Breakthrough
Praises are in order! This has been my best week so far folks. Thank-you so much for your continued prayers The internship is going better now as I find more of a pace/routine. Its a very eye opening experience all around. Yesterday as I sat in on one of the classes for the Compassion kids I was able to see just how poor the public education system here is. In a group of thirteen 8-10 year olds only 2 kids knew for sure what the first day of the week was (Sunday). Several thought it was Saturday. Only one kid knew how to subract 40-13. And their spelling is atrocious. One boy has dyslexia and there is no one here who can help those with learning challenges. Very sad. Most don´t even know their birthdays! But that´s understandable when you are raised by your aunt, have no dad and stay home alone most of the day. One girl´s dad is a drug addict and the stories go on and on. Similar to Chain of Love. Right now I am making some posters to teach them a couple of songs. I will be playing keyboard and singing. Afterwards anyone who is REALLY interested may get keyboard lessons.
I will also be reading with one little boy who has dyslexia (mentioned above) his name is Marcelo. When I heard about his home life yesterday it just broke my heart. I just wanted to take him home. My heart is really breaking for these children and God is giving me the love I need to minister to this age group. So my attitude is improving, praise God. I may also be doing some counseling with 3 moms in the Compassion program who are seriously depressed. When they found out Psychology was my minor they figured that was enough experience. Yikes! Pray for wisdom.
Several of the teens have opened up to me which is great but also presents its challenges as one of them is dating a guy 14 yrs older then her. Pray that I can speak into their lives and that they´ll receive it. They have some big dreams but need more discipline and maturity.
The service on Sunday was a highlight as God spoke to me through several of the passages, particularily Isa. 43 the verses I chose for my prayer letter. He is with me and will keep me. Have been feeling more at peace as the culture shock wears off. However, the noisiness and crowdedness of this mega city is getting to me a bit so a day trip or something of the sort would be nice. One of you asked me to share a) something funny b) something you would like about Brazil and c)an answer to prayer, so here it is below.
a) Something funny - The pastor commented on how LARGE I am from the front of the church Sunday morning. `Julianna will be your Sunday school teacher, she´s kind of big but she´s alright.´ He meant large in the height sense but it was still kind of awkward. Then when I went in for my mentoring meeting on Teus. morning both pastors commented on my slightly sweaty condition `Are you sweaty Julianna´? lol Thanks for noticing guys, makes me WAY less self-conscious - not. THEN the clincher, my friend Tiago touched the zit on my forehead this morning saying `what´s this?´and then after touching it realized it was a zit. Lovely! Personal space - ZIP.
b) What you´d like - All the hugging I think. You feel so loved at church on Sunday, its great. Everyone hugs everyone. And its authentic cuz its cultural. Also the fruit here is AMAZING! I´ve eaten star fruits and persimmons and other snazy things.
c) An answer to prayer is that I´m adjusting FINALLY. Having my own room is also an answer to prayer and I couldn´t ask for a better fit in a roomie. Also my package from home arrived which is a great blessing.
Obviously there are still issues I am wrestling with like having to tell Pastor Marcelo that I can´t sustain the same pace as other people. Being at church all day and then going to small group activities whether participating or leading means I don´t get home until 10 p.m. and while that may be normal for the folks here I´m not used to 13 hour work days. Had a great debrief/counseling session with Pastor Marcelo who helped me recognize some of the adjustments I am still wrestling with and helped me see some steps to take. I think those prayers for someone older to walk alongside me and help me deal with my baggage have been answered. So for once I end on a positive note. God is showing me His faithfulness and I have had a lot of joy this week even with those around me hurting. The hardest part besides the tiredness is how heartbreaking the reality of the favela is. I know for sure I´ll be leaving part of my heart here when I leave. Pray that I will not try to be a super hero and carry these people´s burdens on my own but turn them over to Jesus as I should. Blessings!
I will also be reading with one little boy who has dyslexia (mentioned above) his name is Marcelo. When I heard about his home life yesterday it just broke my heart. I just wanted to take him home. My heart is really breaking for these children and God is giving me the love I need to minister to this age group. So my attitude is improving, praise God. I may also be doing some counseling with 3 moms in the Compassion program who are seriously depressed. When they found out Psychology was my minor they figured that was enough experience. Yikes! Pray for wisdom.
Several of the teens have opened up to me which is great but also presents its challenges as one of them is dating a guy 14 yrs older then her. Pray that I can speak into their lives and that they´ll receive it. They have some big dreams but need more discipline and maturity.
The service on Sunday was a highlight as God spoke to me through several of the passages, particularily Isa. 43 the verses I chose for my prayer letter. He is with me and will keep me. Have been feeling more at peace as the culture shock wears off. However, the noisiness and crowdedness of this mega city is getting to me a bit so a day trip or something of the sort would be nice. One of you asked me to share a) something funny b) something you would like about Brazil and c)an answer to prayer, so here it is below.
a) Something funny - The pastor commented on how LARGE I am from the front of the church Sunday morning. `Julianna will be your Sunday school teacher, she´s kind of big but she´s alright.´ He meant large in the height sense but it was still kind of awkward. Then when I went in for my mentoring meeting on Teus. morning both pastors commented on my slightly sweaty condition `Are you sweaty Julianna´? lol Thanks for noticing guys, makes me WAY less self-conscious - not. THEN the clincher, my friend Tiago touched the zit on my forehead this morning saying `what´s this?´and then after touching it realized it was a zit. Lovely! Personal space - ZIP.
b) What you´d like - All the hugging I think. You feel so loved at church on Sunday, its great. Everyone hugs everyone. And its authentic cuz its cultural. Also the fruit here is AMAZING! I´ve eaten star fruits and persimmons and other snazy things.
c) An answer to prayer is that I´m adjusting FINALLY. Having my own room is also an answer to prayer and I couldn´t ask for a better fit in a roomie. Also my package from home arrived which is a great blessing.
Obviously there are still issues I am wrestling with like having to tell Pastor Marcelo that I can´t sustain the same pace as other people. Being at church all day and then going to small group activities whether participating or leading means I don´t get home until 10 p.m. and while that may be normal for the folks here I´m not used to 13 hour work days. Had a great debrief/counseling session with Pastor Marcelo who helped me recognize some of the adjustments I am still wrestling with and helped me see some steps to take. I think those prayers for someone older to walk alongside me and help me deal with my baggage have been answered. So for once I end on a positive note. God is showing me His faithfulness and I have had a lot of joy this week even with those around me hurting. The hardest part besides the tiredness is how heartbreaking the reality of the favela is. I know for sure I´ll be leaving part of my heart here when I leave. Pray that I will not try to be a super hero and carry these people´s burdens on my own but turn them over to Jesus as I should. Blessings!
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