Endearing Encouragement

I have now been living here for about 2 months and could not imagine being anywhere else in the world. I have made so many memories and am fully head over heels in love with my new home. Yes, there are daily struggles, but all the joy the Lord has provided me here is just so much greater than I could have ever dreamed. God has shown me that this joy directly stems from His creation, therefore I decided to use this post to talk about the people in my life that have encouraged and supported me through this adjustment.

Bible study girls: Every Thursday night, Lauren and I host young women over to our house for fellowship and food as we study two chapters of Proverbs together each week. We have been able to build deep relationships with about 10-15 women through talking about the struggles and joys in each of our lives. It has been really sweet to see how the Lord is using His word in Proverbs to demonstrate His love, guidance, and wisdom to us. We have also been able to invite women we meet around Teresina and in the school we work at, which gives us the opportunity to learn more about the people we are interacting with every day. Each and every woman that has attended has taught me something out of their unique perspective. A little shout out to two special friends that I have really been able to open up to, Anny and Simei. They both show up every week ready to pour into the women with their kind words and spiritual maturity. I feel so lucky to have friends as thoughtful as them to push me towards the Lord and intentionally pour into my life as I am attempting to pour into others.

Jório, Nordely, Luanne, and Jório Filho– Jório is the full-time Brazilian missionary here whose family has supported us in way too many ways to name. Jório has a way of getting things done like no one I’ve ever seen before. As soon as you mention the slightest problem, he has already figured out a solution within the minute. He serves his family and the body of Christ daily, whether it’s picking us up from school or just asking us how our day has been. His wife, Nordely, is our Brazilian mom who is always making sure we are taken care of and sending us sweet Bible verses. She is such a powerful prayer warrior, spending hours every morning talking to God. Her heart for others and dedication to prayer is a quality I admire and hope to emulate someday. Their children, Luanne and Jório Filho, are two of our closest friends here. Anytime we are together we are constantly laughing! Luanne, our Brazilian sister, spends lots of nights with us just chatting about life and is always so willing to help us with our Portuguese. She also keeps me up to date on the newest soccer news, especially on my new crush Pedro Raul who plays for a popular team here hehe;)

Arthur– Arthur is such a dear friend that we would not be able to make it without, from our various excursions around the city to movie nights at our place, he is always up for anything. His servant heart is so evident daily through his desire to show up for us no matter the cost. He speaks incredible English and has been able to assist us in connecting with others in all circumstances. Specifically, he has helped me communicate with Zander and his mother regarding the possibility of another learning platform. His ability to culturally filter while simultaneously translating is truly incredible.

Ruben and Raíssa– This sweet couple is a pair I am going to miss more than words can say. Raíssa is pregnant with a baby girl that is due in June and has the cutest style (I only hope to look like her when I am pregnant someday lol). She comes to our Bible study every week and is someone I immediately felt comfortable around. Ruben, her husband, has such a fun-loving personality and contagious laugh that always brightens our day. From giving each other crap while playing sand volleyball to making silly handshakes, he has treated Lauren and I like sisters from the day we arrived.

Fernando & Ana Luisa: Though only 18 years old, Fernando is mature beyond his age. He has been committed to serving us in so many ways, from giving us rides to pushing Lauren and I in our faith. He holds us accountable and helps us understand the best ways to share the gospel here from a practical standpoint. He has taught us lots about the culture and been such an irreplaceable sense of support in our time here. His sister, Ana Luisa, is a spunky little 15-year old girl that we absolutely adore being with, from going to get our eyebrows waxed to ice cream runs. We can always count on a time full of joy and laughter when with these two!

Dalila & Yasmin– I met Dalila about a month ago when I was looking for comfortable shoes to wear to teach every day, as she was working at the store that I ended up buying a pair from. I originally made my purchase and walked out like any normal person. I quickly started to feel something inside of me telling me to go back and talk with the girls that worked there. We exchanged numbers and before I knew it Dalila, Lauren, and I began to build a friendship that consists of a lot of açai and meaningful conversations. What more could you ask for, ya know? In all seriousness, that feeling inside was clearly the Holy Spirit guiding me because we have developed such a sweet relationship already in which we are able to really dive deep into our faith.

I met Yasmin in a similar way except this time I was buying a cookie from a coffee shop instead of shoes at the mall. We have been able to hang out and play sand volleyball together. I can’t wait for more memories yet to come as her smile and laugh truly light up any room she is in. Both Dalila and Yasmin were women that I felt an instant connection with, almost like this unspoken bond, and I am so lucky that the Lord put them in my path.

Bright Bee staff– The name of the school we work at really does ring true with its bright and fun-loving energy. We were with the fifth-grade class this week and have already had the opportunity to help in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 6^th grade classes as well. In the weeks to come we are going to pass through every grade from 7^th-10^th. I cannot possibly express enough how much love we already have for each person we have met at this school (if I tried to name people, the list would be endless). In a previous post, I touched on how the adjustment to this school had been much harder than expected, but God has really used all the staff and students here to encourage us through this transition. Mrs. Andrea, the owner, has been a vital sense of support, possessing a heart and mindset dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives that I deeply admire. Every single teacher has been inspiring through their desire to learn about our purpose here in Brazil, share about their lives, and teach us special aspects of Brazilian culture. One of our biggest goals is not just to convey the love and peace of Christ to others but to also have an exchange of life experiences and how they have brought all of us to the place we are now. The ability to serve and share in this school has been one of our greatest blessings in our time here so far.

Crossfit Gym– Lauren and I really wanted to find a place to work out, as exercise is a vital element to our mental health. Box TT Cross is a gym only 5 minutes from our house and we really love the environment and coaches there. Thamiris, Camila, and Júnior always push us to be our best and do anything and everything to make sure we understand the workouts, despite the difficulty in understanding some of the Portuguese exercise terminology. Additionally, we are starting to get closer with Camila and Thamiris, who are just so much fun to hang out with. We are 100% confident that God put them in our path for a reason. Being active is an extremely important piece of my life so the ability to exercise in such a positive atmosphere is something I am so thankful for.

Simply put, the life-long relationships God has given me here are the core of my experience and I could not possibly be more thankful for each and every one. Tchau!