From the 18th century to 2008

The wooden planks groaned beneath my light feet as I stepped into the 18th century church. I stopped, then continued as if the smallest sound would shatter the walls around me. I found a bench in the back of the church, sat down and absorbed everything around me. The front of the church gleamed with statues of gold. The ceiling was supported with arches and pillars, and decorated with various colors. Detailed wooden carvings twisted among the walls. Everything gushed excellence. From the alter to the ceiling, from the pillars to the carvings, it all seeped in superiority. I thought to myself, “what would happen if the excellence that propelled those who built this church also propelled the way this world functions?”. God has, with the last year, been convicting me that whatever I do should be done excellently and unto Him. I thought, what if this excellence spread throughout the my generation instead of the low expectations and “myth of adolescence” that is forced upon us today? How would that change families, schools, governments, churches, societies, economies?

Last weekend, I went with my family and another family to 2 Historic towns named São João Del Rei, and Tiradentes. As we drove through the historic streets, saw the small shops selling locally made items, listened to the farm animals of all kinds sound their own unique songs, and tour the majestic churches from the 18th century, I knew that this was the Brasil that I had dreamed about. I loved every minute of our stay there. I walked the ancient cobblestone roads. I saw the colorful houses and aged gates. I gazed at the gold covered churches. There is just something about a small town with so much history that up-heaves a certain longing and excitement within me. Through that time, I also discovered some things about myself.

1. I really enjoy getting up early to watch the sunrise, write in my journal and pray. It is a time without interruption that I have all to myself and God. I got up each day at 6:30 and had some of the best time by myself. This leads to my next point…
2. I also really enjoy being by myself. The people here are great, but every day I need at least some time to spend by myself.
3. Since I haven’t had the opportunity to talk that much, I have discovered how much of what I used to say was about myself, or demanding things for myself. I saw how I did this at work, at school, at church, and especially at home. I want to live for my Savoir, Christ, not for myself. And I see now one way in which I love myself more than I love the One that I owe my life to. And Christ is changing that.
4. Lastly, I am striving to live my life with excellence, not merely mediocrity. I pray that God would lay this on the hearts of His people around the globe like the black plague covered Europe. Could this excellence change the world?

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It is been almost a month now that I have been here in Brasil. It has been getting harder, because its no longer a vacation. It’s a place where I have to live and interact with the people here. And that can be very frustrating because I cannot speak Portuguese. Many say I am learning fast, and true I do understand more then I used to. But I feel as if I am moving at a snails pace and I won’t know the language until right before I leave. I know it will come, but I don’t like waiting.

I didn’t realize it before, but one of the reasons that I wasn’t liking this very large city of 4 million people that I am living in was because I was (and still am) scared to do anything here. The city is dangerous, all cities are, and everything about it is so vastly different from my town of 2,000 that it makes me terrified. However, I know that God will use this experience of living in the city to stretch me and teach me more then I can imagine. He is helping me have courage in that face of fear. While I would rather be back in Tiradentses, I will stay here, because I know this is where God has called me for this year. I know that once I get better at Portuguese, get familiar with the busses and how to get around, and get to know more people, life will get a lot easier. As for now, I have to be patient (which I hate and God is making my work on that too!)

Thank you so much for all your prayers, it truly is a blessing. Please continue praying that I can get connected into a church very soon. I am craving Christian fellowship.

Tchau

In Christ Alone,

-Hope