my debut

So Thursday was the big night... my big dancing debut!  It was sooo much fun!  The entire show went well.  Once I arrived, I jumped in with everyone else doing makeup, hair, etc.  Our instructor asked us to go out onstage so we could mark our places and run through it once.  So, like a good little girl, I went.  We were just standing around though, so I decided, "Forget this... I'm going to keep getting ready until we're actually needed out here."  And I was soooo glad I did!  I went backstage to the dressing room and my phone was ringing.  I could tell it must have been my mom, and when I answered, instead of "Hello," I got, "1...2...3.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!" from the whole gang!  It was so great!  :o)

I got a little bit nervous right before we went on - mostly excitement - but I just kept dancing and pretending like I wasn't nervous!  We got out on stage and gave it our all!  We were definitely one of the most upbeat groups - hip hop as opposed to ballet, salsa, tango, etc.   So we really got the crowd going.  I did mess up twice, but they were minor errors, and the feedback I got after the show (from Corenne and Vitor) was that they couldn't even tell!  I guess that's the way it usually goes. :o)  

I certainly am not great at hip hop... then again, I've only been doing it for about a month and a half... but it was fun!  And who knows, maybe this was just the first performance! :o)

What's your name?

So one of Nayana's classmates came over tonight, her and her 10-year-old son Joao Pedro.  That kid had more energy than he - or any of us - knew what to do with!  My favorite part was this...

He had been talking to Rosangela for a while, then she went into the kitchen.  A minute later he went into the kitchen too and asked her, "What's your name again?"  Of course she replied, "Rosangela."  His reply got the "Quote of the Day Award": "Rosangela?  Ok, I'm going to call you Beth.  So, Beth...."

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday.  This is how we do birthdays now... Skype style.  Sometimes we lose our connection (which is the case at the moment), but for the most part it works out pretty smoothly, and it's definitely a great alternative to missing out on birthdays all together.   They're enjoying cake, and I'm enjoying the conversation.  Soon we'll do gifts, and they'll be off to dinner and I'll be off to bed. 

Happy Birthday, Dad!  I love you!

the best time of the year

Christmas is on the way!  ... even if it is in the 80s and 90s every day and bound to get hotter.   (then again, this week has been really nice... sunny and warm during the day and very cool at night.  It's perfect!)  

Yesterday when I got home, there was a box in my "closet" (the laundry room).  I knew it was on the way, and I was so surprised and happy to see it had arrived!  Its contents included a couple cards (from mom and dad), some presents, stockings for me and both roommates, jelly bellies, and an advent calendar.  I was already planning on decorating the house for Christmas this weekend, but the box definitely closed the deal.  I waited for Nayana to get home, and we got busy putting up the tree, stockings, and lights.  It didn't take long, but it sure changed the feel of our little place!  I actually kind of want to invite someone over now. haha. 

On another note, I'll be performing with my dance class on Thursday.  I'm pretty excited!  We have our general rehearsal tomorrow, one more class on Tuesday, and the show's on Thursday!  I'll let you know how it goes...

ahhh sweet sun!

My phone rang a little after 8 this morning, waking me up.  I wasn't thrilled at being woken up, but it was an invitation to have breakfast with Corenne and Nayana at Corenne's (Nayana had spent the night with Corenne, as Philip is in the States), so I got over it real quick.  I packed up my laundry, came over, and enjoyed blueberry-chocolate chip pancakes with the girls while my first load was going.  The sun is out today, and it's not raining, so we decided to take advantaged of the sun!  I went home and changed into my suit, and we're enjoying the (hot!) sun (and some relief from the clouds every once in a while), music, and a nice breeze out on the deck.  What a beautiful day!  

i wonder how old it is....

Check out the phone Lucia gave me for my desk today. I literally was taken back by its massiveness when I saw it. Too bad it doesn't work. It's sitting in my trash can now.

Evicted

We (Hope Unlimited) recently began renting a small commercial space across the street from the office. The deal finally closed last week, and the keys were handed over to us. During the past months that the space has been empty, a homeless man "moved in," spending his days and nights curled up in the corner of the covered patio in the front. Today it was time to ask him to leave, as we cannot have him there when we open it up for business (the space is probably destined to be some sort of extension to our current thrift store). The local police came by just now, at our request, to ask the man to leave. I watched the scene. From my viewpoint from across the street, it was peaceful and quick, no hassle. As I watched the man, dirty and covered with torn, ragged clothes, pack up his blankets and a few items - undoubtedly all he owns in the world - tears came to my eyes... and they don't seem to want to go away. We took this man's home from him. But then, what else were we supposed to do? He couldn't stay there, right? And I wonder where he'll go now. I wonder what his story is. He crossed the street and walked down the sidewalk that passes our office. I walked the length of the office "next" to him, walking at the same pace, looking toward him through each window as I passed, and hanging my head as he did when a wall separated us. He, in his rags, with his world packed up in a bag and thrown over his shoulder. Me, in my dress pants and high heels, my world spread across continents and oceans, and I usually don't have enough room for everything. What do I do? How do I help? I pray that God will use me as a part of His team here at Hope to continue rescuing even more children, saving many of them from the destiny of this man. But there's got to be more I can do... there has to be more...

"A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27

Come Just As You Are

Saturday night, I got on the bus with the girls at the girls' ranch to head to CM for church. Lately there have been lots of new faces - mostly because I do not make it out there very often. There was one girl at the front of the bus whom I'd never seen before. I, with a big smile on my face, said "Hi! How are you?" She replied, "Not good." I said, "What? Not good? Why not good?" She replied, very matter-of-factly, "Because I'm here." So I said, "you aren't happy to be here? I'm super happy to be here!" (And I genuinely was - it had been way too long since I'd been on the bus with the girls, so I was excited for the ride.) I continued to talk to her for a minute, found out her name, and found out that she had just arrived the day before (Friday). I did get some smiles out of her as we spoke, but it was obvious that she wasn't so sure about this place. It seemed as though she could already tell it was a good place, but that didn't change the circumstances of her life, it didn't change her hurts, her sorrows, her wounds and scars. She's 15 years old. Her name is Zelia. Pr William spoke on Heb 10:19-25 - about having boldness to enter into the sanctuary, the holy of holies. He talked about giving our problems to God, but doing it completely and with faith. At the end of the service, he asked for those who wanted prayer to come to the front. I noticed that Zelia went forward. She was one among many kids, all on their knees praying. I don't know what she's gone through in life up to this point. I don't know if she has ever been in a church before. And I don't know what the days and weeks to come will hold. But I began to pray that she would truly give her worries over to the Lord. That she would be covered with Jesus' blood so she could enter into the holy of holies. That she would know Christ as her Lord and Savior.

madness

Saturday, November 1, 2008: opening day of Wal-Mart in Campinas. It was madness. We left.

Friends!

Well, I think I officially have one "new" friend, along with a few more potentials. And I can't tell you how happy that makes me!

Last year I met a guy named Vitor while I was going to school here. We went out a few times, but not much. Last night we went out to go dancing, and - skipping lots of details - danced about 2 songs and talked from about 9pm till 3am - roughly. It was so great! We plan to go running on the days we don't have class - Mon, Wed, Fri.

Today after dance class, the girls invited me to get a bite to eat and then go dance some more. Totally cool - and they invited me out tonight, too. I don't know if I'll wind up meeting up with them, but it's nice to know there's another possible friendship.

I've been needing friends outside the Hope Unlimited realm. My world is too small - work, church, roommates, friends = all connected to Hope in one way or another. I think I'm on the verge of branching out... Praise God!

I didn't vote

I didn't vote this year. I fasted and prayed on Tuesday for the election, but I didn't actually cast a vote. Why? Because I requested an absentee ballot, and it never came... until yesterday. I was a little annoyed to begin with, but then I realized I hadn't received it because it was "Missent to Taipei" - as was stamped on the front of the envelope. How you accidentally send mail to Taipei instead of Brazil, I don't know. But oh well - I got a laugh out of it anyway.