Sorry that it's been ages since my last blog, I hope most of you got my prayer letter in that gap (if anyone didn't get it and would like to, either message me on facebook or email me at feb36@cam.ac.uk). So the last couple of weeks have been really busy and full of a pretty varied collection of events, including a hen party, cat-sitting, trips to a builders merchants, a meeting with the potential next Brazilian president and a night in a maternity hospital, (one of the pastor's wives had little baby Lara very prematurely - she's in intensive care but they're both doing well). It's been quite a surreal few days really!
Things are going well and I think I'm understanding more and more Portuguese, although phone conversations are still highly awkward and impossible to understand! I've also had lots of other 'awkward gringa' moments - such as having several dinners (as it seemed rude to confess I'd already eaten!), thinking I was going for an evening walk on the beach and later realising I'd said yes to abdominal curls in the beach-side exercise park and the most embarrassing one of all, that some of you will have read about in my prayer letter, when I managed to sit on a feijoada (Brazilian bean stew) on the beach in front of lots of Clara's friends! You'll be glad to hear I'm being smooth as ever here in Brazil!
One exciting story and example of God providing in amazing ways from the last few weeks is about Erica, the girl in the centre of this photograph. Lots of the children from Porta Larga (community I'm working with) have 'madrinhas' (godmothers) thanks to Judith matching up ladies from the church with a child. Two weeks ago Erica, who is 12, showed an interest in playing volleyball. Normally a child from Porta Larga would have no opportunity to play a sport like volleyball, however Erica's godmother just happens to be the headteacher of a private school (where I have my theology lessons two evenings a week) and she has agreed to let Erica join the volleyball club there. We took her to the shopping centre to buy her first ever pair of trainers and she had her first session last week, which she really enjoyed. It's also inspired me, as I think about being in a different culture and with lots of new people, to see Erica step into this club full of girls who all know each other and live such a different lifestyle to her and yet throw herself completely into the challenge.
These couple of photos are from a trip to the Builders' Merchant yesterday to buy material for a new bathroom that is being built for one of the families in Porta Larga. Adrian and Judith managed to raise the money for this project when they were back in the UK and it is well underway now. It's been really great seeing it progress and the children are so excited and keen to help!
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| Clara, Sandra and me at the Hen party last night |
The last week I have been doing lots with my Brazilian family, which has been so lovely. They have lots of bbqs (which are incredible!) and I'm starting to meet the huge extended family. Last night it was Sandra's (my Brazilian Mum's) sister's Hen party so we went to a pub (or 'pubby' as it is in a Brazilian accent!) It seems to be the fashion in Recife to have British-style pubs where the cocktails are named after English cities and there is a picture of the Queen on the wall! I turned up straight from my theology class (think I was the only member of the hen party who arrived with a Bible!) and was shattered but it was a really fun evening (see photo of me with my Brazilian Mum and sister). The wedding is tomorrow so everyone is busy getting ready for it - apparently it goes on all night so praying I feel a bit less tired by tomorrow and that I somehow manage to function in Portuguese through to the morning. Just had a power nap and a crunchie from my English chocolate supplies (!) so feeling a bit more with it!!
The teenagers group on Sunday nights has been going well, we've been looking at James 3 and the power of the tongue, thinking about how big an effect the things we say can have. It's been amazing to see the teenagers really listening and thinking about what they say and it's been a real challenge to me too. Last week I ran the group with a different Rafa (who was great with the teenagers) and we did a little drama about lying, which I think they enjoyed!
I hope things are going well with you, miss you all lots and glad to see that England qualified to come out here for the World Cup! Keep me updated with how you are/what I can be praying for you,
Flo xxxxx
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