I’ve now been in Brazil for a little over 4 months, and the time out here has been interesting to say the least! It’s been interesting for numerous reasons, but the main one is that I simply could never have imagined what this time would have been like before I arrived. I mean - I had expectations, I’d heard stories, I had contacts and a ‘pinpoint’ sized idea of what I was going to be doing – but even this wasn’t preparation enough for what God had in store.
If you’re expecting stories of supernatural miracles, or some extremely deep ‘change my life in one line’ quote, I’ve got neither. What I feel I’ve been gaining since I’ve been here is experience, relationship and understanding. My eyes have been opened not just in a worldly way, but a personal, private and indescribable way – so I won’t try to describe what’s changed. What I have noticed though is how much I viewed the world through culture. Seriously, if you think you’re view of the world is ‘without blemish’ without experiencing another culture in-depth – get out. Culture is like this – a pair of glasses with lenses inches thick that we don’t realise we’re wearing. My time here has been filing down my English lenses, adding some Brazilian, and at the same time making it clearer what things are cultural, and what things aren’t. Again, I can’t really explain it, it just ‘is’.
My story since I’ve been here has been more a case of ‘self-discovery’ (sounds awfully ‘rah’ and ‘gap-year spiritual journey’, but it’s true), understanding more about myself and how I really think. In all honesty it’s been quite scary, but thankfully God is gracious and showing me areas of my life that without the experiences I’m having here probably would have gone unnoticed and unchanged. I’ve not done an awful lot, or at least it doesn’t feel like I have. I mean, I’ve been involved regularly in the worship at the Manifesto church which has been immense, I’ve been helping out in the Tribal Generation office with translating their website into English, went on trips to Peru and another city in Brazil called Aracaju, spent a week in Goiania with another Sal da Terra church, and have spent the last few weeks in the house of Alan & Enilce (who were the original family from Brazil to come to Hereford for two years in 1996).
Spending my first Christmas and New Year’s away from home was a different experience – A Christmas with sun instead of snow, with friends instead of immediate family, Brazil instead of the Barrels, and late evening instead of early morning. For the first time I started to feel a tad homesick, but don’t worry too much – I quickly got over it! ;-) But seriously now, it seems I’m at a point where I’m missing my England friends more and at the same time I’m gaining deeper friendships here – like a friendship crossover type thing.
News for the future is looking very promising. Speaking to Alexandre (one of the Pastors of the Centroeste congregation, one of Sal da Terra’s main churches), my time in the new year is going to be very busy not just with the School of Church Planting course, but also with some of the other stuff that they have planned for me. At the moment there are thoughts about being involved in their Evangelism Committee (a group of people that organise how the church is going to do their Evangelism – the more structured events), being more involved in the organisation of the Global Tribal Generation Gathering in June 2012, and have already started being involved in the worship in the Centroeste congregation. As part of this I feel it is right that I move to the Centroeste congregation as my main church, but will still aim to keep in close contact with Manifesto. The pastors of Manifesto are heavily involved in the School of Church Planting, they have their more ‘extreme’ services on Saturday nights instead of Sunday, and most of my friends are from that Church.
I can’t think of much else to write other than this. Of course, if you’re interested more in what I’m up to – feel free to write a message on Facebook, ask my parents (if you’re in Hereford, although, they’re often really bad at telling stories) or write a letter, or even ring me ( 005534 9253 2633 – it’s not that expensive!)
Prayer list, if you’re into that kinda thing – which is a really cool thing to be in to – would be Focus, Faith, Language, Friendships and Integrity. They’re all vague words, but have widespread applications in my situations at the moment. If anyone has any prophetic words or images for me, please feel free to send them my way – would be hugely appreciated!
