This week is mostly occupied with preparing for the speech contest on Sunday. June 29th seemed so so far away on June 1st when I arrived here in Brasilia. The date is so exciting, yet so dreadful because only 2 days after that I have to leave this wonderful family and home I've been accepted into for good (or maybe not?). So as I scramble around, making giant paper cranes, making up anthropological journal entries, and make hundreds of candies, I'm trying so desperately to breathe in as much of this experience as I can. 5 weeks was by no means long enough... but I thank God so much for every minute of it. Ok, ok, no more good bye mushies, i still have 5 days!!!
I'm gonna miss these kids....Believe it or not, last Thursday was my first day of tourism around Brasilia. It's been so crazy that I haven't left the church much at all! I guess I'd better get used to it.. since my whole life will be in a church anyway ;-) I again tagged along with the Swanton team on their tourism day.
We of course started the day off with a Churrascaria lunch (Brazilian all you-you-can-eat steak barbeque). I love my meat rare, as you may be able to see in the very attractive photo of myself.
Then we headed to the TV tower for a good view of the city.
Modern Art?
Pastor Toshi and Takao-san
Below the TV tower is the fela, or hippie market, a tourist's dream come true. I'm making my third trip there this Saturday to actually buy stuff. The first time was just looking, the second time was weaving in and out of the stands with Fumiko, the church's fight-to-the-death bargainer. Y'all have got to see this woman wage war on the sellers. Just imagine the nicest looking Japanese lady say a bunch of Portuguese really fast with hand motions and looks, then walk away mumbling "muito carro... muito carro...," "too expensive... too expensive..." At times I felt I needed to take a step back in case some blood started spewing. Well, by the end of that day, everything ended up being muito carro, so we're going back into the last battle on Saturday for last minute strikes. Please keep us in your prayers.
Scoping out the berimbao, afro-Brazilian instrument
"Nao, obrigado... mais photo por favor?"
Oh... Poker night... and yes, I AM on a missions trip.
Saturday afternoon some church members and I filled up two cars and took a 30 minute ride out to a neighboring city, Gama, to visit and do a service for a drug/alcohol rehab center. They are currently building a new facility. The men their are very optimistic for healing, very encouraging.
That same night was the follow up service to the English camp. It was so cool to see almost everyone from camp return to the church for the service. Although the camp was mostly focused on friendship and English, this service was a direct evangelistic attempt. Pastor Andy gave a great Gospel message that I'm sure pierced many hearts. We all had a great time of fellowship afterwards too. I know a few that have decided to come to the church and others who are considering. I pray that the seeds sown at the camp and the service will be watered and fruitful, even though the Swanton team or I will not see it happen.
I had to say my advertisement for the 41st and last time...
I've seen a lot of the interest that Brazilians have in American life and culture since being here. Although, most of the time I'm not too fond of being an American, I'm continually reminded the fact that my American citizenship is a huge bridge and tool for ministry. Like I talked about in my last post, even though I hate being the Americn, or the "rich man", I was reminded by a very precious person in my life (Laura, cough cough) that God has made me that man for a reason and I must use it for the good of the kingdom by giving it and sharing it. Loving my riches will only make me spiritually poor, and despising my riches will get me no where either!
So whoever said city peeps can't farm was very wrong, cuz I totally did on Monday! I figured if I was going to have an extreme Japanese-Brazilian cultural experience, what better to do than dig up some maniocs and plant some lettuce? Yoshida-san took the great risk of allowing a Tokyo girl like me take foot on his soil... I never really found out what he thought of me, but I know I learned how to dig up manioc potatoes, peal the thick skin of them, trade potato roots for lettuce and brocolli sprouts, and plant them. Farming has become a very difficult market for the Japanese-Brazilians. Of the 60 some lots in the Vargem Bonita suburb, only 4 have been doing well. But Mr. Yoshida has been a trooper ever since he came to Brazil in the 50's, raising 4 boys on his own after his wife passed away. He taught me a lot of lessons that day, beyond agriculture, on toil and dignity.
Pedro (Yoshida-san's grandson) was kicking butt, it must be in his blood.
My lettuce/broccoli garden still isn't growing...
It was a refreshing day... but I think I'll stick with urban life...
Thanks for your visit! Come again!!
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