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.