The following was written on Friday, February 24, at the end of this update you will notice that I mentioned that the internet was starting to get sketchy….well, it did go out completely and I am just now getting the opportunity to publish this post….

As of today I have officially been in Brasil for one month and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by.  I have been at Nepo for exactly two weeks now and would like to give you a glimpse into my life here. I waited to write another update, because to be honest….the first week was definitely a difficult transition….however, it is amazing the difference that a week can make.  Let me start at the beginning….

My first week here, I was pretty much completely overwhelmed by the language barrier….it was sink or swim and I was drowning a little more each day.  It didn’t help that I was having major computer issues and not only could I not get my laptop to work, but almost every attempt I made to connect using other people’s computers ended in failure as well.   Let’s just say that the combination of not being able to communicate with people here and not having any communication with people back home for a month definitely got to me and by my fourth night here, I was absolutely in tears. 

Well, my situation hasn’t changed any….I still can’t speak Portuguese like I need or want to and I still can’t get my computer to work, but thankfully God has changed my perspective and my attitude.  I know that His power is made perfect in my weaknesses and every day I have seen how His grace is more than sufficient for me….2 Corinthians 12:9-10  has pretty much become my life verse right now….along with Joshua 1: 7-9  : )

So, what does a typical day in Nepo look like for me?  Well, first off, there is no such thing as a “typical” day, but I do have a very rough schedule worked out….In the mornings I am scheduled to work with the little kids from around 8 until lunch time.  These 10 kids live with the director and his wife and range in age from about 11 months to 8 years old.  For the first week, it was just me by myself with the four youngest and when you don’t speak the language and when they don’t understand that you don’t understand them, it doesn’t make for a good combination….let’s just say that I’m very thankful that none of them ended up dead or severely injured : )   But praise the Lord, Jessica is here now and while she doesn’t speak the language either, it definitely helps having another pair of eyes and hands and at least we have fun being lost together : )   I do love helping out with the young kids….they are so very cute and loveable.  Most mornings we take them for walks or play in the “park” with them which is pretty much just an area of dirt with two swings and a sandbox with no sand.  After we get them all dirty and tired out, we return them to the house where we help shower them and get them ready for lunch. 

After lunch, I get to spend a little bit of time with the other boys and then around 1ish, I help Marcela with her work.  Marcela is one of the full-time missionaries here and she has been an absolute joy to work with.  She is so sweet and compassionate and thankfully she speaks a tiny bit of English, so between her limited English and my limited Portuguese we generally can figure each other out…..although, I’m pretty sure a lot of things are lost in translation : )  We’ve been doing a variety of tasks like organizing the boys’ rooms and lockers, making name cards for their shelves and beds, and when school is in session, we also help the boys with their homework.  We work until dinner and then I’m technically “finished,” but after dinner has definitely been a highlight in my day.  This is when I really have a chance to spend time with the boys…playing games, doing puzzles, trying to have them teach me Portuguese and attempting to answer their questions about how certain Portuguese words are said in English.  It really is great fun and I am so enjoying getting to know these boys….I can’t quite explain what an absolute privilege and blessing it is to see the faces that I have been praying for come to life.  I am so loving being here and am so thankful for this opportunity that God has blessed me with.  I could go on and on with stories and tidbits I’d love to share, but the internet is starting to get sketchy again and so I better sign off for now…