For those of you who know me well, you know that I have two favorite holidays:
1) Martin Luther King Jr. Day (especially in Atlanta) where everyone takes a “Day On, Not a Day Off” to serve their neighbor in need.
2) Thanksgiving where we are surrounded by friends, family and some of my favorite foods! The cool crisp weather, the changing of the leaves and the moments with loved ones always remind me that I have so much to be grateful for.
Here in Brazil the environment isn’t the same, but during this time of Thanksgiving I still have so much to be grateful for. Below, in no specific order, are my Top 10 Thanks!
PRECE
Every morning I wake up and remember that I am beyond lucky to work with and for an organization that I believe in. Every evening I go to bed knowing that PRECE is making a difference in the lives of people and bettering the reality for thousands of Brazilians and that in some small way I am a part of it. How did I get so lucky to meet such an incredible organization?
My Health
I don’t think that I have ever been so grateful that I am, in general, an extremely healthy person. Maybe this is because I have never before lived without health insurance. But, I am now going on 6 months without health insurance (dad- I promise I will get it!) and every day I am thankful that I wake up with a healthy mind and body!
My dearest Brazilian friends- Isabela and Iriana, and Carol and Maraiza
I am thankful that these phenomenal women have been more than hosts who have welcomed me in to their homes. They have welcomed me with their hearts and have found a place in my heart. I would be a very sad and lonely person without them.
The internet and Skype
The homesickness that comes with living thousands of miles away from my family and best friends is lightened when I am able to talk on Skype, Gmail Chat, etc. with people every day. Without Gmail chat my sister and I wouldn’t be able to send each other hourly updates about what we ate for lunch or how we are too lazy to work out in the afternoon. Without Skype I wouldn’t be able to hear the voice of my best friend Pegah or see her smile. Without the internet
in general, I wouldn’t be able to post my “Top 10 Thanks!”. And, you all should be grateful for that! HA!
Dona Martha
She is everything that I am not, but everything that I want to be. She is love and patience and kindness and endurance and fortitude and hospitality and generosity and struggle and acceptance and selflessness. She is Brazil. She is woman. And, she might just be a saint.
Manoel Andrade and the entire Andrade family
There are times when Manoel Andrade speaks and I simply sit mesmerized by him. He oozes of faith, love and commitment.
His faith in a brighter tomorrow and his conviction and perseverance in making it a reality is astonishing to me. I keep thinking that maybe if I just stay close to him, some of him will rub off on him. And, what is more amazing is that his entire family is exactly the same way. He learned this love, faith and commitment from his parents, as did his sisters, children, cousins, etc. They are incredible testaments of faith.
The PRECE Car
My friend Luciana named the car “The Warrior”. She is right. I also think that the car is my salvation- my salvation from riding on the back of a motorcycle in the rain, hot sun, over rocky/bumpy/dirt roads and from carrying all of my teaching supplies and overnight items in a backpack. Every time I start the engine I say a prayer of thanks for those individuals who provided some of the money to purchase the PRECE car many years ago and for the generosity of Manoel Andrade for permitting me to drive the car.
My roommates- Nicelly, Ednaldo and Tony
I couldn’t ask for better friends to share a home with, meals with, and frustrations with. They are seeing the best and worst of me and I am thankful that they are willing to put up with me! I honestly would not survive in the interior of Ceará if not for the 3 of them!
The Beaches of Brasil
Enough said. It just doesn’t get any better than spending a long weekend, an afternoon or just an hour jog on the beach. This is where I meet the Spirit most powerfully and I am so grateful that at any moment I am no more than an hour away from a beautiful Brasilian beach.
Leo
2) Thanksgiving where we are surrounded by friends, family and some of my favorite foods! The cool crisp weather, the changing of the leaves and the moments with loved ones always remind me that I have so much to be grateful for.
Here in Brazil the environment isn’t the same, but during this time of Thanksgiving I still have so much to be grateful for. Below, in no specific order, are my Top 10 Thanks!
PRECEEvery morning I wake up and remember that I am beyond lucky to work with and for an organization that I believe in. Every evening I go to bed knowing that PRECE is making a difference in the lives of people and bettering the reality for thousands of Brazilians and that in some small way I am a part of it. How did I get so lucky to meet such an incredible organization?
My Health
I don’t think that I have ever been so grateful that I am, in general, an extremely healthy person. Maybe this is because I have never before lived without health insurance. But, I am now going on 6 months without health insurance (dad- I promise I will get it!) and every day I am thankful that I wake up with a healthy mind and body!
My dearest Brazilian friends- Isabela and Iriana, and Carol and Maraiza
I am thankful that these phenomenal women have been more than hosts who have welcomed me in to their homes. They have welcomed me with their hearts and have found a place in my heart. I would be a very sad and lonely person without them.
The internet and Skype
The homesickness that comes with living thousands of miles away from my family and best friends is lightened when I am able to talk on Skype, Gmail Chat, etc. with people every day. Without Gmail chat my sister and I wouldn’t be able to send each other hourly updates about what we ate for lunch or how we are too lazy to work out in the afternoon. Without Skype I wouldn’t be able to hear the voice of my best friend Pegah or see her smile. Without the internet
in general, I wouldn’t be able to post my “Top 10 Thanks!”. And, you all should be grateful for that! HA!Dona Martha
She is everything that I am not, but everything that I want to be. She is love and patience and kindness and endurance and fortitude and hospitality and generosity and struggle and acceptance and selflessness. She is Brazil. She is woman. And, she might just be a saint.
Manoel Andrade and the entire Andrade family
There are times when Manoel Andrade speaks and I simply sit mesmerized by him. He oozes of faith, love and commitment.
His faith in a brighter tomorrow and his conviction and perseverance in making it a reality is astonishing to me. I keep thinking that maybe if I just stay close to him, some of him will rub off on him. And, what is more amazing is that his entire family is exactly the same way. He learned this love, faith and commitment from his parents, as did his sisters, children, cousins, etc. They are incredible testaments of faith.The PRECE Car
My friend Luciana named the car “The Warrior”. She is right. I also think that the car is my salvation- my salvation from riding on the back of a motorcycle in the rain, hot sun, over rocky/bumpy/dirt roads and from carrying all of my teaching supplies and overnight items in a backpack. Every time I start the engine I say a prayer of thanks for those individuals who provided some of the money to purchase the PRECE car many years ago and for the generosity of Manoel Andrade for permitting me to drive the car.
My roommates- Nicelly, Ednaldo and Tony
I couldn’t ask for better friends to share a home with, meals with, and frustrations with. They are seeing the best and worst of me and I am thankful that they are willing to put up with me! I honestly would not survive in the interior of Ceará if not for the 3 of them!
The Beaches of BrasilEnough said. It just doesn’t get any better than spending a long weekend, an afternoon or just an hour jog on the beach. This is where I meet the Spirit most powerfully and I am so grateful that at any moment I am no more than an hour away from a beautiful Brasilian beach.
Leo
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