November 13, 2009

• Discipleship is relational. Maybe in the past many people were saved with the bang: preach and pray—but not many today. It is all relational. Living it day by day. Being. This is the first time I am teaching Bible studies. Sharing the gospel. Feeding the hungry. I have been in Brasil 3 years now and am just getting to this point. There are so many different faces of a missionary. Some are appreciated more than others. Some are more proclaimed and pronounced.

  When I first came to Brasil, I would walk down the street—or anywhere—with a big smile plastered on my face. I would pray “God, let them see you in my smile because I have nothing else to give.” And they probably thought I liked to show off my teeth. They probably wondered if my teeth hurt. But I hope they saw something else too.

  Now I can talk. I am still a bit shaky. I will be making a deep theological statement and then forget a word and say “you know….that redemption…thing…” But do you know why they listen? Why they sit even when I studder? Because I am here. With them. Handing out oranges. Making chocolate milk. Sweeping the floor. Washing the dishes. They walk home with me to see where I live, to see if I really live here, in their city.

  I was gone for a day and they asked “Did you go back to the US?” “When are you leaving?” is always followed by “when are you coming back?” They ask so many questions like “Do your parents only speak English? Well, what about your grandparents? No Portuguese at all?” They don’t get the idea of me yet. Nor I them. I ask them things like “You don’t go to school anymore? How old are you? You don’t have a bathroom in your house?” I am scared to ask about toilet paper because I don’t want to know. Diane was so proud to tell me they now have a blender. Their first electrical appliance.

  But it is about relationship. Gaining the right to speak. Earning the respect to be heard. And sometimes it begins with a smile.

  • 10:08 pm
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