October 3, 2009
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i still have more to say. just wanted a new post.
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I went jogging to the feira, where I took one dollar and got a bag of fruit. I like Brasil. 6 small apples, 4 oranges, a passion fruit, and a banana. There was a gerimu in the fridge going bad, and so I cooked it. It looks like a green pumpkin. Unfortunately, I have never cooked a green pumpkin before. Or an orange one. There are so many things in life I have never done. So I figured it must be like most other vegetables—you cut it up and cook it in a pan with water. It tasted alright. I cooked some green beans too. I love the familiar crack/pop sound when you are breaking them…they remind me of all my summers when Dad would grow green beans and we’d sit and prepare a big pan full. Amazing where sounds or smells will suddenly take you. away from you.
I was riding the bus back from school and we entered the villa, the street that leads to my drop off. You can see all the red roofs and telephone poles and children running around. This is me. This is where I am. And I like it.
Rafael’s dad (one of the Living Stone’s children) has leprosy. Yeah, like the Bible plague disease. There are eight people living in Rafael’s house, and even though leprosy is a permanent disease, the government will only give disability support if he is taking the leprosy medicine. But the medicine is such that you can only take it for so long before you have to stop. Or the medicine will kill you. So Rafael’s dad had to stop. And so stopped the money. To try to help provide for his family, he goes out to harvest fruit. The last time he went, on his way home he stepped on a thorn that went four inches into his foot. He didn’t feel a thing. He went to Recife to get it removed, and now has a gaping hole in his foot. please pray for them.
I asked Patricia what she would say to you if she could go to the USA and stand before you and speak. she said something like this:
“It is not just the kids that are here, needy and needing. It is the whole family. and even if you don’t help us, do something. anything. God is always showing us something we can do for someone else. Take the step in front of you, and see where it takes you. Maybe to big places, maybe not. But don’t stand still.
We are working with what is considered and treated as the trash of the world. the unwanted. the child that is dirty and sticks his hand in your face and asks for money, making you feel uncomfortable. those that everyone else has thrown out, of mind and of heart.
It is not about money, it is about action. Doing what you can where you are. Whatever comes to your mind when you ask God honestly, “Whay would you have me do?” Do it and then go from there. It is about taking responsibility. If you see a need, go and do it. you see it because God has put it on your heart to do something about.”
(ok. i added and edited a bit. but translating loses so much….)
