What's the Word for...

that thing that goes on your foot?" I'd ask a teammate. "Shoe?" they'd reply. "Yes!" I'd exclaim, so excited to have the word, and then realizing I should have had it the whole time! The joy of hearing Portuguese for a week! Let's see how good my English is right now.I just went back and reread the blog I wrote before I left, and I'm glad I had that to look at. Over the past 2 weeks God has definitely opened my eyes and given me peace about some things I've been praying about for a looonnnggg time, but for now, I'll share some of the things we did. I have a feeling this may be a several blog thing, so hang in there and check for new ones :)We arrived in Brazil on Thursday June 7 after many delayed flights, changing of planes, etc. We were so happy to finally land in Porto Alegre, and when we got there, our friends were waiting on the other side of the baggage area for us! We were so excited to see old friends and make some new ones. We went straight to the hotel to shower (yep, it had been about 36 hours since the last one, but who was counting?) and got ready for dinner. We ate at a churrascaria (maybe i didn't spell that right). The food was good and the entertainment was entertaining.Friday we spent unpacking our materials for the week and taking a tour of Pastor Claudio's congregations (he has 5). It was awesome to see the work that has been done at each of them since we were here last summer. That afternoon we prepared our supplies for the coming week and met our new translating friend Paulo. Coincidentally, Paulo spent time studying at Concordia Seminary in STL last year, but our paths didn't cross until Brazil. Friday night Michelle led a seminar for Sunday school teachers.Over the course of the next week, we presented our program of singing, puppets, and games to six groups of children. Each group had a great time. This year we focused more on smaller groups of kids. They so desperately need others to spend time and invest in them! We toured a flavella (slum area) and the schools that one man had the vision to build. These schools have changed lives and communities, giving these children an education and the hope that they can make a different life for themselves. We met a fourteen year old boy who helps care for his younger siblings and blind father. He has just received a scholarship to continue his education, and was talking about doing an exchange program to come to the US to study for a bit. All because one man followed what God was asking him to do. I was able to visit several second grade classrooms, and chat with some of the kids. I realized that second graders act the same regardless of geographical location or socioeconomic status. They are silly and friendly all over the place! And they are super willing to share Jesus with others. They told me they celebrate Christmas, and I replied with, "Yeah, Santa Claus comes." "NO!!! Jesus was born to take away our sins," they replied. They saw the twinkle in my eyes then, and we had a good laugh.I know this hasn't been full of my usual anecdotes and personal commentary. To be very honest, I don't think I'm ready to write that part. You see, during this trip, I realized that God had answered some of my prayers in ways I didn't see coming. I didn't realize that on that day before I left when I felt him literally pull me to my knees and beg for emotional stability to lead this trip, that He needed me right where I was, broken, and willing to seek Him without question. I had been asking God to remove fear from all areas of my life. I had been asking Him to give me peace about where I am and where I am going, and when He moves me, I am ready and at peace about it. Over the last several weeks, all of those prayers have been answered in ways that I can see, in ways that I didn't expect, and I am so thankful that joy has come in the morning!So give me a few more days to process (and practice my English!), and I'll post more soon.

June 5, 2007

I haven't been great at blogging recently. I haven't had the energy or time to share details here. But I'll give it a shot this morning...it'll ramble, so read at your own risk.I leave tomorrow (Wed. june 6) morning for Brazil. I have mixed feelings about leaving right now. Part of me wants to curl up in my bed and regain some emotional energy that's been spent in the past few weeks. Last week was the end of one of the most amazing school years ever. And I should be excited and thankful, and many other things that I really am not. I don't feel prepared for this trip. Physically, yes. Mentally, almost. Emotionally, nope. That leaves me anxious for what is about to be. But I have an amazing group of high schoolers who are going, and they are all so excited, and that is what carries me on right now.My nephew is growing every day. I went with Katie last week for another ultrasound, and he weighs about 1.7 pounds right now, still long and skinny. We saw his profile and the part that makes him a boy again. We also did the 4D part, but all he gave us was a leg. That's okay, it's a beautiful, perfect leg! We start Lamaze classes later this summer, which I am totally looking forward to. I'm just so blessed to be part of this with my sister!Mom and Dad are in Hawaii on a trip of a lifetime. Yesterday was Mom's birthday, and they went horseback riding. Something spooked the horse Mom was riding, and it threw her off. She landed on her wrist, foot, and ribs. All was okay except her foot, which has a shattered bone--broken in at least 4 places. She's in a soft cast until they come home, and then will see an orthopedic surgeon to see what needs to happen next. Let's trust God for no surgery! I'm just so thankful she's okay, and I can't help but thinking that God was saving her from something else on this trip by laying her up like this. Thanks God for knowing the best plan!My list of things to do today is growing by the second, and for some reason, I'm feeling like I need to actually, physically, be on my knees praying right now. So I'm wrapping this up, and I'm going to be obedient. Strange, I usually don't feel that need. I'll post something when I get home from Brazil. If you want to see what I'll be doing, check one of my first blogs. There's a link to a video, and you can see the places I'll be and some of the people I'll be with. God's peace, Angie