My first Blog post - It is 4 day from the start I wanted... As in life there are the starts we want and the starts we get. I am safely in Brazil and outside Sao Paulo. I have many great experience to share and a four day pad of posts. The internet is spotty and my days for filled.  Enjoy, comment, and forgive my grammar as I introduce you the Fraternity of the Poor of Jesus Christ in and around Brazil!

August 18, 2013

I stood in the kitchen at 12:15 last night eating cold chicken breast grilled that day, with buttered potatoes, homemade salsa made with tomatoes from my Mom’s garden, and a veggie tray. I wasn’t all that hungry, but I was taking in. I had been “taking it in” for a few weeks.  If saying good bye is part of a beginning, I had been beginning for a long time.

In 48 hours where would I be? How surreal would this new place be? How far away from this kitchen would I feel? 

In time I will know. In time that is what I will see. What an empty pursuit to rush along with my thoughts as I drip salsa on the counter and eat potatoes with my fingers. After 12 am it is all finger food.

I great energy came over me as I put everything back in the refrigerator. I sat at the computer and wrote. I wrote full of gratitude. I wrote with purpose. I wrote without fear. I wrote until I realized it was 3 in the morning.  What was I writing? To all those I couldn’t think of what to say in person, as it all bubbled up - I was lost in peace. A good place to be.

I walked into my room for the night and saw my 30 pound Osprey backpack stuffed to the zippers max.

Everything that fit would go. If it didn’t, I would toss it aside. I packed three times and each time removed more unneeded things.  I had a pile at the end that filled a medium sized box. I thank my parents for saving every type of hand bag, satchel, nylon conference show freebee, and computer case they ever owned, because I needed a separate carry on for my books. I have Portuguese translation books, The Bible, journals, two books by Paulo Calhano, and a kindle. They added up. I laughed and chose the leather one without a financial logo.

This is what I figure will be my home for the next 8 months.