the farewells begin....

Today was one of my last days on the streets with the kids. If the timing seemed right, I was prepared to share a few words with my friends and give them some bracelets I had bought for them. Since today was a holiday here in Brasil, it was a super quiet and mellow day. It was also a warm day, so the kids were down by the harbor hanging out and jumping in the water. It turned out to be an ideal day to say what I wanted to say. Thanks to anyone who was praying! The core group of kids were there…many who I remember meeting my first days here in Rio.

With the help of Jenna, Rich, and Ben’s translation, I told the kids that this week was a holiday in the United States called Thanksgiving, when we give thanks to God for His many blessings. I shared that as I prepare to return home, I give thanks for their friendship and my special times with them in Brasil. I also shared Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that says, “Two are better than one…A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” I said I know they look after one another and that with God as the third strand their relationships they will be even stronger. I then gave them the braided string bracelets and told them they would be in my prayers.

While I fumbled around with my words, I am grateful for the opportunity God gave me today to try and express to the kids my thanksgiving for their friendship and that I will miss them. They really have welcomed me into their lives. Standing in the circle a few of the kids expressed their thanks for my presence and said they would miss me. They all ask me when I will return, which is always a bummer question to answer, since I don’t know when I will be back.

I am always trying to be aware of the gestures of hospitality and care that the kids will show to one another and me. Yes, there are often arguments and fighting among the kids, especially when they are having bad days. But, there are also lots of times when I observe the way they look out for one another. For example, today there was a new teenage boy who was deaf and mute with us. He was having fun jumping in the water. As he was walking away to leave, one of the regular guys chased him down to tell him to wait because we would be passing out food soon. Since the boy was deaf, this communication was all done with hand signals and pantomime. Really cool to see that today!

Fortunately, I did not have to say final goodbyes today…I will see this group of kids next Monday. Tomorrow we will visit the mother’s and children in another area of the city. Prayerfully, that will be another opportunity to express my thanks and share the bracelets.