After our time in Cananeia we made our way up to Rio de Janeiro for debriefing time. I dreaded the trip and just wanted to stay in Sao Paulo because I wasn't feeling well, but somehow God's plan tends to be greater than ours. My best friend from high school, David, spent his two year mission down in Rio. I recognize that I only spent one day there, which is roughly 1/730 the amount of time that he spent there, but I could gain about that much of a glimpse into what his life must have been like down there, which is about 1/730 more than I could before. I just talked with him today and I'm so excited to hear more about his time and know a little of what he's talking about. So this is a good thing that we went to Rio for debrief instead of staying in Sao Paulo (p.s. the Pope was in Sao Paulo the first couple days that we were there, but no, we didn't see him among the 890 billion other people in the city).
In debriefing we went over a lot of different questions about our team, our time in Brazil, and our re-entry into the U.S. I thought a lot about how this trip has changed me, or has it? The end of Motorcycle Diaries (movie) has a quote in it, "I am no longer me. At least I am no longer the same me as before." I don't feel this way after Brazil. Brazil has been another layer in my life that I am thankful for, and it has helped to shape me and my world view, but it has not sent my life in a new direction. This is both good and bad I suppose. I now have a great love for all of Latin America, not just those who speak Spanish.:) I now recognize what it's like to spend a couple weeks somewhere where I don't speak the language, to worship God in Portuguese. The church is a great body of believers all across the world and I got to experience this in Brazil. However, I don't know if I will ever go back...What if I don't?
Some times I'm not sure what my purpose was on the trip. Then I realize, my purpose is God's purpose...my purpose is to show love to all around me...not just the cute children with adorable smiles.=) Thank you all who haave read up on my time in Brazil to gain a little understanding of what it was like. I don't want to brush off my time in Brazil and say that it has no impact on my life...but at the same time I want to recognize that this has not been the single most impactful moment of my life either. None of this would have been possible were it not for everybody who supported me in prayer and financially. I hold you all dear to my heart and no matter where God takes me in life, you will all be with me.=)
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Brazil (week 3)
This was the hardest week and for that reason I've been delaying in writing about it...we spent Friday-Wednesday in the city of Cananeia. It's a fishing village on the coast near the border between Parana and Sao Paulo (for your geography buffs).
We arrived at 2pm on Friday, got settled into our upstairs loft area for the week when it started to rain...and rain...and rain...Dan was pretty sure it would last forty days and nights, but luckily this was the one time on the trip he was wrong. First, our accomodations, we were in a 2 bedroom, kitchen, dining/living room, and 2 small bathrooms. This is where we all slept, ate, played games, picked our noses, and whatever other activities went on. Rain in Brazil (at least Cananeia) is a different concept than the Northwest. We go out in the rain, because if you don't you will waste away in your house. However, in Cananeia you stay inside until the rain stops. It rained from 5pm on Friday til mid day on Sunday...can you say stir crazy? We couldn't work on the dock as planned, we couldn't have a Sunday morning program like we hoped, we couldn't even explore the yard of the house because of the rain.
Some things transpired that were mainly a result of cabin fever (I believe) and people just needed to find some alone time and private space. Finally Sunday night we went out for church and it was great. People were super friendly, we sang some songs, introduced ourselves in front of the church, and two people shared testimonies (Ryan and Andrea). Monday was clear and we started to work on the dock. By noon I was exhausted and felt a little sick so I layed down to nap a little. Except for a half hour break for lunch I napped until 6:30 that night! It was the start of the never-ending soar throat, cough, and crummy feel. As we all sat around in this cramped house bathing in each others sickness I became beyond ready to leave for our next sight. We left Wednesday and I slept through most of the bumpiest bus ride I've ever been on as we went back to Sao Paulo for the night.
Our time spent in Cananeia was one of the most challenging times as I struggled with a sense of helplessness, useslessness, sickness, and just being fed up with how much sickness was spreading throughout the group. My poor buddy lost her voice! Sorry Katie! There are good things to take away from the week, such as the hospitality of the family who lived below us and cooked for us despite us only working one day on the dock. Or seeing the love that they have for their four year old child who has some sort of developmental disability. Or how about the fact that God can use you despite the rain?:)
We arrived at 2pm on Friday, got settled into our upstairs loft area for the week when it started to rain...and rain...and rain...Dan was pretty sure it would last forty days and nights, but luckily this was the one time on the trip he was wrong. First, our accomodations, we were in a 2 bedroom, kitchen, dining/living room, and 2 small bathrooms. This is where we all slept, ate, played games, picked our noses, and whatever other activities went on. Rain in Brazil (at least Cananeia) is a different concept than the Northwest. We go out in the rain, because if you don't you will waste away in your house. However, in Cananeia you stay inside until the rain stops. It rained from 5pm on Friday til mid day on Sunday...can you say stir crazy? We couldn't work on the dock as planned, we couldn't have a Sunday morning program like we hoped, we couldn't even explore the yard of the house because of the rain.
Some things transpired that were mainly a result of cabin fever (I believe) and people just needed to find some alone time and private space. Finally Sunday night we went out for church and it was great. People were super friendly, we sang some songs, introduced ourselves in front of the church, and two people shared testimonies (Ryan and Andrea). Monday was clear and we started to work on the dock. By noon I was exhausted and felt a little sick so I layed down to nap a little. Except for a half hour break for lunch I napped until 6:30 that night! It was the start of the never-ending soar throat, cough, and crummy feel. As we all sat around in this cramped house bathing in each others sickness I became beyond ready to leave for our next sight. We left Wednesday and I slept through most of the bumpiest bus ride I've ever been on as we went back to Sao Paulo for the night.
Our time spent in Cananeia was one of the most challenging times as I struggled with a sense of helplessness, useslessness, sickness, and just being fed up with how much sickness was spreading throughout the group. My poor buddy lost her voice! Sorry Katie! There are good things to take away from the week, such as the hospitality of the family who lived below us and cooked for us despite us only working one day on the dock. Or seeing the love that they have for their four year old child who has some sort of developmental disability. Or how about the fact that God can use you despite the rain?:)
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