confessions of crepes and lestani's both sweet and amazing...

Yesterday I received this e-mail from the Lestani's.....I was a little nervous because my parents generally communicate through the agenda. Nicolas had a minor accident on the playground this week...and I was so scared. BUT-it was an invitation to ice cream and crepes!!! YAY! I wanted to race around! I've grown to really love this family. Nicolas is just amazing and 1/5 of the amazingness that walks into my classroom every single day. Everything really worked out so cool. Mom went with us and she ended up keeping the kids occupied while the Lestani's and I were talking. They shared about their lives and then asked me, "Ms. Bolin, where will you go after Brasil?" PERFECT! Amazing! So-I began to tell them that it was totally up to God and that He had done so many things to get me here this year. Then, it opened up the door for me to give my testimony and tell them how God captured me and changed my life. It was completely amazing. They asked questions, they wanted to know what was so different and so many things. They asked me about what denomination I was which opened up the door for me to tell them which church I go to here in Brasilia...and how phenomenal it is. How great the people are ....etc. :) Just an amazing opportunity. I never dreamed it would go as well as it did. I continue to pray for their family. They informed me that they will continue to go to our school until December when they will move. She said, "Can you teach first grade? Any chance?" :) I don't know what the chances are but I know that Nicolas will get 6 more months of Bible, BIS, and love from all the people here sent specifically by God to work with him. I stand amazed.

Thank you God for your amazing Grace. For your intense love for us-just a human. But you chose us, you love us, and you provide for us. I stand here feeling so inadequate but yet you allow me to be used. Please help me put my flesh aside. Thank you for Jesus and for the cross. Thank you for the Lestani's.

confessions of Thing 1 and Thing 2

chaos. I was really afraid of that on Friday. Reading Month was ending-Thing 1 and Thing 2 were coming out to cause trouble on our campus. I can only imagine what this looked like to the Brasilians passing along the back lot. About 100 English speakers shouting, throwing water balloons, playing in the soap soccer, swimming in the puddles, and making sand castles on the volleyball court. This is what I was afraid of? Wow-this fear turned out really well. Why is it that some things we should be afraid of and aren't while others we are too afraid of and shouldn't be? What is it that tears us up? Nao sei. (I don't know).

Mom finished her last work day with us watching everyone get soaked and getting plowed by several water balloons. :) The kids loved her and she loved them. I think she REALLY misses my dad. I think this is the longest they've been apart maybe in their lives? Hmmm, and he just can't stand it...I can hear it in his voice the other night. I asked him when he was going to come and visit us. Haha. She's been a super blessing to the school and to me this month. We were asked to "ice cream"tomorrow by Nicolas and his parents :) So-that will be kind of interesting. I don't know that I've ever been out with "parents" before. Just another aspect of the Christian School that is kind of amazing.....

The day was completely perfect and worked out by God. He orchestrated everything to be just right.....in so many little things. The kids weren't so disappointed with all the changes we made from last year.....and I loved sitting in the big rain puddles that God provided. We played in the water, the sand, took off our shoes, and everyone was safe. Thank you, God. :)
It was the best day of school so far. We were to dress up as what we wanted to be when we grew up. Well, I am what I wanted to be....exactly. Funny how that works out..... But I would also like to be a Seminary student-so I threw on my Southern shirt, packed my Systematic Theology and my ESV study bible, jeans, and tennis shoes..... But now, I realize---does Southern have a dress code or have I lost my mind? Anyway....it was a perfect way to dress down a bit.

In my reading-I'm in 1 Chronicles, Joshua, Hosea, and Ezekiel. I'm loving Joshua and I'm just starting the others. :) Mmmm..thanks Mare for the ESV study bible......it really connects a lot of things and helps me to understand how it all goes together-especially with all the kings, their mothers, their territories, sons, etc etc...and the tribes-their land, their daughters, sons, cities,, etc..... Thanks again!

I've also been thinking of betrayal. What should we do about that? I think about Jesus and the way he confronted Judas. But in that, Jesus was paying for all our sins. So=do I have any reason to avenge a betrayer? Big or small? Nope. It has already been avenged. Pray for them, pray that their hearts will be changed. Pray that you can love them more despite their faults so that Christ is glorified in your actions. Easier said than done....but we are commanded to love.

Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Thank you God for so many things. Thank you for keeping my students safe and providing an amazing day for them. Your amazing hands work calmly in the midst of what we perceive as chaos. Thank you for calming my mind and allowing me to see how vengeance is not mine. Thank you for your Son, your only Son that took the vengeance for those sins and all of mine.

confessions of...I DON'T Want to Get Up Today...

Wow-today-reminded me of my college days-when I would go to class (after working until 12 and doing homework until 3am and then rolling out of bed at 7:30 for class) in my p-jams. Man-it felt GREAT!!!
But, I will say, the Brasilians don't go out in their p-jams---ANYWHERE--EVER. So-I turned a few heads as i walked out in my p-jams and my housecoat. It was quite humerous to watch people walk all the way across the street as they gawked at my silly appearance. Well, the real test came as I came down the stairs and greeted each one of my precious students in their pajamas :) I loved it. Here are some pictures from the day :) (Okay, so I"ll post them later tonight)
Mom read, "I Don't Want to Get Up Today" before each of the chapel groups and she did a great job!
She also made snakes out of men's ties to go with "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash" and it was a BIG hit with the parents!

We've been learning about the disciples this week and how Jesus called them, used them, and was even betrayed by them. My kids really related to Peter and how he was scared and said that Jesus wasn't his friend. One of my unchurched students took my John 3:16 (expository kid book) home and kept it for a week! I'm so excited for their lives. My students are reading their hearts out! The one I worry about the most is finally reading at home (THANK YOU, LORD!). I'm consistently reminded of their sweetness.

Caleb's family isn't sure about their visas. They have until May 8th to get their new visa. :( A piece of my heart is hanging in the balance. Can't he just stay? I'll feed him! I know, I know. Pray for the transition into the new visa and for the family as there are many things to decide. Pray for the visas. Pray for the family. I'm praying.

My CrossPoint family. I love you guys so much and I'm praying for you. Your heart for Richmond is amazing. I've never seen a group of people want to reach out and be just what they've been to the community. Evangelizing, loving, and giving as they do. I pray for wisdom and understanding during this time. Love from Brazil. God is always previous.

confessions of ...Dr. Suess themed days......

Last week was "Crazy Hat Day"

They had some pretty crazy hats.....but in true brasil fashion--the heat caused them to shed the true hats....and luckily...mom brought them some paper Cat in the Hat hats. :)

This week was "Diffendoofer Day"-we all dressed up as our favorite teacher, administrator, or staff person at BIS. It was quite interesting :)

My little class...unplanned....pulled together our three main administrators

Mr. Bose, Mr. Fryar, and Mr. Lopes

(and yes, Nicolas has a stick on mustache)

My Brasilian sisters :) Rebeca had her College graduation tonight and it was awesome! They really know how to have fun at Graduation. None of this serious craziness we demand in the states. I am so proud of her. She stepped into our school so willing to learn and to take each challenge presented. She overcomes these kinds of things on a daily basis! Congrats!

And now, she can start her professional career ;)

During Reading Month, our Fridays have a special "Drop Everything And Read" time for students and teachers. After calming my kiddos down, I sat down to read a little Tozer. I, of course, found something seemingly profound to me.... God is always previous. :) And so He is.

confessions of a scottish bagpipe player!

Wow-I don't know who was more impressed....me or the kids. I promise, I thought it would be good for them, but I ended up sitting with the students-mouth gaping open in awe and splendor.

Secret: My dad and I share a passion for the bagpipes! And I really loved this little Scottish man (a Grandad to one of my students) as he played! He is soooo awesome! I really loved him!

Today, he was invited to play for a "Garden Party" because Prince Charles was going to be there! How cool!?

My mom is here and doing a phenomenal job! It is so nice to have the extra hands and feet to keep up with the students and to give even more individual help to the ones that need it! I am so blessed!!!

confessions....of camp....in Portuguese...

Well, I will say that I being around so much Portuguese ignited my narrow mind. I understood 75% of a sermon last Saturday night! This was SOOO exciting to me. When I would get lost, I would listen very carefully for the whisper of my translator (as she was translating to my new roomie-Steph). So---I praised God incessantly for the remainder of the service. I was amazed at the transformation of my brain and the processing of a new language. I'm by no means fluent-please don't get the wrong idea.... but it is coming together. I still have a hard time with conversations-just because you never know what people are going to say......



The awkward part of camp. Do you remember when you were younger and you went somewhere with your parents. You understood that people were talking around you but didn't really understand what was being said? You just did what everyone else did and then some things that you were told to do? Like a little girl in a crowd. Which was humbling and good for me to look and not be able to speak at some points....



Otherwise........Camp was amazing!!! I met some great people and talked in Portuguese and English-I learned a ton and sat through an amazing class on Spiritual Gifts. I feel myself becoming hungrier and hungier for the Word. Recaps from camp......apparnetly it is real funny to have "date night" at these things. Which "geeks" me out anyway.......but I was told I had to have one. Which was funnier. But then here's the real kicker--as a funny thing---you had to send notes to your dates in which the mc read aloud before and after dinner, lunch, etc. I was mortified. They finally set me up with this dude who also didn't know anyone (and English either HAHA) and it was what it was. I got this really weird feeling in my gut after lunch one day and left early.....as I was walking up the hill---I hear my name over the sound system. ..........yup-I ran the rest of the way to the bunk.

So for that night-I didn't geek out like normal. I was also suffering from a sick eye that was swollen shut (haha-I bet that was funny to look at). Okay- all jokes aside-I learned something.... I learned that I can act like a human being in awkward situations-maybe I'm growing up. I'm always aspiring the kind of grace Julie Lasslo seems to radiate.....and that night-I think I had a little....

I taught them to play the cup game in which we proceded to play until 3 in the morning. It was amazing!



About the eye-I was taken to a special "eye hospital" (literally a huge building for eye specialities) where the lady basically said no makeup, no contacts, no fans, and no more face medicine. So-I gave up two completely..........



My mom comes TOMORROW!!!! For a whole month!!!!! I am so very excited about this but it is almost like it is too good to be true! Thank you to our dear friends that provided her a way to come and see me. She will be working in my classroom through the morning and working in the other classrooms in the afternoon.



My classroom met Flat Stanley and LOVED him. My little British boy said, "Is he really, real?"
:) I've been trying to wait for him to arrive in the mail, but it looks like Carnaval is holding the mail up big time....so I'm going to introduce him tomorrow and read Jenn's blog!



We kicked off Reading Month in which I turned my classroom into a mini-jungle. There are vines, leaves, trees, monkeys, frogs, and book covers hanging from the wires. And-I'm getting ready to turn a corner into the "Where the Wild Things Are".......so that will be very interesting....



I started praying in a circle with my students and doing the hand squeezing thing.....and they really love this. They ask to pray like that all the time!



The funnies:



My kids were reciting old Bible Verses today (completely on their own......) and instead of saying "Exodus" they said "Excellence".......



My British boy never fails me:

"See you later alligator, Don't forget the toilet paper."