Brazil trip - Day 2

Woke up early of course and headed to the upper deck for my devotions.  Was nice to have a little quiet time before the day starts.  Got my first good looks at the river.  It is HUGE!  Lynn came up and was being our tour guide after a few other early risers made their way up.  It was amazing to see all the dolphin swimming nearby.  After a great breakfast of ham and cheese, fried bananas, and a "pastry" made of manioc, oh and sweet coffee, it was off to count meds.

 They have a nice setup here so we didn't have to much prep work to do.  We were still several hours from our first stop, so we sat on the upper deck and played "Would You Rather," which is always good for a few laughs.  I also enjoyed talking books with Guy and Lynn.  We all agreed that "Unbroken" was one of the best books we've read.  Then came lunch time...we swear all we do is eat around here, but the food is good.  We had chicken, rice & beans, salad, and passion fruit custard - which is delicious by the way!  We were told we wouldn't have clinic today, so after lunch everyone settled in for reading and naps in the hedgies (hammocks).  Just as I was falling asleep, I heard Guy say we were stopping at an upcoming village to have our first clinic.  As tired as we all were, we jumped up and sprang in to action.  I think everyone was just excited to be doing something.  I got assigned to play with the kids while they waited for their turn to see the doctor, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We colored, painted nails, played "Let's Go Fishing" and made paper airplanes...yea, I've still got skills!  It was a steady day, but nice for us all as we are getting adjusted to the flow.  Having a clinic on a boat has its own unique problems to say the least.  After we started cleaning up, one more patient showed up with a bloody foot.  He told Lynn he got bit by a fish.  With all the blood we saw, we were expecting a good sized wound, but it ended up not being that exciting.  I cleaned it out so Guy could steri-strip it, and off he went.  Closest thing to trauma for me today. Next it was "snack time" which consisted of bread and cheese.  I opted for just water since I realized I hadn't drank anything all day.  Then it was off to worship time with the local church.  It was great seeing all the kids from the clinic and worship with the village.

 The American team sang 2 songs that we had never practiced together, and I'm sure it showed.  I was able to say a few words on behalf of our group through a translator.  Jander (one of our translators) told the crowd I was single and would be accepting offers after the service.  I'm sure I turned 5 shades of red!  After the service, we passed popcorn out to the kids and gave out goodbye hugs!  Then back to the boat for dinner.  I told you all we do is eat.  Makes me think of "Lord of the Rings" when the Hobbits are discussing all their meals.  Tonight's dinner was rice & beans, chicken, some type of casserole, and a coleslaw type dish.  (not like my favorite Pikliz in Haiti!)  We also got to try a local soda called Guarana which tastes similar to cream soda to me with a hint of ginger ale.  We also tried cashew juice.  Apparently in Brazil they eat the cashew fruit and just throw out the nut, which are toxic until processed.  The Americans were laughing that we pay a hefty price for cashews and the Brazilians are throwing them away.  The juice was pretty good I have to say.  So funny thing tonight during our debrief time.  Nathan was trying to save Tiffany from a large beetle that was hanging around.  He jumped up off his white plastic lawn chair and as he did he snapped the 2 front legs off, and hit the ground.  Without missing a beat, he jumped up and stomped the beetle.  We got a good laugh out of it!  We are staying docked at the village tonight, so it should be quieter...which means I will hear my room-mate snoring for sure!

Brazil Trip - Day 1

Slept most of the plane ride after getting up early.  Excited to actually make it to Brazil after 2 days of traveling.  Going through customs was a breeze...such an answer to prayer.  They basically just waved us all through without looking at any of our bags.  We met up with Lynn and Julie, our hosts for the week.

 They were missionaries to Brazil and now help fill in on some trips.  Ruth Anne met up with us from the States where she and her husband are on furlough.  We took a quick bus ride to where the boat was docked and loaded up for the next 10 days.  We had a nice late lunch and then headed to the upper deck to take in the sights.
 We were docked in Manaus, which seems to be a typical city.  And then we waited...which on any mission trip is the name of the game.  Apparently we had to wait for some paperwork to go through.   I think it ended up being 8pm before we left the dock, so we were already a little behind schedule...not that there really was a schedule!  It was already dark at 8, so we couldn't see a whole lot as the boat adventure started, but we were all excited none the less.  We did get to travel under a bridge that connects 2 different areas of Manaus.  It lights up all different colors so that was neat to see.  Once we got passed the city, we were enveloped in darkness and everyone kind of wandered off to bed.  I share a cabin with 2 other girls and saying the rooms are small is an understatement.  We have 2 bunk beds, a chair, and a small dresser, plus our own bathroom.

 Funny thing is, its so small that you can sit on the toilet, take a shower, and brush your teeth all at once.  Not that I've tried or anything!  I laughed when I saw my bed...they come equipped with your own life jacket...I guess that's when you know you've arrived in the Amazon.  Hoping for some good sleep after 2 long travel days.  Our team is made up of Midwesterners.  Several are from the Indy area, 2 couples from TN, a nurse from Ohio and another from Philly.  Honestly, its kind of a quiet group so far, so will be interesting to see the dynamics of us all.  Everybody seems nice and ready to work, so let the adventure begin...

Top Ten Reasons I Miss Brazil...

So here is the next installment of the Brazil top ten...

10. Guarana - a local pop that tastes like a cream soda/ginger ale mix.

 9.  The hum of the generator at night to drown out snoring. (somewhat!!)

 8.   Marathon training runs with Guy and Jeanette...we runners will find a place to run anywhere!

 7.  Cleaning your dinner scraps off your plate in to the Amazon River.

 6.  Our wildlife boat rides where we saw toucans, macaws, water buffalo, and dolphins.

 5.  Sunrise/sunsets over the river.

 4.  Morning/evening devotions with the team.

 3.  Worship time in the villages.

 2.  Amazing meals prepared with love by Edilsa (especially dessert)...it was like having your Brazilian grandmother cook for you every meal!

 and 

1.  Hedgie chats (and afternoon naps) and great times with some amazing people!!

I could have written a lot more but didn't want to bore you all!!

Top Ten of Brazil

So I spent a lot of time in airports today, thanks to voluntarily being bumped from my early morning flight so I could get a $400 voucher toward my next adventure.  During my free time I came up with a couple of top ten lists for Brazil.  Here is the first installment...

Top Ten Reasons I'm Glad I've Left Brazil:

10. Replying only with a smile because my Portuguese was lacking.
 9.  Living out of a back-pack and duffle bag.
 8.  Cold showers.
 7.  Sleeping in bunk beds...especially ones you can't sit up in without whacking your head on the ceiling!
 6.  Lariam induced dreams.
 5.  The constant film of bug spray and sunscreen on your skin.
 4.  Snoring roommates.
 3.  That we seemed to eat every 3 hours...the food was great but we were constantly eating!
 2.  The phrase - "maybe or maybe not" - which was the answer to ALL yes/no questions.
 and
 1.  Having to fish toilet paper out of the toilet when you forgot for the tenth time it goes in the trash can nearby!!

Stayed tuned in the near future for the top ten reasons I love Brazil and also for my journal entries from the trip!

2012: From South Bend to South Sudan...

  Time to ring in another year and 2012 didn’t disappoint at all.  It was definitely filled with ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Its funny how you start out the year with a snapshot of what you think it will look like, and come to find out it ends up looking nothing like you pictured.  The older I get, the more I realize I would never want to go back and live any part of my life over again though, even if given the opportunity.  My 2 biggest challenges this year were “walking away” and “taking the plunge.”  

  Its been an interesting year with friendships...I guess as you get older you can’t expect them to stay the same.  I guess the hardest thing is realizing that people will be your “friend” when they need something of you, you have something to offer them, or when you are the one making all the effort.  I had to give myself permission to “walk away” from those friendships.  As a wonderful friend told me earlier this year, ”Some people come into your life as blessings; others come into your life as lessons.”  I had to come to the realization that the people who are blessings are the ones you hold on to, and the lessons, well sometimes you have to just walk away and know that you learned a valuable lesson.  That being said, I have some amazing friends who are such blessings to me...they are worth the struggles that come along with being friends! 

  After leaving my volunteer position with Nehemiah Vision Ministries, I actually spent a lot of time in good old South Bend this year.  Got to spend some time rethinking my desire to do ministry and what that looks like.  About a month ago, I ended up applying for a job in South Sudan working with an NGO in a nutrition clinic.  It would be a year long position with the potential for longer.  After much prayer and advice from people I respect, I decided it was time to give it a shot!  Don’t have all the qualifications and haven’t heard back from them yet, so who knows what will happen...but it was all about stepping out and jumping in!  

  Now as I look forward to 2013, there is much to be excited about.  The plan is - I’m having surgery which will ground me for at least a month...haven’t had a month off work since I was in college!  Looking forward to spending the free time with all sorts of things I wouldn’t normally have the time to do.  Also, I am fulfilling a life long dream of traveling to Brazil for a Amazon riverboat medical mission trip with possible opportunities to travel to Togo, West Africa and another area of Haiti.  Contemplating some local volunteer opportunities too that I'm excited about.  Oh the endless possibilities!! :)

  Hope each of you have an amazing 2013 and seize every opportunity it brings your way!!

Fear...

I ran across this poem today while rummaging through my office.  I wish I knew where it came from, but I know I've had it for a long time.  Funny how I can read this and remember times in my life I've lived in fear of all those situations mentioned and am still working through most of them in one way or another.  So here's to rallying instead of running....

                                     Fear

I feel it coming on again: fear, crawling under my skin.

That quiet, unspoken, never-admitted feeling...

That haunting, ever nagging, turn-your-back and run panic...

Fear not of spiders or big dogs or the pull of the ocean, 

But fear of my ability, people’s reaction, the future, mistakes

O Lord, help me to face my fears and turn them around, 

Be my anchor: stand by me until I - 

Stop fearing I might lose in love...

But fear instead that I may never love at all.

Stop fearing there are others better than me...

But fear instead that I will never discover my true potential.

Stop fearing I might not meet others expectations...

But fear instead that I may never know yours.

Stop fearing what lies ahead tomorrow, next week, next month, next year...

But fear instead that I may never experience life’s drama today.

Stop fearing hurt and sorrow and fears...

But fear instead that I will never feel the pains of growth.

Stop fearing I might fail...

But feat instead that I may never try.

Stop fearing others will laugh at me...

But fear instead that I might never learn to laugh at myself.

O Lord, help me to anchor my life on your hope

Instead of my fear.

O Lord, I know an adventurous life can never be fear-free

But at least help my fears to be my soul’s signal for rallying

Instead of running. 

Pure Religion...

Read this in Max Lucado's Book "Out Live Your Life: You Were Made To Make a Difference" and it struck a cord with me.  May this be my prayer...

Dear Lord, You promised we would always have the poor among us.  Help me to make sure that the reverse is also true: that I am always among the poor - helping, encouraging, and lending a hand wherever I can.   Enable me to love the invisible God by serving the very visible poor in my corner of the world.  Help me to be creative without being condescending, encouraging without being egotistic, and fearless without being foolish.  May the poor bless you because of me, and may my efforts somehow reduce the number of the poor.  In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."  James 1:27 NLT