Back in the USA

I am back in the USA. The last few days have been a whirlwind. Just crazy. If you’ve never lived in a different country, you can’t imagine how weird it is to return to your own after being gone so long. To give you a little glimpse into my transition, I’m going to let you into my mind. (Don't be too scared.) Here are some of my reactions to the USA. My thoughts are in italics. Actual conversations or things that came out of my mouth are not. I hope this helps you understand the transition process a little better. (Sorry, it’s a little long.)

• I can’t believe it’s today.
• Do I really HAVE to get on the plane?
• See you later, Natal. I miss it already! Turn this plane around.
• Why are those people speaking English? I haven’t left Brazil yet. Speak Portuguese please.
• Oh my. I just left Brazil. Am I ready for this?
• Wow, I understand everything that’s coming out of their mouths!
• “They’re jist heardin’ us in here like cattle.” Welcome back to the South of the USA, Lacy.
• Why is there no trashcan in this stall??? Where do I put the....oh yeah. TP can go in the toilet here.
• Everyone here looks like a tourist.
• Arkansas!
• There they are! Hello family! I knew my grandpa would be crying.
• Ok Dad, can’t breath here.
• Is this Simon or Eli? Simon’s as tall as me! Bekah’s taller than me! Geez, have they been snacking on Miracle Grow?
• Melinda! Charity! Ahhhh!!!!
• “Where’s your Brazilian man?” And so it starts…
• “Did you bring back a person in these bags?”
• “OH. MY. GOODNESS . It is HOTTTTT out here!!!!!!!!!!!!”
• “Where do you want to eat?” BBQ! I think I know where one is, but it’s been about a year, so I could be wrong…
• Oh sweet tea. I have missed you.
• Holy cow, this BBQ sauce is SPICY. Yes!
• “That car is chique.” “That car is what?” “Chique…oh, that’s not English.”
• Geez, there really is a McDonald’s on every corner.
• This sink has cold AND hot water?!
• Wow, I pull one paper towel out and another comes automatically. Cool!
• “Were these walls this color when I left?”
• What happened to my room?! It didn’t look like this last year. It’s beautiful!
• Oh Scarlet (my car), I have missed you. Wow, you’re clean. Not for long…
• The first thing I do in my car is back out of the garage? Uh-oh.
• “Are ya’ll sure you want to ride with me?”
• Oh my goodness! I’m driving! Heeey!
• “Stoplight. What do I do?”
• “Sonic has a dollar menu?!” “Why is there a banana on the dollar menu?”
• The roads are so calm. People stay in their lanes? I can turn left?
• I can’t believe I’m in Arkansas. I miss Natal!
• Hello Wally World.
• “We are parking as far away from other cars as we can.”
• Shaving cream is how much? Wow, peanut butter is so cheap!
• Dollars are so ugly. Why can’t I use Reais?
• It just doesn’t seem right to put the TP in the toilet. Will it really not hurt it?
• Hot shower? I think I will. Ow! Too hot! Too hot!
• Ok, I realize it’s about 100 degrees outside, but does it have to be 30 degrees inside?
• “I’m going to need pajama pants and socks. It is COLD in here!”
• “Where am I?”
• WOW. It is so hot!
• Bible class in English! I understand everything! KJV? Ok, haven’t missed that.
• Everyone is singing in English. Beautiful.
• Oh yeah, he’s speaking English. I can listen and understand.
• “Lacy,it’s good to have you home.” Thank you.
• “You look great.” Thanks. I wonder how I was supposed to look?
• “I bet you’re glad to be home.” Glad to be back? Well, I’m happy to see my family.
• “You look like they had lots of good food to eat down there.” Uhhhh????
• Wow, those are beautiful tomatoes.
• BLUEBERRIES! BLACKBERRIES! YUUUUUM!!!
• The Jonas brothers have their own TV show? Seriously? Why?
• Where are the legendas? Oh yeah…
• There is so much space here!
• “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss the city.”
• It looks like a foreign country.

Well, there were a few of my thoughts, conversations, and some things I’ve heard over the last few days. There have been other funny moments, but at the moment I’m not remembering them. Big surprise. As much as has changed over the last year, some things are still the same.

Hello, My Name Is...Part 3

Here you go folks! The last installment, which you've been so heavily anticipating. I knew you were checking the blog every day for an update, so I decided to stay up late instead of sleep the night before my flight out of Brazil. At least I'll be sleepy enough to sleep on the plane! I hope you enjoy getting to know the rest of my dear Brazilian friends and family! :D

Jefferson
I first met Jefferson a few days before Halloween. He studies computer engineering with Talis, who brought him to the church just to practice his English. A few days later he came to our costume party as Luigi. He was so convincing, we still call him Luigi. After a few weeks of Bible study,he gave his life to Jesus in early December and has been active and involved ever since, even speaking at a few Wed. night devos. We can always count on Luigi to be willing to go out to eat wherever we go.

The Jewells
John and Samantha Jewell are have been missionaries here for about a year and a half. They brought along Jonah, 7, and Andy, 4, too. Their children have adorable smiles and always have something funny to say. In March they welcomed Jewell #3, Ben, who inherited his brothers’ adorableness and cute smile. John is on fire for the Lord and sets many people on fire too. He is a funny guy and will tell you like is, which is (usually) a good thing for the church. Samantha is an awesome cook and makes great cappuccino. I really appreciate all of the wonderful ways they’ve helped me and the church in the past year or so, especially making us cookies and teaching us Rook.

Jonathan Braga
Jonathan is the athlete in the church. He loves to swim and does so competitively. We were talking about it once, and he said (about swimming), “It’s my job.” I have seen one of his competitions, and he does very well. He is the son of Osmildo and Marta and is a dedicated member. Jonathan is in high school and is learning English, so we occasionally have conversations in English. Every Sunday during confraternizacao (the time when everyone greets everyone else and we all get a whole lot of kisses on the cheek), he comes up to me, gives me a hug, and says “God bless you.” It’s so cute. I look forward to his greeting every week.

Maihana
Maihana is just adorable. She is almost finished studying Psychology at the federal university and is dating Robson. She gave her life to Jesus the same day as Sarah and has been faithful and committed ever since. She is the epitomy of a gentle and quiet spirit. She has such a sweet voice and a quiet way of talking to you so that you feel comfortable, an important quality for a psychologist.

Rejane (pronounced hey-jah-nee)
I met Rejane when I came to Natal in 2007 and became a good friend of mine. She still is. She became a Christian through LST several years ago and is a dedicated member of the church now. She finished her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the end of 2008 and is currently working very hard to find a job, not an easy thing nowadays.

Robson (pronounced hobson)
It took me almost 9 months to be able to understand Robson, and sometimes I still can’t. But I do know that he is very intelligent and a very committed Christian. He is almost finished with his undergrad degree in Psychology at the federal university. Robson doesn’t speak any English, but the phrases he does know he uses with me whenever he sees me. Whenever I think of him, I’m going to hear him saying “The book is on the table,” “Nice to meet you,” and my personal favorite, “Hot dog!”

Sarah Thomaz
Oh what to say about Sarah. She was one of my readers in 2007, one of the best I’ve ever had. She began studying the Bible after I left and gave her life to Jesus at the end of that same year. Since then, she has been very involved in the church and very committed in her faith. Last year, she almost single-handedly organized the 2-day VBS and did a wonderful job. Sarah studies computer engineering at the federal university. Her favorite pastime is teasing people, or “tirar onda” as we say in Portuguese. Most of the teasing I do in Portuguese I learned from her. Though she loves to tease, she doesn’t love being teased, which makes it more fun, right? Sarah also speaks English very, very well but will only speak to me in Portuguese. Some day we will talk in English again, Sarinha. Wow, I am going to miss her.

The Signorettis
Roberto and Marisa Signoretti are the other missionary couple at the church and are the parents of Andressa. They are incredibly amazing people. They gave up great jobs with lucrative salaries in the south of Brazil to work with the church here in Natal. Roberto shares the preaching with the other male missionaries and does hundreds of things I don’t know about. He is also the one we usually turn to when we have a problem with something, like the apartment. He is really funny, in Portuguese and English, and he knows how to get things done in this city. He loves desserts of any kind and has eyes for anything fancy. Marisa is one of the hardest-working people I know and has one of the kindest hearts of anyone in this city. She will do anything she can to help you. If she can’t help you, she will for sure find someone who can. She teaches 3 basic English classes at the church, teaches a literacy class for older women who haven’t yet learned to read, and helps lead a cooking class, along with teaches the ladies Bible class, cooking delicious foods, and making the best coffee that’s ever passed my lips. Roberto and Marisa are very cool people and have become like my Brazilian parents.

Talis Lincoln
I met Talis last July when I first arrived in Natal. I started to read with him in August, I think. As our reading sessions progressed, he became more involved with the church and started forming friendships with church members. Before long, he was best friends with several of the youth of the church. He gave his life to Jesus in December, the same day as Jefferson, who he introduced to the church. Talis has become one of the most committed people and grown so much in his faith. I was priviledged to witness this growth from the beginning. He has become a good friend to me and to almost everyone else at Comunidade de Cristo. He studies computer engineering at the federal university. This coming August, Talis will achieve one of his lifelong dreams when he travels to Canada to study English and engineering. He is beyond excited, and I am so happy for him! And thanks to Talis, I have (way) much more confidence that I will someday be able to drive a standard. He was a great teacher.

Tania and family
This family has become so important to me. I saw them almost every day. Tania has been a member of the church longer than anyone else currently attending there. She is a very strong women, and I have learned so much from her, such as when you’re walking through a favela, pretend like nothing’s amiss and greet the people you see like friends. Her children, Ingrid, Isabel, and Irvaine, are wonderful and precious. They are the most well-behaved Brazilian kids I’ve ever met. They have big dreams that I hope they achieve someday. It saddens my heart greatly to know that I had to say goodbye to them. I love each of them dearly. They are in my heart, and there is no way I’ll ever be able to forget them.

Thiago and Kelly
The newest engaged couple at the church. They met in a class last fall and started dating. Soon after, Thiago got involved with the church and gave his life to Jesus late last year. He is a super cool person. Even though he doesn’t speak English, he randomly throws out English words in our conversations. I love it. He is studying Physics at the federal university and works for an electric company here. Kelly is super sweet and really funny. She is studying to pass the test to get into the federal university. They became engaged last week and will be married in October. One of saddest parts about leaving is knowing that I can’t be here for their wedding.

Well, you have now met my dearest friends and family members here in Natal. I promised you a photo album. Here it is! I really hope I didn’t forget anyone. I have been so blessed to know each person on this list, and I pray that I will see them again on Earth. If nothing else, I’m coming back in 2014 to celebrate the World Cup (in Soccer) the Brazilian way!

Tomorrow I will get on a plane to go back to the USA. I am very excited to see my friends and family there, but a piece of my heart, a part of me, will always be here in Natal, Brazil. And a piece of Natal, Brazil, will always be in my heart.

Hello, My Name Is...Part 2

It’s here! Part 2 of the people in my life. Well, it's actually more like Part 1 of Part 2. It's a really long list, so I thought I'd break it up to make your reading a little more pleasureable. I've included half of the list here (A-I). Since you’ve already met a few of my readers, it’s time for you to meet my Brasilian family. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them. They have blessed me more than I can describe and have given me lots of laughs and good memories, not to mention all of the fun Portuguese words they taught me. Meu amigo doido, they are great! :D

Andressa Signoretti
The first person on the list (because it’s in alphabetical order) is Andressa. She is the daughter of Roberto and Marisa, one of the missionary couples at the church. Your first impression of her is of a girl who is very confident, talkative, and outgoing. And she certainly is all of those things. But she’s also pretty shy, a lot like me actually. Andressa grew up speaking English, so she speaks it almost fluently. When she speaks to me or Cris, she speaks a little of both languages, just whatever word is easier to say. She studies Physical Therapy at the federal university, and at times has been my chiropractor and masseuse. And she’s good at it!

Bob
His name is actually Sergio, but most people call him Bob. The first time I came here in 2007, he was our guide. We were with him all the time. This time around he’s been a little more busy since starting college and getting a great internship. We share a love for coffee, and I have some good memories of our times at Sao Braz. He speaks English super well, and can sing (without looking at the lyrics) almost any praise and worship song. Thanks to Bob refusing to speak to me in English, I learned Portuguese much faster!

Bragas
Osmildo, Marta, Catherine, and Jonathan make up the Braga family, one of the missionary families at the Comunidade de Cristo church. They are originally from Fortaleza, a city about 6 hours north of Natal. They came to Natal in 2006 to work with the church. Osmildo just bought a new car, something he’s been dreaming about for a while, and is in hog heaven. He preaches at the church and just loves to talk about Jesus! Marta is Osmildo’s wife. She is very passionate when it comes to the church. She helps to teach the women’s class and has tried to start a women’s small group program. She also has several individual Bible studies throughout the week. Marta is learning English and uses it with me when she can. It’s so cute! This is one couple dedicated to God and His work in this city.

Caio
When I think about Caio, two things come to mind: faith and energy. Caio is one of the most faithful guys I know here. He always has a comment about a devo, a sermon, or anything to do with the Bible. His conversation is always very spiritual. For the last few months, we’ve made a monthly trip to McDonald’s for breakfast. The first time we went, we got cards that we could stamp and get a free breakfast after the fourth stamp. Of course, we had to get that free breakfast, so we’ve been going back ever since. It’ll be ours this weekend! I have really enjoyed our time together and our conversations at the 3rd table back on the first row at McDonald’s. Caio is also the most energetic person I know here. He’s like a little kid, (almost) always bouncing off the walls. Thankfully, he has his girlfriend, Rejane, to keep him in check.

Carol Lima
Carol is one of the sweetest people I know here. She is engaged to Diogo and will hopefully be married before the year is over. Last fall she graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the federal university. If you saw pictures of a really fancy me in a red dress, those were taken at her graduation party, which is a bigger deal here than the graduation itself. I got to know Carol pretty well when we were prayer partners in January and February. I really enjoy talking to and praying with her. She definitely has the gift of encouragement.

Catherine Braga
Catherine is the daughter of Osmildo and Marta, one of the missionary couples at the church. She is a physical therapy student at a private university here and is currently dating Talis. Catherine and Andressa are best friends and are absolutely hilarious together.

Cris Carpenter
My roomie and fellow former LST intern. Poor thing. She had to put up with living with me for a year. For those of you who have lived with me, you know how I am cleaning, especially doing the dishes (right Charity?). Thankfully, she was very patient. Her LST internship ended in February, and she is now back in Natal as a full-time missionary. Cris has a great sense of humor and has given me some good laughs. She introduced me to Obama, PostSecret, Lissa shoe stores, insights into Brazilian culture, MANY Portuguese words, and lots and lots of other things I can’t think of right now. Thank you Cris for all of that, for wanting to move, and for buying a car.

Edvan and Karol Morreira
This couple moved from a city a few states away a little over a year ago so Edvan could study for a doctorate in Physics (yeah, wow!) at the federal university. Karol now studies Elementary Education, called Pedogogia here, at the same university. They are expecting their first baby in November. I’m hoping for a girl! Edvan and Karol are both very faithful and active in the church. Edvan helps lead the young people’s group and sometimes preaches. I am going to miss the both of them a lot!

Fernanda Fernandes
Fefa is a hoot. I love her to death. Hanging out with her is never, ever dull. She is very talkative and absolutely hilarious. For the longest time, and sometimes still, I couldn’t for the life of me understand a word she said. She uses a lot of slang and talks about 100 mph. But she is a sweetheart. She has encouraged me so much here. Her faith is steadfast and deep, and it is very easy to see how much she loves God. She is just finishing her first year at the federal university where she
studies nursing. I know God is going to use her to do great and amazing things!

Heloise
Another sweetheart. Heloise is still in high school and gave her life to Jesus last February after a long time of studying with Marta. She and I were prayer partners for a week right before the Youth Impact. Her first time praying out loud in front of another person was with me. How special to part of that moment! It was good for her too, because she was praying with someone who probably wasn’t going to understand more than 50% of what she said. I’ll miss seeing her pretty face and getting a hug from her at the cultos on Sunday.

Isabel
Bel is the coolest 11 year old girl I know! We have spent many afternoons together at the church. When my readers didn’t show up, she was there to hang out. We played a lot of Speed, and she usually beat me. She is also the person who taught me most of the Portuguese I know. I would practice with her in the afternoons at the church. If she started laughing, I knew I had made a mistake. If not, I knew I said it correctly. She still enjoys laughing at me when I make Portuguese mistakes. No matter how hard I try, she will not speak English to me, even though I know she knows how. Bel is one of the people I will miss most from here.

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about my Brazilian family. The rest of the list (J-T) is coming soon! I was going to put pictures up on Facebook, but I can barely keep my eyes open. I'll include the link to the pictures in my next post. Just something else for you to look forward to. :)

I love Natal

Well, blogreaders, I promised you a post about the people at my church here in Natal. This is not it. Sorry. It's still in the works. But I will (hopefully) get it posted before I leave. Speaking of, I have only about a week left here. It's so sad and so weird to think I'll be leaving soon. This is my home now and has been for a year. I will miss so many things about this place. What things? So glad you asked. I actually have a little list for you. Enjoy! :D

What I will miss about Natal:

• My readers
• My Monday and Wednesday night group class
• All of the people at Comunidade de Cristo
• Confraternização
• Wednesday night prayers
• Cheek kisses (seriously!)
• Açai
• Not having to worry about ticks/chiggers/snakes
• Being 30 minutes from the beach (ok, so I hardly took advantage of this, but I'll miss having the option to travel only 30 mintues to the beach)
• My new apartment
• Adventures on the Onibus
• Churrasco
• Speaking and hearing Portuguese
• Being able to use “I didn’t understand what you said” as a legitimate excuse
• Not worrying about Mother Nature
• Dividing the prices in the stores by 2 to get the amount in dollars
• Thursday lunch at Roberto and Marisa’s house
• The apartment buildings
• Being able to cross the street anywhere, not just at crosswalks
• Being able to cross only half the street at a time without fear of being run over
• Strawberry flavored Kapo
• Aerobics at Caic
• Midway Mall
• Suco de Manga, Caja, Acerola, Maracuja (fruit juice)
• Mangoes and their trees
• Guarana
• Aki Tanda (where I buy my fruit)
• Nescau chocolate milk
• The familiar sites and sounds of Natal

Well folks, there you go. That's not the complete list, of course, just what I've been able to think of and remember to write down. I love this city more than I could ever express with words. My heart is overflowing with thanks to God for this opportunity and hope that He will allow me to return (hopefully soon!) (at least for a visit). I am seriously going to miss this place and the precious, wonderful people.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast."
~Psalm 139: 7-10

Hello, My Name Is…Part 1

This post is long overdue. My apologies. For a while now, I’ve wanted to introduce you to the people I’ve spent my time with over the last year. The first part of this post will focus on my readers, and in the second installment you’ll get to meet my dear church family. Now, I have some pretty great readers. Some of them I’ve been reading with since last July or August. Others started reading with me after reading with the other LST interns. The rest have started within the last 3 months. There are others that I’ve left off because the list is already pretty long, and they stopped coming several months ago. I hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as I have!

Alberto
Alberto works with computers for the local police agency and teaches some computer classes. He is married with one son, Carlos. I have read with him since July. He had become pretty active at the church and was studying the Bible. Since the summer vacation, he has been very busy, so we haven’t seen him as often. He really wants to return to the church very soon though.

Alecio
Alecio is one of my newest readers. We’ve been studying for about a month. He is a lawyer here, originally from Sao Paulo, and is very intent on becoming fluent in English. He and his wife have twin boys, and he LOVES hanging out with them on the beach or in the park. So sweet!

Anthony
I have been reading with Anthony since March. He is a grad student studying for his Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering. He has been to the USA several times, so his English is really good. We read our lessons directly from the NIV Bible so he will be more challenged. After one lesson, he asked if we could read more from each chapter of the Bible, so now we usually read an entire chapter, or at least most of it. He seems to have an interest in learning more and has been to our Sunday worship services several times.

Bruno
I met Bruno when I first got to Natal. He studied with the first LST team of the year and continued with Greg. When Greg left, I began studying with him. We are currently in the 3rd LST book, John. Bruno studies English (as his major) at the local federal university, and his English is very, very good. He is very intelligent and has very interesting ideas about the world and religion.

Demetrios
Demetrios also began reading with the first LST team of the year. He read with one person from each team. He studies computer engineering at the local university.

Erick
Erick is my newest student. He is really funny and likes to talk a lot. We always talk about the most random things. When we finish,he'll say "What more?" He is studying medicine and hopes to become a brain surgeon. He studies with Marcos, also on this list.

Fernanda
I have known Fernanda almost the entire time I’ve been here. We are currently reading the Good News books. When I first met her, she was very confused about her religious beliefs. Now she seems more sure about her faith in Jesus and may have started attending a church with a friend.

João
João is a very quiet guy. He works in education and always comes to our lesson fully prepared and with a story about what activity he did over the weekend, usually involving traveling to this hometown and rockclimbing or swimming. I began reading with him after the last LST team left in August and then again after Greg moved off to Panama.

Karlos
Karlos, or Karlinho as I like to call him, was a grad student in Engineering. He started in Cris’s basic English class. His English was too good for that class, so he scheduled with me. We began reading in September and didn’t stop until he got a job and moved away a few weeks ago. I enjoyed my reading sessions with Karlos very, very much. He came every week with really hard English and Bible questions. I was blessed to watch the Lord change his heart over the several months we studied together. Karlos became friends with many of the church members, came to our worship services, and began studying the Bible. I am praying that he finds the church in his new city and continues his studies. He promised me he would.

Kleber
Kleber is another grad student in Engineering and is friends with Karlos and Nathalee, both on this list. He is a very interesting guy with equally interesting ideas about life and religion. Kleber teaches Ergonomics at a local school and hopes to become a university professor soon. You can tell just by looking at him that he loves reggae music and surfing.

Marcos
I began studying with Marcos after Cyndi left. He studies medicine with my other reader Erick. He is a super nice guy who always has something interesting to say about our lessons.

Marinho
He is one of the sweetest readers I have. He is a nurse at the police hospital here and recently married his wife, Pollyanna. Marinho is very interested in growing in his faith and has good insights into the lessons. He always tells me “Good job!” after I read the lesson, which is always a nice thing to hear.

Nathalee
I met Nathalee back in July. She is also a grad student in Engineering and is friends with Karlos and Kleber. She is a Christian already but hopefully learns a little something during our lessons.

Sueley
Sueley is great! I love her. She is so funny and loves to talk. We always end up talking about random events in the world or in our lives before we start our lesson or after we end. Then she’ll say, “Lacy, you talk a lot.” She has a strong faith in Jesus and usually teaches me something. I will miss her very much when I leave.

Thiago
Thiago also began studying with the first LST team of the year, then continued with Cris and Cyndi. I started with him after Cyndi left. Thiago lived in Ireland for a year, and I enjoy hearing his slight Irish accent as he reads. Thiago also has become friends with several of the church members and comes to our worship services occasionally. He is currently taking several theatre and dance classes and masquerades as a real estate agent during the day.

Thompson
In June Thompson began reading. When the LST team left, he began studying with me. By the time I leave, he will have read through Luke, Acts, and part of John. Thompson is a physical education student at the local federal university. Around the church he is known for his hair and the way he flips it to get it out of his eyes. If you look at the pictures, you’ll understand why. Thompson is a pretty interesting guy.

Victor
I began reading with Victor after Cyndi left. He studies computer engineering at the local university and is getting close to finishing the Luke workbook.

I have pictures of most of these very special people in a Facebook album. I hope you'll check them out!

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little about some of my readers. Please pray for them. They really are great, and I will miss them VERY much when our lessons end in 2 weeks.

FYI

Exactly one month from today, I will be leaving Natal. It is going to be unbelievably hard to say goodbye. Ok, that's all I'll say about that. I don't want any tears tonight.

Before I came to Brazil, I remember wondering What did people do without microwaves? I don't know what I'd do without one. Well, now I know. Live normally. I have learned in the last year that as long as you have an oven and a stove, microwaves are handy, but unneccesary. Now that we have one (though still in the box), I can't think of anything I'll cook in it. Popcorn? But I learned to cook that on the stove, and it's much better that way.

We have a new roommate. His name is Gus Gus, and, though he isn't quite as cute as his namesake, he certainly isn't ugly. I met him the night he scampered from under my bed to behind my closet. He has been elusive, but we've spotted him in the living room, on the stove, and in the oven. We don't enjoy tiny droppings on our cabinets and utensils, so the little thing will soon be deceased. Poor Gus Gus.

Hopefully by the next time I post, we'll be in a new, bigger, Gus Gus-free apartment!

Chariots and horses do nothing for me

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Psalm 20:7

So simple. So honest. So true.

"Some trust in ________ and some in ________,
but I trust in the name of the Lord my God."

Do I always trust in the Lord? Shamefully, no. Sometimes I trust in one of the numerous things of the world that can fill in the blanks. But those ALWAYS fail me, as I fail the Lord. He, in His great and unfathomable mercy, NEVER fails weak, undeserving me. (And I have yet to fully understand why.)

What/Who do you trust in?

What do Jesus and Obama have in common?

I just wanted to share with you something one of my readers said a few weeks ago. After the initial shock, I thought it was pretty funny. He's currently reading in John, which means he's already finished two LST books. As we talked, for the millionth time, about Jesus asking people to change their hearts and lives, he asked:

"Lacy, what is the difference between Jesus and Barack Obama?"

As I recovered from shock, he explained:

"They both talk a lot about change."

Interesting observation....

**Disclaimer: Before you get all riled up and start the tirade about Obama, please know that my reader DOES know the difference between the two, and he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and DOES NOT believe that Obama is divine in any way or is any kind of savior. He was just pointing out a similarity he noticed.

An Easter without the Bunny

April has started off well here in Natal. The weather has started to get cooler, which means it’s 85 degrees instead of 90 and the sun is less strong. But the other night I put on a t-shirt because I got COLD! And goosebumps! It seems winter, aka the rainy season, is well on its way. And I welcome it.

A photo I took from my bedroom window of the rain as it moved north



Easter here is celebrated in similar, yet different ways, than in the USA. For one, there are no bunnies hopping around handing out eggs. They find it quite strange that a rabbit would give out eggs. Instead, their chocolate companies put out giant chocolate eggs filled with, you guessed it, chocolate! This is the Brasilian version of the easter egg, called an Ovo de Pascoa. Wow, they are good! I bought one so I could experience it (and eat it). It was so good, I bought another. Here’s my Diamante Negro (Black Diamond) chocolate Ovo de Pascoa, before and after I unwrapped it.





For Easter, most people here travel to see their families, much like in the USA. At the church, we had a mini retreat. There weren’t a lot of people there, since most were traveling, but it was a lot of fun. We hung out by the pool, played some cards, napped in the hammock…all in our free time. There were several good devotionals. We talked a lot about the resurrection, of course. During one devo, we each shared a verse that meant a lot to us. Mine was Matthew 19:19-20. It encourages me in my work here. We also discussed 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. I’m sure I had read this passage before, but I had never really READ it, if you know what I mean. The Lord used that discussion to really open my eyes to a little more of His truth and how remarkable, miraculous, significant, and divine the resurrection was and is. As Christians, our faith hinges on that one divine act. It proved that Jesus truly was the Son of God. If that tomb hadn’t been empty, our faith would be pointless, or futile as Paul says. Praise God for the empty tomb!

Also on Easter weekend, my roommate returned from her voyage across the Americas. She is now a full-time missionary here. As she settles into her new role, many changes will be made. First, the apartment. Last week, she started the search for a new place to live. I was fortunate enough to go along. We looked at several places. I learned that I love apt hunting! No decisions have been made yet, but there are possibilities. She is also still fundraising for her one-time expenses, including a car and various household appliances (like a new fridge WITH a freezer, which our current one lacks). If you’re interested in contributing, let me know, and I’ll get you the necessary info! On our hunt, we got to see an apt in the building that I’ve wanted to look at for the last, oh, nine months. I just think the buildings are really cool. The apt wasn’t so bad either. Though it’s too small for what she’s looking for, the view was incredible! I would definitely live there, if I had a car.

The building and the magnificent view from the apt (it's hard to see, but the ocean is in the background)





In LST news, my reading sessions are going well. I still love my beginning classes. They are challenging, but we have fun, and they're learning! Hopefully, I’ll be able to start advertising soon to get some new readers as others have gotten very busy and have to come less often. Please pray that the Lord will send new readers who do not know Him and need to hear His message.

7 years already?!

Today is a special day. Think about it takes me back to 2002, way back to when I was 16 and a junior in high school. That year, March 31 was Easter, a day special in and of itself. There were more people than usual at the Sunday morning worship service (it being Easter and all). I was extremely nervous but very excited and confident as I walked forward during the invitation song. I knew I wanted it. I knew it was right. No doubts. So I let myself go and gave myself completely to Jesus. Words cannot explain the excitement and joy I felt as I came out of the water. March 31, 2002, will always be the second most important day of my life (the first being the day I was born). The last seven years have been crazy. I’ve done things I NEVER thought I would do, things I only dreamed of doing. Traveling to other countries, living in other countries, developing leadership skills and being put in positions of leadership, becoming less shy and more confident and outgoing (if you knew me in high school, this would surprise you), seeing lives transformed by the love of Jesus. Not to mention graduating from high school and college. Has it been easy? NO WAY. The enemy is always ready to make me stumble and/or steal me away. Have I doubted? Yes. Been disappointed? Yes. Sinned? Absolutely. But the smallest blessing from God is worth every last difficulty, every tear, every disappointment, every bit of suffering, because my joy comes from life in Christ and the hope, love, peace, and purpose He brings into my life. I have never regretted my decision. God is amazing, all the time, in every way. At the time I may not have recognized that, but looking back over the last 7 years, I realize how true it is.

The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! Psalm 18:46

But he [Jesus] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

In other March news:

- On the 21st, the young people at the Comunidade de Cristo church held the 3rd annual Youth Impact. There were dozens of visitors, including 3 current and past LST readers. The youth of the church put on a skit about the masks Christians wear inside the church. They did a GREAT job! Then John Jewell elaborated on that theme. It was a great night, complete with snacks, songs, and matching Comunidade de Cristo t-shirts. :D To take a look at the pictures, check out my Facebook album.
- I started an aerobics class at a local sports complex three mornings a week with Tania and Marisa. It can be pretty intense, but I LOVE it! It’s especially fun when we work out to “If You’re Sexy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands.” I’m the only one who gets a kick out of that.
- I still have a completely full reader schedule. It seems that if one person has to stop coming because of scheduling issues, there’s another person waiting to fill their spot. I’ve also started a basic English conversation class that has 10 students. We meet once a week. It’s been great so far. I’m REALLY enjoying it, and I think they are too. Though they may be a bit disappointed that I won’t talk in Portuguese as much as they'd like for me to.
- It’s still really hot here. REALLY HOT. But I’m getting used to it. I take about 3 cold showers a day. I no longer want to take hot showers, or even warm ones. In fact, I can’t stand it. Now that’s adaptation…or going native????

Have a great day and a wonderful April!!!!

Short months rock!

Well, now that we’re well into March, I thought I’d give you a little peek into what February was like for me. Like the month before, it was very busy and exciting and HOT. For the sake of order (more for me than you), I’m going to divide the post into three parts: beginning, middle, and end. Ready?

The Beginning

The month started out a little bittersweet. My roommate of 8 months left Natal to go back to the USA and try to find support (crap, I could barely think of how to say that in English, only Portuguese) to come back as a full-time missionary. We all knew that God would provide; we just didn’t know when. So, I got to start paying the bills all by myself. Always exciting. I’m now experiencing what it’s like to live alone. It’s not so bad…for me. The bamboo is probably suffering a bit though. The sweet part of the beginning happened on the first day. We had another sister give her life to Jesus! Her name is Heloise, and she had been studying for a while. She is an incredibly sweet girl who fought hard to begin her life in Christ. The women of the church have also started meeting in small groups. There are 6 girls in my group, which is the biggest since we all live in the neighborhood around the church. We are reading a chapter from a book about forgiveness and discussing it together as well as praying for and with each other. I’m looking forward to getting to know these girls better throughout the coming months. And that brings me to…

The Middle

Because February here in Natal means the end of summer break and the beginning of school, LST can be slow as readers are busy with last minute summer fun and the chaos of starting classes. I took advantage of this slow time to visit my dear friends, Greg and Cyndi, in Panama. We had a lot of fun visiting, seeing the sites (I saw the biggest ship EVER go through the Panama Canal!!!), and playing dozens of games of Quiddler. In addition to all of that, Panama City has foods from the USA that I didn’t think I’d see again until I stepped on US soil. I brought back some good stuff with me (wooo bbq sauce!). It was a refreshing time that allowed me to prepare for a few more months of LST work. We also got our newsletter done while I was there. Lucky for some of you! Greg and Cyndi were great hosts, and I enjoyed spending time with them and getting to see their new apartment and how they spend their days up at the end of Central America. :) After that, we come to…

The End

When I got back from Panama, my luggage unfortunately did not make it back with me. I made several phone calls, but got nothing before I left town again. Two days after I got back, I headed about an hour outside of the city for a retreat with the young people from the church. This is an annual event that coincides with Carnaval. If you don’t know what Carnaval is, think Mardi Gras on a much bigger scale (parties and crowds as well other inappropriate activities) and in every major city in the country. So, we escaped the city and had a great time with each other. We had devotionals and lessons every day, along with fun activities, naps, and rainshowers. We even had a few uninvited guests, which is when I learned that I was the only girl at the retreat who wasn’t freaked out by frogs and their cousins. (Spiders and cockroaches are a different story…) One night we had what they called a “Noite de Ridiculo” which I translate into a “Night of Ridicularity.” (That’s probably not an exact translation, since ‘ridicularity’ isn’t a word, but oh well.) It was HILARIOUS! Several people dressed up in crazy outfits and gave us a fashion show of ridicularity. There was also a talent show. We had the return of the Brazilian Backstreet Boys, complete with the Macarena. Even I participated, singing “In Christ Alone” with my dear friend Fernanda. Yes, you read right. I sang acapella in front of everyone. I guess the ridularity got to my head. Haha. It was pretty cool. I have to give props to Fefa, who sang the song MUCH better than I did and in English. The winner of the night was Andressa and Sarah with their, um, well I don’t know what to call it. Sarah acted as Andressa'S doll, and Andressa gave her dance moves along with a song. That was a bad explanation, sorry. Think ventriloquist but with dance instead of speech. Yes, it was a blast! If you’d like to see the pictures, go here. After returning from the retreat, I got back my luggage (yay!!!) and got down to business calling everyone on our LST reader list to schedule reading sessions. And that, my friends, was the short version of my February. I hope you all had as great a month as I did!

March is proving to be interesting as well. I had a great first week of reading sessions. I have a reader scheduled almost every hour of the day Monday-Thursday as well as two group beginning classes (one that has already started and one that will start this week). I’m hoping the new one becomes more of an evangelistic outreach than just an English class. Please pray for that. At first I thought that maybe I would put up more flyers so I could bring in new readers who (hopefully) weren’t Christians already. But God answered my prayers, and I’ve signed up a few new ones, which I’m very excited about! We also welcomed the newest member of our church family. Ben Jewell (new son of missionaries John and Samantha Jewell) arrived on Tuesday, March 3. We're all very excited to have finally have him here!

A few weeks ago, I received a package from my family (thanks fam!) that included a big bottle of Vitamin C pills. Now, I wasn’t quite sure why, but I thought why not? So, I started taking them, thinking that I might need the help not getting sick, as the weather was changing and I knew starting my reading sessions again would put a little pressure on my body. After 2 weeks of taking Vitamin C, what did I get? A cold. Yep. Apparently it’s going around. I noticed Thursday afternoon that my throat was feeling scratchy and sore. I figured it was because of all the talking I had done during the week, but later that night, I realized it was more when I began to feel really ugh and blah (nice description, huh?). So I paid a visit to the pharmacy (where the guy working got to try out his English and enjoy my flawed Portuguese made worse by the cold) and got some meds that tasted nasty but have helped a little bit, except in the sleep department. If you ever plan to go out of the country, take lots of DayQuil and NyQuil! I also tried to talk as little as possible. If there’s one thing I need to be able to do during the week, it’s talk! I’m feeling much better now.

God has shown me so much lately how loved I am, by Him and by my USA and Brasilian families. I am so thankful and feel so blessed to have so much love in my life! My prayer is that everyone realizes what love exists in their life and that God will do little things each day to show you how much you are loved.

Lots of love, blessings, and prayers from Brasil!

Summertime

This post is a bit overdue, but that shouldn’t be surprising given my great ability to procrastinate. January was a great month here in Natal! Besides being HOTTTTT, it was also summer vacation time (well, foreveryone who didn’t have a job). Most of my readers were traveling or otherwise taking advantage of their break from classes, so I had fewer reading sessions. I tried to spend my extra time with friends from the church. We did all sorts of fun stuff. We, of course, went to the beach, visited a nursing home, studied the books of Micah and Habbakuk (which in Portuguese sounds a lot like "have a cookie." That brings a smile to my face every time) and went hiking, among other thrilling summer activities. I had missed hiking (not that I was an avid hiker in Arkansas, but I really enjoyed it when I went), so it was a great day! We took a 1 ½ hour hike through the sand dunes and ended up at an overlook with a beautiful view of the beach. You definitely won’t find that in my home state! I really want to go back to do the 3 hour hike. I think I have a few people talked into it. We’ll see…

The sand dune forest


Don't you wish we had a view like this in Arkansas?



At Comunidade de Cristo, January was a month of prayer. John Jewell challenged us to find someone to pray with as much as we could all month long and to pray individually every day. (Well, we were supposed to pray with another person every day I think, but it didn’t always work out to get together. Thank goodness for Facebook!) We were to pick one person to pray for and to pray for the church as a whole. As a result of these prayers, 3 people gave their lives to Jesus on the last Sunday in January!!! I also enjoyed getting to know my dear, sweet prayer partner better. Since it was so beneficial and successful, we extended the month of prayer into February. Two people have already turned over their lives to Jesus! Hopefully, there will be more to report when I post again after February is over.

My next story begins back in November. I went to a nearby city for a church retreat. There, I made a friend from Recife, a city about 4 hours away from Natal. My friend, Wilson, does a lot of benevolent/social work type work with the church there. I thought it all was very interesting, so he invited me and some others from my church to visit Recife and help out with a VBS in the nearby city of Sao Lourenco da Mata. So, seven of us went. Wilson organized the whole thing, and he did a wonderful job! We had about 30 kids participate in the 2-day event. We had skits, crafts, games, and puppets during the day. At night, the church there held meetings for the youth and the parents of the kids who came to the VBS. It was a great way for the church to reach out to the neighborhood. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. We also had the opportunity to participate in a very special work of the Boa Vista church in Recife. Every Wednesday night, a group walks the streets around the church handing out bread and cokes to the people who live on the streets. They’ve been doing this for about 2 years (if I remember correctly). Wilson was one of the initiators. Many of the people know the church members well, know their songs, and a few have given their lives to Jesus as a result! The whole trip was put together and led by God. I know those of us from Natal were very blessed by our participation and by the people we met. Even though he probably won’t read this, a big THANK YOU to Wilson for all of his hard work!!

The kids


I love visiting God’s people in other countries and in different cities in those countries. It always amazes me to hear Him being praised in different languages and seeing the work He's doing in other places. It’s very special to know that there are people who love Him and are serving Him in every time zone all over the world. :D

The last Sunday in January was VERY special. Three people gave their lives to Jesus! The first was Ingrid, the daughter of Tania, who's been part of the church since almost the beginning. The second was Rosendo, Geraldo's son (remember Geraldo? I wrote about him in September. Go here and read the Sept 16th post for a refresher). The third was Socorro, Geraldo's wife and Rosendo's mother. That makes three members of their family who have become Christians since September. Every Sunday, they bring a truckful of friends and relatives to the worship service, so who knows who's next.

Our three new brothers and sisters in Christ
from left to right: Socorro, Rosendo, John, and Ingrid


All in all, January was a GREAT month! And February has been pretty good too. But more about that in another post…

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9

God amazes me.

"I believe now."

Those are three words that every one of God's workers longs to and loves to hear. Right now, no three words are more beautiful to me. I am so excited that I heard those exact words tonight from one of my readers. I cried. Really. That's how much it affected me. My heart is singing praises to the One who controls it all! Let me tell you, those three magificient words are the product of many prayers, many reading sessions, several Bible studies, and A LOT of work on the part of the Holy Spirit. God never ceases to astound me with how He works. Please continue (or start) praying for this reader.


You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
O Lord, what great works you do!
And how deep are your thoughts.
Psalm 92:4-5

All Because of Jesus

One of my best friends sent me a cd in the mail recently (thanks Charity!) that had this song on it. The first time I heard the chorus, I was amazed by the simple yet profound truth behind the words.

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

Chorus:
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
I'm alive, I'm alive

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

Chorus

Every sunrise sings Your praise
The universe cries out Your praise
I'm singing freedom all my days
Now that I'm alive

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

-All Because of Jesus by Casting Crowns

How true that is! I am alive because of Jesus. Literally, figuratively, and spiritually. Every time I stop to think about the work God is doing in the world, how the Holy Spirit is moving in my life and the lives of the people around me, and the astounding life Jesus lead and the sacrifice He made, I am left speechlessly in awe. Yahweh is amazing, my friends, in ways we'll never know or understand.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28

#44 is finally here!

I watched the inauguration today. In English. I was so proud to be witnessing such a historical event. I look forward to Obama implementing his economic and foreign policies. Hello 4 years of traveling and NOT hearing all about how people don't like the USA because of the government!

One of my favorite parts of the inauguration (besides the actual taking of the oaths) was during the benediction when the cute old man whose name I can't remember said, "Brown will stay around. Yellow will be mellow. Red with get ahead. White will do what’s right." That was just hilarious to me. HAHA! See? Hilarious!

I hope these new economic policies kick in by June. :)

Hello 2009!

Usually on New Year's I get together with some friends (or my mom), and we watch movies, play cards, or make videos of ourselves lip-syncing to weird songs (ok, that was only once...). Whatever my past New Years plans were, they almost always included movies and sparkling grape juice, a tradition started by my dear mother several years ago.

Well, this year was similar yet so very different. I did spend New Year's Eve with friends, and I did play cards. But that's where the similarities ended. It all started with pie confusion. I was going to make a chocolate pie for the dinner but didn't have enough pudding, so I went to the grocery store. Bad idea. I had no desire to wait in a line that wound all the way through the produce section (for those of who have never been to the Hiper on Antonio Basilio, take my word for it, that line was LONG). I left without buying anything. I ended up making a very small version of the pie, which was just as good!!

Anyway, after the pie fiasco, I went to the church to wait for the arrival of 2009. I played some cards, then we had a big dinner and watched a slideshow (without any pictures of me sleeping!). A few minutes before midnight, we went to the 3rd floor balcony so we could see the fireworks throughout the city. We prayed right before mdinight. As soon as the new year arrived, everyone hugged everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE. I think the only people I didn't hug were some of the Americans...surprising.) and said "Feliz Ano Novo!" This of course means 'Happy New Year' in Portuguese. To end the night, we went downstairs to have dessert (my chocolate pie attempt mixed with Mousse de Maracuja, yum!). Then I went home and slept. So, my New Year's was different but great! Although I did miss sparkling grape juice.

I decided several years ago not to make resolutions because I never keep them for more than a week (ok, two days). This time though I did have a hope (yes, there is a big difference between a resolution and a hope). I hoped that I could be less forgetful and have less "oops" moments (also known as "oh crap" moments). No such luck. So far, I'm just as forgetful and have already spilled plenty of liquids. At least I haven't broken anything yet...Ah but the year's still young...

Today marked exactly 6 months that I've been in Natal. What a great 6 months it's been! In honor of this grand anniversary and the new year, I'm going share with you a few of the joys I've found living here.

- Fans (the kind that keep me from sweating into nothing but a puddle)
- Reading in the hammock
- Cheek kisses
- Washing ants down the drain (you'd love it too if they tried to take over your bed, couch, toilet, food...)
- Getting all 20s from the ATM
- Learning a new Portuguese word or phrase then using it correctly in conversation
- Praying in Portuguese for the first time (well, that was more nerve-wracking than joyful but nonetheless cool)
- Playing cards at the church
- Having exact change for the bus
- Waiting less than 10 minutes for the bus
- Walking up to the bus stop just as your bus arrives
- The cute old man who delivers our water and greets me every time I walk by
- Mangoes
- Açai
- Learning to correctly cut a pineapple and a mango
- Being told I'm ready to be married for knowing how to do things like cutting a pineapple, making rice, and washing dishes (you know, the important stuff)
- Tan lines (they mean I actually have a tan)
- Habacuque, the Portuguese word for Habbakuk, pronounced like "Have a cookie" (I get way more pleasure out of that than a 23 year old missionary probably should...)
- Hearing words from the Holy Spirit come out of my mouth
- Seeing readers become followers of Jesus
- Watching God work in the lives of His people in other parts of the world
- Being loved by people in another language
- Getting comments/Facebook messages/wall posts/emails from all of YOU!

Wow. That was a lot. See why I love it here so much?

Thank you for helping to make 2008 such a wonderful year for me!! I pray that God blesses you this year ten times more than you have blessed me. May 2009 bring you lots of little joys, big joys, love, happiness, and adventures!