I was thinking how I was writing this blog in a way to capture my thoughts and feelings as I journey through life…and that even when not much is happening, it’s valid and good to jot down a few thoughts that I can look back on when this stage of transition has transitioned into something less transitional (I hope I’m using the word ”transition” correctly). Anyway, transition is exciting because it means that there is something new ahead, but it is frustrating because I’m not there yet.
I am still in the waiting process. Although I am not waiting for God to show me the way, I am waiting to hear from IHOP-KC if I can come there on staff. Being international means the whole process is a bit more complicated. I wait patiently and I rest in peace and reassurance that God is truly in control. I admit that I do have moments of being tired of waiting and wanting to find something else which isn’t so complicated. But then I remember that I have decided to obey God, and that it means I am to wait and trust in Him.
I am still in the waiting process. Although I am not waiting for God to show me the way, I am waiting to hear from IHOP-KC if I can come there on staff. Being international means the whole process is a bit more complicated. I wait patiently and I rest in peace and reassurance that God is truly in control. I admit that I do have moments of being tired of waiting and wanting to find something else which isn’t so complicated. But then I remember that I have decided to obey God, and that it means I am to wait and trust in Him.
As always, even though it’s more then a year since I left, Brazil frequently comes to mind. Some days more, some days less. I keep forgetting that the largest part of my adult life lived yet was in Fortaleza. And that a huge part of people close to me are still there. In Barcelona I found I kept being reminded of Brazil. The culture, the warmth (both in people and weather), the food, the way the city was built, so many things. Sometimes it almost felt as if I was back in my beloved Brazil.
This last weekend was no different. I headed up north (for me, mid-Norway for those who look at the map) to a city called Trondheim to interpret a wedding for a YWAM couple from Norwegian to Portuguese (she is Norwegian and he is from Brazil). It was such a lovely weekend. I was staying at the bride’s house and so was the groom’s family. I loved getting to know the group of Brazilians who had come for the wedding. To my great surprise I realized that my Portuguese hadn’t really gotten any worse for lack of using it, and it didn’t take long to get back into chattering away. I felt so blessed by the whole weekend, and so encouraged too. People were so lovely at making a point of telling me what a good job I was doing, and I thanked them warmly. As one put it ”I don’t need a rose when I’m dead”- meaning: it’s better to receive encouragement and good words while alive because when we’re dead we can’t enjoy them. It was a busy weekend with little sleep and lots to do (I also interpreted the Brazilian pastor at a church meeting Sunday morning after getting to bed at 3 am on the previous night). Still I loved it!
I didn’t love quite as much the 4 hour delay of my flight home which got me home at around 3 or 4 am instead of 11pm. But that’s life!
Back home I have thrown myself into the task of redecorating my room/ the guestroom with my mum. It’s quite a big task, but nice to have a project going! I am making it a creamy white colour with earth coloured acessories (to match my boat painting from Fortaleza that everyone wanted to buy from me when I was moving- obviously I didn’t sell it but brought it back home and got a new frame put on it).
This last weekend was no different. I headed up north (for me, mid-Norway for those who look at the map) to a city called Trondheim to interpret a wedding for a YWAM couple from Norwegian to Portuguese (she is Norwegian and he is from Brazil). It was such a lovely weekend. I was staying at the bride’s house and so was the groom’s family. I loved getting to know the group of Brazilians who had come for the wedding. To my great surprise I realized that my Portuguese hadn’t really gotten any worse for lack of using it, and it didn’t take long to get back into chattering away. I felt so blessed by the whole weekend, and so encouraged too. People were so lovely at making a point of telling me what a good job I was doing, and I thanked them warmly. As one put it ”I don’t need a rose when I’m dead”- meaning: it’s better to receive encouragement and good words while alive because when we’re dead we can’t enjoy them. It was a busy weekend with little sleep and lots to do (I also interpreted the Brazilian pastor at a church meeting Sunday morning after getting to bed at 3 am on the previous night). Still I loved it!
I didn’t love quite as much the 4 hour delay of my flight home which got me home at around 3 or 4 am instead of 11pm. But that’s life!
Back home I have thrown myself into the task of redecorating my room/ the guestroom with my mum. It’s quite a big task, but nice to have a project going! I am making it a creamy white colour with earth coloured acessories (to match my boat painting from Fortaleza that everyone wanted to buy from me when I was moving- obviously I didn’t sell it but brought it back home and got a new frame put on it).
Life goes on. I keep on transitioning and replying: ”I am not sure”, when asked ”you’re still here?”. I am grateful that I know where I’m headed and I keep reminding myself of the fact that a few months isn’t much in the large scope of things. So I continue going through life, and I continue jotting down my thoughts and reflections, mostly for myself…