Stupidity+ Corruption = Dengue!

We are currently in an epidemic situation here in Rio. The govt, in a singularly brilliant move, reduced funds last year for mosquito control. Now, a sickness that was once eradicated in Brazil, is on the warpath. To top things off the city, state and federal govt.'s are all fighting over who is responsible for the problem. In the meantime our children are dying! Now you understand that "classic" dengue (or as it is often called "Bone-break"fever) isn't fatal. You kinda wish you might die. I've had it twice, I can attest to that! You ache and itch and feel sick and have a fever that makes you sure you will explode. Your eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out of your head. And you cannot take most pain relievers, because this little bug uncoagulates your blood. So taking aspirin can be somewhat fatal. There are basically two types of dengue, which is probably why I have had it twice. You are afforded some degree of immunity if you have had it already. But the children don't have that luxury. And for some reason some people get a hemorrhagic type of dengue, which is often fatal, but at the least horrible, since you start bleeding everywhere. The only treatment are transfusions and hopefully your body will react and you won't bleed to death. We have had over 100 deaths, mostly children. They are not sure why some people respond with so much bleeding. I used to hear that this was what happened if you got the disease a second time, but that's not always the case (as I am proof). I confess that I am angry. Angry at so much corruption in our government that puts our lives at risk. And angry at the stupidity. This is not a poor person's disease. The Aedes aegypti mosquito (the same guy that spread malaria) doesn't discriminate - bites the rich and the poor. Our public and private hospitals are over flowing - so much so that the army has set up field hospitals to deal with the dengue patients. I am stunned at how many people I know that have and have had recently dengue. Right now I am concerned about our minister of music's little girl (Rebeca) who has a very low blood platelet level and we are anxious that she might hemorrhagic dengue. She is only 8 years old. Pray for her. Pray for our city. May this be a lesson that draws us together in integrity and honesty and real concern for our people's well-being.

Now what does that mean?

Quick, tell me! What does the word "Maundy" mean? Of course you know it is "Holy Thursday" before Good Friday. But what does "maundy" mean? Someone asked me and I knew it was from latin (sort of) and that it referred to the Thursday before Friday and that it was a liturgical word, but the exact meaning?
Well here it is straight from Wikipedia "The word Maundy is derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet. Maundy Thursday is the name for this day in England. It is therefore the usual name also in English-speaking Protestant Churches that originated in that country".
So now we all know.
In addition I discovered there is an interesting tradition in England related to this day: "In Britain it is still customary for the sovereign to give 'Maundy Money' to a number of male and female pensioners - one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age. The money is contained in two purses: one red and one white. The white purse contains specially minted coins - one for each year of the sovereign's life. The red purse now also contains money, in lieu of gifts which used to be offered to the poor. Up to the time of James II the sovereign also washed the feet of selected poor men." (http://www.thisischurch.com/christianinfo/maundythursday.htm)
What ever did we do before Google and wikipedia?

Maundy Thursday

We found a new and exciting way to "celebrate" Maundy Thursday at our church this year. It was João's idea and I helped him in the implantation. We had an all night prayer meeting, in which we "re-lived" the events in the last hours (Thursday - Friday morning) of Jesus' life. As we read the Scriptures, we found 13 events and so we divided this into 30 minutes segments, with a couple of coffee breaks in the middle. Different people were in charge of each 3o minutes. Each person had a different style. We had discussions, films, dramas, "sermons", powerpoint, simulations etc. in each presentation of the event, followed by prayer. The prayer was in varied forms, silent, group, individual, etc. We began with the washing of the feet, in which we prayed for humility. I was in charge of the last supper, so we had pita bread, pure grape juice, and some dipping sauce for people, as they sat at their tables to eat, talk, sing, discuss the meaning of the bread and wine and pray for true communion and unity at our church. Although due to church practice here in Brazil I had to carefully emphasize that this was NOT the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, to me it was a lot closer to what Jesus really intended than what we do with our measly little cups and squares of bread. But then, who am I to argue with long years of church tradition?
I had never managed to stay for an all night prayer meeting before... stay or stay awake, either one! I did nap in the evening before leaving (since it was 10-6), so I was wide awake when we started. Around 5AM I was fading pretty fast, as the lactic acid started its famous build up and my legs and arms were killing me. But we ended at 5:30 to then sit down for a breakfast together. When we left after 6AM, it was light and safe for everyone to travel.
As you know, it's not all that safe to be out on the streets in the dark and late at night here. So when people showed up for the prayer meeting, they knew it was going to be an all night affair! We had no idea of how many to plan for, as this was something new. The church, in the past, has had all night prayer meetings. And small groups continue to do so, but not as a church-wide event. We thought maybe 40 people would be really good. Just in case the administrator and I decided to set up for 80. To our total surprise, people just kept coming and we ran out of room for the first part (we changed rooms after the Last Supper). We had way more than 100 people. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of people, for a church of our size, but really it is for a new event, for an all night prayer meeting (in what many people consider a dangerous part of town) and before a LOOOOONG holiday weekend when everyone travels.
The night flew by in a hurry and I loved it. It was great to study the WORD, pray together and enjoy the communion of the saints. We had lots of young people and lots of old people, so the mixture was just terrific.
I admit I was plenty sleepy Friday morning and I hit the sack for about 4 hours as soon as I got home. Friday night I also didn't need anyone to rock me to sleep either. It was more than worth it. I loved the experience and I hope some time in the near future we will be able to promote more experiences like this.
I hope you have a wonderful celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord planned . God bless!

An Artist in the Making?

Because I believe it is important to stretch my horizons and try out things I have NEVER done before, when a friend who is an artist invited me to participate in her drawing class, I hesitated, but eventually accepted. Now you need to understand I am not now, nor have I ever been artistic. I was seriously traumatized by my art classes in school, especially when my teacher gave me some terrible comments and grades on my work. It was because I was so afraid to fail I was terrified and so I was totally inhibited. Consequently I never did a thing with art and steered clear of it. So Gabi's invite was a chance to test out some of my new found freedom from fear (yes I did finish reading the book on fear). I decided to give it a plunge. I did 3 drawings in the first class. The scan at the left is my 3rd drawing. She said to just look at the lines and draw the lines, not draw my hand. So that's what I did. And you know what? It actually looks like a hand... even looks like my hand ( I think my family will attest to that). I don't know how to contour or shade or anything, but I got a start with not being so afraid of paper and pencil. Yesterday the task was to reproduce a Picasso. But here's the catch. It would be upside down and I would have to draw it upside down (the picture, not me!!!).
Ok, now tell me which is the original and which is mine? Yeah, right, like it's hard to tell!!!! But still the result is pretty good. It is an amazing process, because I covered up the picture and just did things a line at a time. Surprisingly, the lines met up (like on the chair, without even knowing that I was drawing a chair). It took almost 3 hours and I stopped before finishing because my hand my killing me. I tend to clutch at my pencil in a death grip. But I'll tell you one thing, you totally lose track of time and forget everything happening around you as you draw. It is really fun. And I am meeting new people, as there are 3 others in the class. They, however, have experience in drawing.
Next week another upside drawing. The whole idea is to learn to "see". She says we think we can't draw because we don't know how to look at things with our right brain and really see and reproduce what we see. Maybe it will work and I'll learn something new. Hey, maybe you can even teach an old dog new tricks...

Life is Short

We all know that we could walk out the door and be hit by a car. Our mommas told us that so that we would always wear clean underwear, right? (By the way the one time I did go to the hospital for a car accident, I did have on old holey underwear. Figures, huh?) Today I was reminded of the fragility of life. I don't write this so you'll worry about me or feel sorry for me, because what happened could happen anywhere, anytime. I write it as a catharsis for me.
Today as I was happily cooling down at the end of my aqua class, there was a loud noise, like an explosion. Then suddenly the teachers came rushing in with children under their arms. The front staff came rushing to the back of the academy and began yelling for everyone to get down. Now how do you get down when you are in the pool??? The noise ended and there was a momentary silence before panic set in. The people begin rushing to the front. Not me. I stayed warm and safe in the pool at the back of the academy. When things calmed down I got out (the last one) and asked what happened. My teacher looked pale and said a motorist had been shot and killed in their car in the front of our academy. Then I was pale. It was rainy and João had said he would come early and pick me up in the car. I rushed out in the rain in my bathing suit to see what had happened. There were police cars (all shot up may I add) and a silver car with the driver slumped over the steering wheel. My curiosity ended there. Selfish as I am, I could only be thankful not to see our blue car anywhere nearby. People were in tears and everyone was shaky. We all knew that it could have been someone we loved in that car and that somewhere a family lost their father, husband, son... It made for a sad morning. We still don't know what really happened. We know the police were right there (which never happens) and they caught the men on a motorcycle who fired the shots, by lobbing grenades (thus the explosion we heard). So we don't know if it was a "hit", or the poor man was a innocent bystander of the drug wars. My mind just kept thinking about what if it had happened a few minutes later when João was driving down the street. So he gets some extra hugs and kisses today. I was reminded that life really is fragile and I gotta love every minute we have together. Have you kissed someone you love today?

P.S. I post this note later today to say that I heard in the news that this was a paid killing. The man was a doctor and investigating frauds in the health care system. Two people were hit by the escaping assassins, and had broken legs, but are okay. The assassins are currently in police custody.

A Writer's Essential Tools

I am deep into my writing, as my deadline is this Friday, the 15th. I must turn in 15 devotionals for next year's devotional book for the Woman's Missionary Union of Brazil. And yes I AM procrastinating by writing in my blog. BAD GIRL. I have just finished my first devotional, always the hardest. I have, by the way, done all my homework and all my research. My passages, however, are not particularly easy ones to make "devotional". Now that I am in the swing of the style and the number of words I am allowed, I think things will flow more smoothly. I can hope, at least. So you won't hear from me for a few days until I finish this task. You will notice I have all the most modern and essential tools at my fingertips. Most important are the several translations of God's Word that serve as my ultimate source and guide. I do need a few more things, like my computer, to make a go of the writing. And chocolate, of course, is an absolute MUST. Do you have to write anything? I mean, like answer an e-mail or two? Give yourself some brain food. Eat chocolate. (By the way I have also been on a diet of fish to feed my brain power as well - but I tell you I much prefer chocolate).

Life Goes On

Yesterday I went back to the place where I worked for 5 1/2 years, before going to Canada. It is always a strange experience to "go back" where you used to be at home and find you are a stranger. I had been invited to a worship service of gratitude for the arrival of a very special baby. Debora, the mother, had worked for or with me, in my department. I had seen her date and then marry Wellington. I knew they dreamed of a family and upon discovering that they both had fertility issues, shared in their grief. The adoption process seemed impossibly long and difficult and then the baby they awaited was stillborn. It seemed to be one crushing blow after another. They had almost given up hope when Isabelle was born, unwanted and unloved by her family. Debora arrived home from the interior of Brazil with Isabelle, Christmas day! They still have the long road of the legalities of the adoption process, but after all they've been through, that seems not so complicated. Everyone shared in the joy of her birth and home-coming. Surely she will be very well loved and nurtured in the Lord. Her name means "Consecrated to God". I was so pleased to be included in the joy of this worship service at the office where we prayed and rejoiced together. It reminded me, again, of the necessity of taking the "long point of view" and not focusing on the disappointing now.
I have just finished reading a book "Polishing God's Monuments" (you can click on it in the column to the left that lists the books I am reading) that deals with this very issue. It is one of the rare books that I feel changed my way of looking at the world. Basically the author reminds me that we don't get "through" the hard moments pretending like it is not happening, like everything WILL be the way we want, etc. He says we must turn and see how God has acted in the past - in the Bible, in our own lives, in the lives of others - and make those into monuments to God's faithfulness and sovereignty. In the moments of pain and doubt we we must turn and look to who God REALLY is (that is the process of polishing the monuments) and trust even when we don't understand. It is not about manipulating God with our faith. It is about trusting in the big picture of who God is. And now I have another story to add. God has given to this young couple the child they so desired. Praise be to God. God did not give to João and I the child we desired, but he also removed the desire to have children. Praise be to God. God is good.