A Simple Demonstration of Love

A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful and rare opportunity to spend the weekend at our girls ranch. Seven visiting American girls and I packed our bags and headed out to the ranch on Saturday afternoon for a couple days of fun, games, smiles, and reminders of God’s love.

One of the many activities that filled the weekend was a movie night we put on for the girls on Saturday. I rented a few videos and took my laptop, speakers, and a projector out to the ranch. Together with Bel, the ranch director, and her husband Carlos, we nailed and hammered to put up a makeshift outdoor screen (a white sheet), and went searching for all the right extension cords, plugs, and other necessary equipment for the “movie theater” to come together. As we worked, many girls wandered over from time to time, curious to know what was going on, and if they would be invited. One girl’s comment particularly touched me:

Bruna* is 12 years old and has a little bit of a lisp. She is a sweet little girl with a certain air of maturity beyond her years – she seems too serious to be a 12-year-old girl. She doesn’t know who her father is and probably never will. Her mother, with no place to live and seeing no other option, left her and her younger sister at a church and hasn’t been seen since.

As I was finishing set-up and about to test the projector, Bruna walked up and, with much curiosity, asked, “What is that?” “We’re going to watch a movie,” I answered, as I continued setting up the computer. “Oh, cool,” was her reply. And then she added, “Is this a sign that you like us?” I was taken back by the question, which made me immediately stop everything I was doing and turn my full attention to little Bruna. Her question hit me like a ton of bricks; I was appalled as I realized her uncertainty of acceptance, and the fact that a simple movie night could mean so much to her. With great enthusiasm and a tight hug and kiss on her forehead, I confirmed, “Yes, it is!” Then, very matter-of-factly, little 12-year-old Joice looked up at me and said, “Oh. Thank you,” and returned to her house.

Within an hour, the whole lawn was covered with girls wrapped up in blankets as the night continued to cool. Giggles and chatter could be heard throughout the ranch, as we waited for everyone to arrive and get settled for the movie. Popcorn was passed around, and the joy of that special night could be felt in the air. Little Bruna sat close to me, and we shared a bowl of popcorn with a few other girls around us. Although we didn’t exchange any more words, I knew what a huge impact this simple act of putting on a movie night had had on Bruna. And I pray that she would know not only the love that I have for her, nor that the rest of our staff has for her, but the love that the Father has for her. He gave her that movie night, as a sign that He loves her. And He will never abandon her.

*Her name has been changed for her protection.

I still hate coffee

But I have to admit I hate it less than I used to. Perhaps it's because it has come to my aid on days when I had barely slept the night before. Or maybe because it relieved a headache I had had all day long the other day. Regardless, I am hating it less. And I think the best thing about coffee in Brazil is the size of the cups! :o)

Everybody loves taco night!

...even Brazilians!

On Saturday night, I had some people over after church - Tiago, his brother Diogo, Natalia, Mariana, Flavia, Marcos ("Kinho"), and Zé - for tacos and a movie. I ran home after service was over to start cooking and finish up what I wasn't able to get done before leaving for church. It wasn't long before everyone arrived. Tiago and Natalia helped me in the kitchen, cutting tomatoes, grating cheese, and making fruit salad, while I got the meat going and finished organizing things for dinner. The rest of the crew transformed my apartment while we were in the kitchen. They moved the couches and took things of my wall so we could set up a projector, connected to a laptop and watch Batman on "the big screen."

When it came time to eat, I had to teach them how to put their tacos together! About 5 of the 7 had never eaten tacos before!! These poor, deprived people. Now I know why God has brought me to Brazil... to bring the good news to them about tacos! haha... ok, ok, maybe there's more to His plan than that.

I think all of them asked at one point or another if the fruit salad went inside the tacos or not... haha! Even though I told them no, Natalia and Mariana both tried strawberries in their tacos. They said they liked it, too... I don't know about these Brazilians...

A Birthday Gift

So my birthday was a month and a half ago now, but I just came across something I wanted to share.  It's a mad lib entitled "Guess what your birthday gift is!"  My mom wrote it, and we as a family filled it in before I found and opened my last birthday gift.   Enjoy!

Guess what your birthday gift is!

Here are some hints about your birthday HOOK:

It is too big to SPLASH in Buddy's SIBERIAN HUSKIE. 

It is too INFLATABLE to hide in a THICK warehouse. 

It comes in a package of ONE HALF.  It SQUATS. It TAKES A PICTURE.

It loves to DANCE.  It is colored like a PINK, bleeding OSPREY. 

Any guesses?  Well, ask your FEROCIOUS CLOWN or MR. ROGERS.

They both know because it is from them. 

P.S. It is in the LEASH in a GOOD POOP just the right size for hiding there. 

If you're still at a loss as to what I got for my birthday - or where it was hiding - here's the real story:

Here are some hints about your birthday gift:

It is too big to hide in Buddy's crate.

It is too small to hide in a huge warehouse. 

It come in a package of four.  It zips.  It rolls.

It loves to travel.  It is colored like a chic, bleeding zebra. 

Any guesses?  Well, ask your mom or dad.  

They both know because it is from them. 

P.S. It is in the shed in a box just the right size for hiding there. 

NOTE: The update on this blog was just to fix a few typos I noticed after I posted it.  I guess that's what I get for not reading it before I posted it.  

And she hits the ground running...

Friday night: rodeo in a neighboring city with a few friends - Tomas, Wagner, me and Vitor

Saturday: Hippie Fair with Aunt Donna and Jennifer, an unsuccessful search for 2 dogs to adopt for the girls' ranch, back home, dinner, exercise, and to bed

Sunday: pick Jennifer and Donna up from the girls' ranch, lunch with Donna while Jennifer met with some friends, a successful search for 1 dog to adopt for the girls' ranch, a lot of happy girls with a new dog, dinner, church, out with friends, and to bed

Monday: my first full day back in the office, an outing with the birthday boys from Hope and with Donna and Jennifer, and back home and to bed

Tuesday (today): another full day of work, a 10-minute nap, house cleaning, dinner, dance class, and blogging. :o)

I already have more invitations for stuff to do this weekend than I know what to do with.  I'd say I have two lives... in two different countries and two different languages.  Life is crazy.  And our God is so good to bless us with fun adventures!

A long trip

As I told people before I left, I was super excited to come to Brazil but dreading the trip itself.  And rightly so... haha.  I got up at 4:45 on Thursday, was at the airport shortly after 6, my plane left at 8:40, and I arrived in Atlanta about 1:30 (Eastern time).  I had an 8-hour layover in the Atlanta airport, which is always fun (not.)  So I came up with a way to help pass the time. 

As soon as I arrived at the airport, I posted a message on my Facebook page for all to see: So here's the game: I have about 7 hours in the Atlanta airport until my plane leaves.  (9:20 pm eastern time).  Help me pass the time by leaving a comment which lists an item I must find and take a picture of while I'm here.  (you know, like a scavenger hunt)  Ready, set, GO!  

Within a minute or two, I had about 10 responses.  So I got my camera ready and set out on "The Great Atlanta Airport Scavenger Hunt," as I dubbed it.  I can't post all of the results in this blog, but I will share some highlights.  If you want to see the full results, you can visit Facebook. 

"an elephant of any size"

"a lady with three children" (the third one is in the stroller in the front..)

"a moose!"

"a he-mullet"

"a 'car' backpack"

Awkward!

Emery was over last night, and, as is common to do with a 2-year-old, my mom at one point said, "Emery, I'm going to check your diaper," as she pulled the back of her diaper open to see if Em had left any "presents."  While she was doing that, I said, "Hey, Emery, say, 'Awkward!'"  And she promptly repeated, "Awkward!"  I just about died laughing!  We kept practicing, and I told her any time someone looks in her diaper to say, "Awkward!"  She got to where she would do it without even being prompted, but the later it got, the more difficult it was for her to remember her new vocabulary word.  I was a little worried that all our hard work wouldn't be paying off just yet... 

This morning, however, I got a text from Kevin when I arrived in Atlanta: We asked Emery this morning what she says when we check her diaper.  She said, "Awkward!"

'Atta girl, Emery! :oD