I have been working on my washing techniques. you know, I washed my socks in the sink for the very first time in my life. it takes alot to get socks clean in the sink. and I wonder how many other things I have taken for granted all my life. it is times like today when a lizard popped out my suitcase at me that i remember i am not in Kansas anymore.
There was a situation where in love we had to correct a sister in the Lord. It was a very humbling experience as I struggle in the same areas and desires and yet in meekness I was to go to her, knowing that could fall at any moment. She completely understood and changed and I got a hug in the process. restoration is a beautiful thing, and I only hope that when I need to be corrected, I will be able to respond with as much grace. you know that feeling of knowing you do not deserve to be in the place you are? it was like that. I have felt that alot as I sit down and watch the people here. The Americans…the times of prayer that we have leave me saying “God, how could you be so good to me in placing me with these Godly people?” the deep conversations…these are the people I want to be around and work with. The Brasilians…I see God working so clearly in them.
On Wednesday and Thursday the medical clinic was in Carpina, where the original community church is established. There were so many people waiting. They would have them sit downstairs, then call them up to be first seen by the nurse, then the doctor, and receiving their medicine on the way back downstairs. They had plenty of helpers in the very small upstairs, so I stayed downstairs after I snapped my pictures. We did a short skit, and then came the long waiting time. I sat next to some people I knew…but was really pretty bored. Ricardo then got me involved with a bunch of little kids.
This is really a very simple process. The way to get involved is to speak English with someone. suddenly, everything around you stops and you are the center of attention. So then I turn around, find one pair of eyes, connect, and ask them their name. Then I quickly ransack my brain for all the other Portuguese words I know. mostly our conversation is about their family–how many brothers and sisters they have, how many brothers and sisters I have, how old they are, how long I am staying in Brasil, and food. I have gotten pretty well on talking about food, so I go through every food word I know and ask them what they like and do not like. After about 5 minutes of this, I have 10 kids sitting around me. then I ask them if they want to learn English. most of them are too shy, but normally you have a brave one in the bunch. with this brave one, you then point to your nose and say “nose” and so on with the mouth, eyes, and ears. You go back and forth until they know it pretty well and then keep pointing without saying the word so THEY have to fill in the blank. then you go faster and faster until everyone messes up and you all laugh. By this time I am exhausted and have to get a drink of water somewhere. but boy, it’s alot of fun. All the mothers are standing around thinking I am either the sweetest thing or the silliest thing they have ever seen. and I don’t want to know which they have decided on.
Thursday I brought my juggling balls and scarves and added that to my routine. oh my. no one really learned how to juggle, but there were balls and scarves flying all over the place and lots of laughing. In the two days, over 500 people were seen, making the total over 800, and probably over 1000 after today. Thursday was the busiest day, as there were people waiting to be seen in the afternoon before we went to lunch (there is the morning crowd, from 9-12, and then the afternoon from 3-6)! That means many of the people were waiting many hours to be seen. Dr.Chuck said that the last woman they saw came in with a bright smile. He ask how long she had been waiting, and it had been about 4 hours. She simply said “but I know the care is worth it!” What I think is neat is that each person will also be followed up by the community church. just imagine. would you wait four hours in the hot weather to see a doctor?
Wednesday night we went to the house church of the new Acacias church plant. This church came out of people we met last year at the English camp. This family is very well off, and boy, did they have a beautiful house–I think they had a maid for each one of their children too. There sure is something to be said about house churches (besides the INCREDIBLE deserts they had)…it feels so homey and you get a deep sense of “We are the body of Christ” instead of a habitual building. The Spirit of the Lord was there and I felt so close to these people I had never met before. my only regret is that I did not take my camera with me. oh well. a funny note was that Tele did not introduce David, and the women thought that he was my brother because our noses look the same. hmm. do I have an English nose (Heather is English)?
Purpose. that is what I have been thinking about lately. Some of the kids from Sao Paulo were telling me that they just wanted to go to the US because Brasil was so boring. I said “Voce sempre quer o que nao tem” (You always want what you do not have.) I do not remember exactly when I was, but something happened around the time when I was 16 and I realized that God had given me a purpose. The words “to glorify God” suddenly had meaning. and suddenly I had meaning. And that is something I see so lacking everywhere. if I could think of a song for my generation, I think it would be “Go the Distance” from Hercules where it says “I would do most anything to find where I belong…” And you know what? my purpose is nothing specific I can put into words…oh, I know here and there little bits…going to Brasil…working in the inner city…stuff like that–but it is something deeper than that…knowing that wherever I am, I have a reason for being there…even if just to pray and be still.
Steve said that he thinks you find your purpose as you are serving. so you go out and serve, and as you are, you realize where God has equipped you and what really brings you joy–what fulfills you. I agree. it was when I went into the inner city and started working that I felt something greater than me–a calling, a use for my time that I felt good about when I laid my head down that night.
very few people seem to find it. the world seems to one busy mass of nothing. When I sit down and think, what is the point? I mean, whoopee–I worked all day and now my paperwork is half-done? what is paperwork? I mean, come on–what is paperwork in the scheme of life? TV? oh, there is a good way to spend your time…what do you come away with? more emptiness–and guilt on top of it now like a cherry. I never feel a waste when I have studied or read or memorized the Word. never. and the same with meaningful conversations with people–because the souls of men and the Word of God are things made out of eternity. the rest is made out of atoms.
I want to know how to pass on purpose to someone. my practical side is yelling for a five step plan. because saying “oh, live for God” or “go serve God” or “Obey what God has already said” is very useless and frustrating to say sometimes. And so often, that is the only answer–yes I know that. but…Oh God, isn’t there more? too bad I don’t have the power to lay hands on and give purpose. ohhh, wouldn’t that be neat! no, that would be scary. anyways, I just pray for God to give purpose to so many people I know. I think it is one of the greatest gifts after salvation. knowing that hey, when I roll over and open my eyes in the morning, there is a reason to get out of bed and live 100%. Because of God–my God–and His plan for my life and how I can reach out to people and I can get to know Him more today. and those footprints are set in eternity. I am living for heaven.
