Chasing Ideals

When I depart from Brazil in a week's time will I remember this place in terms of its cityscapes, its architecture? Certainly not, because for me that is hardly where lies its charm. In fact if all that it contained were the urban sprawls that I have visited I might not wish to return again. No, the charm of this place lies in its people. Their laughter, dance, music, family connectdness, mixed cultures, and their desire to know this stranger whom they have heard about in stories from Europe.

My week spent with Raudson and Silvana and their son Nikolas in Belo Horizonte at the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) missionary base was a high point of joy in my life. I don't believe that I have ever spent so much time laughing my ungainly head off. Cheeks (don't get any ideas, I mean face) hurting like mad, tears in the eyes laughter. Not to mention metro riding laughter, scarfing down more rice and beans laughter, late night laughter (resulting in questions the next day from other families), laughter over the ridiculous nature of living in a place called Praia (meaning beach) with not a beach in sight for at least 6 hours hard driving, and uproarious laughter centered around one man's (past news story) passion for gym toes (slightly obscure reference but the name Veechum will ring some bells). Those who know me well know that that is not a regular occurance. There are few things that get this chap doing heavy duty chuckles and those few are kept close if at all possible.

Then perhaps best of all is that the laughter was merely icing atop a cake made of real relationship. Wake up to bed time filled with conversation about all sorts but primarily a sharing of the wonder of living this life following and learning of Jesus in each moment. I was and am absolutely inspired by two people who for twenty one years have lived off of literally nothing but in faith traveled to all corners of the globe bringing the message of hope and new life to thousands of people. They succeeded with others there in building from scratch a base of training and learning that is now sending out the willing to touch and minister to some of the toughest areas of the globe. And one might think the constant struggle to continue would take from my friends their peace, their joy, but as I have seen and experienced this could not be said of them. Rather theirs is a home where joy and contentment is felt in great measure and made me at least feel so comfortable and relaxed. What a gift and a legacy their lives pass on now to their three year old son Nikolas. To students at the YWAM base like Jackie who have the opportunity to learn from them and experience the joy of their company. Jackie being the one pictured with Silvana in the photo album now on Lovable Quirks. She is from England, a student and English teacher at the base; another with whom many an hour of conversation was spent. It was nice to meet someone on this side of the globe who appreciates the English/Irish sense of humor and was familiar with such as Blackadder's comedic genius.

So this post commemorates week two in Brazil (I do realize that the end of week three rapidly approaches). Remembering of course "pikos" (Raudson's version of pickles); gym toes; cheiro (smell) and tumba (tomb) which sound like words from African music; and attempting to teach the difference between "beat" and "bit", "beach" and its similar sounding word. What joy! And what inspiration as I too am in the process of beginning my life anew in Poland.

The pictures on Lovable Quirks deserve explanation. The first ten come from Sao Paulo. My week spent with Carla and her family. Pictured also is William with whom Carla and I spent a day wandering the mad city streets. All the rest come from the YWAM base and from the city of Belo Horizonte. The base lay quite a ways out of town hence the toucans and copious foliage. Raudson, Silvana and Nikolas should be recognized from my time in Poland two years ago. The one picture where a red flower is growing horizontally is a parasite that somehow rooted itself in a cement electricity pole. The chickens pictured were sale items either for quick dinner choices or to be raised for later dinner choices.