Blessings and Joy

Oi gente =)
Ok, so I'm alive. I meant to create this blog weeks ago, but better late than never, right?

If I were to sum up the last 3 weeks in one word, it would be TRIUMPH!!!! Triumph over the insecurities the enemy has been provoking me with over the last several months, triumph over temptations that I've already experienced thus far. This triumph has been enabled by the multitude of blessings God has bestowed on me.

I spent my first week here in Brazil at Lar Batista Biblico, the home for children I worked at over the summer. My time there was sweet...a real gift very much needed. Upon arrival I was attacked from all sides by kids. Interesting: My mission over the summer was to instill a sense of value into these kids, but within those moments it was they who made me feel a sense of value I've ever experienced. There's something different about a child's love for you. It's simple, pure, authentic, indiscriminate, and unending. Sounds like the love of someone else we know, right? =) We need to become more child-like in this respect.

After spending six days at Lar, I arrived at Sao Paulo. There's around 60 other American students, half of whom are going to study in another location in a month. Right now we're taking an intensive Portuguese class and one on Brazilian culture. The blessings since arriving in SP have been infinite.
First, I've been placed with hands-down the best Brazilian family EVER. It's a family of two boys (21 and 24), a mom and dad. They're kind, funny, hard working, and have provided me with place a feel at home in. Between their English and my Portuguese (well, mostly their English), we're able to communicate just fine. We have great conversations and lots of laughs. I thought the transition into another family would be far more awkward, but immediately upon arrival I felt at home. When filling out my host-family request form I had stressed I'd wanted a family that granted me independence, but I've found that I enjoy being around them so much that I oftentimes prefer to stay at home with them than go out. For example, on Tuesday I opted to stay in to make a salty fish pie with my brother over going out. Awesome, I know.
Second, I've made friends with a lot of good people from the group of Americans I'm studying with. They're smart, energetic, nice and have many of the same interests as me.
Thirdly, and most important, God has blessed me by holding me with his everyday dialogue. He's encouraged me in times of insecurity, rebuked me in times of temptation, and has been gracious enough to give me so much joy I think I might pop. My family and friends here have made comments like "you're a really happy person," and "you're smiling all the time," etc. This makes me happy because it shows that I'm being an effective representative of the joy God's love provides. I'm truly blessed to be a blessing.

Alrighty, I'm getting restless so that's all for now.
Reminder: I'll be in Brazil until July. I'll be doing updates a couple of times a week.

Prayer is always appreciated: wisdom in terms of self-control, patience with learning the language, and a deeper capacity for love (especially with people who make it hard to do so.) Thanks, miss you and love you.

Tchau for now...haha it rhymes.