Andréa's Thoughts a Couple of Weeks Ago

In my last entry, I talked about how God helps to bring me through times when all I can think of is home and it seems like everything would be so much better if I were in the United States. That is so true! But since then I have come to appreciate and even love my situation here and my mind is not so consumed with thoughts of home. Now I find myself thinking about returning home in a few weeks and wishing that I could stay longer so I could learn and grow more.
Things are still frustrating at times. Like when I got lost on the bus on the way to orchestra practice for my practicum this past week. Talking with the bus attendant, driver, and the others on the bus to find my way through a part of the city where I’ve never been was a true test of my Portuguese abilities and my nerves. My speaking and understanding were certainly less than perfect, but I made it to practice……45 minutes late. Things like this continue to test and try, but my excitement for being here and my love for the wonderful Brazilians that I see day in and day out makes me think that I may have reached the other side of culture shock.
I have truly fallen in love with the family that I am living with. They are just that, family. My mãe (Brazilian mom) gets concerned when I get the sniffles and she talks with me about culture and helps me with Portuguese while we do dishes together. My pai (Brazilian dad) brings me popcorn while working on homework. Bruna, my Brazilian sister, watches TV with me, lets me tag along when she’s hanging out with her friends, and certainly lets me know (in love) when I haven’t said something right in Portuguese. I couldn’t ask for a better family! I have loved learning about what it’s like to live in a Brazilian home with this family. They have taught me so much and I hope that they have enjoyed having me as well. These next few weeks I will be savoring my time with my Brazilian family and trying to soak up as much Brazilian learning as possible. I am so happy with what God has taught me here, but I hope that it is not over yet!
By Andréa Woods

You will know when you grow up ...

All my life, people have said to me that I will know when I have grown up, because I will realize that I know nothing at all. I've never really appreciated the saying much, least of all now. The phrase has certainly never hit home this hard. I still hold true to my feelings when I first arrived in Brazil; it has been the biggest learning experience of my life. Every day I learn a new word, idea or practice, and I find joy in this. But I have also never been placed in a more humbling situation.

I am still learning the language; I am still learning about the culture, and while I find myself fitting in more and more, I am also more aware of my cultural differences and the difficulties that are involved in bridging cultural and lingual gaps. In three months I have learned the basics of how to communicate. I can hold out on my own, buy food, go shopping and hold short conversations. And while this is a definite accomplishment for the short time that I have been here, I am still not able to give direction in the church theater group I am a part of, or share a devotional without the help of a translator. I am primarily limited to observing the ministries I am involved with.

I am daily blessed by the kindness of my host family and church. Their guidance, love and generous hearts have made this semester the most influential one of my college career. But I feel ashamed for not giving back to them in the way that they have given to me. I have found myself rationalizing my inexperience and language barriers instead of completely stepping up to the opportunities given to me and offering them over to God. I do not know what God can do with someone who is faced with these cultural challenges, but I am ashamed for not giving him a better chance.

I realize that my education has been here to remind me that I am capable of nothing without God, not to make me self-sufficient. I came to Brazil hoping to depend upon what I had learned through my classes and church experience, but realize that I can do nothing without God's power. He is the only one who can step past these barriers. And with his help and blessing, I pray that he will lead me and use me throughout these next two weeks.

I covet your prayers, and am anxiously looking forward to being with my friends and family again. Your support has given me a steady supply of hope and peace. I love you all.

-Jamie Noel Schmelzenbach