can you believe we are off for home tomorrow??? it´s so weird how fast the time flew!
Well, yesterday....we endured the Salvador market one last time and got to view the fantastic sunset before heading back home for supper. Today? A few of us are doing last minute shopping or utilizing the beach before we head off to a drum workshop!
And then...the packing begins. Hopefully none of us are over weight! Wish us luck and see you back in the US!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Church to the extreme...
WOW.
today? we attended church...but not your everyday type of church that most of us are used to back home. This church was Neopentecostal...and it was extreme.
The church service itself was 2 hours long, with about an hour or so of prelude music. The music was very upbeat and modern, and the altar looked more like a performing arts stage. That pastor, once he got on "stage", looked confident and powerful. The congregation was HUGE and reacted to their pastor's confidence and power as if he were almost...a god....
The pastor's preaching was passionate and LOUD. He was screaming at some points causing come of the congretation to cry and praise for joy.
Then, the offering? Consisted of something that looked like a conga line up to the offering boxes.....
Let's just say: interesting. I am sure we all will have stories once we arrive home.....
3 days!
today? we attended church...but not your everyday type of church that most of us are used to back home. This church was Neopentecostal...and it was extreme.
The church service itself was 2 hours long, with about an hour or so of prelude music. The music was very upbeat and modern, and the altar looked more like a performing arts stage. That pastor, once he got on "stage", looked confident and powerful. The congregation was HUGE and reacted to their pastor's confidence and power as if he were almost...a god....
The pastor's preaching was passionate and LOUD. He was screaming at some points causing come of the congretation to cry and praise for joy.
Then, the offering? Consisted of something that looked like a conga line up to the offering boxes.....
Let's just say: interesting. I am sure we all will have stories once we arrive home.....
3 days!
Friday, May 16, 2008
As our eyes open...
What a first day in Salvador!
This morning, after walking on the beach, around town, or just reflecting on our past two and half weeks here, we hopped on a bus for a city tour. Each city we visit proves to be more beautiful...Salvador is rich in history, art, culture....
Salvador, like Rio, Sao Paulo, and Porto Alegre, is also rich in poverty. It was hard to see how close the rich and poor live together here. It makes me wonder...how can the rich live side by side to such poverty-stricken people and not do anything about it?? But, then I tell myself....unfortunately...we do the same thing in the United States.
We got to do a lot of walking around the historical part of the city, which was home to beautiful and elaborate churches...we visited two, and we ll were in awe.
I think, though, many of us are tired of being and living as tourists. It was very hard for me today especially...when we were walking down the streets many people came up to us begging or trying to force some sort of goods on us. We, unfortunately, had to completely ignore them and go on our way. I had a moment today where a women who looked like she had been beaten and malnurished for sometime was asking our group for change...we were told to ignore...so we did. It was in that moment that I wished I could be doing something about those causes- rather than being a tourist.
all in all...quite the day......
This morning, after walking on the beach, around town, or just reflecting on our past two and half weeks here, we hopped on a bus for a city tour. Each city we visit proves to be more beautiful...Salvador is rich in history, art, culture....
Salvador, like Rio, Sao Paulo, and Porto Alegre, is also rich in poverty. It was hard to see how close the rich and poor live together here. It makes me wonder...how can the rich live side by side to such poverty-stricken people and not do anything about it?? But, then I tell myself....unfortunately...we do the same thing in the United States.
We got to do a lot of walking around the historical part of the city, which was home to beautiful and elaborate churches...we visited two, and we ll were in awe.
I think, though, many of us are tired of being and living as tourists. It was very hard for me today especially...when we were walking down the streets many people came up to us begging or trying to force some sort of goods on us. We, unfortunately, had to completely ignore them and go on our way. I had a moment today where a women who looked like she had been beaten and malnurished for sometime was asking our group for change...we were told to ignore...so we did. It was in that moment that I wished I could be doing something about those causes- rather than being a tourist.
all in all...quite the day......
Thursday, May 15, 2008
HEAT
oh! after 29 hours and 15 minutes we have arrived in Salvador! It is pretty humid here, as the sun is just as intense. We asked for heat...and we got it!
After we arrived, feeling pretty lathargic, we walked to the beach to relax...I am excited to see what Salvador has in store for us! Keep your tabs.....
After we arrived, feeling pretty lathargic, we walked to the beach to relax...I am excited to see what Salvador has in store for us! Keep your tabs.....
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Goodbye Rio :(
As gorgeous as Rio is, we unfortunately have to leave it today....
Yesterday, a free day, we all enjoyed the beautiful beach, ocean water, and the warm sun. Many of us went shoping, swimming, and even parasailing! I am sure Salvador will treat us just as well, but pray for us! We have a 30 hour bus ride ahead.......see you in Salvador!!!
Yesterday, a free day, we all enjoyed the beautiful beach, ocean water, and the warm sun. Many of us went shoping, swimming, and even parasailing! I am sure Salvador will treat us just as well, but pray for us! We have a 30 hour bus ride ahead.......see you in Salvador!!!
Monday, May 12, 2008
What a Day!
First things first...FINALLY! SUUUUUN!
This morning, we got the chance to travel up hill to see the infamous cristo redentor. What a view!!! The statue was quite a treat too!
After cristo redentor, we hopped on the bus to the suburbs of Rio. Have a mentioned how insane the traffic is here?? It took us an hour and a half to travel due to the clustered streets and crazy, but I say, smart drivers :) they have less accidents then we do in the US!
In the suburbs, we were honored with the opportunity to visit a religious community where women victims of violence went to be educated, empowered, and rebuilt. We were entertained with a drum show, samba lessons, and got to taste food prepared by the women there! It was inspirational as well as an emotional experience....
This morning, we got the chance to travel up hill to see the infamous cristo redentor. What a view!!! The statue was quite a treat too!
After cristo redentor, we hopped on the bus to the suburbs of Rio. Have a mentioned how insane the traffic is here?? It took us an hour and a half to travel due to the clustered streets and crazy, but I say, smart drivers :) they have less accidents then we do in the US!
In the suburbs, we were honored with the opportunity to visit a religious community where women victims of violence went to be educated, empowered, and rebuilt. We were entertained with a drum show, samba lessons, and got to taste food prepared by the women there! It was inspirational as well as an emotional experience....
Sunday, May 11, 2008
RIO RIO RIO!
oh finally we made it!!
We arrived in Rio at 5:30 am this morning....I am sure you can imagine how tired we all are now! Very few of us slept well on the bus...due to excitement of course! Once we moved in to our new homes (where we can see a peak of the rocky mountains outside our windows!), we showered and headed to church. It was a wonderful service, and we even got the pleasure of singing ´Lean on me´to the congregation. :)
After church, we dined at a beautiful restaurant....we can definitely tell we are closer to the ocean. FISH!!! Fish and sushi and everything you can imagine from the sea. It is a great change of pace...and a tasty one at that!
After lunch, we went to the street market. With all of it´s winding turns and tables and treasures and bargains....it was hard to resist buying anything!! All of us came back with gorgeous new belongings either for ourselves or others.
Unfortunately, we decided to wait on seeing the infamous cristo redentor for a clearer day. Which, with how exhausted we all are, none of us complained...we still have plenty of time!
BUT...can you believe in 11 days we will be home in Chicago???
We arrived in Rio at 5:30 am this morning....I am sure you can imagine how tired we all are now! Very few of us slept well on the bus...due to excitement of course! Once we moved in to our new homes (where we can see a peak of the rocky mountains outside our windows!), we showered and headed to church. It was a wonderful service, and we even got the pleasure of singing ´Lean on me´to the congregation. :)
After church, we dined at a beautiful restaurant....we can definitely tell we are closer to the ocean. FISH!!! Fish and sushi and everything you can imagine from the sea. It is a great change of pace...and a tasty one at that!
After lunch, we went to the street market. With all of it´s winding turns and tables and treasures and bargains....it was hard to resist buying anything!! All of us came back with gorgeous new belongings either for ourselves or others.
Unfortunately, we decided to wait on seeing the infamous cristo redentor for a clearer day. Which, with how exhausted we all are, none of us complained...we still have plenty of time!
BUT...can you believe in 11 days we will be home in Chicago???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
