Flowers in Floripa

You may not understand the title, but the reason for it is that the name of the city where we were for the last week or so is, Florianópolis, which loosely translated means Flower Capital... and Floripa is an abbreviation for the city. It is a totally beautiful city (the cleanest city I think I have ever visited) with great beaches. We travelled there, together with 1800 Baptists from Brazil, for the annual Brazilian Baptist Convention.
The photo to the left is a nice shot of João and I with Fausto and Dionne, our immediate predecessors at First Baptist in Rio. On our one day with some free time, we were able to do some sight seeing with them, as well as have a great visit with one of our church members who was on vacation there. They prepared a great meal for us and I actually learned to love oysters, which I had never eaten in my life. That together with the shrimp was yum-yum good. I especially enjoyed the seafood pilaf - squid and oysters and muscles and shrimp with rice. Don't you envy us? I ate till I nearly popped.
Most of the time, of course, was spent in meetings. Better than the meetings, for me, was the reunion with old friends after five years away from Brazil. At times it seemed impossible to even find our way to a seat as we were stopped every few feet to greet someone else. It was so rewarding - especially a long lunch with a pastor who had been a part of my adolescent group in Vitória back in 1984! I also had a long conversation with a single missionary friend here in Brazil. I was inspired by her work and reminded me how far God can lead us if we but follow his call.
I was very edified by two great messages during the convention - two out of five... I guess those aren't bad odds. Those two messages will stay with me a long time because I found them to be embued with the Word of God. I was, however, very discouraged with the format of worship and the quality of some of the messages. Made me feel like I don't belong in this midst anymore- or maybe I was born in the wrong century or something. I don't like street dancing in a worship service. I don't like musicians who talk for 10 minutes between songs. I don't like 90 minutes of singing before a one hour long message that is read. That's just me. I was discouraged by some of the politics and people who feel their face must be seen and their voice heard. I was discouraged by the HUGE financial debt of many of our institutions... and in many ways my feeling that denominational structure is a white elephant were confirmed. My heart was sick with some of what I saw and heard and I am still processing what I should do with this. I know with increased surity that denominational work is NOT the place for me and that feels surprisingly liberating after 21 years of such work. I am tired of institutions and fights over money. I just want to love God's people and help others discover how to serve God in their lives.
I am still on the journey to discover exactly what this really means. I received a number of invitations to teach or do leadership in children's work, but I responded by saying that this is no longer my area of ministry. That seems funny because I am so identified with children's ministry, but that was then, NOT now. It felt good to know I was being obedient in speaking the truth. (Those who know me well, know I struggle to say no to anything). God has confirmed this is where He wants me now. Being quiet. Taking a back seat. Contemplating. Praying. Watching and observing. I am a little anxious to discover what is going to happen, but he keeps telling me to wait. So wait I will. In time I know His dreams will become my dreams and they will be granted. For now, however, this is my circle of quiet.