Wednesday, May 11, 2005

There's always a Cultural Lesson

Happy Belated Mother's Day, we pray you had a joyful day
celebrating the special moms in your life. This Mother's
Day brought for us another cultural lesson and a reminder
that we are constantly learning more about Brazil (even
with Ben having grown up here!). At around one o-clock in
the morning on Mother's Day we were awakened by people
blaring music outside our window. Ben went outside to
complain and told the group to quiet down so people could
sleep. However, Ben soon found out that the group was made
up of seminary students simply trying to honor all the
mothers by serenading them on Mother's Day. From our
perspective the students were being rude, yet that was not
how they or the Brazilian mothers saw it. We were
reminded again the need to be culturally sensitive and not
judge others based on our own perspective. Ben and I are
thankful that our time in Brazil not only includes serving
but learning as well.

Things are going well at the orphanage. The garden is coming
along and thanks to the fence some of the boys built with
Ben the sheep are being kept at bay. I am having a wonderful
time teaching crotchet to the oldest girls and have even
found some patterns in Portuguese. It's encouraging to see
their excitement and the beautiful things they are making.
My Portuguese is coming along and each day it seems like I
can understand a little bit more. I love reading Bible
stories in Portuguese to the kids (and the kids seems to love
it too because there is always a rush to see who gets to sit
on my lap).
Here are a few specific prayer requests:
-Ben is starting to feel dizzy like when he had vertigo
several months ago (after the hurricanes).
Pray that I will know how to help him and that we can find
the right doctor here.
-Kathy (Ben's mom) is in the States for a few days. Pray that
we will be able to help Joy(Ben's little sister)not be so
"mom-sick" while Kathy is away.
-Please also pray that our relationships with the kids at
the orphanage will allow for opportunities to share about
the Lord.

We are very grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Love, Becky (& Ben)

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