I think the days got shorter....or maybe some are missing...

Well its been a while since I’ve written. I am getting more lazy week by week with writing in my blog… I feel like there has been so much that has gone on, but I don’t know how to put it in words, none the less words that people actually want to read. So here goes my attempt.

I am liking my host family a lot. Especially my two brothers. There is Lukas, who is 12, and Marcelo, who is 14. They are pretty down to earth and just really fun. I have a big connection with them. We played video games for hours the other day, they are teaching my how to play ping-pong (and I really am getting better!), and we had a huge water fight and all ended up soaking wet. I have laughed so hard with my bros! It has been great. My host mom is also really great. Her name is Patricia and she is very sweet. I already feel comfortable with asking her anything if I need something. I like my host dad Robson, although he is the only one in the family I don’t have a connection with. The only thing that is hard in this family is that they are much more strict then my other host family. This has been a really hard thing for me living here in Brasil. Even with my other family too. I was at a stage in life back home where I just wanted to live my own life and make my own decisions. I had so much more freedom the last year or two back in CO. Many times I wonder, “Why did I put myself under the authority of a family again?” I understand that my family here is responsible for me, and that Belo Horizonte is a big and can be very dangerous city. So they are not being unreasonable with their rules, its just that I don’t like them. It has been hard, but it also has been a good lesson to continue to humble myself and be ok with what my host parents say even if it is not what I want. God continuously has His ways of keeping me humble and selfless.

Friday November 21st was my last day of school at Frei Orlando. Yes, I am now in summer break! Right before I left, I was sitting with Jessica and she started crying and wrote me a really sweet note. Yes, I am going to miss not seeing them at school every day, but I reassured her that we will hang out. This is not the end of a friendship, we may not see each other as much, but that doesn’t make me love her any less. I never realized how much of an impact I had made on her life until she gave me that note, it really was a blessing for me. But I know that it was not what I did. Because there were so, so, so, many times where I messed up and where I was not a good example and where I did not shine for Christ. It was God that touched her through me, and I can give HIM all the praise and glory for that. Thank you Lord for using me as a vessel, even though I am completely messed up, to bless others with YOUR love and grace.

Well about Church, I was going to go last Saturday night, but there ended up having a wedding so they didn’t have church. And Sunday I went to Feira Hippie (this huge fair/market place. Its amazing. There are TONS and TONS of people…) in the morning with my host mom and brother. But this Friday night I am going to the Presbyterian church for the Youth worship night. So I’m pretty excited about that!

Today is my 120th day in Brasil! I cannot believe I have been here for 4 month already…I am almost half way through my year already. I will be here for about 6 months longer. Wow how fast the time has gone…November especially went really really fast. It feels like yesterday that it was the beginning of November. I think there are days missing...I just seems like its going so fast I cannot believe it. It makes me excited and so scared at the same time. I want to use my time here for the best, and sometimes I feel like I've wasted a lot of it. And that scares me. I know its not entirely true. While yes, there has been a lot of wasted time, there has also been a lot of time put to good use. I just pray that I would be able to use the time God has given me for His glory. I would appreciate prayers in that area. Thanks :-)

Well, that’s all for now folks, until next time

-Hope