Think Mardi Gras times ten. Or maybe times fifty. That’s what Carnaval is to Brazil. The police turn a “blind eye” to all sorts of illegal activities, and there is partying in the streets for days.
So, on Friday we picked up the teens in Aningas and brought them to our house for a kind of a Carnaval Retreat, or a time to spend together.
A trip to the grocery store to get all sorts of snacks and goodies was an adventure. We entered the store and the lines to check out went down every single grocery aisle. Apparently, the store wasn’t going to be open the following day. We quickly split up into groups, and smart Layane immediately positioned herself in a line for us. Even for here, where chaos is commonplace, this was crazy! In my mind (I used to work in grocery stores) I was muttering and organizing the whole operation, opening additional checkouts, and moving people to one side of the aisles so others could get by without doing the limbo. After several hours, we headed home with food and snacks to get us through the next five days.
We had a fun time and we had a good devotional time together, too. They talked about wanting to serve God. They talked about how they love to come out on the streets and into the favelas with us. And I realized how good God is to us. I thought about the years at home teaching Sunday School and our times on Sunday nights with the teens. I remember feeling sad that those amazing times were ending and those particular kids had grown up. But just look at what God has given us here! More precious teens (my favorite age even!) to love and cherish, and lambs to feed, with His help. Once again, I am struck by how God uses everything in our life, and brings it around to good for His glory. Yes!
Turns out, it was also good to get my mind off of the day-to-day struggles, pull back, and appreciate how much God has done. God is really working in lives. We lose sight of this a lot here, because we get so focused on the despair and poverty and all the things we are powerless to change. But then, we are forced to slow down. Sometimes, it’s because the truck dies. Or, the country is on a wild five day spree of sin. But the result is the same: we pull back and look at what God HAS done. And this really is cause for celebration!
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord and joyfully celebrate His mighty acts, for great is the glory of the Lord. (Psalm 138:5 AMP)
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