'If you could change one thing about your life - what would it be?'
'If you were on a desert island what 5 things would you bring?' etc...
Just question to get them to think a little bit more about their lives, morals, values and what is important to them and why... One of the last questions I asked them before I left was:
Over the last year - what is one new thing you have learnt?
(could be something practical or a 'life lesson etc...)
Well if I was still in Brazil now it would be the end of my first year. [I started this post a week ago and have only just finished it!] I have found this week hard trying to stay in the present and focusing on what I am doing, and not focusing on the fact that I am not in Brazil, I didn't make even a year there. I miss Brazil, I am sad I am not there, I have had feelings of failing a lot this week, as I just have no real clue what is going on in my life (apart from trusting God)....I really thought I would still be in Brazil.
Anyway - I have been working hard at not looking at the fact that I am no longer in Brazil, but actually what did I achieve while I was in Brazil? what did I learn? What new things did I experience?
So I am now answering the same question I asked my girls - Here is my answer...
1. I learn that feet don't freak me out as much anymore, as I painted a ladies toe nails that had been living on the streets for 9 years.
2. I am not very good at making candy floss....but I can cook for about 40 people Brazilian style and make yummy cakes!
3. I have a good basic understanding of Brazilian Portuguese and can communicate
4. I can drive a large vehicle and on the other side (right) of the road ... I miss the combi and driving up crazy steep hills - not sure if everyone else does with my sound effects what I drove up them though!
4. That I am quite a creative person - loved organising the YWAM service, planning sessions for the girls that were fun but learning at the same time, organising the treasure hunt for the Lighthouse etc...
5. That I really love teaching and I don't think I am all that bad at it either. Swimming lessons were fun, especially in Portuguese...'just do this'...followed by lots of actions and random words thrown in...and they actually understood, I did get better as time progressed and so have the girls!
6. This might seem an obvious one - but to trust God in ALL things, and just how important it is to spend time with Him daily. It is true, we really cannot rely on bread alone!
7. I learnt about a new culture, and saw how a community works. Warm culture's are certainly different from what I have ever experienced...I feel in love with the slum Cafezal - but my heart also broke at the same time about how things work and the level of child prostitution, drugs, violence and street children.
8. I learnt tons of stuff in the first 3 months on my Children at Risk (CAR) school ... Street children, HIV/AIDS, working with children who are grieving, women, prostitution, child development, sexuality, how to create projects and more...
9. I learnt...well God told me continually - especially in the first 5 months when my Portuguese was not very good - just how important our actions are and that they can speak louder than words. That we can reflect God's love to the people around us, without even opening our mouths. That I could make a difference even though I couldn't string a sentence together!
10. That living & working in community can be difficult, but it is also awesome....it can be such a support network, and it is just like one giant family, and it really opened my eyes to other cultures too.
I have to say I really do miss my Lighthouse family...
I am sure I have learnt other things too....but 10 things is good enough!
It has been good writing this post actually, helped start the processing stage of my time in Brazil. My experiences and the things I have learnt in Brazil will be with me forever :0)
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