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Another drawing to an end.

Another two days and I’ll be on a plane yet again. My time here in Fortaleza is very quickly ending and the familiar unsettledness is kicking in, joined by half-packed suitcases and lists of things to et done slowly being ticked off.

It’s been good to be here. And I feel ready to go. Ready to walk through my final days in Amsterdam and say my goodbyes. And yet even though I’ve known this would be a month of many good byes, I don’t think I’ll ever come to like it or get used to it.

This is a week of savouring all the things I love about this country and city. Even the craziness of driving in the city has its charm (although I do admit there was a bit too much adrenaline involved as I drove around yesterday having many drivers yell at me along the way, not because I’m a bad driver, I’m not just as aggressive as they are). I went to Mercado Central a huge indoor crafts market in the city. I was ready for some serious souvenir shopping, only to find out it was due to close early because of a blackout, and so my anticipated leisurely strolling around became a more rushed venture of trying to get the things I’d planned to buy done before the doors were closed. After a few more errands (which included some driving around to find parking) we headed towards home.

On the way we realized we’d been so focused on the tasks of shopping we’d forgotten to get coffee. No shopping trip is complete without a coffee break. And so almost home we nipped to the local town and had coffee, cake and of course, a final açaí with granola. A great end to an efficient afternoon.
This morning I finished sharing with the DTS here and had my nails done by a dear friend. Manicures/pedicures are more than a luxury here, they are almost like a right. And having had them done last weekend (btw it’s also very cheap!) I only needed a touch up to be ready to head back to the continent of less affordable beauty treatments.

Typing this my nails are beautiful and the fan is keeping me comfortably cool. I have a can of guaraná antarctica in front of me, enjoying the distinct and refreshing Brazilian flavour. It’s evening, yet the night is still young.

Young in the sense that this is my late night. My final late night here this time round. In a bit we get in the car and whizz down to the city centre to do outreach on the streets. I am excited. It’s a time of pouring life into people and ending up more alive as a result of it.

Good Friday.

It’s a good day to go to the streets. A good day to remember what Jesus did on the cross and what that means for us. A good day to remember and share hope. Hope of forgiveness. Hope of redemption. Hope of eternal life.

And that is what I carry in my heart as I get ready to head out... determined that even if my time here is almost up, that I will make the most of the time that I have.

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