confessions at the marriott of sao paulo...

well, it's 4:39 am and guess what. i'm awake. i'm not on an airplane. i'm not crossing the equator without a weather radar. and my head feels like i'm still wearing my sunglasses (weird huh)
actually. i'm sitting at a great hotel :) with the air conditioner blowing my hair, and i'm throwing back a coke zero.
i did,however acquire the perfect exit row seat with adequate leg room and a short person behind me (unlike the female high school basketball star that sat behind me on the way to brasilia in july) and a pretty nice man sitting next to me.
the flight seemed perfect. we ate dinner about 12:30am (no kidding) and as we were finishing the captain came on and said that we were having weather radar difficulties and that we absolutely could not cross the equator with no weather thingy. so we turned around (after being in the air for a little over an hour). as that happened-i just began to chuckle at the thoughts of not being home for christmas. that's all i could do. the guy sitting next to me was a bit distraught and I think it made him feel better to hear me laugh about it. so, he struck up a conversation and he laughed at the fact that i was reading the brasilian newspaper, he said, "oh, so you can READ portuguese?" I was like....well, i didn't pay my tutor for nothing.... yada yada-it kept him in a better mood talking about brasilia and the great food they had there, the people of course (my favorite). We talked about my love for the little villages and his inability to live in a place like that. I told him about missions and why I was in Brazil, etc. But this is the kicker....as plane taxied back to the gate-they informed us that we would be going ot the marriott (haha on the portuguese guy said that and i caught it!) to which he looks over and says, (get ready for it) "I know that they will make more than one person stay in a room, you want to room together?" I don't remember my reaction but I'm pretty sure I turned away before I could give him the judgemental eyes. I was so thankful that he stopped to hear an explanation from one of the co-pilots. I ran. Really fast. Got my voucher and took the first taxi I could find. I'm praying for the conversations we will have tomorrow because maybe I didn't do a very good job of relaying information to him about why I was here and WHO sent me. But I clearly talked about missions and that I worked at a Christian school to which he quickly connected that to "peace corp". i'll have to build on that tomorrow.

anyhow-so i'm wide awake and the hotel has informed us that we will not have internet tomorrow (or later today actually..) So-hopefully I won't have to update this again...I will be able to update you in person :) Love you all :)

confessions of "Indescribeable"

These are my pastors :)

Pastor Obedes

Pastor Ithamar or "Mazinho" haha.

Pastor Marcos Antionio

Well, Louie Giglio hit Brasilia this weekend. Well, not Louie himself, but one of my pastors went to a conference in Hawaii and heard this song. He began to translate and work out some details for about three months. This past Sunday night.....we were all floored. The screen showed us moving through the atmosphere, planets, stars, etc while the full praise team lead the song. It was dark and the visual was amazing in itself. I felt as big as I am so tiny....and realized again how big God is. How much He loves us and yet spins the universe, better than that-created it.

I realized that 99% of these people would be hearing this song for the first time and I began to look around. Wow. They were amazed and awestruck. Then, just when it couldn't get any better-on one of the last rounds of "You are amazing God"-a trumpet and saxophone resounded from the balcony behind us. I've heard this song a hundred times and this time was so sweet. mmm maybe it is because I love these people, their language, and I'm so thankful for the the amazing things God is showing me through them and my time here with them.

I also had a chance to go an end of the barbecue or translated "churrasco". Of course the food was amazing, the fellowship was awesome, I got to eat mangos off the ground, and I got to sit on top of this amazing little building and watch the rains roll in.

updated confessions...

This week is crawling by and it is driving me crazy.
As much as I want to forget last week-the reminders are coming every single day.
The parents informed me that they are considering the other American school (non-Christian) for their children. They also asked me to write a letter of recommendation to which I took to my boss and he is taking care of that situation. I really love this family-lost and yet so loving. It is amazing how one event-can change everything.
Also-because of this incident, we've been reported to the Department of Education here in Brazil. We aren't sure how they found out but it could have been through the hospital (kind of like social services) where the student was taken. It keeps getting bigger and bigger. I know God is in control-I'm just praying for our administration. They've taken a lot of blows for the school this semester. I tell you about being reported because there is a chance that they could delay our opening after we return from Christmas break.

Something good: I had an awesome time building some Brasilian relationships this weekend! My church family is becoming more and more like family as well as some of the young people at another church. One of my pastors says, "You are not a visitor, you are family. We will be waiting for you." I also signed up for the Sunday School class on Calvinism-which I'm really excited about. One of my friends will translate and it will be cool to have someone to discuss this topic with.

So-I have much to look forward to and yet I will probably be missing 1/5 of my class when I return. I rest in the haven of prayer as I am heavily troubled and tired by the events. I am encouraged by the quiet times I'm having and in knowing that I'll be removed from this situation for a short time. Delivered into the arms of love in 6 1/2 more days.

confessions of a miracle....

Today, I have a lot to be thankful for. Maybe more than I ever have.
I was reminded today just exactly how much I love my students. How much I cherish
each little growing personality, character, and spiritual life.
One of my sweet children was injured in an accident in the bathroom due
to a malfunction of the bathroom stall. You may be thinking-oh that is not bad....
well, we have solid marble bathroom stalls here. So, as one student closed the door,
the whole front panel came crashing down on another student. I was within view of the bathroom and the visual that I have will be forever etched in my mind. Unfortunately-I
can't shake this like an etchasketch.
It took three adults to remove the door from the student and to take him out.
I'll never forget his little face. I felt sure that he had internal injuries, broken bones, a concussion-all of that. I assured the other students that it would be okay-lined them up against the wall, and ran off to the office (there was another teacher present). I realized immediately the impact this would have on the school and on the student. This isn't something that is our fault, but it just adds to the overwhelming trials that keep showing themselves as we end this semester. I should thank God for the trials but it is extremely difficult when you have a
traumatizing visual to precede and follow those thoughts.
The school nurse checked him out, applied band-aids and ice to his very minor injuries, and said that everything on the outside was fine. I am a bit relieved but am reminded that I have to write up an incident report and call his mother. We felt like it would be a good idea for him to get an x-ray as well. All of that was okay, but I began to dread the incident report. I knew that I could not describe in enough detail what I had seen. I also knew that they would ask us to show them what happened. And they did. The reactions were predictable.
I experienced a miracle, grace of God-all of that today. I could feel Him working all around me, listening to my silent prayers, and so many things. The doctor called to say that he is fine. He has no broken bones, and no internal injuries. We are all looking at each other as to say, "How is that possible? Thank you, God!" I am shown God's amazing strength and the things He can do. I know He is getting the Glory from all the staff (especially the ones who lived this thing out) and now-we are just praying for the parents. We know they are from a Catholic background-but we do not really know where their hearts are spiritually.
There are many complications that could go with this incident-please pray for our school, for our staff, and for me as we all deal with this and the other problems mentioned below.
I love you guys.
I will see you in 12 1/2 days.

confessions of.....

Many of you know that our little school turned into a big school at the beginning of this year. We've overcome many things while enduring construction noises, construction workers. . . . , new surroundings, flooding, etc. These things taught us to be patient, to lean and love on one another more, and to have faith that God's plan is unfolding before our eyes.

We recently concluded Phase I Renovations to our new campus. This did not come without some added difficulties and just Satan really trying to tear us up. Try as he may-God gave us steadfast hearts and some amazing encouragements during this hardship. He gave us all peace to do our jobs and be amazing for our students. His grace in our attitudes kept everything rolling and most of them without a clue what was happening.

Once through that storm, seemingly, it was over. On Tuesday, our administration was informed that definitely there is a single and a family here illegally. Their visas expired and the government will not renew their original volunteer visas. My roommate shared that she has until the 19th (our last day of school) and then whether or not she will come back will be contigent on her receiving a tourist visa as she returns home for the Christmas holiday.
She shared that she is just not ready to do that-to say her good-byes in two weeks. She also has a boyfriend here and he is one of our co-workers. They are really close (like Tyler and Marie for those of you who know them...).
The other family includes a wife and three children. The three children all go to BIS and Bob teaches several high school courses. His wife shared this with me yesterday:
"it is funny that we agonize over what he wants us to do as we"wait for an answer" not realizing that the "nothing" we experience is part of his answer. "

The air around school was pretty somber this morning as the rest of the staff found out in a meeting. Amazingly enough, we walked out of the room encouraged and knowing that God is definitely in control. We understand that He is not lost in this-as scary and unbelievable as it may seem. I am so thankful for that. It is hard not to fast forward in my mind as to what it is going to be like without them. We are praying for mercy and just wisdom for us all-as we wait for our principal to get back into Brazil and as we inform the parents. This would cause 2nd grade to become 1st/2nd split as well as an administrator coming in to teach Bob's History, Computer, and Geography courses. Please pray for our staff as God unfolds this plan. Pray that we are bold to step up when help is needed and that we are diligently praying for the people involved in this sudden change. Please pray that they will have a peaceful Christmas and that God would draw them closer and closer to Himself as the events unfold.


It's been a weird week for us all.....
I've been battling allergies and sinus problems, my kids have been animals (: , and one of them passed out (literally) on top of me today. I flashed back to (my brother) Andy's seizure a couple Christmas' ago. I don't think I can talk about it right now.... thank the Lord-he is fine. I was so tired by the end of the day that when the kids suggested a second nap at 1:45-I agreed and let them lay down again. I love them so much-I mean-I really love them. I wake up every morning looking forward to teaching, loving, and giving them my best every single day. Even today-when it felt like I had a concrete block in my head-I knew I couldn't miss. What if the sub didn't know our "evens" cheer? or our "Daily ABC/123 Workout? I HATED the fact that someone else would be teaching my kids. So-to answer that question for you Jenn....that's what you do when you need a sub-you think about it...and then you just go. :) The funny thing is that it would be someone pretty close to the kids-an administrator, the preschool teacher, or someone who is consistently at school. And I still worry about them :) They are so independent now-they change the Classroom helpers themselves every day, along with line order, and getting the attendance sheet. This probably means nothing to you-but it is completely amazing to see them ask for and take responsibility. :)
we have a website :) www.msbolinsbees.com pictures for those who really love to see them :)

Love from Brazil for 18 1/2 more days.