2 days ago, half the team went to Ouro Preto, Brasil, and we took about 10 Brasilians with us. Ouro Preto, which means "Black Gold," is a historical city in Brasil that was founded over 300 years ago. We did some sight-seeing but also got the opportunity to spend more time with the Brasilians we have been investing in for 6 weeks now. It was really fun and interesting and can be explained in detail another day by those that are interested in hearing.
Sunday, I spent the day with one of the Brasilians who has been a Christian for a few months now. His name is Wellinton. I am blown away, still, by the care and hospitality that the Brasilians give their guests. Breakfast was waiting for me when i woke up. Lunch was prepared for me, which took about 2 hours of prep time, and just the genuine care and interest he had for me was incredible. He was only concerned about my comfort and enjoyment during my time in his home. I wish I could demonstrate such love and care for others, but it definitely proves to be a challenge for me whenever I have the opportunity.
Something else I have learned this summer is how little I love people through my actions. Even learning the differences in cultures with greeting one another has revealed much sin to me. Being so used to the Brasilian style greeting of kissing and hugging and showing so much love through service and touch, it has made me feel unloved by my very team. It is so interesting looking at it now, that it doesn't even make sense how I could think that my team did not love me. Because of the cultures, I was setting expectations on the Americans to love me as the Brasilians do...but that just doesn't hold any ground when stepping back and really examining the American culture. We still find it out of place, to treat each other in this way, yet we find it completely appropriate and needed towards Brasilians. I value kisses and hugs so much more now, that it is hard not to receive them from my American team. I will say, my mom will be very happy to know that I will gladly be kissing her from now on. Yes mother, believe it! "I -ike kisses now."
We only have 2 weeks left here. It's hard to believe that this summer has gone by so fast, and I face the torn heart of wanting to go home and not wanting to go home. There is so much here that I love and so much back home that I love. There are countless things that I have experienced and learned and grown in here, that I will never be able to experience again (I will be listing and explaining everything in my final blog), yet I pray that it has so much shaped me and developed me into a godly man, and that it will continue to do so years after it is all said and done.
I am trying to think of what else has happened in the past 10 days, but it is hard to think because it seems like we never stop...I know that we have spent a lot of time with students and really trying to get into deep discussions with them. So you can continue to pray for them, some of them include Gustavo, Julia, Matheus, Natalia, Fernanda, Ana, Marco, Guilierme, and many more.
For our team, please pray that we would have rest in all areas of life (physical, spirtual, emotional) and that we would push hard through the end, and that we would continue loving one another. We have a final retreat this next weekend of the 1st, and then we will go into debriefing training where no Brasilians are allowed. Please continue to pray in this last week. Thank you so much for all your prayers thus far.
Wes
Kisses and hugs from Kara and me :)
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