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
Friday 27 March 2009
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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