In many ways, the trip to Brazil felt like an unreal experience. It felt hypothetical in the approach-each team meeting felt more like a business transaction, discussing the logistical issues concerned with raising enough money. The concept of returning to Brazil seemed too incredible to be true… Driving to the airport, it felt unreal. Flying for 14 hours with 6 hours of layovers felt unreal. Driving through the city felt unreal. Setting up in our house felt unreal. Even driving to the church, it was so hard to grasp the idea that we had finally returned. But when I saw the faces of our long-lost friends, the floodgates opened. The reality of our situation and the magnitude of what that entails poured in on me. We are in Brazil with some of the best people on the face of this earth, making it a more beautiful and united place.
Yesterday was our construction work day. Our original plans of building a roof were switched due to weather concerns and missing the core instructor of the design. So instead, we moved about 2,000 to 3,000 teracotta bricks to the next location for building at the church. It was arduous work and it was done in a torrential downpour. But we managed to keep a smile on our face the entire time working side by side with the Brazilians-laughing, joking and comparing our favorite footballers.
Later that night we were visited by a small group of the Brazilians who joined us for dinner. During that time we witnessed Arthur, an incredible man about my age who has taught himself English through google translator, play chess and systematically tear us apart one by one. He beat Kenny in two moves, legitimately. The rest of us faired a little better, but not by much. The night was filled with seeing old friends. Perhaps one of the best parts was that the language barrier had dropped significantly. Many of us have been working on our Portuguese so we can understand better, and many of the Brazilians have made huge strides in their English. We spent the night, conversing as good friends who knew each other well. It still amazes me how their culture is so welcoming and so energetic. It is beautiful beyond words.
In many ways the trip is still only beginning. We have yet to go to our first Vacation Bible School (VBS), we have not yet seen the Compassion Project, we have not even played soccer yet. But there is a great apprehension in the air. A tense excitement for what awaits us, to see what God has in store for us.
To all my family and friends in America, I miss you dearly and cannot wait to see you soon so I can try to share these stories and experiences a little better. I wish you could be here to see the things with us, but in many ways you are. Your support and love has entwined you into this story and made you a vital part of it all.
See you in a week!
-Christopher
