Jun 5thLu
On Saturday, Rachael and I went over to Lu's house and almost had a conversation. There was lots of halting silence and looking through the word list, but we managed to exchange a few pieces of information. When we got back, Joyce asked me if I had invited her to church. I started to feel bad that I hadn't until I realized that I didn't know enough Portuguese to actually do that.
So after breakfast the next morning, I grabbed Lisa, and we went over to see if she would come. And she said yes. After the the service, I got Paul Sr. to help me explain a drawing I had told her earlier that I would show her. She had commented several times about how happy and content I was, and I had said that I wanted to show her a picture I had drawn when I was not so happy. As Paul and I explained the drawing and the story behind it, Paul began to share the Gospel with her, and she received Christ.
I know I'm at the end of a long line of people who have been planting seed and watering the ground, but it's such a priviledge to actually be there when that seed sprouts.
May 31stAlready Different
A good friend always says, "You'll be the same this time next year except for the people you meet and the books you read. " Today I met Francisca. It's hard to say what impressed me about her. Maybe that my first impression was totally wrong. I first saw her sitting on the rock in front of her house, and then later when she had a very difficult time getting up, I assumed that's all she did was sit on the rock. Later, when I saw her making her way slowly down the street, half bent over and leaning very heavily on her walking stick, I knew I was wrong about her. Lisa told me that she really likes chocolate, and so I slipped her a piece from my bag the next time I saw her. She was really pleased.
I also met Neni (almost sounds like nanny) who is trying to raise three kids alone. She will be doing our laundry while we're here, and it really bothered me that I didn't even know her name before I met her today. I hope I can spend a little more time with her and get to know her as more than just the "laundry woman".
And I met Lu and had coffee at her house. This was one thing I was hoping to have the chance to do while here. It would be a real shame to come all this way, do all the work that will be done, and never touch or be touched by the people who call this home. So I'm both surprised and delighted that these encounters have happened so quickly.
More later.