God is a pretty good Guy

Ok, so the title of this blog is an understatement.  BY FAR.  God is incredibly, ridiculously, wonderfully amazing!!  He blesses me for no reason.  He sheds his grace, love and mercy upon me.  He runs after me when I go astray.  And I have done nothing to deserve any of it.

As far as my visa goes, I have no news yet.  We have made contact with a couple people this week and are waiting on some answers to see what possibilities I have for the next step.

As far as my living situation goes, things didn't work out with the one girl (Iramaia), but probably for the better anyway.  Rosangela is currently in the States with Corenne and her mother and doesn't plan on returning to our apartment (even though she has yet to actually move her things out).  Nayana is still planning on going to the States in March if all goes well.  Since that leaves just me, why move?  Even if it does wind up being me and Nayana, that's fine.  This week, we replaced our refrigerator and stove - with used appliances, but we spent a grand total of about US$150.  Here are the before and after shots of the kitchen... (Note: the "before" picture was taken a long time ago... the white refrigerator has been gone for along time, leaving just the tiny stove and the brown fridge.)

 

Check out the size of my oven!!  Just imagine how many cookies I'll be able to make at once with that puppy!  

As far as church goes (and I'd say this is the best part!), God has been so faithful!  There is a church I went to off and on when I was here for school in 2007.  Great church, really nice group of "kids" my age.  But I never managed to establish any firm, deep relationships with them.  Mostly, I'm sure, because there was always an end date on the time I would be here, so neither I nor they dedicated any deliberate effort to establishing good relationships.  So... you know how when you've known someone for a few years and don't even know if they have any brothers or sisters, nor do you remember for sure exactly what they do?  It gets a little awkward to ask those questions after "knowing" each other for a couple years.  And that is the situation I found myself in.  I had a desire to go to this church, but I did not want the awkwardness, so I avoided it.  Finally, in a moment of complete vulnerability, for whatever reason (ahem... God!), I confided in one of the girls (via the internet) that I never went to church because I was shy and it was awkward.  I was never really sure why I said that to her, not to mention the fact that she was one of the ones I LEAST connected with.  Ever since I have been back, she has been so faithful to track me down and invite me to church, to go out afterwards, etc.  From the moment I arrived back, I followed through on a decision I made while I was in the States - to dive into this church in worship through both service and fellowship.  But Mariana has pulled me in even farther.  What a blessing she has been!!  I am so excited to establish deeper, meaningful, God-glorifying relationships with the people from church.  I give God ALL the glory for this opportunity!!!  Praise His name!!

Little reminders

I often have little reminders that I'm not in the States anymore.  Example: I was pretty much completely out of cash but really wanted a bag of chips.  I didn't want to put it on a card, though, so I scraped up what I could (1.50) and walked to the little diner on the corner.  A bag of Doritos costs 2.50.  I was 1 real short.  The lady's reply?  "Just take a bag and pay the rest later."

I'm enjoying my Doritos. :o)

Artist in Training

Someone once said, "Flexibility must be an art!"  I guess that would make me an artist in training...  

Corenne picked me up from the bus station yesterday, and we went straight to the Federal Police.  Long story short, they didn't fine me but instead said I could leave the country as normal.  I still have to figure out something with my visa, though... so instead of going to the States right now, I'm probably going to go to Brasilia and see if we can get things worked out there.  We'll see what happens!

Adventures

I have a little bit of catching up to do...

On Tuesday, I went to see the falls. Monday was suuuuuuper hot and sunny - a beautiful day, but hot! So I expected the same for Tuesday. Not so much. It rained. The entire day. Well, until - literally - the minute we were turning around to leave the falls and head back to the van to return to the hostel. But that doesn't mean it was a bad day! It was still great!

First stop was the Three Borders Landmark - the spot where Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil all come together. There are two rivers that separate the three countries. I saw the borders from water level in Paraguay on Monday and from up on the hill in Argentina on Tuesday. Then we headed to the falls. Part of our group (including me) did a boat ride. We got to get right up by the falls, to where the water was spraying on us! It was crazy because we were already wet (and cold) from the rain, but the water from the falls was warm. We took a break for lunch and then headed on to "The Devil's Throat" - which is the biiiiiiiiig waterfall. Got back to the hostel around 6. I caught about 20 minutes of sun out be the pool and then enjoyed the evening reading before I went out for a Lebanese dinner.

Wednesday I stayed at the hostel and got some work done before heading to my bus. The bus left on time - 6:30, but we had some stops along the way... definitely a more eventful ride than the one going to Iguassu! First, about 15 minutes out, we stopped for almost an hour as we waited for another bus to join ours. Both buses were pretty empty, so they combined the two. Finally, we hit the road. An hour or two later, we came to a road block at the Federal Police. They stopped us and came on board to do a search. The found some cocaine and marijuana inside the bus and made everyone get out while they searched more thoroughly. They must have gotten a tip from someone, because they also found a suitcase full of digital cameras and video cameras. The girl who owned it had to stay behind. The whole thing probably only took 30-45 minutes, and we were on our way again. The bus was entirely uncomfortable - perhaps the most uncomfortable I've ever been on. I never have a problem with leg room - not even in airplanes - but I was finding I didn't have quite enough room. Not to mention the bus smelled a bit. Around 3 or 4 in the morning, there was a scheduled stop - at which we found out something had broken on the bus. So we were there about an hour while they were fixing the bus. I took advantage of the situation and got out of that bus! Then we hit the road again. About two hours out of Campinas, for whatever reason, we switched buses... For the last two hours of our 18-hour ride, we got to enjoy the nicest, cleanest bus. The seats were huge - they were basically small recliners, very soft, very comfortable. If only it had been the other way around. Oh well, I survived!

USA, here I come

Ok, so if there was going to be any suspense to this blog at all, I guess I gave that away in the title. Hopefully it will still be an interesting post, however, due to the adventurous day I had!

It was about 12:15 when I headed out from the hostel to make my way to Paraguay. I walked a couple blocks, caught the bus to the "Bridge of Friendship" (Ponte da Amizade - such a great, encouraging name for a bridge between two countries, isn't it?), and headed across the border on foot. I had no idea where I was going or what exactly I was doing, but I was confident and totally up for the adventure! It felt like it had been a long while since I had last had an adventure such as this (not that I've ever done this before).

I decided I'd walk past all the backed-up traffic before trying to get a cab.  Once I did catch a taxi, it didn't take but 5-10 minutes to get to the consulate, even through the crowded streets.  The taxi driver waited for me while I went inside.  I had to fill out the visa application form three times because I kept making mistakes, and the consulate requires perfection.  Finally, they told me it wouldn't be possible to give me the visa.  I talked with the guy and asked him over and over if there was any way to get this visa without going to the States.  He assured me there wasn't; I would have to go to the States to get a new visa.  I had been sure I would get it, but God obviously has different plans at the moment. 

Corenne gave me the idea of trying the consulate in Argentina.  I decided it was at least worth a shot, so I headed outside and met my taxi driver friend, Amado, who was faithfully waiting for me, despite the almost hour and a half it took me to not get a visa at the consulate.  Shortly after we had started on our way to the Paraguay-Argentina border, we hit a bump, which brought on a LOUD noise.  It was obvious something was dragging on the ground, so Amado pulled over and got out to check out the situation.  Apparently the spare tire had mostly fallen off and was dragging, so he took care of that and we hit the road again.  (I have to mention, though, the whole car shook and rattled the entire time I was in it!)  He told me the cab ride would cost 300,000 guaranies.  Yes, 300,000.  haha!  I couldn't believe it!  Of course, that translates to only about $60, but it sure sounds like a lot more than that!

He took me to where I would catch the boat to go across to Argentina.  I was expecting a large area with a handful of ferries and lots of people going back and forth, so I was quite surprised when the last 15 yards or so of the road was dirt and rocks, and at the end of that was two men in a tiny little boat with a motor strapped to it.  Seemed a little sketchy to me, but hey, I was in Paraguay!  I paid the R$25 for the ride across, and we were there within 15 minutes or so.  Caught a taxi (an unmarked taxi... also a little sketchy, if you ask me) upon arrival in Argentina and headed to the consulate.  Turns out the consulate closes at 2pm.  I arrived at about 4:10.  So I decided I'd squeeze in a visit to the Falls, which I hadn't seen yet and call it a day.  As I'm walking to get money changed so I can catch the bus to the falls, I realized it was 4:30 pm and I still had not eaten anything today - except for the 3 cookies I ate on the bus around 9 this morning.  I was pretty hungry!  But wanting to save time, I decided I would get something to eat at the falls.  

I chose to go by taxi instead of catching the bus - partly because I was exhausted, and partly because it would be much faster.  The guy was a salesman, I can tell ya that.  From the moment I got in the car, he was trying to make deals with me.  We went to the falls only to find out the park was almost closed, so it really wouldn't be worth paying to get in.  I was disappointed, but a bit relieved to be going home for the day - it had been a long one!  

Upon my arrival at the hostel, I went to Pizza Hut to kill my hunger before it killed me. :o)  Then spent some time reading out by the pool.  Now it's definitely past time to go to bed!

I guess I better at least inform you what my (tentative) plans for returning to the States are... Corenne plans to travel with her mother soon, so I will try to travel with them in order to lend an extra hand when needed.  It's possible we will leave as soon as Thursday, but I have to admit I'm hoping it will be a little later than that.  I will leave Foz de Iguacu Wednesday, arriving Thursday morning.  To fly home that night would be crazy, so hopefully I'll have a little time to rest.  My visa expires tomorrow, but I found out I can go to the Federal Police a day after it expires, pay the day's fine (which is pretty cheap), and from then I will have 8 days to leave the country.  The man at the consulate assured me this won't cause problems in applying for a new visa, so that's the plan, and it should buy me a little time.  At the latest, by early next week I should be back in Albuquerque.  From there, I'm not 100% sure what the plan is, but I'll keep you updated. 

Sorry if I've rambled... I'm tired!!  Off to bed now...

Paraguay, here I come

I made it to Iguassu Falls just fine. I left the barbecue yesterday around 3:45, went home and grabbed my stuff, and a gentleman from Hope's international board picked me up and took me to the bus station, where my bus would leave at 5. He had signed a letter I need for my visa application, so I finally had all the pieces and was set. It was a long bus ride - 17 hours - and could have been more comfortable, bit I certainly didn't come anywhere close to dying. :-) We arrived about 10:45 this morning, and I got a cab to my hostel. I just took a shower, and now I'm on my way to find the Brazilian consulate in Paraguay. My visa expires tomorrow, so I'm praying this goes well!

An Update

I want to make sure to update you all. It's been a crazy past few days, and I've barely had time to stop and think!

I haven't heard anything on the apartment, and because of my visa issues, I'm just sort of laying low for right now. Iramaia never called me, which is an indicator that she's not itching to move into the one apartment together. Not necessarily a closed door, but it's not seeming as wide open as it seemed on Wednesday/Thursday. We'll see what happens.

As far as the visa goes, I've been going crazy trying to get all my documents together and plans set to go to Iguassu Falls. I will be going alone. At first, that made me a little bit sad, but I'm actually kind of excited now. I've never really traveled on my own, so it will be a new adventure and a different experience. I bought my bus ticket yesterday and will leave this evening at 5 (after church this morning and a barbecue with the girls from dance this afternoon). I booked two nights in a hostel. I will arrive in Iguassu tomorrow morning, check in to my hotel and go straight to the Consulate to apply for a new visa. I will take a day to see the Falls while I'm there, and my return will depend on what I find out at the Consulate. If I get my visa (Lord willing!), I will be back here on Wednesday or Thursday. If I don't, I will have to go back to the States. I may go directly from the Falls, but I assume I will use the 2 days I will have left on my visa to come home and pack adequately. :o)

Thank you for all your prayers! Keep them going!! God opens doors that no one can shut, so if He wants me here, everything will fall into place.

I may not be Brazilian, but I'm a child of God

I just got back from the Federal Police. Turns out it was illegal for the lady at customs to approve 90 days for me to stay in Brazil. I'm glad I double-checked! And yet, this means I have to leave Brazil by January 13... this Tuesday! The lady told me which visa I should pursue now, and said it is possible to get it in Uruguay instead of going all the way to the States to get it. I only have two business days (including today) before I have to leave the country. I know God has a plan... I just don't know what it is!

As it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." Romans 1:16

Stay tuned...

Iramaia just called and said she found another (one bedroom) place that would work very nicely for her. She made an offer and should hear back on it tomorrow. So she said she would call me tomorrow once she knows what happens with that. I'm open either way. I hope it works out for us to move in to that one apartment together, bit if it doesn't, it certainly won't be the end of the world. Believe it or not, I've actually been considering staying where I'm at anyway. So, we will see what God has in store... Stay tuned!

Why me, God?

I'm going to try to cut out the unnecessary details and just great straight to the point, but, well, we'll see how that goes...

Yesterday I went with Lora, a volunteer who is here from the States with her two teenage children, to see a little furnished apartment right around the corner from the office. I have been planning on stopping by to take a look at this place for literally months and have just never done it. In fact, Lora and I were supposed to go pick up the key from the real estate office on Monday, but wound up not being able to because the car was gone from the office. And so it happened that the car was gone Tuesday, too. So yesterday I called to see if we could go pick up the key, and the realtor told me it was on its way out the door, but we could come in a few hours and get it. So I asked if we could just meet the realtor there and look at the apartment at the same time. "Well," he said, "there's not actually a realtor going, just a client, and that's kind of rude to ask her to.... Well, actually, she's saying she doesn't have a problem with it. She could meet you there in about 20 minutes." Ok! So that's exactly what we did.

It was a terrible little apartment - small, dirty, broken down, and smelly. We all agreed it wasn't for us. We stood talking for a few minutes with this girl - Iramaia (ee-duh-MY-uh) - and she told us she was looking to move into a place either by herself or with a roommate, one or two bedrooms. I told her I was in the exact same situation, and she jokingly said, "Let's live together." By the end of the conversation, we decided maybe living together wouldn't be such a bad idea. So we exchanged numbers. She was considering a different apartment in the same building she's in now and said she'd be happy to take me over there when she got off work so I could see what it was like. Perfect!

We probably spent close to an hour and a half together last night, asking questions in order to get to know each other, and walking around the apartment complex. It's a wonderful apartment - not huge, but it has three bedrooms, two bathroom, a small living/dining, kitchen, laundry room, and a balcony (3rd floor). The complex also has a pool, barbecue area, basketball court, and playground - all very beautiful, and something my current apartment lacks! I told her I'd like to think about it and I would give her an answer this morning, as she has to give the realtor an answer today. The realtor told her he could hold the apartment for her until today, so I think all we have to do is say the word and it's ours.

Well, my answer is yes! There are pros and cons both ways, but I feel very good about this and that it would be an opportunity missed if I pass it up. God is good!! Even if things don't work out, or if they work out differently than I expect right now, this is still a blessing! Why He chooses to shed His grace and blessings on me, I'm not quite sure. I certainly don't deserve it - not even for a minute. Father, thank You for this blessing! May it bring glory to Your name! (I'll keep you all posted on the final outcome...)

On Sunday night, my throat started hurting for no apparent reason. Monday it was still hurting and I remembered I had brought some Emergenc-C with me from the states, so I started downing that on the hopes that it would solve my problem. No such luck. Yesterday I stayed home from work in the morning because I was completely drained, my throat still hurt, and both my head and neck were aching badly. I took some Tylenol cold, which helped, but seems to have lost its charm the 3 times I have taken it since then. Friends had been suggesting that I go to the doctor, but I figured that was more hassle than it was worth and opted to just hold out until it passed. Well, this morning I cracked. A liitle before 9 I left work to go to the urgent care. That was a great experience...

I waited for a little over an hour, as I watched I don't know how many people who came in after me get called. Finally, my name was called. I moved in to another waiting room and waited some more. Within about 10 minutes, the doctor called me in. Before she even asked what was wrong, she asked if I wanted a shot or medicine to take at home. (I opted for the medicine.) She then asked what was wrong. I told her my symptoms, and she asked me to open my mouth. She informed me my throat was inflamed, but there was no puss. Thanks, doc, I coulda told you that. Then she wrote me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory. I looked at her and asked, "Is that all?" she said yes, so I said, "no one's going to actually examine me or anything?" she looked at me, apparently irritated by my question, and said, "Didn't I just look at your throat?" "Well, yes, but that's it?" "Yeah... do you work?" I told her I did and she said, "You have to go back to work," handed me the papers and sent me on my way. I felt like a 14 year old caught trying to ditch school! Haha. So I filled my prescription on the way back to work. I'm sure hoping it helps and I didn't just waste an hour and a half of my time! Hey, at least the doctor visit was free.

I'm quite the detective

I found new pens very easily.  It didn't take long to find my trash can.  And not tooooo long to find my stapler.  But the Sharpie (my most valued missing item) I was already about to write off as lost forever.  And then I saw it!  I found my Sharpie!  I'm complete again!  All my supplies have been restored to my desk!

Speaking the heart language

As I have learned about missions in the church, in my Perspectives class last year, etc., I have often heard the term "heart language" along the way.  The idea is that everyone has a language that makes the most sense to them.  It communicates to them on a deeper level than just words.  It communicates deep in their heart.  I would venture to say that this goes beyond just language, though.  Perhaps we should use the term "heart culture," as that might encompass a wider range of forms of communication.  

I have always approached the subject of the heart language from the perspective of an outsider.  For example, there are people groups in this world who are considered "unreached" by the Gospel because there is no translation of the Bible in their heart language.  Therefore, it is necessary and oh so important to translate the Bible into their heart language, so that they can see Christ and receive His Good News deep in their hearts.  This is the perspective I have always had on the heart language.

Living in a culture and speaking a language that are not my own - day in and day out - have placed me in a new position.  I now long for my heart language at times.  It is harder to be truly touched at church by a message in Portuguese.  It makes my personal time with the Lord - at home with my English Bible - so much more precious, desired, and needed.  Not going to church on Sunday morning - although certainly not "doctrinely" necessary - leaves a certain void in me, a longing for "traditional worship" (an example of what I mean by "heart culture" - in Brazil it is most common to have the main church service on Sunday evening).  

I have chosen a new church to attend.  It is called the Christian Family Church.  I will continue to attend Hope's graduate church on Sunday evenings, but I will also attend and serve at the Christian Family Church.  This morning I woke up to go to the 10am Sunday service.  It was so refreshing to wake up Sunday morning and go to church.  It's part of my "heart culture."  

This is just one example of my new perspective on the heart language.  But this, and all the other instances that I long to communicate and be communicated to in my heart language, make me realize more and more the importance of the heart language.  

Lord, grant me the grace to be able to carry this with me, whether I am in Brazil, Albuquerque, Iraq, Tanzania, or wherever You may take me.  At home, at work, or in the grocery store.  Allow me, by Your mercy, to have the ability to use others' heart languages, for Your glory and for Your Kingdom.

As Paul put it...

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.  

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; 

I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it."  

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

How tiny is my oven, you ask?

In reply to Sharilyn's question "Just how tiny IS your oven!???"....




VERY tiny!!!  (maybe 12" by 24"? on the outside, that is...)

Movin' on up in the world

I'm making chocolate chip cookies. I decided to rethink my production method. Instead of the regular 3 cookies at a time, I've repositioned the cookie dough to accommodate 4 cookies in one pan. I really feel it will cut down on production time, thus increasing production greatly. This could have a pretty big return. That's what I like to call innovation, folks.

No Beach for Me

So the plan was to go to the beach today, but when the downpour of rain outside woke me up at 6 this morning, I began to rethink that idea. I looked at the forecast for the beach I was going to go to, and it's supposed to rain all weekend. Who knows if it actually will, but I decided it was more money and energy than I wanted to gamble on that. So here I am. And I have to say, I'm perfectly content. :o)

I went to the new supermarket that is right by my house after work... twice, actually. I stocked up on food and was sooo thankful for the 3-minute walk as opposed to the almost 20-minute walk I used to have. Then I realized I bought a wrong item, so I went back and got the right one. And some flowers. :o) 



Tiger lilies.. they're my favorite!!



Now it's time to put my new apron (handmade by mom) to use! :o) That's right... red and green chiles. In true New Mexico style. And yes, I'm making dinner at 8:30pm. In true Brazilian style.

p.s. I found flour tortillas in the new supermarket!!! I almost did a dance of joy right there on the pasta aisle!

I wish

I thought my desk looked pretty clean when I came in to work this morning. Throughout the morning, I've figured out why that is... all my supplies are missing... no stapler, no pens, no trash can, my sharpie is missing... I've been wandering around the office a lot this morning, trying to find supplies. I guess thinking I was just that organized was wishful thinking.