The Whirlwind Has Begun

I bought a plane ticket to the land of monkeys and bananas and acerola yesterday.
I leave Indiana two weeks from today.
And if my calculations are correct, I will be out of town for all but 3 of those days.

My Mind Is Split.

Half of me is more excited than words can say. I'm going to Brazil! I'm going to teach and help develop the English program. I am beyond happy to see my friends and invest in a growing ministry. I'll be back with sugar cane & bicycles. Beans & rice and hopscotch. Laughter & "fala devaga porfavor". I'll be learning about ministry, culture, & language. Joining in worship. Hearing kids struggle through English. Watching people. Riding the bus to town & walking through the neighborhoods. Resisting the urge to scoop up a toddler & sometimes not resisting at all.
It all brings a smile to my face.

The other half of me is...sad. I'm sad to leave my family. My friends. Starbucks & my car. Worship in English. Comfort & ease. When I return, my nephews will be huge. My friends and my family will have gone through difficulties and excitement that I was not a part of.
I will have missed a lot.

The half of me that is excited about Brazil wins...except if I'm tired.
Then the bigness of the difficulties that are in Brazil and the truth of what I will be missing in my family member's lives overwhelms me.
I fail to trust the Lord & forget that He has led me here.

But then I sleep.

And I wake up refreshed.
I open my notebook of lesson plan & classroom management ideas. As I work, I see my place. I see the vision. I remember why I'm going. I know that this is right.
And I smile.

Approved!

After 8 months of waiting, I have been approved for a work visa! Praise the Lord! I still have a little paper work that still needs to be sent to Chicago, then a few more steps and I'll have the visa in my passport. I'm praying that I'll be in Brazil for the beginning of school, in early August. Thanks for all your prayers!