how do you get little brazilian girls to let loose and be themselves? bring them american music, of course!
i mean, this is the true definition of an international sensation.
20 October 2010
14 October 2010
i vote moses most likely to succeed
Dear Journal,
My thrill for life here is quite cyclical, meaning, I can have a pity party for 1 in about 5 seconds after a full day of being corrected (grammatically) or treated more or less incompetent because i'm foreign (and wouldn't really know how to do what they need done, anyway) or the electricity is out for 20 minutes and every store and bakery in a 3 mile radius has decided to call it a day before I can get a loaf of bread. (all yesterday) BUT the Lord has continuously been showing me how poisonous my lazy and self involved tendencies are. I mean when that kind of stuff all happens on the same day it is a bit discouraging, but really, I'm not discouraged with life here. If anything, I'm encouraged by the excitement some of the kids have to hear a new bible story and the willingness of families to open their homes to an impromptu bible study. The gospel is not fully understood here, and they're anxious to understand it!
One of the most encouraging things for me right now is the Old Testament. No, really. I've skimmed through the history books of the bible before but lately Leviticus and Deuteronomy have had major insight into the life of Sara.
I am the Lord your God...I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Leviticus 26:13
God rescued me from the slavery of sin, but He won't force me to walk in obedience. I've been enabled to do so, but if I choose to dwell in discouragement and cater to my pride...well, thats just it...I can choose that. And sometimes, I do. I always regret it and try to find my way back to how the Lord wants me to handle myself. And, of course...
But if from there (in my case, selfishness/rebellion/etc) you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these thins have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
I just can't settle with the camp that the christian life = suffering. Every life has suffering and valleys, etc. But I'm so good with the idea that God rescued me from my sin, from myself for a glorious, eternal reward...but also to be a part of His kingdom on earth; which is a really fun thing to be a part of! It's hard some days, but I love it...I really do.
But He brought us out from there (slavery in Egypt) to bring us in and give us the land that He promised on oath to our forefathers.
Deuteronomy 6:23
My thrill for life here is quite cyclical, meaning, I can have a pity party for 1 in about 5 seconds after a full day of being corrected (grammatically) or treated more or less incompetent because i'm foreign (and wouldn't really know how to do what they need done, anyway) or the electricity is out for 20 minutes and every store and bakery in a 3 mile radius has decided to call it a day before I can get a loaf of bread. (all yesterday) BUT the Lord has continuously been showing me how poisonous my lazy and self involved tendencies are. I mean when that kind of stuff all happens on the same day it is a bit discouraging, but really, I'm not discouraged with life here. If anything, I'm encouraged by the excitement some of the kids have to hear a new bible story and the willingness of families to open their homes to an impromptu bible study. The gospel is not fully understood here, and they're anxious to understand it!
One of the most encouraging things for me right now is the Old Testament. No, really. I've skimmed through the history books of the bible before but lately Leviticus and Deuteronomy have had major insight into the life of Sara.
I am the Lord your God...I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Leviticus 26:13
God rescued me from the slavery of sin, but He won't force me to walk in obedience. I've been enabled to do so, but if I choose to dwell in discouragement and cater to my pride...well, thats just it...I can choose that. And sometimes, I do. I always regret it and try to find my way back to how the Lord wants me to handle myself. And, of course...
But if from there (in my case, selfishness/rebellion/etc) you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these thins have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
I just can't settle with the camp that the christian life = suffering. Every life has suffering and valleys, etc. But I'm so good with the idea that God rescued me from my sin, from myself for a glorious, eternal reward...but also to be a part of His kingdom on earth; which is a really fun thing to be a part of! It's hard some days, but I love it...I really do.
But He brought us out from there (slavery in Egypt) to bring us in and give us the land that He promised on oath to our forefathers.
Deuteronomy 6:23
06 October 2010
...when september ends
As it turns out September is my favorite month. Not for any huge, significant reason, really. I just like it. This September went exceptionally well...and way too fast!
A highlight (of my year, really) was having Becca here for little bit. We did Rio in a day, literally...Spent a few (very) lazy days at my two favorite beaches in Floripa...visited with some friends in Frei...I think she got a good variety of what we have to offer, here! Lately, my days have seemed to have more 'downs' than 'ups' and as Bec is one of the most encouraging people in my life, the Lord used her to challenge and motivate me (in person...which is always better!) The Lord really has blessed me with some great friends!
In other news...Thursday afternoon visits with Jan and Alana (IMB colleagues) have morphed into home bible studies with some women in Frei, which is really exciting! I'm praying it can become more of a discipleship situation where the women learn to take the reigns themselves and lead their friends, neighbors, families!
In the interest of being transparent 'Clube da Biblia' is my favorite and least favorite part of the ministry at CADI. Favorite because it's an hour and a half of bible stories, games, and crafts with third graders! Those are like 4 of my top 10 favorite things of all time. BUT on the other hand...it's an hour and a half of trying to tell a bible story in portuguese (with third grade input), trying to referee games that always end with some sort of injury and trying to keep glue only on the intended items. I have a morning and afternoon club and I'm discouraged about 30 times during each; but God is so good and somehow on the way home (almost every Monday) all sorts of positive highlights come to mind. I'm continually amazed at how personalized God is with blessings!
A highlight (of my year, really) was having Becca here for little bit. We did Rio in a day, literally...Spent a few (very) lazy days at my two favorite beaches in Floripa...visited with some friends in Frei...I think she got a good variety of what we have to offer, here! Lately, my days have seemed to have more 'downs' than 'ups' and as Bec is one of the most encouraging people in my life, the Lord used her to challenge and motivate me (in person...which is always better!) The Lord really has blessed me with some great friends!
In other news...Thursday afternoon visits with Jan and Alana (IMB colleagues) have morphed into home bible studies with some women in Frei, which is really exciting! I'm praying it can become more of a discipleship situation where the women learn to take the reigns themselves and lead their friends, neighbors, families!
In the interest of being transparent 'Clube da Biblia' is my favorite and least favorite part of the ministry at CADI. Favorite because it's an hour and a half of bible stories, games, and crafts with third graders! Those are like 4 of my top 10 favorite things of all time. BUT on the other hand...it's an hour and a half of trying to tell a bible story in portuguese (with third grade input), trying to referee games that always end with some sort of injury and trying to keep glue only on the intended items. I have a morning and afternoon club and I'm discouraged about 30 times during each; but God is so good and somehow on the way home (almost every Monday) all sorts of positive highlights come to mind. I'm continually amazed at how personalized God is with blessings!
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