It’s been a week of contrasts. From a wonderful Christmas party in prison, where we were moved to tears by songs of grace and the Christmas message; to continuing the tradition of baking Christmas cookies with old friends; to hearing that one of my boys (now adult) in Brazil is dead... I remember the 8 year old Paulo I got to know a little over 19 years ago at Minha Casa (a residential project for streetboys in Fortaleza). And I remember how my heart was wrecked by his desperate question of: “why do you have to leave, tia (auntie)?” as I was saying goodbye. Knowing him changed my life, and that moment changed how I viewed my future. It led me to ending up living in Brazil for most of my 20s because I didn’t want to be one who “left”, but be one who was stable and safe. Now that little boy turned adult is no more. He had a beautiful smile, a contagious personality and was so very easy to love. And he was so very loved by all of those who had the privilege of knowing him. I pr
Life is a journey full of weird and interesting experiences. As the years go by, what was once new and different, has become part of the ordinary and usual. And those things which once brought amazement, no longer catch my attention. So instead of letting the new and exciting fade into nothing, I want to try to capture and keep some of these moments.