Honeymoon Phase

Experts say that there are different stages of living cross culturally and that after a short period of living in a new culture, the romanticism and newness wears off then frustration begins to set in. Well, I have not reached the second phase and only grow fonder of Rio and Brazilians with time. I can't help but praise God daily for allowing me to be here and cannot imagine living anywhere else.

The retreat was fantastic and included a costume party, dancing, a mechanical bull, lots of soccer, a water slide, soccer in a huge inflatable field covered with soapy water, games, great fellowship, and lots of worship. I was broken in some areas of my life that needed to be addressed and, although painful and repentant, absolutely necessary in my process of sanctification.

Saturday we had our usual English classes and then a big outreach event for the kids. There were around sixty kids, not including the parents, and it lasted for a few hours. This is was an important step in building the future ministry.

Three more people approached me tonight asking to get involved in Morro Azul and one of my English students, who is an incredibly talented performer, has agreed to meet with the kids in the favela once a week to teach singing and dancing for an event for the parents at the end of the year.

Cultural observation: When exiting the elevator in your building, you should tell everyone that is in the elevator goodbye.

Personal comments: I have been told that I look exactly like Enrique Iglesias, Pierce Bronan, Ben Afleck, and Jean-Claude Van Damme.....no Steve Nash comments, yet.