Brazil week 3

We had a special "Agape feast" on Friday night.  I cried.  Holding hands after we lit our candle for the country we are going to serve in and singing "Go light your world", I cried.  Looking around at the families and the teachers I've gotten to know over the last three weeks whom we've come to love, I wondered if next time we get to see each other will be in heaven.  We would love to see them before that, but we are literally going all over the world.  Not just that, but also knowing the personal stories behind each families and thinking about their mission field, my heart was overwhelemed with emotions.  After three weeks of sharing, discussing, praying and growing together, they have become our families.  

I cried seeing the tears in my friend's eyes knowing that she was thinking about the hardship of having to say good-bye to her loved ones to serve in a foreign country.  I cried knowing the fear some of the missionary families will face for their physical safety.  I cried thinking about all the hugs and kisses Megumi received from each one of them.  But I also cried because of the joyous hope we have in Jesus! I know that someday we can hold hands again and sing praises with the angels and when that time comes, we won't have to say good-bye.  What a glorious day that will be!  

Megumi loves her coconut water!

All the colorful and tasty fruits.

A Family Portrait - Feb. 5, 2013

I think we've all gained a few pounds from eating buffet style at the cafeteria!

The local store by the entrance of the University campus.

Orange groves surrouding the campus.

The dorm where we've stayed for the last three weeks.

Our "Agape feast" - a night to remember.

"Celebrate what's right with the world".  That is a quote from a National Geographic photographer in the video we saw in class.  What a great attitude!  I know that this past three weeks in Brazil has refueled my energy as a missionary.  I can't say enough how blessed we were to attend the Mission Institute.  For us, it truly came at a perfect time.  I grew spiritually, academically and socially.  The classes gave me a lot to think about (Growing Spiritually, Thinking Biblically, Reasoning Missiologically, Serving Incarnationally and Living Whollistically).  I feel like they've planted a giant seed for me to cultivate and to grow.  

Oh the places I dream of going are countless!  I want to dream big.  I don't want to limit God.  With all the connections we made here, organizing a mission trip to my "Bucket list of countries" (Kenya, the Amazon...etc.) is a real possibility.  But for now, we will serve where God has placed us.  I'm going to "celebrate what's right with the world" in St. Kitts.  

"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you.  

He will not leave you nor forsake you, do not fear nor be dismayed."  

Deuteronomy 31:8             

Brazil week 2

When we are not in class, we continue to enjoy our daily meals at the cafeteria where we socialize.  We often don't know what we are eating but they are all quite delicious.   In this past week, Mike and I have both somehow managed to mistake "mayonnaise" for "vanilla pudding".  Mike ate his "vanilla pudding" with a piece of chocolate cake.  You should've seen the look on his face!  I, on the other hand was quite lucky.  I had seen a Brazilian man put a big blob of this "vanilla pudding" on his bread and eating it for breakfast.  I was trying to bring back some food for Mike who was watching Meg in the dorm room.  I decided a vanilla cream filled sandwhich would make a nice dessert.  Looking back, the cafeteria lady that was helping me bag the food probably thought I was making one unhealthy sandwhich with a big blob of mayonnaise!  Luckily when I took my sandwhich out of the bag, I smelled my "vanilla pudding" before I put it in my mouth.  Oh yuck!  I'm glad I didn't take a big bite out of it!  Our friends that are attending the Mission instutitute with us still tease us everytime they see "vanilla pudding".  I don't think we are going to live that one down for a while.  But we can't complain.  We are loving all the fruits and vegetables that are available to us.  Megumi in the picture is enjoying some "acai" smoothie for breakfast! 

Megumi loves her "teachers" from her daycare while we attend our classes!

Grocery shopping and trying out new "treats" from Brazil!

 

On Tuesday evening before dinner, I was kneeling in the grass by the sidewalk taking some pictures when I felt a little "sting" on my foot.  I thought it was an ant but didn't see what actually bit me.  It immediately started to itch but I usually don't react very well to bug bites so I just found it annoying.  When I got back to the dorm room that night, I put some Benedryl cream on it an went to bed.  Well, the next morning my foot was red, swollen, and extremely itchy.  It's hard to see the redness in the picture but it was quite "angry" and yes, very ugly.  After giving 24 hours with my redness only getting worse, then discussing it with my friends who are nurses, I decided to go to the hospital to get some antibiotics.  Luckily one of the instructors went with me to translate.  Who knew that I would've had the opportunity to go to an Adventist hospital in Brazil?  Long story short, the doctor didn't give me the antibiotics but gave me some allegra and cream.  I also elevated my foot when I went to sleep.  It didn't work.  When I woke up the next morning, the redness was spreading to my toes and my foot was on "fire"!  It itched like crazy everytime I walked and my foot was so tight from being so swollen.  I ended up going to the pharmacy to get some antibiotics.  This time, it did work.  I never found out what it stung me but it definitely brought back some memories from summer camp days at Camp Kulaqua when I went through a similar thing with my knee.  Bugs and I don't get along very well.  I am just thankful for all the kind people that helped me out in this foreign country and that my foot is almost completely back to my regular size!      

Enjoying Friday afternoon swimming at our outdoor pool!

Singing and praising God together on Friday night in our dorm lobby.
So fun to worship together as a "family"!

 On Sunday, we got to go to one of the biggest malls in Brazil.  It was quite an experience.  Mike and I tried to order some food from the Japanese restaurant at the food court.  I thought I was doing pretty good when I found some "Vegetable Yakisoba" on the menu.  I pointed to the picture in the menu and I ordered.  Somehow our "Vegetable Yakisoba" came out with chicken and beef on it.  Oh well.  We decided to try out another Japanese food place and order a "Vegetable donburi (rice bowl) with a choice of chicken or beef".  This time, we figured out on the menu that "legumes" meant "vegetables".  So I tried saying "solo legumes" pointing to the item on the menu.  The girl smiled and repeated what I said just to double check.  I nodded that yes, I only wanted vegetables.  I was pretty proud of myself until I got our food.  Somehow we got chicken AND beef on our rice bowl along with vegetables!  Mike and I laughed.  We figured we somehow maybe asked for "extra" chicken and beef on our food?  We are not sure what happened.  The joke for the rest of the day was that whatever we ordered was probably going to come with some chicken and beef!  

Our purchase of the day: a soccer ball from Brazil! yeah!
Can't wait to play soccer with Meg.  Meg and her "cheesy" smile...! 

Walmart in Brazil!
We haven't been to a Walmart since we left the States in September.
We bought some diapers to take back to St. Kitts with us...

Reunited with Starbucks after 4 months!
Luckily the guy spoke English so I was able to order
my "decafe coffee frappucino with soy" without a problem.

An advertisement of some sort by a group of "dancers"!

What a great day of shopping!  Complete with some good old Starbucks.  I did meet my goal of learning five new words in Portuguese this past week.  My new words include: "Como vai voce?" (how are you?), "oi" (hi), "solo legumes" (vegetables only), "que linda" (how pretty), and "desculpem" (I'm sorry).  Hoping to learn five more during my third week!  Thank goodness the nice deans and the cleaning ladies at the dorm who don't mind me "practicing" my Portuguese with them!