Plans

So, as most of you know, I'm planning on returning to the States in mid-December.  While I am taking steps towards the next part of my life, I don't know what the future holds.  But, the closer I get to December, the more I realize that I am surrounded by many people with great plans for me.  I'm fairly certain that if I were to hand my life over to any of these people, I wouldn't have to make any more decisions as long as I shall live.

The International School's Plan
I will leave Brazil in December, much to the sadness of those at the school.  Upon arriving in Indiana, I will discover that I have an enormous sense of saudades for Brazil.  I'll stay in the U.S. until January, and return to Brazil.  I will return at the same time that Brent, a short term teacher, arrives.  We'll fall in love and he'll decide to stay in Brazil forever.  We'll have a giant wedding at the Community Church of Carpina, since more people can fit in the church there.  We'll have three kids and live happily ever after.

My Parents' Plan
I will arrive in the United States in December, much to the jubilation of my parents.    Upon arriving in Indiana, I will spend the first couple of weeks looking for a job.  I will then be hired for a maternity leave position at J.B. Stevens.  They'll love me so much, that when the original teacher decides she can't possibly leave her thirteen week old baby at the local Fun Palace Day Care, they'll hire me on as a full time teacher.  I'll work with the kids at Brookville Road Community Church, where I'll meet Rob, a thirty year-old dermatologist who just finished medical school and moved to the Indianapolis area to be near his family. We'll fall in love and have a medium-sized wedding at a chapel in Brown County.  We'll buy my childhood house, at 1305 Greenhills Rd. and have ten kids.

Lindsay's Plan
I will leave Brazil in December, much to the chagrin of my friends in Brazil.  Upon returning to the beautiful United States, I will land a high-paying teaching position in Boston.  There I will tutor Brazilian immigrants and eat plenty of bolo de rolo.  I'll move into an apartment next door to a lovely little Brazilian family. Each Sunday afternoon, they'll invite me over for a dinner of beans, rice, potatoes, fish, and vinaigrette.  After a couple of months, the mother's brother will arrive in town.  He's been living in Chicago, going to seminary and dreaming of starting a church in northeastern Brazil.  I'll share my contacts and in the midst of explaining what my role in the ministry was, we'll fall in love. A year later, we'll have a large wedding in Indiana and move back to Carpina.  We'll wait a couple of years, and then have two kids.  A boy and a girl.  

Sarah's plan

I will arrive in the United States in December, much to the excitement of my crazy sister.  Upon arriving in Indiana, I will promptly move into my parents' basement.  I will construct walls out of sheets and either buy a dog or a gerbil.  I'll cook for Sarah until she gets a little chubby.  At which point she'll choose a husband for me.  We'll have the perfect little wedding.  Sarah will be my maid of honor.  Her dog will be my ringbearer.  I'll move next door to my parents so that I will be able to continue to cook for her.  I'll have five kids, one named after Sarah, of course, and we'll live happily ever after.

The wonderful part of all this is that I know that each one of these people want the best for me...except maybe Sarah.  I thank God for their love.  And I also thank Him that He is the one directing my path.  

Proverbs 19:21  Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.