Pronto. My time in O Refúgio do Amanhecer is almost up. Tomorrow (sexta-feira), at 16.05 I will be speeding along the runway before the nose pulls up and the plane slowly rises off the ground, spins around, and points itself in the direction of London Heathrow. I've been here for about six months (in fact, my time has spanned 6 months - January, February, March, April, May and June - but hasn't quite been a six month duration) and it feels very weird to be leaving. This has become a home for me, in a way; in England I have nowhere to act as home since our house is being rented at the moment. It's an odd feeling to leave somewhere foreign that has so quickly become so familiar, to return to a place once so familiar which will now feel foreign... almost.
Thank you, here and now, from the bottom of my heart, to those who have read continuously, those who have prayed, those who have sent stuff, and just generally supported me. It's been really great. Muito obrigado!
From plunging my entire arm into gutters, to mowing the lawn with a glorified strimmer; from playing footy to running; from laying cement to laying flowers; from weeks of rain to weeks of scorching sun; from eating too much food to giving out food on the streets; from losing money to being given donations; moving along in faith and discipline with times of struggling in the middle, making new friends and family along the way; from England to Portugal, this has been a trip I will not forget. God has moved in me and spoken to me in a way I wasn't expecting. I have learnt a lot, read a lot, loved a lot, and been loved even more. I have focussed, I have become structured (or at the very least, more so than before), I have slipped up and I have had to face the consequences. I've got back up, I've continued. I have grown in my relationship with my beautiful girlfriend as well, and feel far closer to her now than ever before, despite being over 1700 miles away. I've even got myself a tasty tan, and have built my muscles, if I'm being utterly shallow.
Rubén and Loida threw a Barbie for me at their house last night. There was a lot of food (in honour of me, he said), and beer, and it was a lot of good fun. It was such a nice way to be thanked.
It's been fun, it's been hard. It's been relaxing, it's been tiring. It's been for me, it's been for them. Will I be back? You bet'cha!
Até já, todos. Vou a ter saudades por esta local, mas vou de voltar quando posso. É incrível.
Já está. Adeus.
Thursday 11 June 2009
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Another Weekend
That's right. I spent another weekend over in Porto with Bill and Tina and Riverside Porto Church. We had a Barbeque on Saturday afternoon - luckily the sun came out for us despite having thrown down a lot of rain in the morning. Lots of absolutely splendid meats and salads and puddings on offer. Lots of great people - many faces I already knew, and many new people (especially people from the America Club). I even went for a swim in the pool! Until I got attacked by Caleb and Emily, two little kids. What is with that, eh? Sunday was nice and relaxing - late wake up, read some of 'The Shack' (but didn't manage to finish...), had comfort food in front of the Turkish Grand Prix (what's with Jason Button doing so well these days?) and then had a great meeting in the evening. Played the djembe again in the band, Bill gave another good message on Romans 7, and then Anna-Theresa and I were 'sent out' and prayed for at the end. She's going to Brazil for a couple of months to do some mission work with a youth charity out there, then going to Hiedelburg, Germany to study Law. Muito fixe. Being 'sent out' by Riverside was odd though - I was also prayed for by the Submerge community in Guildford back in January (thanks guys!) and now being sent back from a church I've barely been a part of. What a community!
On Monday I planned to go to Lisboa for the day with Sofia and her friend who had come up for the weekend and was going back that morning. Unfortunately, we arrived at Campanhã station at 10am to find the next train was at 10.52 arriving at Lisboa at 14.00. I thought it would be a bit of a waste, as I'd have had to get a train back at 4 or 5pm in order to be back at the Refuge not too late. So, instead, Sofia and I spent the morning in Porto. I found this really refreshing - it's been a while since I've walked around the place. We went to the Palacio de Crystal and walked around the gardens which were lovely, before walking down to Ribeira for lunch (cachorros especiais - like a francesinhas but in hotdog form). Seeing the run down houses and the dirty streets once again reminded me how much Porto has expanded beyond what it could manage well, and has left many poor people. I felt once more the feelings of excitment, pain, passion and care for the city - it was very refreshing. I feel more than ever that God wants me here - I don't know for how long, or when, but I've got an idea as to what. It's exciting.
The entrance to the school
An array of monks, nuns, crusaders, peasants, farmers, beggars and even belly dancers!
Typical cockerels for sale. Very Portuguese.
Foi o aniversário do Marcos no sexta passada. E porque fui no horário da noite, jugámos o jogo do chocolate, e o jogo com maçás na agua. Encantaram-o :) (It was Marcos's birthday last Friday. And because I was on shift for the night, we played the chocolate game and apple bobbing. They loved it :)) Agora, tem 10 anos.
Playing Pear Bobbing on Marcos' Birthday
Acho que tenho mais um blog que logo vou a compartilhar aqui. É uma pena; meu tempo quase acabou :(
(Também, I am horrified to hear the BNP got not only one, but TWO seats in the Euro Elections. Come on, chaps! What's going on?!)
On Monday I planned to go to Lisboa for the day with Sofia and her friend who had come up for the weekend and was going back that morning. Unfortunately, we arrived at Campanhã station at 10am to find the next train was at 10.52 arriving at Lisboa at 14.00. I thought it would be a bit of a waste, as I'd have had to get a train back at 4 or 5pm in order to be back at the Refuge not too late. So, instead, Sofia and I spent the morning in Porto. I found this really refreshing - it's been a while since I've walked around the place. We went to the Palacio de Crystal and walked around the gardens which were lovely, before walking down to Ribeira for lunch (cachorros especiais - like a francesinhas but in hotdog form). Seeing the run down houses and the dirty streets once again reminded me how much Porto has expanded beyond what it could manage well, and has left many poor people. I felt once more the feelings of excitment, pain, passion and care for the city - it was very refreshing. I feel more than ever that God wants me here - I don't know for how long, or when, but I've got an idea as to what. It's exciting.
Most incredible bookshop: Livrario Lello
The view across to Gaia from Palacio de Crystal€
I had a go at cutting the grass with the machine, finally. Got the hang of it after a while, so that was good. I didn't feel so useless. Then the lady came back, took over from me, and was so much quicker. I followed behind, raking and chucking the cut grass. Agora parece muito mais bonita :) I guess the biggest news now though, is that the men had laid the astroturf for the footy pitch! Não estou a brincar! Finalmente - é fantástico! All the gree grass, white lines and yellow basketball lines are out. The sand is being laid (well, not right now, because it's raining...) and then 'as balizas' (the goals) will be put in place. It's dead exciting! A new access ramp will be made up to the pitch, so I had to cut some of the vines that were in the way. Look out for photos on the way... Não posso esperar de jugar o primeiro jogo nesta campo.
The beginning...
Middle...
More middle...
And end of the footy pitch creation!
Tambem, foi Feira Medieval no sexta. Fantástico! Todos as escolas estavam ali. Amazing time. All the children of all ages (3 years old to 30 years old and more!) were dressed up in medieval clothes. There were monks, nuns, crusaders, knights, peasants, beggars, farmers, belly-dancers (no, I don't know either), jesters and clowns, and more. What a sight! We all collected in Termas, a nearby town, and then paraded from there to a school a couple of kilometres away, people lining the streets, cheering from the balconies and dancing alongside. It was amazing. At the school we were greeted with a huge maypole, and loads of medieval type stalls selling shoes, medicines, food, a Taberna and even live animals ! Great show.
And end of the footy pitch creation!
The entrance to the school
An array of monks, nuns, crusaders, peasants, farmers, beggars and even belly dancers!
Typical cockerels for sale. Very Portuguese.
Playing Pear Bobbing on Marcos' Birthday
Acho que tenho mais um blog que logo vou a compartilhar aqui. É uma pena; meu tempo quase acabou :(
(Também, I am horrified to hear the BNP got not only one, but TWO seats in the Euro Elections. Come on, chaps! What's going on?!)
Monday 1 June 2009
Dia Mundial da Crianças
It's that time of year again, folks! Mar and I found out the other night that yesterday was International Children's Day! Very exciting. Mar had a brainwave - to decorate the house to surprise the children when they woke up! We started at about 9.30pm, finishing at 2am last night - I had no idea we'd spent so long! I made a big banner saying 'Feliz Dia das Crianças: Vocês são especiales!' with the kids names and various pictures. Mar and I printed out a bunch of 'Madagascar', 'Bolt', 'Cars' and general kid pictures and Mar mounted them and wrote little messages like, 'Somos um equipo FIXE!' ('We are a cool team!'), giving each of the characters a name of the children here. We then found some fabric markers and unused t-shirts and made them all a unique t-shirt with encouraging words like, 'Sou numero 1!', 'Sou muito fixe!', and 'Sou um rapaz estupendo!' They loved that. The rule is they had to wear it all day - they didn't mind. We then stumbled across a bunch of Disney character masks, so we gave those to them with their breakfast (which included sweets and chocolate). We also found a couple of wigs, which Mar and I wore and painted our faces before putting 'I like to move it move it!' at full volume on and waking the children up by dancing and jumping and singing and making a heck of a racket! Brilliant! The kids were blurry eyed and confused at first, but soon were beaming, grinning, dancing, singing, shouting, and being very kiddish. Enjoy these photos and video!
Our Efforts... My Banner! Joel...
Left to right (back rown, then middle, then front): Nelson; Dinora; Marcos; me; Jorge; Joel; Miguel; Paulo.
Fabio...chump :) I like to move it move it! Marcos tucking in.
Paulo is outrageously cute, though a crying machine.
Gobble gobble. Miguel Paulo
Here's us, dancing. Sorry about the lack of sound - I don't have the best camera...
Our Efforts... My Banner! Joel...
Left to right (back rown, then middle, then front): Nelson; Dinora; Marcos; me; Jorge; Joel; Miguel; Paulo.
Fabio...chump :) I like to move it move it! Marcos tucking in.
Paulo is outrageously cute, though a crying machine.
Gobble gobble. Miguel Paulo
Here's us, dancing. Sorry about the lack of sound - I don't have the best camera...
Primavera e flors de Pascoa
This is very late, I know, but I've finally got photos up. Here's Angeles, an amazing woman from Mallorca who was here for about a month, doing a little leaving thing for the children before she left, back in April. We had a little Spring party where we all dressed up, and she talked about the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5 vv 22-26 if you like to read them). Above you can see Dinora writing one of the Fruits, on one of the fruits!
I also had to clean up around the footy pitch, making it look nicer. (Now, grass and a few weeds have grown, which is utterly demorilising, but it doesn't look too bad.) Here are a few wild flowers I found growing around the place. Isn't it amazing what grows on broken and disturbed ground? (I'm on deviantart.com, and having not been online for a while in April, I was greeted by an array and somewhat of an explosion of Spring flowers when I last went on - a thousand different colours, shades, shapes and sizes. All beautiful. All indivisually created. Lovely.
It's now well and truly summer; I hear the UK is getting some delightful weather, too! It makes work very, very hot indeed. Enjoy the beaches everyone!
xxx
Saturday 30 May 2009
Saída
I've now watched three different people leave since April. Each time it leaves an odd feeling inside. First Angeles back in the middle of April, then Toni about a week ago, and now Susy.
***
We stand in the drive, hugging, saying goodbye, stumbling over Spanish and English alike, laughing, some tears. They get in the car, the engine starts, we're still yelling 'Adios!' and waving manically as the car reverses, then drives off, we wave a bit more, even when the cars out of sight. And that's it. Susy's gone. (Toni's gone. Angeles' gone.)
So, maybe I exaggerate a little. No tears. And it was just me left standing in the drive. It happened at 8am - others were sleeping and had said goodbyes yesterday, and Rubén and Mar obviously said goodbye inside. Dinora was waving from her window.
But Susy's gone. She won't even be out of Portugal yet.
Every time someone leaves, the Refuge feels empty. I guess now, since Susy was here since three days before I arrived, it feels even more so. I'm starting to see a little bit of how the children must feel each time someone comes and goes. I made a great friend, had great times, adventures, experiences with Susy that I won't forget.
Faltam menos que duas semanas para mim. Quase acabou.
***
We stand in the drive, hugging, saying goodbye, stumbling over Spanish and English alike, laughing, some tears. They get in the car, the engine starts, we're still yelling 'Adios!' and waving manically as the car reverses, then drives off, we wave a bit more, even when the cars out of sight. And that's it. Susy's gone. (Toni's gone. Angeles' gone.)
So, maybe I exaggerate a little. No tears. And it was just me left standing in the drive. It happened at 8am - others were sleeping and had said goodbyes yesterday, and Rubén and Mar obviously said goodbye inside. Dinora was waving from her window.
But Susy's gone. She won't even be out of Portugal yet.
Every time someone leaves, the Refuge feels empty. I guess now, since Susy was here since three days before I arrived, it feels even more so. I'm starting to see a little bit of how the children must feel each time someone comes and goes. I made a great friend, had great times, adventures, experiences with Susy that I won't forget.
Faltam menos que duas semanas para mim. Quase acabou.
Sunday 24 May 2009
Sun, grass, footy, astro and wine.
It's been a fortnight since my last post. So, what exactly HAVE I been doing?, I hear you call. Let me answer...
This and that. Getting into some good disciplines (well, not just these past two weeks, but the whole time I've been here), soaking up some sun, and having a brilliantly English Weekend.
My work has consisted of cutting grass for various reasons. Sometimes just to make the place look pretty. But one of the biggest patches was to stop snakes hiding. Yes, I was filled with joy upon hearing, "We need you to cut the grass by the footy pitch because the snakes hide in there". Great.
English classes have been non-existent this week. I think all the teenagers have done their English tests for school - I just hope I've helped them a little bit! They seemed to get some sort of a grip on whatever we went through (despite the fact they hated doing the classes, just how I felt doing my French tuition classes...).
I guess the biggest news since Friday is the fact that the astro-turf for the new pitch has FINALLY ARRIVED! It was very very exciting. A big lorry, followed by a lot of waiting around for another lorry to be brought with an arm because the first lorry wouldn't fit up the track up to the pitch. Then, five burly men and myself heaved 10 massive rolls of astro-turf off the lorry onto the ground, then strapped them onto the crane one by one to be taken up to the top. Now they're all lying messily by the entrance to the pitch awaiting another machine to come and lay them. Oh, please come tomorrow! It's so bloomin' exciting! Gave my muscles a good work out, too.
I've been 'running' with Jorge and whoever else wants to come this past fortnight, too. I say 'running', because it starts off as a run and quickly turns into a walk, then a slow walk with frequent stops, followed by short and odd bursts of running (after much nagging from me). And that's on a good day. Bad days will hardly start with a run, have a lot of complaining, and much pushing of Jorge by me to make him move at all. I do it as a difference from football, and everytime he says "Aidan lets go running!" and then doesn't run! Why say you want to go running and then complain, Jorge?! I know, it's because he's unfit, but he can't surely be serious when he's not done any running at all and uses the excuse 'Tenho cansado' (I'm tired) when I nag him to run?!
Played a wicked game of footy with Rubén, Joel, Marcos, Miguel, Fabio, Nelson, Goto and João on Wednesday night. Pure gold. It was the teenagers, Miguel and me against Rubén, Fabio, Joel and Marcos. They won, 18-14 or something. Mental. Football with Jorge, Marcos, Miguel and Joel (pequenho) has not been so fun recently (hence the running instead) with arguments, fouls and fights breaking out (usually involving Joel - his temper is bad!) frequently. I have to be an actual referee. Unbelievable.
There's been a lot of sunshine recently, too, until this weekend. It has been nice and hot. Delightful.
What was that? Did I hear someone ask what is this discipline I'm on about?
Well, it's me getting into structures, disciplines, making sure I'm really putting effort into God rather than just sitting back and letting Him happen around me. Put something into the Relationship for it to come out of me. I'm loving my quiet times (though thinking I'll have to do some BEFORE lunch, because I keep falling asleep after lunch...), putting my iPod on the 'Worship' playlist on shuffle and singing loudly, followed by reading a Psalm then a chapter from Jeremiah (at the moment - very interesting; it's amazing, I've been noticing, how much there is reference to Jesus in Jeremiah, which no-one's pointed out to me before.) and then still working through John for Everyone (part 2) by Tom Wright (read it! And Part 1, too!). Had a great time singing the other day, really felt God touching me, loving me, it was great.
I'm also reading two brilliant books right now. Firstly, The Pursuit of Holiness (not Happyness) by Jerry Bridges. Get your hands on a copy - oldish book (about the 80s, so my era, really...) but so relevant today, on something that every single person without exception needs. And secondly, C S Lewis's Reflections on the Psalms (to go with my reading of the Psalms, obviously). Good help, good insight.
So, why no posts since a week ago?
Well, the real answer is the internet has been down for this past week. Why didn't I do it the week before? I have no idea. But here I am now. I also apologise for the lack of photos. Now it's just info. I'll see what I can do about that.
But, Aidan! What was the English Weekend you were on about?!
Ah, thanks for that question. Last weekend I headed up to Porto and spent a weekend with Bill and Tina again. Brilliant time. Saturday night (after seeing X-Men Origins with the teenagers - brilliant film (despite the poor beginning)) was spent with steak and red wine with Bill, Tina, Alison and her daughter Sophia. Great conversation, great food, great company. All English, amazing. Then we watched Britain's Got Talent, and I felt so proud for our country. I'm hooked to the show - not just singing, it's brilliant! After a lovely night's sleep, we watched the Eurovision Song Contest which Tina had recorded. Oh how hilarious! Dead impressed by the UKs position though, and what did you think of Portugal's choon, eh?! Not too shabby! (Especially the male flautist :)) Great church meeting in the evening - Romans 4 and Faith! I was on the djembe in the band again. More top company, top food, and another good night's sleep before coming back. I guess it was a refreshing weekend, but it really made me miss home and thus Monday was difficult for me with the children. I seemed to be uncomprehensible to anybody, I was tired of being a human climbing frame, I was tired of being the children's best friend when I agree with what they're doing and they're worst enemy when I'm saying no. Monday was tough; Tuesday was much better. Just needed to be back into it.
So, I should be home in the next month. It's an odd feeling. I'm not going to start reminiscing yet, though. That'll be another post.
Be safe, y'all. Love to you - I miss you all. Really. Não posso esperar para ver-se quando volte. Beijinho!
In Christ,
Aidan x
This and that. Getting into some good disciplines (well, not just these past two weeks, but the whole time I've been here), soaking up some sun, and having a brilliantly English Weekend.
My work has consisted of cutting grass for various reasons. Sometimes just to make the place look pretty. But one of the biggest patches was to stop snakes hiding. Yes, I was filled with joy upon hearing, "We need you to cut the grass by the footy pitch because the snakes hide in there". Great.
English classes have been non-existent this week. I think all the teenagers have done their English tests for school - I just hope I've helped them a little bit! They seemed to get some sort of a grip on whatever we went through (despite the fact they hated doing the classes, just how I felt doing my French tuition classes...).
I guess the biggest news since Friday is the fact that the astro-turf for the new pitch has FINALLY ARRIVED! It was very very exciting. A big lorry, followed by a lot of waiting around for another lorry to be brought with an arm because the first lorry wouldn't fit up the track up to the pitch. Then, five burly men and myself heaved 10 massive rolls of astro-turf off the lorry onto the ground, then strapped them onto the crane one by one to be taken up to the top. Now they're all lying messily by the entrance to the pitch awaiting another machine to come and lay them. Oh, please come tomorrow! It's so bloomin' exciting! Gave my muscles a good work out, too.
I've been 'running' with Jorge and whoever else wants to come this past fortnight, too. I say 'running', because it starts off as a run and quickly turns into a walk, then a slow walk with frequent stops, followed by short and odd bursts of running (after much nagging from me). And that's on a good day. Bad days will hardly start with a run, have a lot of complaining, and much pushing of Jorge by me to make him move at all. I do it as a difference from football, and everytime he says "Aidan lets go running!" and then doesn't run! Why say you want to go running and then complain, Jorge?! I know, it's because he's unfit, but he can't surely be serious when he's not done any running at all and uses the excuse 'Tenho cansado' (I'm tired) when I nag him to run?!
Played a wicked game of footy with Rubén, Joel, Marcos, Miguel, Fabio, Nelson, Goto and João on Wednesday night. Pure gold. It was the teenagers, Miguel and me against Rubén, Fabio, Joel and Marcos. They won, 18-14 or something. Mental. Football with Jorge, Marcos, Miguel and Joel (pequenho) has not been so fun recently (hence the running instead) with arguments, fouls and fights breaking out (usually involving Joel - his temper is bad!) frequently. I have to be an actual referee. Unbelievable.
There's been a lot of sunshine recently, too, until this weekend. It has been nice and hot. Delightful.
What was that? Did I hear someone ask what is this discipline I'm on about?
Well, it's me getting into structures, disciplines, making sure I'm really putting effort into God rather than just sitting back and letting Him happen around me. Put something into the Relationship for it to come out of me. I'm loving my quiet times (though thinking I'll have to do some BEFORE lunch, because I keep falling asleep after lunch...), putting my iPod on the 'Worship' playlist on shuffle and singing loudly, followed by reading a Psalm then a chapter from Jeremiah (at the moment - very interesting; it's amazing, I've been noticing, how much there is reference to Jesus in Jeremiah, which no-one's pointed out to me before.) and then still working through John for Everyone (part 2) by Tom Wright (read it! And Part 1, too!). Had a great time singing the other day, really felt God touching me, loving me, it was great.
I'm also reading two brilliant books right now. Firstly, The Pursuit of Holiness (not Happyness) by Jerry Bridges. Get your hands on a copy - oldish book (about the 80s, so my era, really...) but so relevant today, on something that every single person without exception needs. And secondly, C S Lewis's Reflections on the Psalms (to go with my reading of the Psalms, obviously). Good help, good insight.
So, why no posts since a week ago?
Well, the real answer is the internet has been down for this past week. Why didn't I do it the week before? I have no idea. But here I am now. I also apologise for the lack of photos. Now it's just info. I'll see what I can do about that.
But, Aidan! What was the English Weekend you were on about?!
Ah, thanks for that question. Last weekend I headed up to Porto and spent a weekend with Bill and Tina again. Brilliant time. Saturday night (after seeing X-Men Origins with the teenagers - brilliant film (despite the poor beginning)) was spent with steak and red wine with Bill, Tina, Alison and her daughter Sophia. Great conversation, great food, great company. All English, amazing. Then we watched Britain's Got Talent, and I felt so proud for our country. I'm hooked to the show - not just singing, it's brilliant! After a lovely night's sleep, we watched the Eurovision Song Contest which Tina had recorded. Oh how hilarious! Dead impressed by the UKs position though, and what did you think of Portugal's choon, eh?! Not too shabby! (Especially the male flautist :)) Great church meeting in the evening - Romans 4 and Faith! I was on the djembe in the band again. More top company, top food, and another good night's sleep before coming back. I guess it was a refreshing weekend, but it really made me miss home and thus Monday was difficult for me with the children. I seemed to be uncomprehensible to anybody, I was tired of being a human climbing frame, I was tired of being the children's best friend when I agree with what they're doing and they're worst enemy when I'm saying no. Monday was tough; Tuesday was much better. Just needed to be back into it.
So, I should be home in the next month. It's an odd feeling. I'm not going to start reminiscing yet, though. That'll be another post.
Be safe, y'all. Love to you - I miss you all. Really. Não posso esperar para ver-se quando volte. Beijinho!
In Christ,
Aidan x
Sunday 10 May 2009
For Her. 10 . v . 2009
Birthdays are times of joy and happiness. Marking continued progress. In Portugal, we say 'Parabéns'. Congratulations. You've made it, you've pushed through. Like we're doing more than just living.
I love that verse, Hebrews 11 verse 1: "...we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses" cheering us on.
Dom. Dominie. It means something like master, or 'of the Lord'. She's shorter than me, and has longer hair than me. Apart from that, she looks pretty much the same as me (though, more beautiful...) She's had her rough times; she's had her happy times; she's studied hard; she's loved well; she's generous and kind; corageous and firm in her faith and her life. And she's still got loads more to come.
But, that aside, she's brilliant. She loves to be herself, she loves to get out. She's smart, she's fun. There aren't many sibling relationships I know like ours - we can just sit and chat and laugh and mull stuff over for hours. We can go out and mess around without feeling like we look stupid. Not that we don't have our differences, of course, but who doesn't? She's is the World's Top Sister (and she will hate me for putting that in Capitals) and I love her.
Dom, thanks for being such a great sister. I know I can be a sucky brother more than infrequently, but you are always great. I love hanging out with you, talking with you, telling you when I've got stuff to be happy about and stuff that's getting me down. And I love hearing the same from you.
You are brilliant.
Happy Birthday, big sis! I hope you have a brilliant day - it's all yours!
Missing you loads, and I can't wait to see you looking all scholarly and accomplished on July 1st!
Your little brother,
Aidan x
I love that verse, Hebrews 11 verse 1: "...we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses" cheering us on.
Dom. Dominie. It means something like master, or 'of the Lord'. She's shorter than me, and has longer hair than me. Apart from that, she looks pretty much the same as me (though, more beautiful...) She's had her rough times; she's had her happy times; she's studied hard; she's loved well; she's generous and kind; corageous and firm in her faith and her life. And she's still got loads more to come.
But, that aside, she's brilliant. She loves to be herself, she loves to get out. She's smart, she's fun. There aren't many sibling relationships I know like ours - we can just sit and chat and laugh and mull stuff over for hours. We can go out and mess around without feeling like we look stupid. Not that we don't have our differences, of course, but who doesn't? She's is the World's Top Sister (and she will hate me for putting that in Capitals) and I love her.
Dom, thanks for being such a great sister. I know I can be a sucky brother more than infrequently, but you are always great. I love hanging out with you, talking with you, telling you when I've got stuff to be happy about and stuff that's getting me down. And I love hearing the same from you.
You are brilliant.
Happy Birthday, big sis! I hope you have a brilliant day - it's all yours!
Missing you loads, and I can't wait to see you looking all scholarly and accomplished on July 1st!
Your little brother,
Aidan x
Wednesday 6 May 2009
Mercury Rising
So, I guess there are a couple of pieces of big news to share with you all.
Firstly, and mostly, Dinora finally likes me! It was the most sudden turn around I've ever seen. She was doing her traditional ignoring me until yesterday afternoon. I was doing English with João, Dinora walked in and greeted João and not me. The day before, she protested loudly when finding out she was on my team in football (though, admittedly, she was saying 'I want to be on Goto's team' rather than 'Not on Aidan's team!'). Then, yesterday, I needed to ask her for the football because she'd taken it the previous day. It took a couple of tries to get her to pay attention to me, but then she did, and answered very nicely; it was pleasant. She then, later, came and joined Jorge and I (Desportes com Jorge!) and was laughing with me and being very nice! Then, and here's where it got so much better, after dinner she was clearing the tables, and before taking the food from our table away she asked if I wanted some more! Usually she will just ask everyone else and then take it away, which is quite amusing. I wonder if this kindness will last.
Secondly, my work yesterday and today has been to cut the grass (using a hand scyth - very exciting) in places where a tractor-mower can't go. This is because in the next month we're expected to get temperatures of around 30degrees, possibly even 40. Fires are common around here - actually I saw the first ones in February and Paulo told me that's very early, which is worrying for the summer - so we're trying to reduce the risk. What a responsibility!
Thirdly, there was some chance that I might have had to return home for a few days in the next week in order to sort out some uni stuff - Edinburgh emailed saying they needed my exam certificates, all of which are in England, and I had no idea I had to do this. It was a stressful day, yesterday, trying to figure out what would be the best way to do things. However, the amazing Margaret has managed to locate everything and it's now all under control. It looks like I can stay after all! Thank you, Margaret!
That's all really, for now. Oh, also, we had a delivery of over 700 yoghurt drinks yesterday, and they all have a best before date of 8th May. Brilliant. The teenagers fridge is packed full of them, I have 18 in my room, and there are tonnes more in the Armazém (the store room). Amazing.
Take it easy, it's a warm day!
Aidan x
Firstly, and mostly, Dinora finally likes me! It was the most sudden turn around I've ever seen. She was doing her traditional ignoring me until yesterday afternoon. I was doing English with João, Dinora walked in and greeted João and not me. The day before, she protested loudly when finding out she was on my team in football (though, admittedly, she was saying 'I want to be on Goto's team' rather than 'Not on Aidan's team!'). Then, yesterday, I needed to ask her for the football because she'd taken it the previous day. It took a couple of tries to get her to pay attention to me, but then she did, and answered very nicely; it was pleasant. She then, later, came and joined Jorge and I (Desportes com Jorge!) and was laughing with me and being very nice! Then, and here's where it got so much better, after dinner she was clearing the tables, and before taking the food from our table away she asked if I wanted some more! Usually she will just ask everyone else and then take it away, which is quite amusing. I wonder if this kindness will last.
Secondly, my work yesterday and today has been to cut the grass (using a hand scyth - very exciting) in places where a tractor-mower can't go. This is because in the next month we're expected to get temperatures of around 30degrees, possibly even 40. Fires are common around here - actually I saw the first ones in February and Paulo told me that's very early, which is worrying for the summer - so we're trying to reduce the risk. What a responsibility!
Thirdly, there was some chance that I might have had to return home for a few days in the next week in order to sort out some uni stuff - Edinburgh emailed saying they needed my exam certificates, all of which are in England, and I had no idea I had to do this. It was a stressful day, yesterday, trying to figure out what would be the best way to do things. However, the amazing Margaret has managed to locate everything and it's now all under control. It looks like I can stay after all! Thank you, Margaret!
That's all really, for now. Oh, also, we had a delivery of over 700 yoghurt drinks yesterday, and they all have a best before date of 8th May. Brilliant. The teenagers fridge is packed full of them, I have 18 in my room, and there are tonnes more in the Armazém (the store room). Amazing.
Take it easy, it's a warm day!
Aidan x
Friday 1 May 2009
Mayday! Mayday!
Happy Mayday to everyone, wherever you happen to be at this moment. In Portugal, this day is celebrated on the 1st of May, whenever that falls. Luckily, that happens to be a Friday this year, so it's a long weekend! It's interesting comparing the difference between the British and Iberian approaches to this day: in Britain, the holiday is always the start of the week, unlike Portugal, and perhaps shows a tendency towards the well known fact that British people do not like starting work, whilst the Portuguese are happy to take a break whenever?; this morning, I heard tribal-like drums, as if I was in Jumanji or something, down in the valley, and yet more fireworks being set off in the middle of the day, whereas a British approach would be more about spending the day in the park or at a National Trust property with family and/or friends, followed by a lunch or dinner out perhaps, and maybe a night on the tiles? It's really interesting, comparing cultures.
But for me, I'm still working, albeit a bit calmer today, as I have finished my very hard work. Just been sweeping the campo de futbol of the bigger stones, trying to find where there is loose cement. Tedious. But, it's the work I'm asked to do, even if no one is watching me do it...
It's a nice break not having the kids around. As much as I love them, they are a handful, and very loud.
Today is very sunny, no clouds in the sky. Beautiful. God's creation.
A xxx
But for me, I'm still working, albeit a bit calmer today, as I have finished my very hard work. Just been sweeping the campo de futbol of the bigger stones, trying to find where there is loose cement. Tedious. But, it's the work I'm asked to do, even if no one is watching me do it...
It's a nice break not having the kids around. As much as I love them, they are a handful, and very loud.
Today is very sunny, no clouds in the sky. Beautiful. God's creation.
A xxx
Extremely belated update...
I'm sorry. It has been nigh on impossible to get to a computer in order to check emails and update this blog in the past two weeks. Imagine that - it has already been two weeks since Easter! Now there's the Pentecost Festival happening in London soon (get yourself there if you can! http://www.pentecostfestival.co.uk/ ), we've had the G20 summit, and a new Flu has decided to make an appearance. Wow...
And in those two weeks, I have been here in the Refuge, learning a lot of new things about the children, the people, the language, the culture, the cities and the country. And so so much about our God and His Work, and the work we do for Him. Crikey.
So, I've been busy busy, and I am shattered. I've stepped up my working time, and it's pretty mental. But the work I've been doing has got to be some of the most biblical work there can be. Gardening. Jesus' stories are filled with imagery of gerdening, weeding, getting your hands filthy. And it sure is exhilerating. Although, I'm starting to develop a hatred for the common grass. Its roots don't go so deep, but they go wide. They go wide. They start interlocking with others. And the grass grows tall, so you can't see the ground beneath it.
So, my first job was to clear some weeds from a flower bed next to the campo de voleibol, till the soil a little bit, make it neater. A couple of days hard work, without the tools I would've liked (like, an edger, and some clippers) and it started to look much nicer. The flowers became more prominent as they took on the shape they'd been laid out in. Nicely spaced, clear between them. A nice pathway has appeared where one can walk to admire said flowers. The whole place is looking far more dandy, I must say. The excitment came from planning where to dig, and then subsequently watching the process of clearing and the progress and the form the garden-space took. There's now a lovely plot ready to be planted by the children. Marvellous.
Then, I moved onto the job which has nearly broken my back, given me numerous blisters and a sun-burnt back, as well as that hatred of common grass. Around the new campo de futebol (which, by the way, is STILL not finished, and everyone is getting pretty annoyed at the people who haven't shown up to lay our lovely astroturf) there used to be weeds, grass, and beautiful wild flowers. A wilderness amongst the modern concrete slab. It was a shambles (though, in some parts, pretty beautiful). Excess cement had been dumped over the side. Big stones had been chucked to the side to make way for the pitch. It was a big mess. Rubén told me that it needed to be cleared, since the people who gave us the money are coming in a couple of weeks (maybe next week, now) and so we want to make it look good. So, my job has been to clear the weeds, cement and rocks from all the edges, to till the soil and make it look smooth and orderly. And boy has it been tough. The hardest part was starting, as it looked like an impossible task, and I had little idea as to how to begin! But, I got into it (although, admittedly, had to go back at the end to re-do my beginning - we learn as we go around) and, though the work was slow (at first I kept looking at my clock every five minutes. It was demorilising, until I figured out how far I would get on average at a certain pace) I finally finished. Today. Just under 10 days of work, many swoops of the blade and a whole load of rocks and soil shifted. The best part is the first time in a day your hand plunges down to the sifted soil to pick out a clump of grass or a weed or a root, and toss it nonchalently to the edge. The first breach of dirt, and you know you're working. Beautiful.
Now, there are four beautifully flat and pretty sides to the campo de futebol, plus some sort of a marked path to the entrance, though I think I'll work on that again once the pitch is done - there are still more machines to come, so I don't want them to ruin the path... The grass got me today, as I became frustrated many times, swooping and hacking at the tenacious roots which would grip to anything and everything. They gave me a picture of what grips us in this world. Some things are like the weeds - deeper roots - whilst others like the grass - roots so wide they affect everything around and other things unconnected. Both have in common a resilience to grown in the roughest places, and both need to be completely removed - roots and all - at some time.
Sunday night was another night spent on Rua da Santa Catarina, in the middle of Porto, with Agapé Campus (the student ministry of Agapé Portugal), giving food to the poor, the homeless, the needy. It was fun - I helped pack up the food at the church - and the encounter with these people who are living on so little. The ability to be there for them, help them, perhaps give them a little hope, was the greatest privilege. I want to be there more - not to just be someone who swoops in and 'does his bit', or rather to do my bit, but for my bit to be ongoing, an all-hours, 24/7/365 deal. To be Theirs.
But, I've been sensing a call saying 'Not yet'.
(Sunday was also the day I lost 20€, which when you only have 40€, is a sizeable amount. It was in my back pocket as we travelled to the bus stop, as we sat at the bus stop, as the bus drove past us because it had been waiting to the left and we thought it would pick us up, and as we walked to the next stop. After a considerable time spent dancing, I checked my pocket before the bus arrived, and then everywhere else on my person and in my bag, and could find no money. It had vanished. Not around the bus stop, and I had no time to trace our steps as the bus would arrive soon. It must have fallen out. Stupid.)
Having felt like my learning of the language was not increasing (I tried to read some Bible stories to the children, when halfway through they stopped me and told me they hadn't understood anything I'd said. Rats.), I was quickly encouraged on Sunday night as everyone told me how impressed they were at my ability to speak Portuguese having only been learning for 3 months! I felt better about it, too, as I was able to hold conversations with people, and only pause a few times to think of the words. I'm pretty sure my grammar is horrendous, but I appear to be understandable. Ando a apprendir.
Ephesians has been my quiet time reading through April, and it sure has been super. Why it was ever seperated into chapters I'll never know. The first 3 can easily be 1 chapter, and even then chapters 4-6 simply follow on, unsurprisingly, since it was originally a letter. Inspiring and hope-filled. Indeed, the first half is about this Hope we have in Jesus Christ, and then how that overflows into our lives. We are His body, and should submit to Him because He has submitted to all of us - there's Love. And we must be Spirit-guided, finding out what is Pleasing to God, and living the Life of the Spirit. Doing the work of our God 'enthusiastically', as it says in my version (New Living Translation - also see Romans 12 which talks of not being lazy in working), as if working for God alone, not looking to please other people. And then the armour, in preparation of spiritual attacks. Spiritual realms. Truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation, Love and The Word of God. Tasty.
I have also been reading The Cross of Christ by John Stott. A meaty and precise volume of brilliant Theology, which compels me and draws me in, however heavy it may be. I encourage anyone who hasn't yet to get a copy of it and read it.
And now, for me, that's it. Please keep praying - for my calling; for this Refuge, for these children and the people who have given their lives up to look after them; for this city; for this country; for God's Light to come and His Work to be done. It's a holiday now (the same as MayDay, I guess, except in Portugal the holiday is always 1st May, whenever in the week. Luckily, this year, it happens to be Friday), thus all the children have gone off to spend the week with Christian families, whilst Rubén and his family, Joel and Carina, Nelson and Fabio and Mar are all in Barcelona, and I am going to stay with Pedro, aka 'Mr. Agapé (Campus)'.
I hope you are all reading this well and in health, especially in the current situation. And so you know, I love to hear from you, even if I can't always reply.
Blessings y'all.
Aidan xxx
And in those two weeks, I have been here in the Refuge, learning a lot of new things about the children, the people, the language, the culture, the cities and the country. And so so much about our God and His Work, and the work we do for Him. Crikey.
So, I've been busy busy, and I am shattered. I've stepped up my working time, and it's pretty mental. But the work I've been doing has got to be some of the most biblical work there can be. Gardening. Jesus' stories are filled with imagery of gerdening, weeding, getting your hands filthy. And it sure is exhilerating. Although, I'm starting to develop a hatred for the common grass. Its roots don't go so deep, but they go wide. They go wide. They start interlocking with others. And the grass grows tall, so you can't see the ground beneath it.
So, my first job was to clear some weeds from a flower bed next to the campo de voleibol, till the soil a little bit, make it neater. A couple of days hard work, without the tools I would've liked (like, an edger, and some clippers) and it started to look much nicer. The flowers became more prominent as they took on the shape they'd been laid out in. Nicely spaced, clear between them. A nice pathway has appeared where one can walk to admire said flowers. The whole place is looking far more dandy, I must say. The excitment came from planning where to dig, and then subsequently watching the process of clearing and the progress and the form the garden-space took. There's now a lovely plot ready to be planted by the children. Marvellous.
Then, I moved onto the job which has nearly broken my back, given me numerous blisters and a sun-burnt back, as well as that hatred of common grass. Around the new campo de futebol (which, by the way, is STILL not finished, and everyone is getting pretty annoyed at the people who haven't shown up to lay our lovely astroturf) there used to be weeds, grass, and beautiful wild flowers. A wilderness amongst the modern concrete slab. It was a shambles (though, in some parts, pretty beautiful). Excess cement had been dumped over the side. Big stones had been chucked to the side to make way for the pitch. It was a big mess. Rubén told me that it needed to be cleared, since the people who gave us the money are coming in a couple of weeks (maybe next week, now) and so we want to make it look good. So, my job has been to clear the weeds, cement and rocks from all the edges, to till the soil and make it look smooth and orderly. And boy has it been tough. The hardest part was starting, as it looked like an impossible task, and I had little idea as to how to begin! But, I got into it (although, admittedly, had to go back at the end to re-do my beginning - we learn as we go around) and, though the work was slow (at first I kept looking at my clock every five minutes. It was demorilising, until I figured out how far I would get on average at a certain pace) I finally finished. Today. Just under 10 days of work, many swoops of the blade and a whole load of rocks and soil shifted. The best part is the first time in a day your hand plunges down to the sifted soil to pick out a clump of grass or a weed or a root, and toss it nonchalently to the edge. The first breach of dirt, and you know you're working. Beautiful.
Now, there are four beautifully flat and pretty sides to the campo de futebol, plus some sort of a marked path to the entrance, though I think I'll work on that again once the pitch is done - there are still more machines to come, so I don't want them to ruin the path... The grass got me today, as I became frustrated many times, swooping and hacking at the tenacious roots which would grip to anything and everything. They gave me a picture of what grips us in this world. Some things are like the weeds - deeper roots - whilst others like the grass - roots so wide they affect everything around and other things unconnected. Both have in common a resilience to grown in the roughest places, and both need to be completely removed - roots and all - at some time.
Sunday night was another night spent on Rua da Santa Catarina, in the middle of Porto, with Agapé Campus (the student ministry of Agapé Portugal), giving food to the poor, the homeless, the needy. It was fun - I helped pack up the food at the church - and the encounter with these people who are living on so little. The ability to be there for them, help them, perhaps give them a little hope, was the greatest privilege. I want to be there more - not to just be someone who swoops in and 'does his bit', or rather to do my bit, but for my bit to be ongoing, an all-hours, 24/7/365 deal. To be Theirs.
But, I've been sensing a call saying 'Not yet'.
(Sunday was also the day I lost 20€, which when you only have 40€, is a sizeable amount. It was in my back pocket as we travelled to the bus stop, as we sat at the bus stop, as the bus drove past us because it had been waiting to the left and we thought it would pick us up, and as we walked to the next stop. After a considerable time spent dancing, I checked my pocket before the bus arrived, and then everywhere else on my person and in my bag, and could find no money. It had vanished. Not around the bus stop, and I had no time to trace our steps as the bus would arrive soon. It must have fallen out. Stupid.)
Having felt like my learning of the language was not increasing (I tried to read some Bible stories to the children, when halfway through they stopped me and told me they hadn't understood anything I'd said. Rats.), I was quickly encouraged on Sunday night as everyone told me how impressed they were at my ability to speak Portuguese having only been learning for 3 months! I felt better about it, too, as I was able to hold conversations with people, and only pause a few times to think of the words. I'm pretty sure my grammar is horrendous, but I appear to be understandable. Ando a apprendir.
Ephesians has been my quiet time reading through April, and it sure has been super. Why it was ever seperated into chapters I'll never know. The first 3 can easily be 1 chapter, and even then chapters 4-6 simply follow on, unsurprisingly, since it was originally a letter. Inspiring and hope-filled. Indeed, the first half is about this Hope we have in Jesus Christ, and then how that overflows into our lives. We are His body, and should submit to Him because He has submitted to all of us - there's Love. And we must be Spirit-guided, finding out what is Pleasing to God, and living the Life of the Spirit. Doing the work of our God 'enthusiastically', as it says in my version (New Living Translation - also see Romans 12 which talks of not being lazy in working), as if working for God alone, not looking to please other people. And then the armour, in preparation of spiritual attacks. Spiritual realms. Truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation, Love and The Word of God. Tasty.
I have also been reading The Cross of Christ by John Stott. A meaty and precise volume of brilliant Theology, which compels me and draws me in, however heavy it may be. I encourage anyone who hasn't yet to get a copy of it and read it.
And now, for me, that's it. Please keep praying - for my calling; for this Refuge, for these children and the people who have given their lives up to look after them; for this city; for this country; for God's Light to come and His Work to be done. It's a holiday now (the same as MayDay, I guess, except in Portugal the holiday is always 1st May, whenever in the week. Luckily, this year, it happens to be Friday), thus all the children have gone off to spend the week with Christian families, whilst Rubén and his family, Joel and Carina, Nelson and Fabio and Mar are all in Barcelona, and I am going to stay with Pedro, aka 'Mr. Agapé (Campus)'.
I hope you are all reading this well and in health, especially in the current situation. And so you know, I love to hear from you, even if I can't always reply.
Blessings y'all.
Aidan xxx
Saturday 11 April 2009
Taking back the land
I had dinner with Bill and Tina on Saturday night. Over a juicy medium-rare steak and chips and mushrooms, we talked all about visions, God's movements, my calling and the future in general. It was inspiring, encouraging, exciting and promising.
I can't remember exactly what order things came in, but I'll write down what we chatted about. So, you must remember my calling has always been to Portugal and Poverty. When I was 14, that's all I got. So, I don't know where I'm going, or what I'm exactly doing with whom, nor when. I told Bill and Tina this. I told them about my growing dream of getting a place here to welcome the homeless, lonely, prostitutes and drug addicts into to love them, share the love of Jesus with them, give them a place to rest, to stay, to escape to perhaps. It's a dream, and a hope, and I think it's one of those dreams that are either from God (which I sincerely hope it is) or is pleasing to God, though may not actually be what He wants me to do. This was one reason I was at their house that night, to see what they think. I told them about my night out with Agapé, and about perhaps leading their ministry, incorporated in this dream.
Bill gave me some great encouragement. He admitted he had nothing specific to tell me about my calling - God has not told him anything specific about me, or given Bill or Tina any words to direct me - but he said that it's not a surprise if I'm being called to Porto. He shared a vision he had had when he had first come to Porto, 4 or 5 years ago. He saw Porto, covered by a canopy or umbrella of darkness. It represented Godlessness, he guessed. But he had already met Christans, and as he thought about individual people he had already met, little points of light appeared in the canopy. Then he saw them start to clump together. And he thought about people he didn't know, and other churches, and bigger clumps of light appeared, until he looked and looked and the canopy of darkness had turned completely into a canopy of light. He was already certain this had been from God, when he told it to a pastor of a church here, who looked at him in amazement, and said that on a recent prayer walk a girl in the group on the walk had had exactly the same dream! Confirmation indeed!
So, Bill isn't surprised I'm feeling called to Porto, since he reckons I am adding to the light that is turning the darkness. That's exciting!
Bill was also told, that if you come to Porto, you have to be here for the long run. A pastor or somebody told him that too many missionaries swooped in, set something up, and packed their bags and left in a year, without leaving people properly ready to be in charge. It wasn't good. You've got to be here for the long run. That's always good to know.
We talked about how dark Porto is. The blatant prostitution, the big drug problems, the satanic culture amongst students and others, the fake faÇade put up by so many (but definitely not by all, don't get me wrong).
We're Taking Back the Land.
We're More Than Conquerors.
I told them about my encounter with a randomer at Soul Survivor 2006, when I was doing Slum Survivor. She told me that she'd been in Portugal (my ears pricked up) and that she'd seen slums all over the place! It had been three years since my calling at that point, with very little else, but I took that as nice confirmation! So, I asked Bill and Tina about this - are there slums? They said I should go down to Lisboa and meet Barbara, a friend of theirs, who used to be living amongst the Bairo in Lisboa - the 'slums', you could call them, but apparently they're more like very rough neighbourhoods. I'm planning on going down in a couple of weekends' time.
I've heard that there are some very rough neighbourhoods around. It's difficult to talk about Jesus; I was warned not to go alone, preaching, because you'll just get attacked. More than that. The chap warning me was making gun fingers at me. Certo.
This is a time of searching. A time of hearing. A time of learning. A time of seeing and praying. A time to scout the ground, like Moses and then Joshua did before getting to the promised land.
It's a time of excitement.
For the King and His Kingdom!
Aidan x
Chat with Bill and Tina
I can't remember exactly what order things came in, but I'll write down what we chatted about. So, you must remember my calling has always been to Portugal and Poverty. When I was 14, that's all I got. So, I don't know where I'm going, or what I'm exactly doing with whom, nor when. I told Bill and Tina this. I told them about my growing dream of getting a place here to welcome the homeless, lonely, prostitutes and drug addicts into to love them, share the love of Jesus with them, give them a place to rest, to stay, to escape to perhaps. It's a dream, and a hope, and I think it's one of those dreams that are either from God (which I sincerely hope it is) or is pleasing to God, though may not actually be what He wants me to do. This was one reason I was at their house that night, to see what they think. I told them about my night out with Agapé, and about perhaps leading their ministry, incorporated in this dream.
Bill gave me some great encouragement. He admitted he had nothing specific to tell me about my calling - God has not told him anything specific about me, or given Bill or Tina any words to direct me - but he said that it's not a surprise if I'm being called to Porto. He shared a vision he had had when he had first come to Porto, 4 or 5 years ago. He saw Porto, covered by a canopy or umbrella of darkness. It represented Godlessness, he guessed. But he had already met Christans, and as he thought about individual people he had already met, little points of light appeared in the canopy. Then he saw them start to clump together. And he thought about people he didn't know, and other churches, and bigger clumps of light appeared, until he looked and looked and the canopy of darkness had turned completely into a canopy of light. He was already certain this had been from God, when he told it to a pastor of a church here, who looked at him in amazement, and said that on a recent prayer walk a girl in the group on the walk had had exactly the same dream! Confirmation indeed!
So, Bill isn't surprised I'm feeling called to Porto, since he reckons I am adding to the light that is turning the darkness. That's exciting!
Bill was also told, that if you come to Porto, you have to be here for the long run. A pastor or somebody told him that too many missionaries swooped in, set something up, and packed their bags and left in a year, without leaving people properly ready to be in charge. It wasn't good. You've got to be here for the long run. That's always good to know.
We talked about how dark Porto is. The blatant prostitution, the big drug problems, the satanic culture amongst students and others, the fake faÇade put up by so many (but definitely not by all, don't get me wrong).
We're Taking Back the Land.
We're More Than Conquerors.
I told them about my encounter with a randomer at Soul Survivor 2006, when I was doing Slum Survivor. She told me that she'd been in Portugal (my ears pricked up) and that she'd seen slums all over the place! It had been three years since my calling at that point, with very little else, but I took that as nice confirmation! So, I asked Bill and Tina about this - are there slums? They said I should go down to Lisboa and meet Barbara, a friend of theirs, who used to be living amongst the Bairo in Lisboa - the 'slums', you could call them, but apparently they're more like very rough neighbourhoods. I'm planning on going down in a couple of weekends' time.
I've heard that there are some very rough neighbourhoods around. It's difficult to talk about Jesus; I was warned not to go alone, preaching, because you'll just get attacked. More than that. The chap warning me was making gun fingers at me. Certo.
This is a time of searching. A time of hearing. A time of learning. A time of seeing and praying. A time to scout the ground, like Moses and then Joshua did before getting to the promised land.
It's a time of excitement.
For the King and His Kingdom!
Aidan x
Chat with Bill and Tina
Bill's vision - dark cloud over Porto, little lights emerging.
Barbara - Lisboa, slums/rough neighbourhoods
Here for the long run
Feliz Pascoa!
So, I have now been back in Portugal for nigh on two weeks. And I haven't blogged once. Apologies.
Naomi has also been over for a splendid 10 days. Excuse me while I gush over her. She is amazingly wonderful and fun, a top girl with a top mind; interesting and beautiful; a lovely voice; a heart full of love for all the children here. And they all love her back. Everyone does. Just to see her would have been enough - we spent 10 days praying and laughing and sharing and discussing and traveling and so much else - but to see her looking after, caring, and loving these children made my love for her grow far beyond before and overflow dramatically. She has such a heart for God, and such a yearning to serve Him and look after those He loves. She really is something else.
We spent the first few days in the orphanage - it was nice and sunny so afternoons were spent under the sun on the grass, reading books, playing guitars and singing, and learning Spanish. She helped Susy and I figure out a few games and activities to keep the children - who are of course all on Easter Holidays (Pascoa) - nicely occupied. However, most of them thought it was far more fun to treat me as if I had an unbreakable neck and was, in fact, a horse. Whoopee.
At the weekend I took Naomi over to Porto to show her the city, the ups and downs, the touristy things and those things breaking God's heart and mine. We went to the Câmara Municipal (parliament building) and photos were taken, before going on to an art exhibition of films, which was very odd but very exciting, and then we walked through some lovely streets to the incredible tea shop (as in, proper tea shop, like Starbucks but for tea from all around the world) where we had Lemon tea from Russia and the richest and most delicious Mango Cake ever... In the evening, a stroll down to Casa Vila de Gaia to find a nice restaurant turned into a hunt for a veggie meal consisting of something other than simply an omelette. It was difficult, but finally we found somewhere doing a splendid vegetable tagliatelle. Taken with some beautiful Old Tawny Port, this was a delightful dinner. Since our food was finished before out Port, we decided to down the remaining half glass we both had. Interesting and enjoyable effects - happiness ensued. The next day, despite the clouds, we decided to venture down to the beach. A good choice. It wasn't too chilly, but perhaps it would have been nice for Mr Sun to appear. Nevertheless, we went undeterred to stand on the striking and dramatic rocks dotted all along the beach upon which the waves were softly splashing, until the much larger crash which encountered upon the very rock Naomi stood on. She got soaked, and it was funny. While I laughed, she changed into her bikini, hoping her clothes would dry. They didn't. But she had to put them back on anyway for the bus ride back to the centre, from where we jumped on a train to Ajuda for to go to church. Lisa and Byron Borden were there, they told me about the church. Unfortunately, we had to dive out before they'd even finished the service in order to get the bus back in time. A fantastic weekend, all in all, if a little tiring :)
The beginning of our weekend, before both our cameras died. Standard. I thought she needed to appear on here - ain't she just gorgeous?!
This past week has ben cloudy and showery. We have had a group from Andalucia who left on Wednesday morning - we went to Régua with them on Monday, which was great fun, travelling on the romantic old train and have lunch in the delightful little town. Naomi and I drove Mar to the aeroporto on Wednesday morning as well - she went to a big Christian conference in Spain where she was working on a stand for Agapé - before driving to Guimaraes. Although, we arrived before the castle and chapel were open, so we sauntered down to the town centre, saw the cute square, went into the big Catholic church and had a reverent prayer time, and then a good discussion about the Catholic Church, some history, tradition and its importance (?) and such things. Having done some more walking the sunshine with hands clasped and arms touching, we walked back up to the chapel first, and then to the castle. Once again I had a real isse with the height and the drop from the upper level, but Naomi had no fear. Watching the love of my life lean over that drop was one of the worst things ever. We had a fun time though, imagining different rooms and their purposes, and meeting a bunch of hyper school kids who thought we where French (even after we told them we were English) - Naomi got that a lot here. We decided then to leave because by now it was nearly 1pm and we were hungry. We didn't know the way home, and had no petrol, so it was very exciting. However, using a very small scale map, we managed to figure out the way, but it took a long time to find a petrol station - at first I was pretty easy going, but I got a little more nervous with each passing kilometre - and it took almost 2 hours to get home! But get home we did.
At the station for the Régua train (left to right: Marcos; Jorge; Deborah; Noemi; Joel)
More station - that's Joel in the middle
The view from the train
On the romantic old train
And now, after a couple more days with a new group from Malaga, a bunch of teenagers who remind me a lot of me and my good friends back home at that age - Naomi has left. And it's heart-wrenching. Though, if there's one thing God has pointed out to me, it is that although I am now alone in that Naomi is not here, I certainly am not lonely. And I am so thankful for that.
And so I'm back.
Dubai was ace. It was so great to be back with my Mum and Dad and little Bro again. I hope you're all having a great albeit odd Easter!
Coldstone Creamery Ice Creams - very tasty and excitingly made.
On our cruise dinner - lovely curries :)
Being back is not as I expected. Perhaps I need to just get back into the swing of things - I keep having days where I understand very little Portuguese of Spanish, and can speak even less, although those days have quickly become separated and infrequent - they were before I left, and now they are returning to that state very quickly. Dinora still doesn't seem to like me, so I must try and work on loving her. The other kids are all over me - so much so that it's so peaceful to get a break from them. And the teenagers and chilled and laid back and friendly as ever.
However, I totally forgot it was Good Friday yesterday. I knew it was Holy Week, but today I was suddenly like, 'hang on, today is Saturday... Holy Saturday...' I've been trying to catch up on the Bible readings as a consequence. No one mentioned it. Apparently they're all doing something tomorrow, all going to church. I've got a morning church service at Riverside, so I am writing this from there, since I am staying the night. Bill and Tina - top.
I will endeavour to post more frequently. I had an incredible chat with Bill and Tina over dinner tonight. Watch this space!
Let me know how you are doing. I'd love to hear how you are doing. Oh, and everybody? Happy Easter! Christ HAS Risen! It is GOOD NEWS! Boa Pascoa!
Keep in God's family!
From, His child and friend,
Aidan x
Naomi has also been over for a splendid 10 days. Excuse me while I gush over her. She is amazingly wonderful and fun, a top girl with a top mind; interesting and beautiful; a lovely voice; a heart full of love for all the children here. And they all love her back. Everyone does. Just to see her would have been enough - we spent 10 days praying and laughing and sharing and discussing and traveling and so much else - but to see her looking after, caring, and loving these children made my love for her grow far beyond before and overflow dramatically. She has such a heart for God, and such a yearning to serve Him and look after those He loves. She really is something else.
We spent the first few days in the orphanage - it was nice and sunny so afternoons were spent under the sun on the grass, reading books, playing guitars and singing, and learning Spanish. She helped Susy and I figure out a few games and activities to keep the children - who are of course all on Easter Holidays (Pascoa) - nicely occupied. However, most of them thought it was far more fun to treat me as if I had an unbreakable neck and was, in fact, a horse. Whoopee.
At the weekend I took Naomi over to Porto to show her the city, the ups and downs, the touristy things and those things breaking God's heart and mine. We went to the Câmara Municipal (parliament building) and photos were taken, before going on to an art exhibition of films, which was very odd but very exciting, and then we walked through some lovely streets to the incredible tea shop (as in, proper tea shop, like Starbucks but for tea from all around the world) where we had Lemon tea from Russia and the richest and most delicious Mango Cake ever... In the evening, a stroll down to Casa Vila de Gaia to find a nice restaurant turned into a hunt for a veggie meal consisting of something other than simply an omelette. It was difficult, but finally we found somewhere doing a splendid vegetable tagliatelle. Taken with some beautiful Old Tawny Port, this was a delightful dinner. Since our food was finished before out Port, we decided to down the remaining half glass we both had. Interesting and enjoyable effects - happiness ensued. The next day, despite the clouds, we decided to venture down to the beach. A good choice. It wasn't too chilly, but perhaps it would have been nice for Mr Sun to appear. Nevertheless, we went undeterred to stand on the striking and dramatic rocks dotted all along the beach upon which the waves were softly splashing, until the much larger crash which encountered upon the very rock Naomi stood on. She got soaked, and it was funny. While I laughed, she changed into her bikini, hoping her clothes would dry. They didn't. But she had to put them back on anyway for the bus ride back to the centre, from where we jumped on a train to Ajuda for to go to church. Lisa and Byron Borden were there, they told me about the church. Unfortunately, we had to dive out before they'd even finished the service in order to get the bus back in time. A fantastic weekend, all in all, if a little tiring :)
The beginning of our weekend, before both our cameras died. Standard. I thought she needed to appear on here - ain't she just gorgeous?!This past week has ben cloudy and showery. We have had a group from Andalucia who left on Wednesday morning - we went to Régua with them on Monday, which was great fun, travelling on the romantic old train and have lunch in the delightful little town. Naomi and I drove Mar to the aeroporto on Wednesday morning as well - she went to a big Christian conference in Spain where she was working on a stand for Agapé - before driving to Guimaraes. Although, we arrived before the castle and chapel were open, so we sauntered down to the town centre, saw the cute square, went into the big Catholic church and had a reverent prayer time, and then a good discussion about the Catholic Church, some history, tradition and its importance (?) and such things. Having done some more walking the sunshine with hands clasped and arms touching, we walked back up to the chapel first, and then to the castle. Once again I had a real isse with the height and the drop from the upper level, but Naomi had no fear. Watching the love of my life lean over that drop was one of the worst things ever. We had a fun time though, imagining different rooms and their purposes, and meeting a bunch of hyper school kids who thought we where French (even after we told them we were English) - Naomi got that a lot here. We decided then to leave because by now it was nearly 1pm and we were hungry. We didn't know the way home, and had no petrol, so it was very exciting. However, using a very small scale map, we managed to figure out the way, but it took a long time to find a petrol station - at first I was pretty easy going, but I got a little more nervous with each passing kilometre - and it took almost 2 hours to get home! But get home we did.
At the station for the Régua train (left to right: Marcos; Jorge; Deborah; Noemi; Joel)
More station - that's Joel in the middle
The view from the train
On the romantic old trainAnd now, after a couple more days with a new group from Malaga, a bunch of teenagers who remind me a lot of me and my good friends back home at that age - Naomi has left. And it's heart-wrenching. Though, if there's one thing God has pointed out to me, it is that although I am now alone in that Naomi is not here, I certainly am not lonely. And I am so thankful for that.
And so I'm back.
Dubai was ace. It was so great to be back with my Mum and Dad and little Bro again. I hope you're all having a great albeit odd Easter!
Coldstone Creamery Ice Creams - very tasty and excitingly made.
On our cruise dinner - lovely curries :)However, I totally forgot it was Good Friday yesterday. I knew it was Holy Week, but today I was suddenly like, 'hang on, today is Saturday... Holy Saturday...' I've been trying to catch up on the Bible readings as a consequence. No one mentioned it. Apparently they're all doing something tomorrow, all going to church. I've got a morning church service at Riverside, so I am writing this from there, since I am staying the night. Bill and Tina - top.
I will endeavour to post more frequently. I had an incredible chat with Bill and Tina over dinner tonight. Watch this space!
Let me know how you are doing. I'd love to hear how you are doing. Oh, and everybody? Happy Easter! Christ HAS Risen! It is GOOD NEWS! Boa Pascoa!
Keep in God's family!
From, His child and friend,
Aidan x
Friday 27 March 2009
It's 39 degrees outside, so I went snowboarding...
As well as having a 4x4 drive in the desert to have breakfast, going to the 3rd Al Habtoor Challenge Cup Polo Match between Team Rashid and Team Mohammed, a trip onto the famous 'Palm Jumeirah' (this is now, due to some fantastic project management, sinking. Who ever thought that giant pumps in the sea to move around water that wasn't being refreshed, because man made something unnatural, would also suck out the sand that was the island?! I mean, I certainly wouldn't have thought that would happen...) and various trips around shopping malls and even a trip to Al Satwa - finally some real Dubaian culture! Al Satwa is the least developed part of Dubai, where they haven't (yet?) torn everything down to build ridiculously tall, shiny and ugly buildings. It is grimy. It is poor. It is loud. It is hot. It is real. I can imagine that was what Dubai developed to be in the 60s. Very cool. Dom (who arrived on Monday - good to have my sis here) and I found a textiles shop (there are tonnes here) and she bought some stuff to make some funky clothes, we wandered around a little more looking for some interesting shops, but they were all furniture or textiles or electronics, which we didn't want. So we headed back, popped into a little restaurant (3 sq metres in total?) for some fruit juices (options ranged from the 'Burj Al Arab' to the 'Shakisha', to the 'Bin Laden' - most included mango or coconut) and to watch a guy smashing open a coconut. Failed to get to the beach. Also went to Mercato Mall to check it out - based soley on Venice on all four sides, this is a sight to behold! Wandered around the bridges, alleys and balconeys. Very refreshing.
So, yes, I've been snowboarding. I have had three lessons and am 'boarderline level 1' which means I can almost confidently make complete turns (not linked turns, though I can almost confidently do those, too). Had a 'Snow Camp' with a bloke called Liam from Essex. Good lad. Great snowboarder. Really nice, encouraging. Snowboarding is top quality fun, though hurts the bum when you crash and burn. Though not literally, because it's quite cold, so burning might not occur. Crash and freeze? Next stop the Alps! (Or Bulgaria - Liam said there's good snow there, and a hotel for 100 euros for 2 weeks? Top!) Such great fun, up on the ski lift, board hanging down, looking dead cool. Till you get to the top, launch yourself down the slope, and forget how to turn, and end up on your face. Stylish.
Other highlights have included the beach and kite surfing. I didn't do it, but I did swim in the sea while watching a whole ton of kite surfers flying through the air as the powerful wind picked them up and smashed them into the neutral-temperatured salt water. Riveting.
The Polo was great fun, although we were the only ones all dressed up (chinos, brown shoes, smart shirt, jumped tied around the chest? Nicely done, sir). Very hot. Beautiful horses. Felt very posh.
Probably the best thing, though, has been the desert drive and breakfast. We got up early, and met four other cars at a petrol station at 8am. Then, we drove down a couple of windy roads, before making a sharp right turn and heading off road. We quickly pulled over, and let the tyres down to give ourselves more traction. Then off we set - this was the first time we'd done anything like this, but the others had all already done it. 5 families, bombing through the desert, over very uneven territory, seemingly in any direction. Such fun. Stuff thrown all over the place in the back, we didn't care. We followed the car in front, that's all we had to do. Suddenly, we saw the back of said car disappear down a 45 degree slope.
'Sorry, I'm supposed to follow you? No, no I'm not doing that.' Came Dad's response to the sight. And it was all of ours. It wasn't until all four cars had gone down and some come back up again to do it a second time, that Julian ran back up and drove it down for us. What a rush! We carried on, back on horisontal (for the majority) ground. When suddenly, the car we were following sped up, bombing up the side of a massive dune about 50 or 60ft in height. The next thing we knew, it was coming back towards us, down the 60 degree gradient. Err...sure. We knew what we had to do - try to get up, but weren't going nearly fast enough, and got semi-stuck. Julian came to push the front while Dad reversed, and then tried again, first gear, foot to the floor. We made it up, just, slipping and sliding all over. Mum and Felix didn't want to do it, so they got out and watched as Dad and I steeled ourselves and went for it. Never brake, keep the front wheels straight, and drive slowly down. Awesome. Two or three times we did it. What a feeling.
After finding a couple of gerbils under the car, awwing over them, we carried on for 5 minutes until we found a nice, camel-surrounded flat area to eat lunch. Perfect. French Cricket ensued. Eggs and bacon were eaten. When it got too hot (35ish degrees) we decided to head back. this time, Dad gave me the wheel! And my word, it was good. No steep drops, but still. List of cars:
1) VW Lupo
2) Ford Fiesta
3) Mistubishi Pajero through the desert.
Can't complain.
Great great morning, and then we went swimming! Get in!
The biggest news, however, is tha Felix has broken his wrist. Both bones are broken, one had slid over the other. Having spent a night and a full day in hospital, his arm has now been reset and put in plaster. We were planning on going on a desert safari and dinner last night. Maybe another time.
And I leave on Monday morning, 2am. Rubbish.
Blessings
Aidan
So, yes, I've been snowboarding. I have had three lessons and am 'boarderline level 1' which means I can almost confidently make complete turns (not linked turns, though I can almost confidently do those, too). Had a 'Snow Camp' with a bloke called Liam from Essex. Good lad. Great snowboarder. Really nice, encouraging. Snowboarding is top quality fun, though hurts the bum when you crash and burn. Though not literally, because it's quite cold, so burning might not occur. Crash and freeze? Next stop the Alps! (Or Bulgaria - Liam said there's good snow there, and a hotel for 100 euros for 2 weeks? Top!) Such great fun, up on the ski lift, board hanging down, looking dead cool. Till you get to the top, launch yourself down the slope, and forget how to turn, and end up on your face. Stylish.
Other highlights have included the beach and kite surfing. I didn't do it, but I did swim in the sea while watching a whole ton of kite surfers flying through the air as the powerful wind picked them up and smashed them into the neutral-temperatured salt water. Riveting.
The Polo was great fun, although we were the only ones all dressed up (chinos, brown shoes, smart shirt, jumped tied around the chest? Nicely done, sir). Very hot. Beautiful horses. Felt very posh.
Probably the best thing, though, has been the desert drive and breakfast. We got up early, and met four other cars at a petrol station at 8am. Then, we drove down a couple of windy roads, before making a sharp right turn and heading off road. We quickly pulled over, and let the tyres down to give ourselves more traction. Then off we set - this was the first time we'd done anything like this, but the others had all already done it. 5 families, bombing through the desert, over very uneven territory, seemingly in any direction. Such fun. Stuff thrown all over the place in the back, we didn't care. We followed the car in front, that's all we had to do. Suddenly, we saw the back of said car disappear down a 45 degree slope.
'Sorry, I'm supposed to follow you? No, no I'm not doing that.' Came Dad's response to the sight. And it was all of ours. It wasn't until all four cars had gone down and some come back up again to do it a second time, that Julian ran back up and drove it down for us. What a rush! We carried on, back on horisontal (for the majority) ground. When suddenly, the car we were following sped up, bombing up the side of a massive dune about 50 or 60ft in height. The next thing we knew, it was coming back towards us, down the 60 degree gradient. Err...sure. We knew what we had to do - try to get up, but weren't going nearly fast enough, and got semi-stuck. Julian came to push the front while Dad reversed, and then tried again, first gear, foot to the floor. We made it up, just, slipping and sliding all over. Mum and Felix didn't want to do it, so they got out and watched as Dad and I steeled ourselves and went for it. Never brake, keep the front wheels straight, and drive slowly down. Awesome. Two or three times we did it. What a feeling.
After finding a couple of gerbils under the car, awwing over them, we carried on for 5 minutes until we found a nice, camel-surrounded flat area to eat lunch. Perfect. French Cricket ensued. Eggs and bacon were eaten. When it got too hot (35ish degrees) we decided to head back. this time, Dad gave me the wheel! And my word, it was good. No steep drops, but still. List of cars:
1) VW Lupo
2) Ford Fiesta
3) Mistubishi Pajero through the desert.
Can't complain.
Great great morning, and then we went swimming! Get in!
The biggest news, however, is tha Felix has broken his wrist. Both bones are broken, one had slid over the other. Having spent a night and a full day in hospital, his arm has now been reset and put in plaster. We were planning on going on a desert safari and dinner last night. Maybe another time.
And I leave on Monday morning, 2am. Rubbish.
Blessings
Aidan
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Apologies...
Big News! You can ALL now comment on my blog! How exciting and self-centred of me to declare such a thing... I have to apologise - I hadn't realised that previously the blog had been set so that only 'Registered Users' could comment. I have now changed this so that anyone can comment, and you can even remain anonymous! Furthermore, I have added such delights as the English language - no more do you have to struggle and strive to understand the beautiful Portuguese Language, but you can instead just click on links which are in your own mother tongue. Explore away!
***
In other news, I am having a rather warm time in Dubai. Such activities as Wild Wadi (including a slide hailed as the 'tallest and fastest water slide outside of North America, reaching 80kph and experiencing temporary weightlessness') and the Madinat Souk; a trip on an 'Abra' (traditional little ferry boat. Very authentic); trips around huge shopping Malls; lots of swimming and tennis of course, and to the beach have all been undertaken so far. This place is amazing - the pinnacle of innovation, with some of the most beautiful (and the most ugly), and the tallest buildings in the world. (Well, the Burj Dubai was the tallest (although it hasn't been completed yet) but there is now a building being nuilt which will be taller, in China. Not to be outdone, another building is being planned for construction here, which will be over a kilometre in height (the Burj Dubai is just under). The credit crunch, however, has brought this to a halt.) At the same time, it is very hypocritical. With big signs all over proclaiming how the developments are reducing carbon footprint and so on, the very design of the place means that to get anywhere you MUST go by car. And these aren't short journeys, either, and petrol is cheap (£10 to fill up a 4x4 petrol tank?!). And you MUST have a 4x4, because everyone does have one - anything smaller will be crushed in an accident. This might not be a problem if everyone drove well, but the fact is that nobody is good at driving, so to be safe you must have '2 tonnes of metal around you', as dad puts it. The city seems very sporadic - they have not built steadily outwards at all. Instead, there is the centre on the water front, with the Burj Al Arab (which, in my opinion, is a stunning sight) and all the shopping malls, then there are clumps of developments spread out in the desert, only connected by long highways. It seems like the planners had a pin and blindly stuck it in a map to decide where they'd build - there seems to be no order! It's very odd...
So, that's all from me for now. I hope you enjoy commenting...
Blessings!
Aidan x
***
In other news, I am having a rather warm time in Dubai. Such activities as Wild Wadi (including a slide hailed as the 'tallest and fastest water slide outside of North America, reaching 80kph and experiencing temporary weightlessness') and the Madinat Souk; a trip on an 'Abra' (traditional little ferry boat. Very authentic); trips around huge shopping Malls; lots of swimming and tennis of course, and to the beach have all been undertaken so far. This place is amazing - the pinnacle of innovation, with some of the most beautiful (and the most ugly), and the tallest buildings in the world. (Well, the Burj Dubai was the tallest (although it hasn't been completed yet) but there is now a building being nuilt which will be taller, in China. Not to be outdone, another building is being planned for construction here, which will be over a kilometre in height (the Burj Dubai is just under). The credit crunch, however, has brought this to a halt.) At the same time, it is very hypocritical. With big signs all over proclaiming how the developments are reducing carbon footprint and so on, the very design of the place means that to get anywhere you MUST go by car. And these aren't short journeys, either, and petrol is cheap (£10 to fill up a 4x4 petrol tank?!). And you MUST have a 4x4, because everyone does have one - anything smaller will be crushed in an accident. This might not be a problem if everyone drove well, but the fact is that nobody is good at driving, so to be safe you must have '2 tonnes of metal around you', as dad puts it. The city seems very sporadic - they have not built steadily outwards at all. Instead, there is the centre on the water front, with the Burj Al Arab (which, in my opinion, is a stunning sight) and all the shopping malls, then there are clumps of developments spread out in the desert, only connected by long highways. It seems like the planners had a pin and blindly stuck it in a map to decide where they'd build - there seems to be no order! It's very odd...
So, that's all from me for now. I hope you enjoy commenting...
Blessings!
Aidan x
Friday 13 March 2009
English lessons, Brothels, the lonely and the homeless.
Ever stepped into a brothel? I have.
***
So, what's been going on? More work Monday and Tuesday - de-grassing the ramp to the volleyball court on Monday, and some scraping away of little bobbly bits protruding from the top of the campo do futbol, so that it was flat. Both slow, tedious works in the sun, but not too bad. Wednesday through Friday we had rainy showers, which prevented work again. Bums. But it gave me a chance to keep reading The Word, and Floyd's book, and listen to music, get some praying down, and learn the guitar! I've now finished 1 Peter, and have moved onto Ephesians, which is very very exciting! Thinking about hope, blessings, and spiritual wisdom through the 'immense greatness' of the 'mighty power which raised Christ from the Dead and seated him in the place of great honour at the right hand of the Father.' Awesome.
Started English lessons with the Teenagers this week. Joao a terco (Tuesday), Fabio e Nelson a Quarta (Wednesday), e Goto a Sexta (Friday). We've been doing 'Reported Speech' this week, which they all seem to struggle with. I can see why - what comes so naturally to us to speak is so difficult to understand when written down in terminology!
Wednesday was also Mar's Birthday! Such a special time, pity about the rain. She got some amazing presents - we gave her some canvases, oils and guaches to encourage her passion for art, she was given a TV and DVD player, and she got another amazing pressie. We had TWO charrasquieras (barbies) that day, fighting off the rain and being cool. Mar, eres tan especial, y Dios continúe bendiciendo a usted como te das vuelta su corazón hacia Él más y más, y aprender a no preocuparse por lo que el mañana traerá pero sólo confiar en Él enteramente a proporcionar para todas sus necesidades. Beijo!
Then, this weekend has actually been incredible. So, you know how I've been asking, then moaning, then pleading with God to reveal His plan for me in Portugal for the last 6 weeks? The orphanage work is amazing but doesn't feel like an end place, you know... Well, now God has started yelling His Plan to me and I could barely cope with it all at first! Here's what happened...*Cue harp music...*
Once apon a time not too long ago, Susy and I went to Porto (Saturday afternoon) and did some touristy stuff. Strolled around Praca Batalha, took some photos, rode the old tram (twice!), and went down to the rio and the Ponte Luis D. I, going through Ribiera (one of Porto's oldest and poorest areas, and I've since heard its pretty dangerous at night. A tag on a wall saying 'Vive a droga' gave me a fair bit of information on that). By seven in the evening, we were walking to Rut's house. As we walked down Rua Cila de Vila, passing the 'bars', we decided to step into one. Three calenders on the wall containing pictures of naked ladies gave us an indication of the type of bar we'd just entered. Talking to Rut later, she confirmed these bars are mostly brothels, which gave me a whole new broken heart for this place, and opened my eyes to what a prime place her house is in. Met a bunch of Agape guys, mostly students, for a big reunion meal. Rice and delicious sea food (including oysters mm mm mmm). We stayed over night. We went to the Baptist church in the morning, and then tried to go to the beach to meet a bunch of people for lunch. Muchos traficos prevented us, so we had lunch at the Uni instead. I then thought we were heading back to Rut's, before I found myself in the Agape headquarters of (northern) Portugal, singing worship and praying, and realising this is a preparation. I knew I was to go out on the streets that night to give food to the poor and hang out with them, but I thought it was to be Susy, Rut, Israel and myself. Now I realised we were all going out, 15 of us, as a group. Then, trying to figure out what is being said by Pedro 'Mr Agape' as he talks, I realised THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AGAPE HAD DONE IT! I was right in the forefront of a new thing (for them anyway - other groups eg Sally Army and Samaritans go out on other nights) and it was so exciting. And then, get this, I was chatting to 'Mr Agape' in his car on the way there and he told me that they wanted to start a ministry doing this stuff, but noone was willing or able to lead it - they were looking for someone they could use and who could encourage the students especially to get involved with this stuff. And it took a lot to restrainn mself from jumping all aroung the backseat shouting 'I'M HERE USE ME!' I've been seeing these homeless guys each weekend, and the prostitutes, the lonely, and the drug addicts, I am dreaming of living among them 24/7, being a light, hopefully with a team, and so perhaps even now God is saying one day I'll lead Agape's ministry here! SO FLIPPING MENTAL!
But I still want and need prayer for it, so that God confirms whether or not it's for sure. You know, I can sometimes let my dreams cloud my following of God's plans. Then again, as my Dad said to me last night, dreams aren't irrelevant, as God gives us passions. So...
I amuse myself with the thought of God getting so annoyed at my persistent begging Him to tell me what He wants me to do that He finally snapped and gave my impatient character a little bite, an appetiser, to shut me up for a while until I'm totally prepared. Because I can't do that yet - I can barely speak the language! Let alone have the maturity or backing for such an adventure...
And now I'm sitting in my parents' house, halfway across the world, in 2o-something degrees in an environment I've never been in. Dubai. The western city of the Middle East, I like to call it. This place is unbelievable. I'm here for three weeks, on holiday, which Joel and Ruben keep saying is good for me to have at this time, but I think it's far too long to be away, especially since I've only been at O Refugio for 6 weeks. It's confusing. 30-odd degrees in the day, fancy-pants California-esque bungalow and streets where we live, massive cars, huge shopping malls, beaches, cool but not freezing seas, calls to prayer, Moslems, Indians, South Africans, Americans, Englishmen, hotels, hotels, hotels, hotels, and even an outdoor snowboarding competition. Yep, you heard me right. RedBull Outback Ride or something. Snow dumped down a flight of steps opposite the beach, a DJ on the back of a monster truck blaring out some heavy tracks, and the dudes on their boards. A-flipping-mazing.
I'll keep updating while I'm here, to let you know about Dubai and all its incredible goings on.
Blessings and peace. God with you.
Aidan x
***
So, what's been going on? More work Monday and Tuesday - de-grassing the ramp to the volleyball court on Monday, and some scraping away of little bobbly bits protruding from the top of the campo do futbol, so that it was flat. Both slow, tedious works in the sun, but not too bad. Wednesday through Friday we had rainy showers, which prevented work again. Bums. But it gave me a chance to keep reading The Word, and Floyd's book, and listen to music, get some praying down, and learn the guitar! I've now finished 1 Peter, and have moved onto Ephesians, which is very very exciting! Thinking about hope, blessings, and spiritual wisdom through the 'immense greatness' of the 'mighty power which raised Christ from the Dead and seated him in the place of great honour at the right hand of the Father.' Awesome.
Started English lessons with the Teenagers this week. Joao a terco (Tuesday), Fabio e Nelson a Quarta (Wednesday), e Goto a Sexta (Friday). We've been doing 'Reported Speech' this week, which they all seem to struggle with. I can see why - what comes so naturally to us to speak is so difficult to understand when written down in terminology!
Wednesday was also Mar's Birthday! Such a special time, pity about the rain. She got some amazing presents - we gave her some canvases, oils and guaches to encourage her passion for art, she was given a TV and DVD player, and she got another amazing pressie. We had TWO charrasquieras (barbies) that day, fighting off the rain and being cool. Mar, eres tan especial, y Dios continúe bendiciendo a usted como te das vuelta su corazón hacia Él más y más, y aprender a no preocuparse por lo que el mañana traerá pero sólo confiar en Él enteramente a proporcionar para todas sus necesidades. Beijo!
Then, this weekend has actually been incredible. So, you know how I've been asking, then moaning, then pleading with God to reveal His plan for me in Portugal for the last 6 weeks? The orphanage work is amazing but doesn't feel like an end place, you know... Well, now God has started yelling His Plan to me and I could barely cope with it all at first! Here's what happened...*Cue harp music...*
Once apon a time not too long ago, Susy and I went to Porto (Saturday afternoon) and did some touristy stuff. Strolled around Praca Batalha, took some photos, rode the old tram (twice!), and went down to the rio and the Ponte Luis D. I, going through Ribiera (one of Porto's oldest and poorest areas, and I've since heard its pretty dangerous at night. A tag on a wall saying 'Vive a droga' gave me a fair bit of information on that). By seven in the evening, we were walking to Rut's house. As we walked down Rua Cila de Vila, passing the 'bars', we decided to step into one. Three calenders on the wall containing pictures of naked ladies gave us an indication of the type of bar we'd just entered. Talking to Rut later, she confirmed these bars are mostly brothels, which gave me a whole new broken heart for this place, and opened my eyes to what a prime place her house is in. Met a bunch of Agape guys, mostly students, for a big reunion meal. Rice and delicious sea food (including oysters mm mm mmm). We stayed over night. We went to the Baptist church in the morning, and then tried to go to the beach to meet a bunch of people for lunch. Muchos traficos prevented us, so we had lunch at the Uni instead. I then thought we were heading back to Rut's, before I found myself in the Agape headquarters of (northern) Portugal, singing worship and praying, and realising this is a preparation. I knew I was to go out on the streets that night to give food to the poor and hang out with them, but I thought it was to be Susy, Rut, Israel and myself. Now I realised we were all going out, 15 of us, as a group. Then, trying to figure out what is being said by Pedro 'Mr Agape' as he talks, I realised THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AGAPE HAD DONE IT! I was right in the forefront of a new thing (for them anyway - other groups eg Sally Army and Samaritans go out on other nights) and it was so exciting. And then, get this, I was chatting to 'Mr Agape' in his car on the way there and he told me that they wanted to start a ministry doing this stuff, but noone was willing or able to lead it - they were looking for someone they could use and who could encourage the students especially to get involved with this stuff. And it took a lot to restrainn mself from jumping all aroung the backseat shouting 'I'M HERE USE ME!' I've been seeing these homeless guys each weekend, and the prostitutes, the lonely, and the drug addicts, I am dreaming of living among them 24/7, being a light, hopefully with a team, and so perhaps even now God is saying one day I'll lead Agape's ministry here! SO FLIPPING MENTAL!
But I still want and need prayer for it, so that God confirms whether or not it's for sure. You know, I can sometimes let my dreams cloud my following of God's plans. Then again, as my Dad said to me last night, dreams aren't irrelevant, as God gives us passions. So...
I amuse myself with the thought of God getting so annoyed at my persistent begging Him to tell me what He wants me to do that He finally snapped and gave my impatient character a little bite, an appetiser, to shut me up for a while until I'm totally prepared. Because I can't do that yet - I can barely speak the language! Let alone have the maturity or backing for such an adventure...
And now I'm sitting in my parents' house, halfway across the world, in 2o-something degrees in an environment I've never been in. Dubai. The western city of the Middle East, I like to call it. This place is unbelievable. I'm here for three weeks, on holiday, which Joel and Ruben keep saying is good for me to have at this time, but I think it's far too long to be away, especially since I've only been at O Refugio for 6 weeks. It's confusing. 30-odd degrees in the day, fancy-pants California-esque bungalow and streets where we live, massive cars, huge shopping malls, beaches, cool but not freezing seas, calls to prayer, Moslems, Indians, South Africans, Americans, Englishmen, hotels, hotels, hotels, hotels, and even an outdoor snowboarding competition. Yep, you heard me right. RedBull Outback Ride or something. Snow dumped down a flight of steps opposite the beach, a DJ on the back of a monster truck blaring out some heavy tracks, and the dudes on their boards. A-flipping-mazing.
I'll keep updating while I'm here, to let you know about Dubai and all its incredible goings on.
Blessings and peace. God with you.
Aidan x
Sunday 1 March 2009
Some sad news
(Diary entry...)
13.33 I've just come back from a 'formaçao' with Rúben, Loida, Carina and all the children. Vitor, one of my favourite guys here, is leaving tomorrow. I actually already knew this, since Mar told me the other day, but now all the kids have been told as well. Really sad. Top bloke, but a little rebellious and the Refúgio and the court both think it's best for him to move in with his grandparents. It'll make life easier here, and he won't be disrupting the other kids here from growing in God.
It's really sad, although I'm not sure why really. It's as if this place is a haven, this is the only place you can know God, and he is being let go into the big bad world where sin is and all evil things and so he is going to a whole different world. But that's not the case at all. Obviously, God's everywhere. But his faith isn't the strongest, we all know that, so I think that's why it's so hard for me. I really want to see him walking tall and confidently with the Father, but now I think that's going to be an unlikely occurrance without some serious prayer for the brother. He's going to be in Penafiel, which is top because it means we can meet up for coffee and chats, and he is always welcome back here...
On a lighter note, just had a fantastic lunch of salad (which is always delicious here!), bread (standard), and this great rice dish. Yellow rice with chicken legs/wings and different fish bits. Love it!
Please pray for Vitor, and that we can continue to encourage him to stick with God.
xx
13.33 I've just come back from a 'formaçao' with Rúben, Loida, Carina and all the children. Vitor, one of my favourite guys here, is leaving tomorrow. I actually already knew this, since Mar told me the other day, but now all the kids have been told as well. Really sad. Top bloke, but a little rebellious and the Refúgio and the court both think it's best for him to move in with his grandparents. It'll make life easier here, and he won't be disrupting the other kids here from growing in God.
It's really sad, although I'm not sure why really. It's as if this place is a haven, this is the only place you can know God, and he is being let go into the big bad world where sin is and all evil things and so he is going to a whole different world. But that's not the case at all. Obviously, God's everywhere. But his faith isn't the strongest, we all know that, so I think that's why it's so hard for me. I really want to see him walking tall and confidently with the Father, but now I think that's going to be an unlikely occurrance without some serious prayer for the brother. He's going to be in Penafiel, which is top because it means we can meet up for coffee and chats, and he is always welcome back here...
On a lighter note, just had a fantastic lunch of salad (which is always delicious here!), bread (standard), and this great rice dish. Yellow rice with chicken legs/wings and different fish bits. Love it!
Please pray for Vitor, and that we can continue to encourage him to stick with God.
xx
Nuns, Pharoahs, Little Red Riding Hood and Red Indians... It must be CARNIVAL!
Have you ever spent a few hours stuck on the side of a motorway with an overheated car and a nun? I have...
Well, almost. Mar was in fancy dress as a nun. Possibly the most ridiculous experience I've ever had.
We were going to the airport to see her friend (I have a strong feeling she likes him...) and she wanted to be crazy and be sitting in the airport dressed as a nun when he arrived, to surprise him. In the morning, Joel put more oil in her car, and we thought it was all fine. We headed off down the motorway. Half way there, we start smell burning, and before long smoke is pouring out of the bonnet and into the car. Mar pulls over quickly, starting to panic, grabs her stuff and pegs it backwards. (Remember, she is dressed as a nun!) I tell her it's fine, the car won't explode (although I bring my bag a little bit back, just in cases), and open the bonnet. Bums. The oil cap had obviously not been put back on properly, had popped off and oil had spilled all over the engines and was proceeding to now smoke like a chimney. We gave Joel a call, and he bombed down to us in about 20 minutes. Said it was fine, just stuck some more oil in, and we cleaned up the engine with some baby wipes. He said we could continue (although I thought we needed to wait longer) so we did. About 4kms down the line, smoke starts again, so we pull over again and have a look. Just leftover oil from last time, but the engine refuses to cool down. Joel advises us on the phone to put more water in, but I was convinced you have engine coolant rather than water, and thought the ploace he was saying to put it was somewhere different. After much deliberating, the water went in, but made no difference. We called Mar's RAC equivalent, who found it all very amusing when he eventually showed up. Before he did, all we could do was sit around in the cold outside the car, taking photos of each other, being honked at (Mar - it was one of those fancy dress nun outfits, with a slit up the side, flashing some leg). Absolutely hilarious. The repair man poured a whole load more water into where I'd put some in, so that was good. But it didn't do nowt, because he said the radiator is bust. Rubs. So, Mar was taken to a petrol station to change (her friend was by this time in Porto having a coffee) and then dropped off at Rut's house. I was taken back to the Refúgio with the car, and when we got back I told the guys they were welcome at anytime to come, gave them Reuben's card, he gave me his number. Was great - everything's an opportunity. Joel, Jorge and Tiago were all VERY interested in why the car was towed back, where was Mar, what happened, etc etc! Good times.
That's just been a brilliant end to a brilliant week. So many things have happened. We finished cementing the footy pitch on Friday afternoon which was brilliant (although, we only had a tiny bit to do in the morning, but I'm sure the two guys purposefully did it slowly in order to span the time out till 6pm). Pretty much 'smooth' and level, and all our work is done. Now we wait for the other guys to come and put down the synthetic grass stuff. Very exciting. This is going to be really great for the orphanage - with abit more investment we can get some sort of changing room facilities and so on, and then rent out the pitch to bring a new income to the Home. In Canelas there are two other pitches - mud and acrylic - but the nearest synthetic pitch (which seems to be far more preferable) is near to Penafiel and cost 25€ to hire or something. We'd charge about 5€ or 10€ per hour.
The finished cementing
Also, nine Spaniards from Malaga came to help on a mission trip for 3 days (it's been a special holiday in Spain). They have been so refreshing, and so much fun! I shared a room with their leader - Dani - who is an ex-turned-trainer goalie for Malaga FC! Very exciting. He is such a top chapo. Really energetic helping with the cementing, really kind, very gentle. He reminded me of you, Jonno. One time, one of the blokes doing the cementing was checking out the girls who had come to help. They came near to where we were at one point. He said to me, 'As mulheras, mm' and he said similar to Dani, who then said what I had wanted to say but didn't know how. He swiftly changed the topic from 'those girls' to 'do you have a girlfriend? Why not?' and so on. To banana. The group taught me two things. Firstly, how much I adore short term group mission trips. They reminded me of Hong Kong, Durban, Soul in the City and others all with friends and laughing and loving and serving. Such great community, such great fun. And secondly (perhaps the biggest thing for me) that this really is mission. I guess I'd never thought about it like that. It's difficult to explain, but bassically my only mission experiences have been short term, and since this is so much longer... I don't know. It's felt more like a home than a place I've come specially to do mission. I'm here to be family, which feels different to coming to 'be' a missionary. But then, aren't we all missionaries, whenever we witness for Jesus, wherever we are? Not sure why it's taken me so long to figure this out. Perhaps I thought because this feels more like training than God's final destination for me. Naomi made me view a different perspective and accept the idea that this might actually be the final destination. I've just never seen it as such because my calling has always been to come here to work with the poor - whom I have seen - and I have always assumed this means the materially poor as well and the spiritually. It's complicated. If you want to understand more, feel free to email me or Facebook me or something. I'm still trying to figure it out.
On Wednesday night we had such a moving time, listening to a version of 'How Great is Our God' and watching a cute little video for the children over and over. God really touched my heart that night, and we also watched a video to the song 'I Can Only Imagine' which mostly consisted of exerpts from that documentary about the dad who runs the triathlons with his disabled son. The love overflowing hit me like a ton of bricks, and I was so moved. Such a great time. On Thursday night, with the Spaniards, we had a big prayer session. Three areas - confession (red), supplication (white) and written prayer (blue). Really connecting time.
The Spaniards and me, just after I finished the pitch and just before they left.
It was Joel's birthday on Monday. And Margherita's (one of the cooks) on Wednesday! So Wednesday afternoon we had a big spread of food outside for him, and in the evening went to Guita's house for food and drink and stuff with all the Canelas ladies haha! Good fun :) Guita's sister was dissappointed when she found out I have a girlfriend - she wants Marta (her niece) to have an English boyfriend/husband. They really are all like my Portuguese mums ha!
Joel's Birthday Party
And we went to a DISCOTECA on Monday night! Epic. Free entry, but you were given a card with the amount of drink you had to buy. I had to get 5€ - Mar said it's because I'm a bloke. Got a double vodka red bull at the end of the night for 5€! Rip off city... Everyone was dressed up - I was a Pharoah and Mar my queen, we had nuns, little red riding hood, someone in blue, and a french maid. There were red indians, monks, cowboys, goths, strange other things, vampires and other ghouls, and even Santa showed up! My goodness it was surreal. Totally different to any club I've been to. Live guy on synths, the place jam packed with middle aged people, everyone dancing together in pairs, doing a special Portuguese dance like a Waltz or something. I tried to learn. Mar and I also got the floor to ourselves at one point, and we canced ALL OVER it, getting some funny looks, for about 4 seconds, before it was flooded with people again, who seem to think they have the only right to be there, and barge into you! This consequented in Mar, myself and one of the other ladies with us being stamped on with stilettos. We left after that. What a night!
A Pharoah, Little Red Riding Hood and a French Maid? It must be CARNIVAL!
I have been sent Floyd McClung's book in the post by the great Katie Plumb. Such a great gift - I can hardly put it down. If you can, go and get a copy. It's called Living on the Devil's Doorstep and is one of the most inspiring books I've read! Finished 1 Peter this week, and will spend this next week going back over it. Keep remembering Chapter 1 v 19 'We put our trust in Jesus Christ. And since God raised Christ up from the dead and gave him great glory, we can no put our faith and hope confidently in Him.' Yes yes yes! Also, was reading some of John 7 and 8, which are all about knowing God, and Jesus being sent from God, and his words and teaching not being to further his own status, but to point the way to his and our Father. Good stuff all round.
I hope you're all reading this in good health and confidence. I'm not sure of my work this week, but apparently the rain is coming. Probably a good thing, since my arms are getting a little sunburnt. I know I start my English lessons with the teenagers, which is REALLY exciting. Naomi's been helping me figure out how to do them. Any ideas, anyone?
In some sad news, Vitor will be leaving on Monday. I really like him, and it's such a shame. But it's best for the Refúgio and the other children because he's very disruptive. Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with him at other times or something. I'd like to see him grow in his faith, putting his trust and hope in God and Christ.
Blessings and love to you all. Please keep praying for all sorts. My language skills are improving daily - I can now understand quite a lot, but I don't feel confident enough to speak fluently. I need to shake the nerves of getting it wrong. I will usually sit there for a good few minutes trying to figure out the order of words and so on, and then the moment passes to say the right thing. Please also pray that God clearly tells me what He wants me to do - stay here? go to the slums? work with the homeless?
Do keep in touch - I'd love to hear all sorts of what you guys are doing back in England, in Dubai, in America, perhaps in Hong Kong...
Aidan xxxx
Well, almost. Mar was in fancy dress as a nun. Possibly the most ridiculous experience I've ever had.
We were going to the airport to see her friend (I have a strong feeling she likes him...) and she wanted to be crazy and be sitting in the airport dressed as a nun when he arrived, to surprise him. In the morning, Joel put more oil in her car, and we thought it was all fine. We headed off down the motorway. Half way there, we start smell burning, and before long smoke is pouring out of the bonnet and into the car. Mar pulls over quickly, starting to panic, grabs her stuff and pegs it backwards. (Remember, she is dressed as a nun!) I tell her it's fine, the car won't explode (although I bring my bag a little bit back, just in cases), and open the bonnet. Bums. The oil cap had obviously not been put back on properly, had popped off and oil had spilled all over the engines and was proceeding to now smoke like a chimney. We gave Joel a call, and he bombed down to us in about 20 minutes. Said it was fine, just stuck some more oil in, and we cleaned up the engine with some baby wipes. He said we could continue (although I thought we needed to wait longer) so we did. About 4kms down the line, smoke starts again, so we pull over again and have a look. Just leftover oil from last time, but the engine refuses to cool down. Joel advises us on the phone to put more water in, but I was convinced you have engine coolant rather than water, and thought the ploace he was saying to put it was somewhere different. After much deliberating, the water went in, but made no difference. We called Mar's RAC equivalent, who found it all very amusing when he eventually showed up. Before he did, all we could do was sit around in the cold outside the car, taking photos of each other, being honked at (Mar - it was one of those fancy dress nun outfits, with a slit up the side, flashing some leg). Absolutely hilarious. The repair man poured a whole load more water into where I'd put some in, so that was good. But it didn't do nowt, because he said the radiator is bust. Rubs. So, Mar was taken to a petrol station to change (her friend was by this time in Porto having a coffee) and then dropped off at Rut's house. I was taken back to the Refúgio with the car, and when we got back I told the guys they were welcome at anytime to come, gave them Reuben's card, he gave me his number. Was great - everything's an opportunity. Joel, Jorge and Tiago were all VERY interested in why the car was towed back, where was Mar, what happened, etc etc! Good times.
That's just been a brilliant end to a brilliant week. So many things have happened. We finished cementing the footy pitch on Friday afternoon which was brilliant (although, we only had a tiny bit to do in the morning, but I'm sure the two guys purposefully did it slowly in order to span the time out till 6pm). Pretty much 'smooth' and level, and all our work is done. Now we wait for the other guys to come and put down the synthetic grass stuff. Very exciting. This is going to be really great for the orphanage - with abit more investment we can get some sort of changing room facilities and so on, and then rent out the pitch to bring a new income to the Home. In Canelas there are two other pitches - mud and acrylic - but the nearest synthetic pitch (which seems to be far more preferable) is near to Penafiel and cost 25€ to hire or something. We'd charge about 5€ or 10€ per hour.
The finished cementingAlso, nine Spaniards from Malaga came to help on a mission trip for 3 days (it's been a special holiday in Spain). They have been so refreshing, and so much fun! I shared a room with their leader - Dani - who is an ex-turned-trainer goalie for Malaga FC! Very exciting. He is such a top chapo. Really energetic helping with the cementing, really kind, very gentle. He reminded me of you, Jonno. One time, one of the blokes doing the cementing was checking out the girls who had come to help. They came near to where we were at one point. He said to me, 'As mulheras, mm' and he said similar to Dani, who then said what I had wanted to say but didn't know how. He swiftly changed the topic from 'those girls' to 'do you have a girlfriend? Why not?' and so on. To banana. The group taught me two things. Firstly, how much I adore short term group mission trips. They reminded me of Hong Kong, Durban, Soul in the City and others all with friends and laughing and loving and serving. Such great community, such great fun. And secondly (perhaps the biggest thing for me) that this really is mission. I guess I'd never thought about it like that. It's difficult to explain, but bassically my only mission experiences have been short term, and since this is so much longer... I don't know. It's felt more like a home than a place I've come specially to do mission. I'm here to be family, which feels different to coming to 'be' a missionary. But then, aren't we all missionaries, whenever we witness for Jesus, wherever we are? Not sure why it's taken me so long to figure this out. Perhaps I thought because this feels more like training than God's final destination for me. Naomi made me view a different perspective and accept the idea that this might actually be the final destination. I've just never seen it as such because my calling has always been to come here to work with the poor - whom I have seen - and I have always assumed this means the materially poor as well and the spiritually. It's complicated. If you want to understand more, feel free to email me or Facebook me or something. I'm still trying to figure it out.
On Wednesday night we had such a moving time, listening to a version of 'How Great is Our God' and watching a cute little video for the children over and over. God really touched my heart that night, and we also watched a video to the song 'I Can Only Imagine' which mostly consisted of exerpts from that documentary about the dad who runs the triathlons with his disabled son. The love overflowing hit me like a ton of bricks, and I was so moved. Such a great time. On Thursday night, with the Spaniards, we had a big prayer session. Three areas - confession (red), supplication (white) and written prayer (blue). Really connecting time.
The Spaniards and me, just after I finished the pitch and just before they left.It was Joel's birthday on Monday. And Margherita's (one of the cooks) on Wednesday! So Wednesday afternoon we had a big spread of food outside for him, and in the evening went to Guita's house for food and drink and stuff with all the Canelas ladies haha! Good fun :) Guita's sister was dissappointed when she found out I have a girlfriend - she wants Marta (her niece) to have an English boyfriend/husband. They really are all like my Portuguese mums ha!
Joel's Birthday PartyAnd we went to a DISCOTECA on Monday night! Epic. Free entry, but you were given a card with the amount of drink you had to buy. I had to get 5€ - Mar said it's because I'm a bloke. Got a double vodka red bull at the end of the night for 5€! Rip off city... Everyone was dressed up - I was a Pharoah and Mar my queen, we had nuns, little red riding hood, someone in blue, and a french maid. There were red indians, monks, cowboys, goths, strange other things, vampires and other ghouls, and even Santa showed up! My goodness it was surreal. Totally different to any club I've been to. Live guy on synths, the place jam packed with middle aged people, everyone dancing together in pairs, doing a special Portuguese dance like a Waltz or something. I tried to learn. Mar and I also got the floor to ourselves at one point, and we canced ALL OVER it, getting some funny looks, for about 4 seconds, before it was flooded with people again, who seem to think they have the only right to be there, and barge into you! This consequented in Mar, myself and one of the other ladies with us being stamped on with stilettos. We left after that. What a night!
A Pharoah, Little Red Riding Hood and a French Maid? It must be CARNIVAL!I have been sent Floyd McClung's book in the post by the great Katie Plumb. Such a great gift - I can hardly put it down. If you can, go and get a copy. It's called Living on the Devil's Doorstep and is one of the most inspiring books I've read! Finished 1 Peter this week, and will spend this next week going back over it. Keep remembering Chapter 1 v 19 'We put our trust in Jesus Christ. And since God raised Christ up from the dead and gave him great glory, we can no put our faith and hope confidently in Him.' Yes yes yes! Also, was reading some of John 7 and 8, which are all about knowing God, and Jesus being sent from God, and his words and teaching not being to further his own status, but to point the way to his and our Father. Good stuff all round.
I hope you're all reading this in good health and confidence. I'm not sure of my work this week, but apparently the rain is coming. Probably a good thing, since my arms are getting a little sunburnt. I know I start my English lessons with the teenagers, which is REALLY exciting. Naomi's been helping me figure out how to do them. Any ideas, anyone?
In some sad news, Vitor will be leaving on Monday. I really like him, and it's such a shame. But it's best for the Refúgio and the other children because he's very disruptive. Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with him at other times or something. I'd like to see him grow in his faith, putting his trust and hope in God and Christ.
Blessings and love to you all. Please keep praying for all sorts. My language skills are improving daily - I can now understand quite a lot, but I don't feel confident enough to speak fluently. I need to shake the nerves of getting it wrong. I will usually sit there for a good few minutes trying to figure out the order of words and so on, and then the moment passes to say the right thing. Please also pray that God clearly tells me what He wants me to do - stay here? go to the slums? work with the homeless?
Do keep in touch - I'd love to hear all sorts of what you guys are doing back in England, in Dubai, in America, perhaps in Hong Kong...
Aidan xxxx
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