one month in rio...

I have now been here in Rio one full month! I think it is safe to say that the three weeks of “winter” are now over, but I can appreciate that being from So Cal! It is 90 degrees in the shade outside on the patio, while it is 93 degrees inside my room. Needless to say, I am now outside on the patio…I’ll take my 3 degrees cooler wherever I can find it!

Today I decided to take some time out with God to rest and reflect a bit on my first month here. There is not a lot of quiet space in the city and especially in the favelas, so I went to the Catholic Cathedral here in Rio. This enormous cone shaped cathedral was opened in 1976 and can accommodate 20,000 people standing up. It is prettier inside then it is outside with the light coming through the four huge stain glass windows. I have come to appreciate the sacred space found in Catholic churches and retreat centers. Somewhere along the way, we Protestants seem to have lost that space for God in our busy activity of worship and ministry. And the evangelical churches here in Rio really turn it up a notch in worship and prayer services. I’m sure it is cultural, since Brasilians are passionate about everything they do! But, I have found myself craving some quiet space and solitude. Thankfully, I found it for a few hours today at the Cathedral!

One scripture that really stuck with me today was Proverbs 31:8-9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Sandros, the young man highlighted in the documentary “Bus 174” who grew up on the streets and held up a bus here in Rio a few years ago. This proverb sounds a lot like the question posed at end of the film, “Who will stand up for someone like Sandro?” It is estimated that there are at least 100 million children and youth living and working on the streets around the world. Over this past month I have probably meet about 30 kids like Sandro and about 10-12 of those kids I see on a regular basis. Today I asked God to help me know how to best stand up and speak up for my new friends, who are growing very close to my heart. I was reminded of their lack of security, love, and recognition as people created in the image of God. My prayer is that I stand up and demonstrate God’s love and grace to kids who are ignored and pushed to the margins of society.