in jacarezinho favela

Here I am on the upstairs patio where I am living in Rio...

"City of God" & "Bus 174"

About a year ago I watched two Brazilian films that highlight the life of children and youth in the favelas and on the streets of Rio -- "City of God" and "Bus 174." These films were often violent, intense, and difficult to watch, but were helpful preparation for my time here.

The documentary extra on the "City of God" DVD titled, "News from a Personal War" was just as enlightening and eye-opening as the movie itself. In the documentary one police chief asks, "How do you keep two million people under control...how do you control the underprivileged?" He goes on to justify the repression and corruption. I have begun to experience this firsthand as life here in the favela is most often about watching out for the police as I walk the streets of the neighborhood.

“Bus 174” is a documentary about Sandos, a boy who grew up on the streets of Rio, who held up a city bus here in Rio a few years ago. The news here followed the story live, so there was a lot of news footage of the event. The documentary traces back the life of Sandros and the events of his life on the streets that led up to the tragic day on the bus. The film closes with a few powerful quotes that stuck with me. One man comments, "...society doesn't want to deal with it...society wants all the Sandros to vanish because it cannot bear reality...invisibility is perfectly accomplished by death..." Another woman asks, "Who will stand up for someone like Sandro? Who? No one."

Being here in Rio just two weeks I have seen the children and youth being pushed deeper into the invisible margins, out of public view in the cracks and crevices of the city. But, at the same time, I have also seen some dedicated and compassionate friends standing up for these kids and loving them with the love of Jesus.

just a quick saturday night update…

Has it already been a week since my last post? I guess time flies here in Rio, too! While I have settled in well these first ten days, my stomach wasn’t as cooperative earlier this week. I was out of action for a couple of days recovering from some stomach bug. But, all is well now! I’m back in the game. The last few days have included a few Portuguese lessons, a couple of visits with the youth on the streets, visiting a home for children, and serving dinner to homeless men with Missionaries of Charity. Next week will be more of the same. Then I will flesh out more of a weekly routine here.

Tonight I went to dinner with Ben, enjoyed a tasty Acai smoothy (made with a berry grown in the Brazilian Amazon), and watched a few episodes of the Simpsons on DVD(another opportunity to practice language with the Portuguese subtitles). Tomorrow I plan to visit the beach for the first time…then church tomorrow night. They have morning and evening services here. Church goes pretty long, so we will just pick one service tomorrow!

Now I am off to study some Portuguese before bed and pray that it absorbs deeper into my head as I sleep!

sunday in rio...

Today was my first Sunday in Rio. I went to church with Ben in the neighboring favela where Jenna lives. Ben and Jenna go to one church and the Nichols attend another church in another part of the city. I will go with Rich and Rebecca next week. This morning I really appreciated the worship and music at the church. While I don’t yet understand the Portuguese, the time of singing with these Brasilian brothers and sisters in Christ was a special worship time this morning. It also occurred to me sitting in church that I can practice Portuguese by learning songs and reading scripture in Portuguese side-by-side with the English Bible. Multi-tasking at its best!

One goal during my time here is to continue to grow in my understanding and practice of taking a sabbath! I have gained so much from a little book called, Catch Your Breath: God’s Invitation to Sabbath Rest by Don Postema. The author spends some time talking about Sabbath as a time to pay attention to holy things. “Sabbath helps me celebrate a ‘there’s-more-than-meets-the-eye’ reality… ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy’ is an opportunity to sense the sacred, to open ourselves to the reality of the holy, to realize there is more than meets the eye. Much more. Sabbath is a time for being in the presence of the holy and letting the holy shape our lives.”

This sabbath Sunday I tried to pay attention to God’s presence here in Brasil and its people! Here is some of what I noticed and appreciated:
- Worshipping with Brasilian believers
- Cool “winter” breezes (when it gets below 80 here, they call it a “cold front”)
- Thunder, lightening, and big drops of rain (as I speak)
- A neighbor boy flying a kite from the roof across the way - his faces of both intensity and joy when he got it up really far and high! (some hard core kite flyers here in the favelas!)
- Reading Psalm 27 in Portuguese – God’s dwelling place of safety and rest is found here in Jacarezinho (the favela community where I am staying)

I am thankful for these first days here and the hospitality of the WMF peeps here! This week ahead I continue my steps into life here with Portuguese lessons each day and putting it into practice with those I meet. More soon…

settling in...

My first four days in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil have gotten off to a good start! My luggage arrived one day after I did due to some flight delays making my connection in Miami. I barely made the flight, but my luggage didn’t. When my luggage did arrive, the driver from the airline would not drive into the favela neighborhood to deliver my luggage. I was away with Rich visiting some of their friends on the streets. So, poor Rebecca had to enlist one neighbor to watch the baby while she went with another neighbor to drag my two heavy bags a few blocks through the neighborhood to their home where I am staying. So much for not drawing attention to my stuff and heavy bags. My excuse is…books are heavy!

The WMF staff here have taken good care of me and given me space to settle into life here these first few days. It is a lot different settling into 3 ½ months here versus my usual 2-3 week visits other places. These first few weeks will be primarily Portuguese lessons and settling into a rhythm of life and ministry here. I have a lot to observe and learn these first days…getting around on public transportation, shopping for food, and getting used to life here in the favela. I will also spend time getting introduced to the ministry opportunities here and meet their friends. After a couple weeks I will then flesh out more of a weekly routine on where and how I will spend my time.

There are lots of sights and sounds to take in. I am at a loss on how to even describe it yet. Maybe I will be able to after a little more time here? Each night has been full of new sounds in the favela…loud music of all varieties, Pentecostal preachers, Friday night “bale funk” party, fireworks, and cats in heat just outside our bedroom door. Good thing I can roll over and go back to sleep pretty easily!

I am grateful for all the prayers and emails across the miles as I settle into life here. I know God has much to teach me during these months here. I pray that I will have open eyes to see, ears to listen, and a receptive heart to learn and grow.

here in rio

Just a quick word to say I made it safe and sound. After a little excitement at LAX with a fire on the baggage conveyor belt, I still made my connection in Miami. But my luggage didn't. :( Prayerfully, tomorrow! It is good to be here with the WMF peeps. More soon...I'm going to sleep after a loooooong day! :)

off to the airport

One final post before I shut down this computer, pack it, and head to LAX. My next post will be from Basil. So grateful for all the love and prayers these past days! Until soon....

anchor scripture

This summer I have been spending a lot of time in Psalm 27. The Psalmist writes in times of enemies and foes, and days of trouble. But amidst all this he finds rest, confidence, and safety in the dwelling place in the Lord...

"One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4

The Message goes on to paraphrase verse 5:
"That's my only quiet, secure place in a noisy world..."

It has been good to rest and meditate on these words and prayers from the Psalmist. Eugene Peterson, author of many good books, who also paraphrased The Message, puts a high priority on the Psalms in our daily reading of scripture. In his book Under the Unpredictable Plant, Peterson says, "The Psalms...are the set place where we habitually go over the ground and vocabulary and rhythms of prayer, immersing ourselves in the centuries-layered praying community, becoming companions with these friends who prayed and pray."

Psalm 27 is this for me. It is amazing to consider that these same prayers, seeking God's dwelling place, have been prayed for centuries by disciples of Jesus. I leave for Brazil in three days. The prayer of Psalm 27 gives me peace, hope, and rest!

thankful

This past month, as I prepare to leave for Brazil, I have been reflecting on this first half of 2006. It really has been all that I hoped and prayed for and MORE! Thank you Lord! I am grateful to God for the amazing ways he has weaved together times of travel, learning, being mentored, growing, and resting in Him! In early-2005 I wrote a staff sabbatical proposal for the church leadership at Grace. Obviously, I didn't end up taking the church sponsored sabbatical while on staff. God had other plans! I did, however, end up sticking pretty close to my sabbatical hopes and goals, but instead it was on "my own time." I guess you could call it my self-sponsored, "in between jobs sabbatical."

Here is what I wrote in my sabbatical proposal back in early-2005...
"Two books have been helpful in considering how to make the most of this sabbatical opportunity: Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning and Journey toward Renewal. As both book titles suggest, the emphasis is on renewal. One author describes sabbatical as "a time to receive, to be nurtured, to dig deeper into yourself, your relationship with God, and your own roots and stories, so that you can be renewed, refreshed, and revitalized by the breath of God." In a nutshell, this understanding of sabbatical has been the guiding framework for me as I prayed and pursued options for this sabbatical time. I feel I have reached an important season of ministry where I need to step back from all God has done and make intentional space for God to renew, refresh, and revitalize my personal relationship with Him and ministry."

As I read and revisit what I wrote a year and a half ago, I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving for how God answered my hopes and prayers! This sabbatical season has truly been a time of renewal, refreshment, and revitalization in my relationship with God and in ministry. In addition, this season has also made me realize the importance and value of Sabbath rest! Very rarely do we have opportunity to take six months for Sabbatical! But, making space and time for weekly Sabbath in our lives is vital to our spiritual lives and relationship with the Master. Plus, God tells us to honor the Sabbath and leads us by His example! Too often I have neglected Sabbath in my life...but, it is something I am convinced that I must give intentional priority moving forward!

Stay tuned...

henri nouwen eLetter of the week...

Henri Nouwen is a favorite of mine! His writings renew and refresh me, as well as point me toward deeper in relationship with Jesus and others. There is a Henri Nouwen Society web page that is a great resource. They offer daily and weekly eLetter mediations. I just signed-up for the weekly email. If they all are anything like this first one below, they will be weekly emails worth reading and reflecting on!

http://henrinouwen.org
(Look for the free eLetter link.)

On the Journey to Becoming Friends
written by ALBERT LEWIS

Truly, one of life's greatest gifts is friendship. And a close friendship nurtured over many years is a blessing to be cherished. In such a friendship, life's greatest moments and deepest disappointments can be shared, and the rough edges of daily coping can be made less harsh. With the closest of friends we can share feelings and thoughts we may not be ready to share with partners or family. Perspective can be gained, and ideas and ideals may be tested.

Often, though, friendship is more about listening than it is about talking. And that can be very difficult. Like many others, I sometimes think I know what is best for my friend. I want to say: "This is what you should do." But because I have not been asked, it is not for me to make such a statement. The Spanish Jewish poet Ibn Zabara (1140-1200) wrote: "Friendship: one heart in two bodies." We see our friend's pain and anguish, and we feel it with him. We sense our friend's delight, and we celebrate with her. Yet we must always know the anguish and delight are not ours; we are guests invited to a table we did not set.

Sometimes we expect too little or too much from friends. We think we can handle all the challenges of life. Or we wait for our friends to save us without sharing the real issues that confront us. How can a friend be a friend when we tell her everything except that which pains the very pounding of our hearts?

A Hasidic rabbi is credited with saying: "The man who thinks he can live without others is mistaken; the one who thinks others can't live without him is even more deluded." We all need and need to be friends.