid plywood, and the roof is leaking. She has 5 kids (under 7) with another on the way. They live by a pigpen with at least 3 HUGE sows and their piglets. The kids were crying the other day because they hadn't eaten all day.
So our purpose was to go in, do evangelism, and give out Bibles, right? Today we started building a house. For the lady that lives in the borrowed house. I started thinking about the fact that God's two greatest commandments are to love Him and love our neighbor. That is not just a warm fuzzy; it is a practical commandment. James puts it this way: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:14-17) I love James's point here. We cannot love others without getting our hands dirty sometimes. It gives me such joy to be a part of the work we do, for it shows others how big and yet how personal God is, that He would use ordinary people to provide for the needs of those He could provide for in no time at all. While blessing the person (the family) who receives this house, I am blessed because I am being obedient to God. We do not do this because the woman asked for it, but because God touched the heart of my boss to do a little practical gospel, and because that is what God has commanded us to do. Ephesians says that He has saved us for good works (not because of them, but to do them).

I haven't written much after the trauma of being carjacked, but I am beginning to recover and have been out several times in my current car (a Ford station wagon with "BAPTIST CHURCH" written on all 4 sides and the tag number on the top). Poor car. It doesn't like cold weather, and that seems to be what we're having lately (I'm sitting here in jeans, a t-shirt, and socks with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders).
By cold, I mean under 70. Even during the day. Seeing as how we don't have carpet here, and all the houses are made of concrete, there is no insulation. SO, when it gets cold, it gets COLD. I am beginning (just a little bit) to understand why it is so dangerous for those who live on the street when it gets down to 60. Think about it: if it were 115 in the summer where you live, and the temperature dropped 50 degrees, wouldn't you be cold? Make that 90 with a drop to 40, and you've about got it.

So they found my car, and it looked pretty decent. I'm not sure I want to drive it anymore, though (apparently Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas are in high demand by the bandidos because of their massive trunk sizes). I got a call yesterday about 2:30 from my boss and got to talk to the police. Mom, sister, brother, and I went to the police station near my house to pick up the car (we had to get it before the tow truck got there). We were 5 minutes late, so they towed the car. Someone is going to have to pick it up from the depository over the mountain at some point in time. Hope it's not me.
As we were sitting at the police station, on the side of the road, my brother said "I think it's time to break out the camera." My grandmother gave them a small disposable camera for action/candid shots. Little bro was on top of the times with the witty comment.
This morning as we were leaving, our gate man told me that the police had been here yesterday looking for me. Comforting.

Coisa de filme

I would like to echo my friend Melanie's question: Where do I live?!
My boss and I were driving home from the hotel the other day where our volunteers stay, and we were uncerimoniously carjacked. Well, cerimoniously when you get right down to it. Car in front, car in back, nowhere to go, and a gun. Obviously planned.
I keep wondering how desperate these people are in the city that I live. I know they are desperate just to survive some days, but they are also desperate for Jesus and don't even know it. While I am mad about what happened, I grieve for the people who are so hardened and desperate that they must resort to violence (or near violence) to get what they want. I wonder what the guy's name was who took the car. I wonder what his story is.
I must add that no missionaries were hurt during the enactment of this story.

Coffee, anyone?

Our highly feminist group of missionaries (so named with much humor because the first book we chose to read turned out to be much more feminist and different than we originally thought) got together today and we went to Café du Lage in Parque Lage near Jardim Botánico.
About the group: we are 5 women, 4 Americans, 1 Swede, 2 married, 1 with a daughter, 1 pregnant, and 3 happily single for now (though not without prospects!). We may be as many as 7 by the end of the year, adding 1 more American and 1 Canadian.
About Parque Lage: Jenna seems to know about all these cool places in Rio (though I am not without my share of knowledge), and she suggested we go to Parque Lage. It contains a visual arts school, and the architecture (as with everything else that's old here) is beautiful. There is a pool in the middle of the courtyard that is screaming for the Department of Health to cite it as a danger because of a risk of dengue fever (I got bitten by a mosquito while we were there. Only time will tell.). In addition to the beautiful archtecture, there are student paintings, many times still in progress, around the courtyard. The cafe is quaint and the food is good (there was melted chocolate in the bottom of my mocha, and I have yet to have a better piece of spinach quiche). The conversation was even better.
My vote? I'll definitely be back soon.

Why, when we have "falta de água" (have to ration water) in my building, do I have to go to the bathroom twice as often?

Cultural ramblings

As we were talking this morning, I was painfully aware of the need to understand the culture one lives in. I say painfully because I still don't understand why someone would come to live in a different culture and not at least try to understand why where they live is how it is.
Brasil is a country of many different cultures, from the northeast to the south, from Rio to the Pantanal to the Amazon. But as different as the regional cultures are, one thing is very common: most Brasilians do not question authority, whether it be government, police, the church, or educators. What I am NOT calling for is madness or mayhem. What I would love to see is critical thinking and reasoning for one's own self. The reason I bring this up is that it presents a problem to Christians who accept everything that their pastor tells them, even if it is not true. These same pastors say that if one is questioning the work of the Holy Spirit in the pastor's life, these people are blaspheming the Holy Spirit, as if there were no room to make sure that what they are doing is from God. The Bible instructs us to test the spirits, to not accept blindly what others say. In a religious culture driven by fear, I fear that the truth of God's grace and love will make its way in too slowly to make the greatest difference possible.
But back to my original point.... I fear that we have come in without understanding that things are the way they are. Yes, they need to be changed; that is why we're here. But we can't just walk up to people and tell people they need to change their thinking. That turns one from belief in one person to belief in someone else. We have to get at the root of culture and understand why things are the way they are if there is to be any hope of spreading the gospel and teaching truth with effectiveness.

And they will know you are My disciples

I have been thinking a lot lately about how we will ever be able to draw people to Jesus. I see so much here that comes out of the Brasilian church (no matter what denomination) that makes even me, a believer and follower of Christ, disillusioned with the church. The church (throughout the world, I imagine) tells people they are going to hell because of what they do or don't do, because of whether they do bad or don't do good, when the only reason anyone will go to hell is because he still hasn't accepted the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven. I am not going to get to heaven because I am a missionary, or because I do humanitarian work or because I am nice to people. I am going to heaven because I have accepted the death of Christ on the cross as the one thing that makes right all the good that I don't do or all the bad that I do.
I think we have to look at people not only as lost (where's the urgency if they're not?), but as people. We have to listen to their stories. We have to treat them as people. How many of you would listen to what I had to say if I came up to you telling you that you were going to hell because of (insert particular vice here)? I know that everyone has different stories, and that people need to be listened to. The hard part for me comes when someone is doing something that I know is wrong, that I want so badly to judge, and I wonder what the true story is. What in the world happened to make them make the series of decisions that led them down this road? What makes somebody choose to destroy their family? Why don't people think about the long-term effects of their decisions? Why do people take the pleasure of a moment in place of a lifetime? Those questions make me sit back and wait to decide my position until I know the whole story (and even then it's hard).
As much as I hate to confess it, showing love to these people sometimes seems unnatural and is difficult. But what am I supposed to do when that is the only way some of them will ever know who Jesus is? There is no other option, because Christ gave us the two greatest commandments (definitely summarized): love God and love your neighbor. I could be like the Pharisees and ask "Who is my neighbor?" but I prefer not to, for Jesus showed very clearly in His response to that question that the one who shows mercy and compassion is truly a neighbor. I want to show mercy and compassion, but some days I don't even know how to start.
These thoughts have been a huge reminder in my own life, because the ones that we should be closest to are sometimes the hardest to love.

So I agree with David on his comment to this previous post. Amy and I have been talking about how we wish they would make DVD's out of Brasilian novelas (which is totally not practical, since they run for 6-9 months, 6 nights a week, for an hour or so), and that we would buy the one that we really got into a couple of years ago. Turns out that I was watching a commercial for "Vale a Pena Ver de Novo" (It's worth it to see it again) the other day, and what novela were they talking about but the one Amy and I watched, Da Cor do Pecado. I watched the first episode today and am really excited to get to watch at least some of it.

Que mico que eu paguei!

Last night I went with some friends to Lapa (a part of Rio much like Bourbon Street that is packed on the weekends) to pass out tracts and talk to people about God. The night was awesome -- one friend and I stood talking to a guy for almost 2 hours because he kept asking questions!
Before we go out on the street, we have a worship service. The pastor of the church down there has known me for about the last 5 years and every time I'm down there he asks me how I'm doing and tells me how glad he is that I'm there. Last night, he decided it would be a good idea to ask me to come up and pray. In Portuguese. In front of a church full of Brasilians. I know to a lot of people that wouldn't be a big deal, but I am much better one-on-one than I am in front of a group. I'm still quite self-conscious when speaking in Portuguese, scared that I am going to make a mistake. I know that in the end God knows my heart, but I don't want to offend anyone.

Things that make me happy today

-- The fact that my friend Susanna and I are almost always going through the same things
-- Sleeping on my couch (even if it is only for 5 hours during the night)
-- Being one of 3 (yes, THREE) people to hold down a normal-sized cat during our vet clinic
-- Getting to share Brasil stories with people who have lived here
-- Knowledge that the Lord can change my attitude if I will only let Him

Things that frustrated me today

-- Not being able to talk to David for more than 2 minutes
-- Being around people who find everything to be a crisis and don't feel empowered to resolve situations
-- Feeling like my mouth doesn't work like it should when I am trying to speak Portuguese
-- Feeling like my brain doesn't work like it should when I am trying to speak Portuguese
-- People who try to make others speak English with me (for various reasons, but my guess in this particular case is a patronizing attitude) -- This didn't happen today, but it's still frustrating me. Especially since all our interpreters are great to let me struggle through my Portuguese like a little child because they want me to learn it as much as I do.

So you know you're Brazilan when.... (with selected commentary)

-You think American bathing suits are enormous. (Oh my gosh, yes!)
-You like Guarana better than Coke. (Nah, but Coca Light takes an easy first place over Diet Coke.)
-If someone tells you to be at a certain place at 1:00 pm, you don't show up until 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. (Maybe leave the house at 1:00pm)
-You know who Xuxa and Pele are. (I actually was proud of myself one time when Gilmore Girls mentioned Xuxa and I knew who she was!)
-You would rather die than see Argentina beat Brazil in soccer.
-BBQ means steak, sausage, chicken wings, pork, rice, farofa, molho and beer. (A hard choice between Brasilian and Southern!)
-You are the loudest person in the room. (That's hard to do here....)
-You travel to Brazil and instead of taking a suitcase with all your stuff, you take presents for the entire family, the dog, the neighbor, not to mention the old/used clothes that you take just in case someone needs it.
-You're so proud that you're Brazilian you tell everyone. (Does it count that I am proud to seem Brasilian?)
-You leave your house spotless when you have people coming over.
-You have a sweet ass (or you like women with them).
-You understand & speak Spanish, but when you say a word in Portuguese no one understands you. (Maybe it's just my accent.)
-You take soccer too seriously. (Or at least have memorized the game schedules so you don't have to pass by Maracanã on Sundays or Wednesdays.)
-You cried when Brazil lost the world cup. (Not too hard.)
-You know what Capoeira is.
-You know a lot about Samba and Pagode. (Aw, samba isn't hard to dance.)
-You eat rice and beans at least 7 days a week.
-Your breakfast consists of milk and coffee, bread with butter and a piece of cake.
-Everyone thinks you're everything but Brazilian. (French, German, American)
-You know who Os Trapalhoes, Turma da Monica, Zico, Caetano Veloso, Tom Jobim, Elis Regina, Ronaldinho, Jo Soares, Cazuza, Gilberto Gil, Silvio Santos, Roberto Carlos, Ayrton Senna, amd Carmem Miranda are. (They forgot Vinicius de Moraes!)
You are so used to corruption that nothing surprises you anymore. (Louisiana has nothing on this country!)
-You know how to play dominoes and cards.
-You take pictures everywhere you go.
-You know how to party, and if the party isn't over after 5am...its not a party!
-Any holiday...being it official or not, is an excuse to stay home from work and take a week vacation. (And you dread the day after a holiday because traffic, for some random reason, will be worse than normal.)
-You know what feijoada and pave are. (Gross on the first, yummy on the second.)
-You spend an entire day at the beach.
-You are too friendly. (I've started telling people my whole life story.)
-You make friends everywhere you go. (Everybody has something in common with me.)
-You own havaianas in every color imaginable. (Not yet.)
-No meal is complete without rice, farofa and feijão. (WHY, when I cook, do I feel like I have to make rice and beans?)
-You'll fly Varig even if it's a little more expensive because it's Brazilian. (Hey, it's nice!)

The call of God is always to Himself, and not to a geographical location or station in life.
Let me explain....
God calling us to Himself does not mean that He will never call us to a geographical location or station in life. What it does mean is that His call is ultimately for us to be with Him, to know Him, to trust Him, no matter where we are (geographically or otherwise). Everything that He commands has the ultimate purpose to bring us to Himself, whether it is "fun" or not, whether we want to be there or not, whether we like it or not.
Hmm....
Upon re-reading, I realized that the end of this post sounds a little bitter, which is NOT how I meant it at all. I was just trying to emphasize the fact that while a great majority of life is enjoyable, there will be times when obedience takes us to places we wouldn't have chosen outside of the will of God. And then, it's the knowledge of the will of God that keeps us there, not how much we like the place.

City travel

Mia and I went to Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf) today and made it there very well in a taxi. Since the dollar is so crappy right now (meaning we're getting a HORRIBLE exchange rate), I didn't want to spend that much money to get home. So we asked the information guy what buses passed by there and went to a metro station. Good idea; the metro comes very close to my apartment.
The bus ride was fine, even though it was the first time I had taken that particular route and the cord that you pull to signal the driver to stop and let you off at the next stop was broken. Or he couldn't hear. I'm not sure which. We got to the metro station without any hassle and bought our tickets. I forgot one huge detail. IT WAS 5:15 WHEN WE GOT TO THE METRO STATION. Hmm. The train arrived and was already chock full (so we thought). The guy in front of us kept pushing people farther and farther into the train (thank goodness, or Mia's arm would have been cut off by the closing doors). Mia's face was in my armpit until I graciously moved it for her. Then we started laughing. The kind that doesn't stop. I am glad of many, many things today, but I will name two here: that we didn't get to laughing too hard, and that I am not claustrophobic.

Today I am amazed at the reaction to my udpate. I have gotten some return e-mails with people saying that they are asking God just as many questions as I did last year while I was waiting, and that they are ashamed to ask Him to prove Himself over and over again. I must say that I didn't expect to hear back from so many people, and I tend to forget how big my sphere of influence actually is.
I am not inclined to share my whole life story, or even small parts of it; I generally take my time in even trying to figure out what's going on with me. So I tend to overlook the fact that sharing even little bits of what I am dealing with can help others.

I have been reading some of my friends' blogs and am realizing that they have a lot more courage than I do when it comes to sharing quite personal details of my own life, which I realize is not for everyone. I also realize that most of my friends (actually, all of them) have no idea what is going through my head at any given moment. There are some lucky ones who pay enough attention to notice my facial expressions. Those say thousands of words. Mostly because I don't even have time to process it during the day. Some days I think my brain is going to explode, and some days I even wish it would, so I could start over with a clean slate.
The worries that run through my head are generally mild, and I find that if I ruminate on them I just get stressed. Talking about them is included in the stressors. However, being the problem solver that I am, I try to take on the bigger ones and fix them. The real problem comes when I start worrying about others' lives more than I worry about my own.
I have just written an update (see below) talking about trust. I must remember that.

An overdue update

Well, it’s time for another update! Maybe past time. We have been preparing for our teams coming in and are almost ready. I have been back for 6 months and am reminded every day how much I love this country. At the same time, God is continually showing me Brasilians who are passionate for their own country to know Jesus, and who are passionate for others to become true disciples, not just nominal Christians.
I had the privilege over the Easter weekend to go to Belo Horizonte for a Youth for Christ (MPC here in Brasil) music festival, which included artists who have influenced Brasilian evangelical music very much over the last 30 years. It is amazing to see that Brasilians here are making the gospel culturally relevant, writing hymns and praise songs in local music styles (including samba!), telling Bible stories even in local dialect, and being part of a movement that is passionate about reaching Brasil on Brasil’s terms, culturally speaking.
A funny note: For those of you who don’t know much about the different regions of Brasil, the southern region of Brasil has much European (LOTS of German) influence, even down to skin, hair, and eye color. Basically, there are lots of tall, very white Brasilians in the south, simply because of their ancestry. I have had more than one taxi driver here in Rio ask me if I’m German, simply because I am tall and white. So while in BH, whenever anyone would ask me where I was from, I would tell them I was from the south and living in Rio. Most people didn’t even blink an eye and asked what state I was from (Brasil has states also). I had one guy thinking for 2 whole days I was Brasilan (before I told him I wasn’t)!
I am doing well with my language but am beginning to realize that I am still thinking very much in English. That gets frustrating when I am trying to translate things in my own mind. Please pray that God would help me to start thinking in Portuguese more often, so that I can communicate even better.
I am beginning to realize that God is using my time here in Brasil as a time of restoration, primarily of my trust in Him. I know that you all know that I spent six months waiting on a visa, and I asked Him every day why I couldn’t be here. I knew that He wanted me here, but I did not walk in an attitude of trust. I must say that I have grieved that much and God has been amazingly kind to me in showing Himself trustworthy. It reminds me of the story of Thomas, standing there looking at the resurrected Christ, yet still needing to touch Him to believe. Aren’t we all like that? How many times has God proven Himself trustworthy, yet we ask for more proof? He has proven Himself time and time again, throughout history, whether He has been believed or not. May we walk with Him in trust, even if we start with baby steps.
We have a few teams coming over the next 6 weeks, and then the craziness starts! Please pray for the following teams:
Vet clinic – Clarksville – April 28-May 4 – Parque das Missões
Volleyball team – Belmont – May 15 – May 23 – various locations
Medical team – Brentwood – May 25 – June 2 – 2nd Baptist Church Vila do João
Pray that God would prepare those who we come into contact with, and that He would prepare the teams to share His good news of His love with everyone we meet.
For He alone is worthy.

Upon going up Corcovado to see the statue Cristo Redentor (vote here to make this statue one of the New 7 Wonders of the World), we sat down to have juice. All of a sudden, we had a fly-by that was a little frightening. Turns out that one of the Red Bull Air Races is to be held on Saturday, April 21 here in Rio. After the initial fright, it was kind of fun watching the stunt plane (and the helicopter following it) practice.

I finally caved

As I think people all over the US know, the MySpace craze has taken over the internet. What most Americans may not know is that the same type of craze has taken over the internet in the rest of the world. It's called Orkut. I was so proud of myself for resisting the MySpace craze for so long. I still am. But I had to wave the white flag of surrender and sign up for Orkut. Apparently Brazilians get really disappointed when you don't have Orkut -- a way for them to keep up with what you're doing and where you are. One of my friends invited me to join, and I simply succumbed to the peer pressure. On the positive side, I am excited about being able to keep in touch with friends all over this country.

My friend Ilce and I went yesterday to buy Easter eggs. I know Easter has already passed, but you know what that means: SALE! She bought 3 eggs; I bought 4. Not sure my 4th one counts, though -- it's for my little sister (because it has a very cool SpongeBob yo-yo inside). She's 25.
Here's a short list:
Prestígio: An egg from Nestle that has milk chocolate on the outside with a coconut lining (and mini candy bars inside). I bought 2 of these -- 1 broken (it's all chocolate in the end) and 1 whole.
Sonho de Valsa Branco: As you might guess, this one has white chocolate with a filling inside.
Sponge Bob: A milk chocolate egg with a really cool yo-yo inside.
I have already eaten most of the broken Prestígio. All I can say is YUM.

Rain

I am currently listening to the sound of rain out my window. Not that wimpy sprinkling rain, but the rain that soaks in the ground and refreshes everything growing in it. The kind that is good to listen to as you go to sleep. We haven't had very much rain in Rio over the past 2 months. January had about 7 sunny days (unheard of for Rio), and then summer came in full force. Until this weekend. It's finally getting cooler (which means it's 85 instead of 90) and I am so thankful. And off to bed to listen to this glorious rain.

Som do Céu

I had the chance this past weekend to go to a music festival called Som do Céu (Sound from Heaven) that was very, very cool. It included artists who have highly influenced Christian music in Brasil in the last 30 years. They have succeeded in writing songs telling about who God is that are culturally relevant and will be listened to (if not understood) by people who would never set foot in a church. They have written songs that praise God with a samba beat, bossa nova, forró (a style of music very popular in northeast Brasil), and the Brasilian equivalent to country music. It's amazing to me how much one country can be different in the culture of its regions, but that's what happens when the people take culture into their own hands. It's beautiful.
I went with some friends and made new ones from all over Brasil, and even succeeded in making some people think I was Brasilian! But then again, I do look very much like someone from south Brasil. I am finally gaining some credibility as a Brasilian, which makes me SO happy!

The state of things at home

My desk is ridiculous. I have no less than 10 books on it, along with a calendar, my computer, a bottle of water, a bottle of Coca Light (that's Diet Coke for those of you unfamiliar with the international branding), several CD's of pictures, a mug full of pens, my computer and modem, a bottle of nail polish, a wedding invitation, and a roll of duct tape. If I listed everything, this post would never end. I am wishing my camera's batteries weren't dead so I could post a picture of it. Sadly, there's no room on here to charge them.

Friends, relatives, and welcome guests

Over the next two months, I will be playing host to a number of different people. I am headed out of town this weekend for a music festival. Then, my friend Mia arrives next Thursday to stay for 2 weeks. Our first volunteer team comes 2 days after she leaves. David comes May 18th, and my mom and sister and baby brother (I am SO excited he's coming!) come the next week. The day they arrive, our first medical team comes in. And then we don't stop until the end of October. I am getting tired just thinking about it, but I am ready!

Truth in Advertising

I saw this ad on a bus stop the other day:
"Homens cuidado: sapato feio afasta mulher."
A loose translation: "Caution, men! Ugly shoes send women running in the other direction!"

Not the floor!

I went to CCBB today to see the new exposition -- "Drawing since the 15th Century" -- and it showcased drawings, etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, and silkscreens from several well-known artists.
While I was in the restroom, I noticed something. Let me start with a little cultural info. Here in Brasil it's NOT acceptable to set your purse on the floor. In Copacabana and the more touristy areas, putting your purse on the floor/ground at a restaurant means you're available and looking to get paid for the night. Besides that, I think it has something to do with how dirty the ground is here, even though the streets do get cleaned. With that said, even though the stall door may not lock or shut just right, you'll damn sure have a hook to hang your purse on!

A mix of cultures

I realized today that it's been quite awhile since I have written anything. I have been exhausted (it's been HOT here) and have had my friend Amy in town. She used to live here and we were roomies and she's back in the US. She was in town for a wedding; see if you can keep up.
Ramu is of Indian descent and lives in Atlanta. 2 years ago, he came to visit his friend (also from Atlanta) who lives here. Jeremy (the friend) met my roommate because their grandmothers know each other. She had introduced him to several of our friends from one particular church. While Ramu was here, we all got together (the 2 guys, their other friend, Amy, myself, and our friends from this church) and he met Veronica. Two months later, Ramu came back to Brasil to visit Jeremy and to surprise Veronica on her birthday. She figured out that he was really interested in pursuing her. Veronica came to the US last year and they got married in September. They came down here last week to have the "church" ceremony and to include her family in the whole mix (his family is in Atlanta). They are having an Indian-style reception (without the religious part, since Ramu and Veronica are both Christians) in Atlanta in April.
His mom, stepdad, brother, and sister-in-law (in addition to several friends) got to come down here for the wedding, and it was so much fun. His family is definitely Indian (and all are practicing Hindus), and I was thinking about how much fun God is to have contrived such a story for 2 people from 2 different countries to get together. I also thought about how wonderful it was for his family to both get to come down here and be so supportive of the wedding. You never know how 2 cultures will mix, but their families seem to get along wonderfully and Ramu's family will definitely take care of Veronica now that she is away from her own.

Mad language skills

I have been back in country for almost 5 months and I just realized something today.
Every time I meet someone new (especially a sweet little old lady), they always tell me how great my Portuguese is. Before I even say 2 words. It makes me smile.

Happy Birthday, Rio!

Today is the anniversary of the official founding of Rio de Janeiro (the city, not the state). It was founded in 1565 by Estácio de Sá (a Portuguese knight). The city's full name is São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, combining the name of King Sebastian (of Portugal, of course) with the name that the first settlers gave it.
Rio was the capital of Brasil from 1763 (when it was moved from Salvador) to 1960 (when it was moved to Brasília). It was also the capital of the Portuguese empire from 1808 to 1822, when the Portuguese royal family moved to Brasil to get away from Napoleon.
Many famous Brasilians are from Rio. Can you guess any?

(Thanks to wikipedia for the info)

Blast From the Past

I went on a retreat during Carnival, and we had a "noite infantil", or kids' night. We (as in all the folks on the retreat, ranging from 17 to 35 years of age) had to come up with a costume of a cartoon that ran when we were little.

I had an excellent time and went as Betty Rubble, from the Flintstones. It was quite an easy costume to make (I bought a double sheet and cut it out), and the series ran here in Brasil, so the Brasilians knew who I was. The myriad of costumes consisted in Punky Brewster (Punky Baker here), Fred, Wilma, Pebbles, Chapolin, Chiquinha, a smurf, the Incredible Hulk (green body paint and all), Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan & Tinkerbell, well, you get the point.

Sunset Beauty

I went to see the sunset last night at Arpoador (the rock between Copacabana and Ipanema) with a friend of mine. It set behind Vidigal and Dois Irmãos. To say the very least, it was breathtaking. I have never been to a place where people applaud the sunset, but here they do (at least at Arpoador). It struck me that many of them may not even know Whom they are applauding.

Update

This last month has been a good one. We have been visiting churches and have found them all for our teams this year. We know where all the medical teams are going (unless something changes, which may happen, but we hope not). We currently have 23 teams signed up to come this year, spread over 26 weeks. We have 1 week off the in the middle of the summer and 1 week that we are going to AGM (which is still called Mission Meeting here). We have some time off from teams in May as well; our teams don't stop from the end of May to the end of October (with those 2 weeks off I mentioned).
We have a volunteer in this week, Stephanie, who is teaching some of our interpreters English. If you've met any of them, you know that they already speak very good English. So what are they learning? The more complicated nuances of English that we never think about, like phrasal verbs (put up, put on, check out, take up, give back, etc.). I am teaching another group of about 5 people who don't know tons of English but really want to learn. They're beginners in English, so I am giving the class in Portuguese. Let me tell you that I never thought I'd be doing that! It's been really good for my Portuguese, though it makes my brain tired.
Carnaval starts (officially) on Saturday, though the parties have already begun. Carnaval is, unfortunately, the only thing many people think of when they think of Brazil. It is a time of revelry and general partying (along with the parades) before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. Many churches here take retreats away from the city of Rio during Carnaval.
Between now and the end of April, we will be getting ready for our teams to start – visiting/revisiting churches, organizing medicines, unwrapping Bibles, cutting senhas (tickets to enter the clinic), etc. I'm sure there is much more to be done.
Next month, we have tentatively planned another all-Brazilian clinic (we had one last month as well), which I am looking forward to.
Continue to pray for us as we prepare for our teams – for all of the planning that has to be done (still), for the churches we will be working in, for the areas we will be working in, the teams that are coming, and the people we will meet. We couldn't do anything without your prayers!
For He alone is worthy.

There's a novela here whose characters insert English words in the middle of their conversations. The words are being used correctly (thank goodness), but I must say it's weird to hear "hunny" and "no stress" in the midst of Portuguese.

A little drama, anyone?

Okay, so I think I am destined to have dramatic Valentine's Days. Not the good kind. Here is a run down of the dramatic ones I have had:
One year I was in the ER with a migraine.
One year I locked myself out of my house.
Today was equally dramatic, though the drama has been resolved. Any guesses on what will come next year?
Anyone else got any V-Day drama? Bring it on!!

Pictures of home

I have been here for 4 months and have just realized that I haven't put any pictures of my apartment or the area surrounding it up for anyone to see! So, here goes:

The pic on the left is of the outside door of my building. It feels a little like a dorm. The box to the right of the door is what people have to buzz to be let in if they don't have a key. I am safe. Yay! The pic on the right is the outside of my side of the building.

I love the surroundings I am in; they seem like the jungle in the midst of the city. As it happens, Rio is home to the world's largest urban forest, which I happen to live in the middle of (or actually on the edge of, but living in the middle of the woods sounds more exciting). Every once in a while I will see monkeys running around in the tops of the trees. I truly live in the midst of paradise.

Flower Power

So this is what we did yesterday afternoon. My boss went to the CADEG (again, the long drawn-out translation) and bought about 8 dozen roses. We made 3 flower arrangements like this one (mine has 3 dozen roses in it) for less than 40 bucks (yes, that's US dollars, and that's total, not each)! And, since I love fresh flowers, I have found yet another reason to love this country.

Finally

A day at the beach. I mean, an hour at the beach. It's been raining so much here since the beginning of the year. Between that and running around trying to get things prepared for our volunteers (which of course was all done on the sunny days), there hasn't been much beach-friendly time. Today finally worked out.

BAD fashion news

I'm sad to say it, but pantsuits are back. Not the great-looking two-piece suits. The onesies. For ADULTS (well, for women). Without straps, most of the time. They are all over the stores here. I thought about getting one, but I am not sure I want to become that Brasilian.

Small but wise

"Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer...." (Proverbs 30:24-25)
As I walk around the school where I live, I am always absolutely amazed when I look down at the ground. I can see leaves and flower petals seemingly moving themselves along the ground. Yup, you guessed it. It's the ants. Carrying things that are 10 times their size. They work to build their homes, they work to bring their food home, yet they are so small. God made them a mighty example to us to be diligent, doing one thing at a time.
I think that our culture has been seduced by quick fixes and instant results. We must remember that even though God put His plans in motion from the beginning, they are still not done. How many years has that taken? And He's God! Why do we, who are not God, think we can get things done faster than the One who has chosen to spread the fulfillment of His plans throughout human history?
I tend to get overwhelmed at not seeing what we would call "results" of the workings of God in my own life. But then I remember the ants. They carry one leaf or petal at a time, seeming futile, but full of purpose.

Train ride

I went with my language tutor today on a train trip. We are trying to take advantage of every type of public transportation here in Rio. There are several types of trains, from the old ones with wooden benches down the sides and lots of handles hanging from the ceiling to the new "chique" (fancy) ones with cushions on the seats and an outer appearance like that of the Disney World monorail. It's really not that different from the metro (subway), because the train here is used as more of a commuter train than an actual "trip" train.
There are people who walk up and down the train selling drinks and candy, and people who sell newspapers ("to pass the time on your journey").
We went all the way out to Santa Cruz, the last stop on the train. We started at Central do Brasil, one of the most famous train stations in Brasil and the subject of a 1998 movie (Central Station, in English -- watch it to get a little touch of Brazilian culture. See info about the movie at IMDb.com). The train station is just like any train station in Europe, filled with newsstands and little food stands to buy pasteis (pastries). People are everywhere, hustling and bustling through the station on their way to bigger and better things.

Exciting news....

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows set to be released 21 July 2007. Thanks to Team Redd for the info.

One of the things I love about Brasil is its seemingly endless supply of fruit. We got up early this morning and went to the CADEG (I found out what it stands for but it's a really long, boring name to translate so I'll spare you). I bought strawberries and peaches. Being a Georgia girl myself, I couldn't pass the peaches without at least trying one. And let me tell you, it tasted just like a peach should taste.
I also tried a type of fruit I've never heard of before, called sapoti. It was kind of a cross between an apple and a pear with a strange taste (my co-workers said it was like a fig; I'll have to take their word for it).
Pineapple I might have bought; however, it is a pain to cut up. People actually use the word for pineapple when they are talking about a situation that isn't going to be worth it in the long run to get into (because the work is going to be much more than the outcome).

I can't seem to get my mind set to get anything done that I feel needs to be done -- diligent language study, diligent prayer and reading. I can accomplish things very well while I am moving, but when I stop is when I feel useless. I can always find something that needs to be done. Take today, for example. I need to go get a key made and call people and wash my strawberries and sweep the floor and make up my bed and wash dishes. But here I am in front of my computer, trying (and failing, I might add) not to be distracted while I write.

Preparing for a miracle

My friend JAX sent me a wonderful recipe for hummus yesterday. This weekend, I found a place to buy garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and sesame seeds and I tried to make some hummus. It turned out okay -- passable, edible, but not great. Here was the problem: most recipes that I've seen call for a 400-gram can of chickpeas (cooked). I BOUGHT 500 GRAMS OF DRY BEANS. Needless to say, they expanded very much when I soaked and cooked them. So, I ended up multiplying my intended amount of hummus and have tons left over.
Also, I saw a 500-gram can of tahini paste in the grocery store (that's 1 pound, folks!). WHO IN THE WORLD is going to use a pound of tahini paste? I didn't check to see how long it lasts once the can is opened. It was R$15 (about U$7). Next time I make hummus it just might be worth it.

Cultural Girl

Since I'm here on a cultural visa (they wouldn't give me a work visa, which doesn't bother me in the least, because I don't plan to get a paying job here), my friend and I have been taking advantage of all the cultural things here in Rio. One of them is the Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil (Cultural Center of the Bank of Brasil). They are currently having an exhibition of several artists from Minas Gerais, but specifically, Antônio Francisco Lisboa, better known as Aleijadinho. One of his best-known series is "Os Doze Profetas" (The 12 Prophets) which are on the exterior of Santuário Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, Congonhas do Campo, Minas Gerais. There were 16 prophets (not counting Baruch in the Catholic Canon) and only 12 places on the church to put them. Our guide told us that Aleijadinho chose the 12 he thought were the nicest. That struck me as funny, because none of the prophets brought great news. But I learned a lot more than that, like the fact that 50% of the gold ever mined in the world came from the state of Minas Gerais here in Brasil. And Brasil lost its gold (which was, in that time, Portugal's gold, since Brazil was a lowly colony in the 18th century) to England. If there ever was a paradise that was stripped, it is this one.

I'm in heaven. I have 2 new websites to surf with mounds and mounds of uncharted material.
They are (drum roll). . .Public Domain of Brasilian works (provided by the Brasilian government and in Portuguese only) and The Gutenberg Project. Books and more books. Heaven, I tell you.

Why is it

that all the drunk guys in movies fall into the nearest horse trough?

Back to work (sort of)

We're having a clinic today and tomorrow with 2 Brazilian doctors. Today ran pretty smoothly, considering that we're working in the pharmacy out of footlockers and the balcony of the church is the pharmacy! Tomorrow there will certainly be more people in line to be seen, but compared to our teams that start in May (with 5 or more doctors), this is cake!
Tomorrow should give us a lot more chance for evangelism, too -- we'll have a few more of our team here so we can spread out a little bit more. I must say, this pace is quite good, though I am tired.

Marshmallowy goodness

I decided to have hot chocolate this morning, since it's 20 degrees (heh. Celsius for all you metric people, 70 degrees Fahrenheit for all you Americans) outside. We're having a very unusual summer. Usually it's at least 80 at night and at least 100-110 during the day this time of year. By the way, when you're used to 110 degrees, 70 really is cold! Anyway, as I was waiting patiently for it to cool (why does that take FOREVER?!), I had a striking thought. I HAVE MARSHMALLOWS IN MY APARTMENT. My friend Amy sent them to me to make s'mores in my oven (along with the graham crackers and Hershey bars, but that's not important right now). And so, I am experiencing the wonderful winter treat of hot chocolate with marshmallows. In the middle of summer.

Strange sounds on the bus

So this isn't a personal story, but I thought it was funny. A friend of mine was riding with an American (who didn't speak any Portuguese) on one of the public buses. Every time they stopped, there was a small explosion of hissing. The American asked, "Why is it that every time the bus stops we hear all this 'sss...sss...sss'?"
I laughed when I found out that it was a sound that I hear all the time but don't pay that much attention to: people saying "Com licença" (which means "excuse me") when they were making their way to the back of the bus to get off. Brazilans don't say very many full words; they tend to cut a lot of letters off, which makes listening a chore some days. What this American was hearing was "cença" (pronounced sen-suh), but her ears weren't picking up the vowels, just the s-sounds, much like what we hear when someone is whispering.

Wedding Crashers

A friend called me this afternoon to talk about what time we were going to meet tonight for pizza and a movie (some things don't change, though we did actually make the pizza) and the conversation went a little like this (translated, of course):
"Did you call earlier?" (her)
"Yeah, I did." (me)
"What's up?"
"How about 6:30 tonight?"
"That sounds great! Hey, do you know Paula?"
"Yeah, I know her."
"Her wedding is at 5:30 and I wanted to go. Want to go too?"
"Sure, why not?"
And so we went. I saw tons of people I knew and no one seemed to care that I wasn't invited.
Coming out of all that, we were singing "How Great Thou Art" during the ceremony (Brazilian weddings are somewhat different than American weddings) and I just kept thinking about how great God is. He has brought me back to the country and culture I love and brought me out of my shell (for those of you who know me, I know that would seem a hard thing to do, but with people I don't know I'm a little different.) and is allowing me to do what I love to do every day, all so that the people here might know Him.

Not-too-foreign Language

Yet another reason to live overseas....

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.