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