As You Like It
In addition to everything else that has been going on, Kilah has been involved in a major acting production here at PACA. The high school performed Shakespeare's "As You Like It" complete with Old English. The students all had to memorize their lines (some were incredibly long) in practically a foreign language. The show was very well performed, even if most of the audience couldn't understand the majority of what was being said (only about 20% of the school population is English as first-language.) Kilah had a rather small part, but she did enough to show everyone that this is an area where she shines, and we expect that she'll get a much larger part next year.
Canadians again!
We just got word from FEBInternational that Shannon and I have been re-instated by the Canada Revenue Agency as residents of Canada! This means that we will once again belong to a nation and we will again receive the baby bonus cheques that the Canadian government sends out each month. This is a huge blessing and a really positive answer to prayer. Thank you to all who prayed for us in this regard.One Year in Brazil
Woohoo! Today marks the first anniversary of our arrival in Brazil. We are celebrating by heading to Boiçucanga, a beach town about three hours drive from home. More details to follow.Where were you when the lights went out at Kalunga?
Yesterday was a holiday here, and we all went out to Sam's Club and then stopped by Kalunga to pick up some paper supplies. (Kalunga is to Brazil what Staples is to America - only smaller) We had only been there for about five minutes or so, when the power went out. It was early in the afternoon and there are lots of windows so it wasn't too dark, and nobody else seemed to think this was a big deal, so we just carried on as usual. About five minutes later store associates started coming up to us saying (from what I could translate and then figure out) "Please hurry, we're operating on emergency power and the store will have to close within twenty minutes." We knew they were quite serious after the third person told us in a span of about two minutes. So we got in line and made our purchase and just then the power came back on.Ah yes, just another day here in Brazil...
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Pipas
Although January and February are the main kite-flying months of the year, it is not uncommon to see people young and old flying these little kites wherever there's a break in the power lines. What you see here is a collection of kites that Summer has collected over the last several months. Almost all of them were simply picked up on our property. The kites only cost about one dollar each (including the tail) so it is the string that actually costs the most of all of the kite parts. If a person loses a kite - no big deal. They just go to the local papeleria (paper store) and buy another one.
One thousand missed opportunities
I don't often talk about what it's like to be a mssionary here in Brazil. I confess that the wonder of the country and the culture are so interesting that I find myself sharing these details on the blog most of the time. However, we are missionaries, and our hearts are still focused on serving the Lord in a discipleship ministry here.October was missions month at our church, and one of the missionaries who spoke to us was a lady who organizes Christians to teach Christianity in the public schools. Here in Brazil, they actually encourage people to teach about God (although they're not fussy about which "flavour" you're presenting - which can be a problem.) They don't pay these teachers, but they do give them a title and a real opportunity to minister to the students. The door is wide open to share the love of Jesus Christ with these children. However, the opportunity is being wasted.
We learned that in the city of Sao Paulo alone (the problem is similar for the rest of Brazil) there are 1000 schools that are REQUESTING a teacher to share the truths of the Bible. Why do these vacancies exist? Because in Brazil there are many who claim to have had a conversion experience, but who have not had anyone to disciple them. They don't feel adequate to teach others.
That's why Shannon and I are so passionate about serving the Lord here in Brazil. We are graduating about 25-30 students each year who have been discipled, and who COULD serve as teachers in these schools. Of course, most will not, but hopefully they will disciple others who will disciple others as well.
Thank you for being a part in our ministry here. The work we are doing is vital. The window of opportunity is open, but one never knows for how long. Just look at what is going on in Venezuela right now. Their doors may close at any time to the Gospel. Please pray for us that we will be effective in discipling others here in Brazil.
Geckos
Most North Americans are familiar with geckos, but not many have actually seen one. Here in Brazil they are very common. We usually see them in the evening on the exterior walls of the house, but we have seen them in some strange places -- like stuck in the light fixture in Kilah's bathroom. Geckos are a welcome sight here as they help keep down the mosquito population, which isn't terrible in the city, but it's bad enough. They are about as harmless as a creature can get. Their only defense mechanisms are to run (which they do quite well) and if necessary, shed their tail if being held by the tail. After the tail comes off it keeps moving -- very interesting to say the least!