beauty parlor introspection

It turns out I'm not so much who I thought I was.

Laid back; Confident; Embracer of the moment, however awkward it may be...these were definitely my opinions not too long ago.

As it turns out, compared to Brazilians, I'm a bit uptight.

I find that when there is noone to turn to and say "I mean does that make sense to you?!" I'm prone to be what can only be described as a follower. I've tried hard not to be a follower for as long as I can remember.

I shrink from more opportunities than I embrace these days. The thing is, there are so many things I HAVE to do ie: go to work and all that entails, grocery shop, pay bills, find the yarn store by bus...that when it comes to an option like eating dinner with a stranger at the food court or getting my hair cut, I put it off until tomorrow.

I've needed a haircut for about two months. It's in that mangy growing out phase and...ugh. There is a cabeleireira (hair salon) down the street from me. I've mentally prepared and chickened out...for two months. Seriously?

So a few days ago while reading Psalm 78 a graceful summary of the Israelies screw up...God forgives cycle, I was struck by verses like

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord, yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" and
"time after time...He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return"

Over and over I was reminded how often "He guided" ... "He led" ... "He gave". The same Almighty God who used the Red Sea as a short cut is the same Almighty God who sent me here. I mean he made dinner fall from the heavens, He can certainly get me through one more errand in portuguese.

So today I got my hair cut. Ayliana was super patient with my pantomiming and attempted explanation that I'm trying to grow my hair out and yadda yadda yadda. Now, I realize that for almost everyone else on the planet a hair cut is just that. A hair cut. Why the stress? Well, back to the "Sara I'm discovering"...

I'm much more affected by people's response to and treatment of me than I was in my previous life. I take many things more personally than I know I should. Simply because I'm trying so hard. Trying to speak their language, trying to understand what they mean, trying to be their friend, trying to find their needs and minister to them-and you just can't do all that. Which is exactly what I'm struggling with I can't do all that. Well thats the pretty part of hard times, its when I see (again, for the 100th time) that God can do all that and much, much more.

So while I'm watching Ayliana do exactly what I meant (but surely did not explain correctly) I had a come to Jesus meeting with, well, Jesus...

This is hard. It takes a lot of effort to do a really small thing and I'm not doing it very well. But that's OK-I know and have seen His power. I know that He can open the hearts of the Brazilians to make Himself known. I know that He can turn my stress into something of use for the Kingdom. And He knows that I'm only flesh and therefore, not all that dependable. He knows flailing is what I do best. And He knows my breaking point...and those are the times I end up with a successful trip to the cabeleireira.

Turns out I'm not fearless or laid back or über confident or really all that great at communicating the gospel...its a pain to learn, but I don't have to be. God will handle it. He is much more self-aware than I am, and when He says He's the all powerful, all knowing caretaker. He's right.

cribs: brasil

So I've been in Floripa for a little over 2 months and I'm just now getting my apartment set up to feel "lived in". Here is (to the best of my limited photographic ability) an idea of what it looks like!



This is a view of my building (green), the pizza place I frequent, and Pedra Branca (the white rock). Not too bad of a view, huh?!



View of the living room/balcony/laundry nook/kitchen-ish from front door.



View from the balcony of living room/eating space.



Kitchen.

whats happening

Several things are going on at the CADI (the community type center in the favela where I work, in case you're feeling a little behind)

My actual work there is starting to pick up which has been a real encouragement! I've renovated my objectives a little bit to focus more on the spiritual aspect of things and the possibilities are exciting! At the end of July, 'Clube da Biblia' (Bible Club) will be starting for third graders. The plan is to walk through all the stories in the Bible (in portuguese...pray for me!) Today we began the (not so tiny) job of preparing a multifunctional, but just for kids room.

This is phase 1 of the 'Sala das Brinquedos' (Toy Room)



Cleaning went so much faster with my little helper, Katelin!



Now, in other news...the nursery/kindergarden in Frei Damião has a couple hundred little ones they take care of and educate every day. One of the biggest benefits for the kids in this nursery are three meals a day, which they likely wouldn't get at home. This past week someone broke into their school and stole most of the month's allotment of food, so the kids have been eating noodle soup for lunch and dinner! The Chenk's (the family who pretty much runs the CADI) found out today and are working to gather funds to replenish their food supply for the rest of July. I normally play outside with the 3-5 year olds and I'm hoping to start having a bible story time with them once a week-so I'm hurt over these precious little friends being hungry!



Please pray for the people of Frei Damião and CADI's efforts to help them find salvation!

Let me know if you're looking for a way to help out from where you are!

jorge!

by having several volunteer teams back to back, i've had a chance to get to know jorge. it is definitely not a coincidence that he is the driver we've received 3 weeks in a row. jorge lost his wife to cancer not too long ago, and he is embittered towards the religion she embraced (and also encouraged her not to seek treatment). through several of the teams conversations with him, his struggle with grief has been heartbreakingly apparent.





as different people from the teams have reached out to him, really just through friendly interest in his life, we've seen him open up a little more with each group. this past week, it barely took an invitation for him to join us for a church service rather than nap in the van or run errands. it's really neat to watch the work of the Holy Spirit softening his heart! please pray with me, for he and his children as they deal with the loss of their mother, and most importantly, for their salvation.

just the facts, ma'am

assuming you're checking this blog for specific ways to pray, here are the details of some of the needs on my heart at the moment (something new hits my heart everywhere i look, so these are just a few!)




a new friend, miriam (middle) is a new believer and we have plans to start hanging out to learn together. pray for her, especially as she learns what it is to follow Christ as a 14 year old in not the easiest life.



maria eduarda and camila prayed to receive Christ this past week as the team from collierville introduced their neighborhood to the church that is starting there. pray with me that they respond to discipleship and investment through this new church! they are 10 years old, such a great age to start living for Christ!



third graders at the public school in frei damião, after completing a craft with the team from little rock. clube biblia da sara (sara's bible club) will be starting this week, for this age group. pray for attentive hearts!



the team from louisiana had an opportunity to hang out with the girls at casa lar (an orphanage for teenage girls). alana spends time with them every wednesday and i'm planning to add that to my weekly agenda. only two of the girls are believers at the moment. pray for all of them as they deal with all the things that come their way and also for the hearts to continue to soften towards the Holy Spirit!