Tais fra Brasil i Norge

2008-09-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

I had really good time in Norway. So many friends came to visit and made me feel so welcome again as I wouldn´t imagine I would.
I didn´t have time to visit everyone I would like to.
But was really happy to stay some days with Carolina and Jorn Erik. They were all the time doing everything to make me feel at home. They drove me so many times and made good food.
Marte came from Alesund to Oslo. It was amazing! Really missed my dear roomate from Hald!
Kay and Per and Stine visited many times! Me and Marte went to Stine´s to some ice cream, to Kay and Per´s to the breakfast and to Nina´s to dinner... Kay also organized a "Halds kveld". I loved to meet so many from Hald!
Also loved to go to the barbecue at kollektivet and then to CU. Again felt welcome by everyone!
Then, I had to leave for the conference I suppose to attend...
It was so different to go back with "brazilian eyes", without having perspectives to stay, no dreams, no home. At the end, I was so looking forward to come back home. Specially because I lost my grandfather some days after I traveled. I was also worry about my course and patients. And looking forward to meet Julia! So it was a mixed of good feeling...meeting people, missing people, enjoying time, being a tourist, missing Brazil...
I will try to post some pictures I got from Norway! =)

Thank you people!!!!

2008-08-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

BACK IN NORWAY!!!!

Who would imagine I would come back now? Neither do I!

It´s over one year I left Noway, went back on 16 of June. It´s strange to be back...

Since this blog suppose to tell about my stay in Norway, I´ve decided to write in it again.

I arrived 2 days ago, around 6 p.m. Then, I came to Carol´s house. We talked a lot until 1:30 a.m.

Next day, I slept a lot. Then, I met Anja. I went to her beautiful house, eat barbecue, went to her parent´s house - I´ve gone there one day after the Christmas Eve and it was really good! So it was nice to meet them again. Then we went to a Løppermarket and rented a move. We ate Taco and watched Women´s World - not so good movie, but we had lots of fun. Late in the night, we drove us to Carol´s home.

Today I had a very nice day also. I´ve met Maren, we went to a cafe and talked a lot.

2008-04-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

2008-04-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

I´ve been writing just what I´m doing... but I was watching a movie "Before Sunset", which was recommended by many friends, because it´s just about a conversation recorded at once, and identified myself when she talked about her staying in Varsovia. I think it describes a bit what I felt in Norway and what I miss most, even knowing such feeling can´t last forever anywhere I live.

"In a couple of weeks something changed in me...This city was quite gloomy and gray...but after a while, my brain seemed clearer. I was writing more in my journal...ideas I´d never thought of before. It took me a while to figure out why I felt so different.

...I realized that I had spent the last two weeks away from most of my habits.

TV was in a language I didn´t understand. There was nothing to buy, no advertisement anywhere...so all I´d been doing was walk around, think and write.

My brain felt like it was at rest...free from the consuming frenzy. It was almost like a natural high. I felt so peaceful inside. No strange urge to be somewhere else, to shop...maybe it could have seemed like boredom at first...but it quickly became very soulful...It was interesting...you know"

2008-03-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

PROJETO NOVO MUNDO: Isabele, Jaqueline e Milena
Jamily

meninos

D. Maria Passador

Today I went to visit this project "Vinde a mim os pequeninos". I got impressed with things I saw and heard. Things we usually say as a joke, we couldn´t say there and it was hard to be aware of that...

I suppose to teach them how to brush their teeth, but some of the children don´t have water or energy at their homes! But no one complained about those things...on contrary, we could see a joy in everything they did.

Impressing also was some vonlunteers working there, for example, D. Maria Passador, she is going every Saturday mornings for many years to teach them the Bible and make food. Now she is also helping this new project, cooking every day, without earning any money for that and paying to help the children. Another girl, is Ana Laura, she is just finished with her studies, she is a portuguese and english teacher. One of the most inteligent person I know and know spending lots of time at this place. Two other people working there are: Maraíza and Nega.

There are only 20 children until now, going every day and getting food and learning lots of new things. While I was there, many mothers came to ask if we could accept their kids, but there is not more place now. People who pass in front of the house, get impressed, it´s the most beautiful house in the neighborhood, maybe one of a few painted houses there.

Besides my specialization course in Sao Paulo twice in a week (which I´m afraid of...), now I´m teaching at this project one morning in a week...becoming more and less dentist at the same time....

2008-03-28T05:19:00.000-07:00

PARTIES!!!

I've never gone to so many weddings in my life in a short time!

I thought maybe it's because I've been in Norway for almost one year..and I'm glad so of them were waiting for me to come back! =) ...or maybe I'm just getting old! =(

Since I came back, I went to Leila and Andre's, then Luana and Reinaldo's (both from my church), Leticia e Branco (she was one of the most special friends I got in my ABU group), Laise and Thiago. This Saturday I'm going to Lilian and Lucas (from my church) and on May, I'm going to be the godmother (?) again at Daniel and Karina's wedding.

Laise and Daniel are my cousin from different sides. Laise lives in Tupa, a bit far from here, but I always used to go there to visit my grandparents (from my father) and stayed at her home...gossiping all night...Daniel, I met more times, he is so quiet, but one of the most patient and best persons I know!

I'm glad I can share this time with them!!! But hopefully, I will have less paties next semester! =)

Some of the pictures I got from them:

Luana e Reinaldo

Leticia

Leticia e Branco

I think everyone cried at her wedding. First, the energy got over , the cerimony suppose to be outside and started raining. She was at the hair dresser crying a lot... after 1,5 hour everyone was desperate - believe, she is never late! We have some different points of view about the Christian faith, but I always presenced miracles with her... I think because of her faith and because of her prayer. Her pastor went to the hair dresser and they say, God told them they should hurry up to the cerimony and it didn't matter if it would be darker, because He is the Lord of the Light and would make a miracle to show her it would be the first miracle of many. So, she just obeyed and decided to come in the darkness...she was coming into the place and we couldn't see anything, when after few steps, the light was shining all the room. But the most beautiful part, was when her step father came into the church singing for her and telling us their story - I think just people who knew them well understood what was that about - the death of her father, the prayer of a little girl, the insistence to get adopted by him, the friendship and blessings between them. ..
Talita, Thiago, Laise, Andrei (Laise's brother)

2008-03-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

I´ve been so bad to keep contact with people and also for update my blogg.

Part of that is Julia´s fault! hehehe. She takes a big part of my time.

I still think of you and Norway a lot...miss you all...remember each moment.

But have no energy to write, specially in English.

Today I went to Sao Paulo again. I´m going almost every week. Or for a meeting at ABU office or for study...I´m starting a new course next week and had to apply and make a test before getting in.

Today our meeting was to interview people who applied to go to Norway in the same exchange program I was in...such a hard decision! We don´t have an answer yet, there too many things to consider and think of, also to pray. Hope we will take the best choice.

By the way, she is the most beautiful and sweet baby, isn´t she?!

2008-02-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

"Conta-se que dois jovens se apaixonaram pela mesma moça. Um deles era falador, extrovertido e não demorou muito a conquistar a familia da sua amada pela desenvoltura e simpatia que exibia. O outro era timido e calado. A disputa parecia injusta e o resultado certo. Mas como passar do tempo a moça se decidiu, e lá estava ela no altar com o rapaz quieto. Então alguém perguntou ao falador, que da porta da igreja assistia a cerimônia: `Esta não é aquela de quem tu tanta falavas, toda a cidade a conhece de tanto tu falares dela...Por que se casa ela com outro? Qual foi o problema?`
Ele respondeu: `O problema foi exatamente este: enquanto eu falava dela, o outro falava com ela.

Mas importante que falar de Deus é falar com Ele.
`Este povo me honra com lábios mas o seu coração está longe de mim`. Deus julga o homem conforme suas intenções e não pelo resultado de suas ações. Se há dor no coração de Deus, esta deve ser uma das grandes. Deus não quer que falemos dEle tanto quanto quer que falemos com Ele.

2008-02-18T04:57:00.000-08:00

I´m taking a long time to post something in my blogg. Time is flying!

I´m also trying to write some emails, but since I came back from IPL, I haven´t done anything.

First was really tired (after 3 weeks!), with so many thoughts...with many patients, missing Julia. Then, got sick (I´m yet...) horrible stomachaches...now I have so much to do...(Sorry people from ABU, cause I haven´t recorded all DVD´s yet and sent them).

But I hope I will do it next days and weeks...

This year, I had a different birthday party. Every year my parents like to make a small party with barbecue (the brazilian one, of course!) and invite some friends, most people from my church. But I didn´t want to, was just back from the camp, feeling most of my friends are not living here anymore, so we just went to a japanese restaurant, which is very nice. And my mother made her delicious cake...

2008-02-03T15:21:00.000-08:00

I´ve been in a ABU camp for 3 weeks, and will try to write a bit about it later...

There people asked me all the time: "What´s your vocation?". Everybody on the staff were sure about their calling to work in ABU. But the only calling I´m sure now, is to be an aunt!

I´m kind of enjoying it a lot! Today I had all day with Julia. Surprisely, they came (at 9a.m) to the church, had lunch in my home, then her parents left and we went to the circus!

I was not sure if she would understand or have fun. But all the time we saw the clown at the fliers, she wanted to kiss them.

It was a very simple circus, I didn´t know what to expect. It was also a long time since I haven´t gone to one.

But it was really fun!!! Not because of the shows, but because of her, she danced all musics, sang, called the clown all the time...with much attention looked at all details.

So, it was very nice afternoon for me!

2008-01-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS VACATIONS

I had very nice time...but unfortunally, haven´t taken many pictures, cause in the Christmas Eve we were in a farm where everything was prepared outside..so beautiful...when it started raining (a lot!). The energy was over during all night. But probably have from some days before and after. It was nice to spend Chritmas with Julia, also with all my family. I traveled on Friday to Tupã, my grandparents town and came back on Wednesday. We were around 60 people, all my aunts, ankles, cousins (from my father side) and some of my father´s aunt and cousins as well. I´ve always loved to spend my vacations with my cousins, remember we used to go to the beach after Chritmas and we were all looking forward to meet each other (almost all holidays when we were small).

Of course, I remembered foreigners in Norway...asked one friend if he found some friends to spend Chritmas with and he said: "l had a normal day in christmas eve:( sound's sad ... but l am used to do that".

After traveling 900 km (Sorocaba-Tupã-Sorocaba), we went to my ankle´s house in Nova Andradina-M.T (another state) and traveled 1486 km (both ways). It´s crazy but there is no airplane there, it´s very contryside. This time, with my mother´s family. It was crazily hot! But "koselig" to meet all of them together.

This two days I´ve been at home, I worked a lot. Yesterday arrived from the office at 9 and today at 8:30 o´clock. And finishing to pack to go to a camp for 3 weeks! Now going to travel 1914 km (both ways) to Vitoria - E.S. Not excited at all...but hopefully, I will get much input and learn and listen from God, since I know this ABU camp, called IPL (something like Institution of Leaders Preparation) is always well prepared with good preachers and leaders. In theory, I´m going to work on the camp, in practical, I´m going to attend to the meetings...AH! Couldn´t forget, I´m looking forward to meet Suemmey and the 2 Hald Norwegian students!

2007-12-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

GOOD BRAZILIAN FRIENDS IN NORWAY

I got this picture from Carol, my brazilian friend from Oslo and NOC - Niteroi Oslo Cooperation - Lar´s project in Rio.

Yesterday was her birthday! And I was remembering the delicious pasta she made for us last year! Also remembering the good moments I had with her. At this time, we were preparing lots of Christmas cards to sell in the churches and send the money for the project. We spent to many nights at Lar´s neighbor preparing them...(Gisele, Rune, Cintia, Christian, Jorn Erik, Lars...)

Also remember when she came to Brazil in the Christmas and she borrowed me so many clothes! Most of them were big for me, but the important was that she was always worry about me and Suemmey.

I went so many times to her house, first time, Lars came to take us in "kollektivet" in his old car, with Rune and Gisele and we had a brazilian dinner at Carol´s home. After that, we met often...preparing cards, making dinner, having guarana...one day, I was walking on the street, when someone coming out of the "trikk" jumped on me giving me a hug, I got so scared...and of course, it was the brazilian sweet girl.

She surprised me calling many times...also sending me these pictures...or when I saw her in the most important chanel in Brazil (when our president was in Norway).

2007-12-18T12:54:00.001-08:00

Fonte: http://www.unicef.de/foto/2007/english/index.htm

2007-12-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

I´m just posting this, because I heard from brazilian missionaries, how they are accepted all over the world, specially in persecuted places, when they are wearing a brazilian t-shirt. I believe it´s not a coincidence Kaká is so famous...Bellow is his testimony, in portuguese...
There is an organization called "Atletas de Cristo" in Brazil, trying to spread the Gospel through sports. I just talked with one dentist who was a part of them, and got the PhD in Norway and told me about their work and a new organization for poor people, arraged by one of the brazilian coaches, this dentist and the norwegian princess and her husband). Small world, isn´t?

ADC: Fale pra gente sobre sua conversão.
Kaká: Nasci num lar evangélico. Meus pais já eram convertidos e eu cresci na presença do Senhor. Minha conversão aconteceu a partir do meu batismo, quando comecei a ter um relacionamento de Pai para filho com Deus. Quando fui batizado em 94, aconteceu alguma coisa sobrenatural. Não sei explicá-la, mas depois daquela experiência fiquei mais próximo de Deus, mais sintonizado com Ele. Naquele momento eu nasci espiritualmente mesmo. Comecei a conhecer a Deus mais profundamente, aprendi que a fé funciona no limite das circunstâncias. As coisas com Deus se resolvem no último momento, e é a fé que decide se alguma coisa vai acontecer ou não.

ADC: E uma experiência marcante?
Kaká: Em outubro de 2000. Eu estava disputando o Campeonato de Juniores. Fui visitar meus avós paternos em Caldas Novas, e lá fui descer num escorregador de piscina, um toboágua. Quando caí na água, bati a cabeça no fundo da piscina e torci o pescoço. Aquela virada causou a fratura de uma vértebra. Os médicos diziam que eu tinha muita sorte por ainda poder andar normalmente. Eles falando em sorte e minha família falando em Deus. Em casa, nós sempre agradecíamos a Deus porque sabíamos que tinha sido a mão e o livramento d'Ele que tinha me protegido.

ADC: E Atletas de Cristo?
Kaká: Se existe algo que falta no mundo de hoje é iniciativa. Todos querem ajudar, mas ninguém tem iniciativa. Atletas de Cristo é um grupo através do qual a Palavra de Deus chega aos atletas de uma maneira que outros meios não conseguem.

ADC: E o que é ser um atleta de Cristo na prática?
Kaká: Ser um atleta de Cristo, para mim, não é difícil. Sou, dentro do campo, o que sou fora dele. É preciso ter tranqüilidade, ter calma. Não posso ficar brigando, mesmo porque não sou de briga. Mas não posso ficar dando porrada em campo, nem ficar falando palavrão. Não quero que falem de mim: "Olha, aquele cara fala uma coisa e faz outra." A minha preocupação diante dos meus companheiros, diante dos adversários é ser quem eu sou e nunca falar uma coisa e ser outra. Dentro do clube procuro ser um exemplo. Procuro mostrar o que Deus tem feito em minha vida e que pode fazer na vida deles também. Sempre que possível, procuro dizer alguma coisa sobre Jesus, sobre a vida com Deus, aconselhar, ajudar.

ADC: Deixe um recado para nossos internautas: Para a galera que já tem Jesus: vocês fizeram a melhor escolha e estão no melhor time. Vão em frente. Não desistam. A luta é grande, mas a gente só tem a ganhar estando ao lado de Jesus. Para quem ainda não entregou sua vida para Jesus: Está fazendo o que fora desse time?! Venha aprender da Palavra de Deus, venha conhecer quem Deus é de verdade. Escute, porque é sobrenatural e Deus tem grandes coisas para nossa vida. Pare de ficar comendo bolachinha, enquanto Deus nos oferece um banquete...

2007-12-04T15:54:00.001-08:00

I´ve lost almost all pictures from Norway...I don´t know why the CDs I recorded don´t show anything, even if they show they are not empty. This week I got some pictures from Norway...and I´m not tired of looking to them yet and remember good moments. Like this one, our farewell party in Laget´s office. Really miss people from there and the good moments packing hundreds of letters or just talking or having lunch together.
These pictures I got from Eldbjørg, someone really special in the office, really receptive and open, who spent lot of time with us, taking us to a restaurant, preparing dinner, giving us some "homework", taking us to the church...

2007-12-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

JÚLIA IS DISCOVERING CHRISTMAS

I hope we will be able to teach Julia more than Saint Claus, Christmas tree and presents...the true meaning of the Christmas celebration.

She is so small and not able to understand much. But it´s the first Christmas she will be able to participate, since she was just 3 months in the last.

I would never imagine it could be a hard task...teach a child the meaning of this date.

Sometimes, we use to tell her some Bible stories, she is able to recognize Daniel, his friends and the lions when looking at the book...it´s cute to see!!! It´s exciting to see she is able to make the animal´s sounds, especial the lion. And now able to walk as much as she wants. She is growning fast!

It´s not easy to know the best way to make her understand the meaning of the Christmas. Any suggestions?!

2007-12-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Afinal, não é todos os dias que alguém completa 25 anos de casados...
Por isso, haviam razões de sobra para comemorar, também para renovar a aliança...que dure mais 25 anos...

Mas quem mais aproveitou a farra, foi a neta, mal parava sentada na cadeira...

E a tia, que não tirou os olhos da Julia...até perdeu a fome...

Enquanto família e amigos curtiam a boa comida, uma boa conversa e muita descontração

E teve gente que arrumou tempo até para namorar...

2007-11-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

27/11/2007

Today is my parents silver wedding aniversary!

I thought my father was going to work today at night, so I planned a nice dinner tomorrow. But I didn´t know he was going to have an important meeting with some important people at the church. It was hard to get him free...but thanks for the compreensible people, we are going to have a celebration tomorrow. And it´s incredible...it´s still a secret!

Counting they are together for 37 years. Because different from Norway, people just can marry after they can afford themselves and it just happen after you finish your studies.

I´m sure it was not always easy to live with each other, but this is what makes this date important...and I will take with me the example of never giving up...

2007-11-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

MY DENTIST LIFE...

I´m learning so many new things...

I´ve been attending some courses about whitening teeths these months. Tried some of the tecniques on my own teeth...It´s nice to get white teeth back after driking so much tea and coffee for 10 months. I feel like cleaning and giving a happy smile for my patients...

But the best I´m learning these days is with a old man with cancer.Cause for the first time, I have to care for the person, for his health first, not for the treatment he needs in his mouth. I really worry about his case, wished he accepted my advice to go to another office, was afraid of doing some mistake.

But I believe God sent him to me...now, I need to study more about special patients, I need to be aware of every single detail, and above all, I learned to love him. Now I believe Christian and dentist are a good combination. Now I´m finding some vocation in my profession...

2007-11-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

MISSING JULIA

I´ve been taking care of Julia almost every day. Now I´m expert with dyppers! And getting some pain in my back...

She is traveling for some days with her parents. I thought about going together, but I needed some resting time.

But truth is, I´m missing her so much...and I´m feeling bored cause I don´t have anyone to call me TIAAAAA all the time or to look after the few steps she is able to or even no one to change dyppers...

I know I´m suspect to say it, but she is really the smartest and cuttiest baby I´ve ever seen... I´m sure about her reaction when she arrives back...she will shout: TIAAA TAÍS and gives me lots of hugs and kisses. And I´m looking forward to that!

2007-11-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

BRAZIL X NORWAY

ONE FOOD:
Brazil: fresh fruits
Norway: chocolates!!!

A SEASON:
Brazil: spring
Norway:winter

MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURE I´VE SEEN:
Brazil: Bonito
Norway: Alesund

CHRISTIAN LIFE:
Brazil: serving
Norway: praying

IFES - Laget/ABU:
Brazil: evangelism
Norway: fellowship

THE BEST PLACE TO BE:
Brazil: my house
Norway: lagshuset

THE BEST IN BOTH: FRIENDS!!!

2007-10-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

COPA DO MUNDO
A Copa do Mundo de Futebol que voltará ao País em 2014, depois de 64 anos, deve atrair entre 500 mil e 600 mil turistas estrangeiros, durante o período dos jogos, segundo estimativas do Ministério do Turismo e da Associação Brasileira de Agências de Viagens (Abav).De acordo com os cálculos da Abav, cada turista estrangeiro deve desembolsar durante o evento entre US$ 5 mil e US$ 6 mil (cerca de R$ 8,75 mil e R$ 10,5 mil). ''''O impacto direto total da Copa no Brasil será de aproximadamente US$ 2,5 bilhões (por volta de R$ 4,37 bilhões)'''', destacou o presidente da Abav de São Paulo, Edmar Bull.

It would be nice to receive some of my international friends in Brazil! You are all invited to come! =)

2007-10-28T14:13:00.001-07:00

RecadosAnimados.com

2007-10-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

MANY GOOD MEMORIES

Thanks Marte for the picture!

I can´t forget each view I´ve seen during these 10 months...each face, each conversation, each place, each feeling...everything is so alive yet. I do miss each of them...

Special one conversation I had with a Turkish man from our Norwegian course. I can´t stop thinking each word I could understand about his life. I can´t stop thinking how I would like to understand him better and express myself better. I remember him talking about Turkey and the situation in his country. Sometimes I doubt if he was just complaining with any reason...

Last Saturday I got scared. I saw my niece falling down and hitting her head on the floor. I took her and saw much blood. I felt guilty, thought something horrible thing could happen. Cried, cried, cried...
Then, remembered his calls when I was already at Hald. Just somedays before I left. Telling me his niece died in his country. He was again alone and sad.

He was the one telling me the Christmas was the saddest day in Norway, when no one is on the streets, all families closed in their houses, nothing to see on TV, as Muslims, nothing to celebrate, just the most boring day in the year.
I remember it was on December 24th and it was not Christmas for me, what made me think what was the Christmas for me...usually my father´s family have a gathering in a nice place, around 60 people together for around 4 days...until then I shared the feeling of no one around, nothing to do.
But the big difference was that I met two wonderful families in the Christmas days: Bjorn Willoch, Ruth, Aninha e Samuel and Anja´s family.

I think people were tired of listening to me saying they should invite muslim people to spend the Christmas day with their families, saying Norwegian culture shouldn´t be stronger than Christ love...
It´s talking loudly inside me again. But I can recognise the same in my Japanese Brazilian culture...and how it´s difficult to change...
It´s not something I would like to write on my blogg. I think I like to think no one is reading it.
I don´t know why I feel annoyed when some brazilians talk about things I´ve written here. I feel annoyed they are coming into my space or trying to investigate my life. But it´s silly...I wanna try to share more about things I´ve felt and learned in Norway. I want to share more about my life, how I am, who I am. I need to open up again...but it´s a process and will take some time...(even if I think blogg is not the best place to do it, I think it´s easier to write to anybody and everybody at the same time).

2007-10-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

AME - Associação Missão e Esperança

Last week I´ve been in a Conference organized by an organization called AME - Association Mission and Hope.

To be sincere, I didn´t wanna go. In the last days, I felt I would like to be at home, alone. But I couldn´t go back...

But it was good to go. Challenging to listen their testemonies. Blessing to be in a fellowship again.

They work in West Timor and Indonesia. After the tsunami they want to help to rebuild the country. But also to preach the gospel. For many years, they were closed, but after the tsunami they ask where is their sin. They showed a commercial on TV where they ask God - not Alah, to forgive their sins.

But also much pain. Many Christians being killed, churches being burned. Persecution.

Among the workshops, we heard from some north americans. They own an organization to help in desasters situations. Also about long and short term mission. The preparation and intercession...and many others.

I´ve heard at Hald from one of the invited teachers, God gave us the mission to preach the Gospel for all nations, it´s more than 2000 years ago and we haven´t accomplished the mission...

2007-10-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

JULIA´S BIRTHDAY PARTY

2007-10-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Foto: Sindre

EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE (Robbie Willians)

"Everytime we say goodbye

I die a little

Everytime we say goodbye

I wonder why a little

2007-10-03T05:31:00.000-07:00

Julia...sweetest baby...

Ricardo, my little brother

...I´m still trying to upload my blog...

2007-09-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will visit Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland in the period from 9th to 14th September 2007.

O presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva embarca, no início de setembro, para uma viagem que o levará a quatro capitais dos países nórdicos. A visita, primeira de Lula àquela região da Europa, tem como principal objetivo promover o uso dos biocombustíveis junto a nações historicamente sensíveis a questões ambientais e com passado de intensa cooperação com nações em desenvolvimento. Lula também deve se empenhar em atrair investimentos para o Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC) e vender os atrativos turísticos do Brasil em lugares onde as populações gozam de alto poder aquisitivo e tempo de férias superior à média européia.A turnê nórdica (leia o quadro nesta página) começa pela Finlândia, país com grandes investimentos no Brasil, entre os quais a fábrica da Nokia em Manaus, que tem mais de três mil funcionários, e a Veracel celulose, uma joint venture da finlandesa Stora Enso com a brasileira Aracruz, na Bahia. Em seguida, a comitiva de Lula, que terá importante delegação empresarial, embarca para a Suécia, nação européia que já conta com a maior frota de veículos movidos a etanol (40 mil). A terceira etapa da viagem será a Dinamarca. Por fim, Lula voltará à Península da Escandinávia para visitar a Noruega, terceira maior exportadora mundial de petróleo.Dentro da variada pauta, a aposta estratégica nos biocombustíveis será o assunto central das conversas. Se depender dos nórdicos, o Brasil se tornará o principal parceiro na tarefa de alcançar a meta de 10% de carros movidos a biocombustíveis na União Européia até 2020. “Os países escandinavos sabem que o petróleo vai acabar um dia. É normal que eles estejam buscando alternativas”, disse ao Correio uma alta fonte do Itamaraty. No entanto, cientistas brasileiros e escandinavos terão de contornar juntos um problema técnico: o etanol congela rápido em condições de extremo frio.Todos os países que serão visitados por Lula enviaram ao Brasil missões de alto nível nos últimos anos. Desde 2003, passaram por Brasília os chefes de Estado de Finlândia e Noruega. Os primeiros-ministros de Suécia e Dinamarca também realizaram visitas oficiais. A opinião predominante entre os governos nórdicos é de que o Brasil, além de fornecer grandes oportunidades econômicas, é crucial para o equilíbrio geopolítico da América do Sul.Mesmo assim, só a Finlândia apóia explicitamente a candidatura brasileira a um assento permanente no Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas (ONU). Lula tentará arrancar o apoio formal dos outros três. Finlândia, Suécia e Dinamarca, membros da União Européia, também apostam que conversas bilaterais com o governo brasileiro são a melhor maneira de retomar as negociações entre o bloco europeu e o Mercosul — paradas à espera de uma solução na Rodada de Doha da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC).Com exceção da Finlândia, presidencialista, os países nórdicos são monarquias parlamentares. Com isso, a delegação brasileira terá intensa agenda protocolar a cumprir, com visitas à casas reais e banquetes oferecidos pelos monarcas.
Atenção especial será dada à Suécia, cuja rainha Silvia é filha de cidadã brasileira e fala português por ter morado em São Paulo dos 4 aos 14 anos de idade.

2007-08-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

BOWLING

Tati e Hudeu e a Julia

This is Vanessa, one of the few people I´ve been meeting since I arrived from Norway.

We have a interesting friendship...we studied together in the high school, but hanged out with different groups. Even though, we became good friends. I´ve studied far from home for 4 years, and we met few times during this years. Then, I came back to work...was spending 5 days in São Paulo and just 2 days of my week in Sorocaba, but we started to meet often.

In the high school, we had the dream of starting a Bible Group in our school. It never happened! But we became good friends with all conversations, not about this "plan", but about life...stuggles, doubts, faith...

Maybe the most interest is we are from different churches... In a country where people use sticky in their cars saying: "I´m proud of being catholic". Or where protestants don´t considerer catholics Christians...I have to say she is one of my best friends and one of the persons I admire most as Christian.

2007-08-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

Brasil precisa correr para cumprir meta de sanamento da ONU
Meta de combate à miséria foi atingida, de acordo com relatório apresentado pelo governo federal

SÃO PAULO - O Brasil precisará reforçar investimentos para cumprir a meta de saneamento básico que está entre os Objetivo de Desenvolvimento do Milênio firmados pela ONU, de acordo com dados do Terceiro Relatório Nacional de Acompanhamento, lançado em Brasília pelo governo federal.

Na questão do sanemento básico, a meta é reduzir pela metade, até 2015, a proporção da população sem acesso sustentável à água potável e esgoto.
O relatório reconhece que o Brasil precisaria investir R$ 9,3 bilhões por ano (R$ 2,9 bilhõesem água e R$ 6,4 bilhões em esgoto) para cumprir a meta no prazo. Entre 2003 e 2006, os investimentos do governo brasileiro nesses serviços ficaram em torno de R$ 3 bilhões anuais.

Na introdução do relatório, o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva afirma que o governo "pretende garantir o cumprimento dessas metas por meio de fortes investimentos: R$ 40 bilhões em saneamento básico e R$ 106 bilhões em urbanização de favelas, até 2010, conforme previsto no Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC)".

De acordo com os dados apresentados, em áreas urbanas brasileiras o acesso a água e esgoto foi de 62,3% dos domicílios, em 1992, a 73,2% em 2005, sendo 88% no Sudeste, em 2005, contra 57% no Nordeste.

Em 2005, 1,8% dos domicílios urbanos e 27% dos rurais não tinham nenhum tipo de sistema de esgoto.

Miséria e desigualdade

O Brasil já cumpriu um dos compromissos assumidos com as Metas do Milênio das Nações Unidas, que previa a redução pela metade da proporção da população vivendo com menos de US$ 1 ao dia, até 2015.

Em 1990, 8,8% da população brasileira vivia nessa condição. Em 2005, a proporção era de 4,2%.
Em números absolutos, esses valores correspondem a 12,2 milhões de brasileiros em situação de pobreza extrema em 1990, e 7,5 milhões em 2005.

Além da meta da ONU, o Brasil assumiu um compromisso extra, de reduzir a 25% a proporção da população em situação de pobreza extrema. De acordo com o relatório, esse objetivo poderá ser atingido ainda em 2007 ou 2008, se mantidas as tendências atuais. O texto atribui a redução da pobreza à estabilização da moeda, em 1994, e às políticas de aumento real do salário mínimo.

A despeito da queda nas taxas de pobreza extrema, o Brasil se mantém como um país de grandes desigualdades: participação dos 20% mais pobres da população na renda nacional não chegava, em 2006, a 3%, e a dos 20% mais ricos, embora em queda há dez anos, ainda é superior a 60%. O relatório destaca que o Índice Gini, uma medida da desigualdade, atingiu seu patamar mais baixo para o Brasil em 2005, de 0,566, ante a taxa histórica de 0,595.

Meio Ambiente

No quesito de sustentabilidade ambiental, o Brasil cita o cumprimento do Protocolo de Montreal – que prevê a eliminação dos CFCs, gases responsáveis pela destruição da camada de ozônio – com redução de 90% do consumo desse tipo de gás entre 1999 e 2006. Dados recentes sobre a redução do desmatamento na Amazônia também entram nessa parte do relatório.

Educação

O relatório indica ainda que o Brasil enfrenta um grave desafio na educação: embora tenha havido uma universalização do acesso ao ensino básico, atingindo mais de 94% das crianças de 7 a 14 anos, o País ainda não consegue fazer com que todas as crianças completem um ciclo inteiro de escolarização: no Nordeste, apenas 78% das crianças completam o primeiro ciclo, da 1ª a 4ª série, no prazo considerado ideal. No Sudeste, essa taxa é de 95%.

No ensino médio, a situação é ainda pior: apenas 55% dos jovens de brasileiros de 16 anos estudam na série correta.

Saúde

No capítulo sobre mortalidade infantil, o relatório afirma que o Brasil se aproxima da meta estabelecida, de redução da taxa de morte de crianças menores de cinco anos em dois terços, entre 1990 e 2015: a taxa nacional caiu de 53,7 mortes por mil nascidos vivos, em 90, a 28,7, em 2005. A meta para 2015 é baixar esse número a 18.

O texto aponta grandes desigualdades regionais: no Sudeste, a taxa em 2005 era de 19,2. No Nordeste, de 38,9.

O relatório pede cautela na avaliação da meta de redução da morte materna – que, pelo compromisso da ONU, deve cair em três quartos, ou 75%, entre 1990 e 2015 – ao ressaltar que esse tipo de evento ainda é subnotificado no Brasil. Os números disponíveis mostram queda, mas em ritmo lento: em 1997 a taxa era de 62,1 para cada 100 mil nascidos vivos, ante 53,4 em 2005, redução de 12,7% em quase uma década.
Nas metas de combate a doenças infecciosas, o relatório menciona os avanços brasileiros no combate à Aids e uma redução no número de casos de malária em 2006, após três anos de aumento, e nos de tuberculose, que vinham crescendo de 2000 a 2003.

Igualdade entre os sexos

O relatório cita ainda avanços modestos na redução da desigualdade entre os sexos no mercado de trabalho – a participação das mulheres foi de 47,5% para 52,9% entre 1992 e 2005 – e um aumento no número de mulheres eleitas para cargos públicos.

2007-08-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Madre Teresa sentiu falta de "respostas" de Deus

Madre Teresa de Calcutá, um dos nomes mais conhecidos da Igreja Católica no século 20, terá um livro com sua correspondência publicada nos Estados Unidos. Nesta publicação, cartas escritas pela religiosa demonstram que ela sentiu dúvidas e angústias espirituais por falta de respostas, sinalizadas pelo "silêncio" de Deus, segundo uma reportagem da revista americana "Time".
"O silêncio e o vazio são tão grandes que eu olho e não vejo, a língua se move na prece, mas não fala", publicou a revista. O trecho foi extraído de uma carta do ano de 1979 de madre Teresa ao reverendo Michael van der Peet, um confidente dela para questões espirituais.
Religiosa de origem albanesa, Madre Teresa morreu em 1997, aos 87 anos, e o processo de beatificação foi aberto dois anos depois, sem que o papa João Paulo 2º aguardasse o período usual de cinco anos para considerar sua santidade. Foi um dos processos mais rápidos da história do Vaticano.
A Igreja Católica leva em consideração a grande popularidade de Madre Teresa em várias partes do mundo. Na Índia, não apenas católicos, mas hindus, muçulmanos, sikhs e budistas costumam recorrer à religiosa, que recebeu o Prêmio Nobel da Paz em 1979.
O livro "Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light" --"Madre Teresa: Seja Minha Guia", em tradução livre-- traz 66 anos de correspondência da madre com seus superiores na hierarquia católica e outros correspondentes, segundo a "Time". O compilador e editor do livro é o padre canadense Brian Kolodiejchuk.
A revista também afirma que muitos textos foram guardados contra a vontade da religiosa, que pediu que fossem queimados após sua morte. No entanto, o Vaticano preservou os textos como possíveis relíquias.
Apesar de sempre sorridente em público, a religiosa mostra momentos de angústia espiritual em mais de 40 textos. Nestes documentos, ela lamenta a solidão, a escuridão e a tortura nas quais vivia. Ela chega a comparar estas experiências com o inferno e a duvidar da existência do céu, segundo a "Time".
"O sorriso é uma máscara que cobre tudo", escreveu a religiosa, segundo a revista americana.
Mesmo com dúvidas que a assombravam, ao final, a religiosa dizia não ter abandonado sua fé, nem chegou a relaxar seu trabalho humanitário, informou a "Time".
O conteúdo das cartas de madre Teresa provocou respostas diferentes. O padre Matthew Lamb, do Estado americano da Flórida, entrevistado pela "Time", afirmou que as cartas revelam uma autobiografia de apelo espiritual que pode ser comparada com as Confissões de Santo Agostinho.
"Isto [o livro] pode fazer com que ela não seja lembrada somente por seu trabalho com os pobres, ela será também uma pessoa que experimentou dúvida, ausência de Deus em sua vida. E sabe com quem acontece isto? Com todo mundo. Ateus, crentes, céticos, todos", afirmou o jesuíta James Martin, editor de uma revista nos Estados Unidos, à "Time".

2007-08-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Amar é sempre ser vulnerável. Ame qualquer coisa e certamente seu coração vai doer e talvez se partir. Se quiser ter a certeza de mantê-lo intacto , você não deve entregá-lo á ninguém , nem mesmo a um animal. Envolva o cuidadosamente em seus hobbies e pequenos luxos, evite qualquer envolvimento, guarde o na segurança do esquife de seu egoísmo. Mas nesse esquife – seguro , sem movimento , sem ar - ele vai mudar. Ele não vai se partir – vai tornar se indestrutível, impenetrável , irredimível. A alternativa a uma tragédia ou pelo menos ao risco de uma tragédia é a condenação. O único lugar além do céu onde se pode estar perfeitamente a salvo de todos os riscos e pertubações do amor é o inferno.

[C.S Lewis em "Os quatro amores"]

2007-08-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

Talibãs ameaçam matar os 19 reféns sul-coreanos

reféns sul-coreanos seqüestrados pelo Talibã

Saiba mais sobre a Igreja Perseguida no Afeganistão
AFEGANISTÃO (10º) - Os talibãs ameaçaram mais uma vez, nesta quarta-feira, matar os 19 sul-coreanos seqüestrados há mais de um mês se suas exigências para a libertação de seus companheiros presos não forem satisfeitas, mas não fixaram um ultimato. Os rebeldes ainda insinuaram que podem deixar seu refém alemão morrer, mantido em cativeiro desde 18 de julho e que sofre do coração, se as autoridades afegãs não aceitarem outra troca de prisioneiros. "Se as demandas dos talibãs não forem atendidas, mataremos os reféns sul-coreanos", disse à AFP um porta-voz dos islamitas, Zabihula Mujahed. O porta-voz disse que transmitia uma mensagem do alto conselho dos talibãs e afirmou que "a maioria dos reféns sul-coreanos está doente". "O conselho de direção dos talibãs ainda não fixou um ultimato", completou. SituaçãoO Talibã é o movimento radical islâmico que dominava 90% do Afeganistão até 2001, quando foi derrubado por uma coalizão liderada pelos Estados Unidos. Um grupo de 23 missionários sul-coreanos da igreja evangélica de Saemmul foi seqüestrado em 19 de julho, quando viajava em uma estrada entre Candahar e Cabul na Província de Ghazni, no sul do Afeganistão. Duas mulheres que faziam parte do grupo foram libertadas há nove dias em uma estrada da área rural do Afeganistão. Outros dois dos reféns, entre eles um pastor, foram mortos pelos radicais quando prazos dados para o cumprimento de exigências expiraram. OreInterceda por esses irmãos que dedicaram suas vidas à atividade missionária, cientes do risco enfrentado e dispostos a morrer por Jesus. Peça pela saúde e bom testemunho deles para que o Senhor possa alcançar estes radicais que os mantêm em cativeiro.

2007-08-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

In My Life - Beatles
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends
I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
there is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them

2007-08-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

São Paulo recolhe doações para vítimas de terremoto no Peru

Um galpão da Prefeitura de São Paulo recebe doações para as vítimas do terremoto ocorrido no Peru entre as 12h e as 18h desta segunda-feira e entre as 8h e as 18h de amanhã (21). O galpão tem capacidade para armazenar cem toneladas e fica na rua Sobral Junior, número 264, na zona norte da cidade.

Confira a lista de itens prioritários divulgada pelo consulado do Peru:

Estruturas habitacionais
- Barracas familiares- Módulos pré-fabricados de madeira- Pranchas de zinco e telhas- Bobinas de plástico- Camas de armar- Garrafas e garrafões de água
Roupas
- Cobertores- Sacos de dormir- Roupas para adultos- Roupas para crianças
Ferramentas
- Pás- Carretilhas
Remédios

- Comprimidos potabilizadores- Halazone (carboxibencenosulfurodidonamida) em frascos de 100 tabletes- Água potável ou Globaline (hidroperiuoduro de tetraglicina em frascos de 50 tabletes- Aquatbs (dihidroisocianato de sódio) em cartelas de 50 tabletes- Chlor-floc (diclorostriacinetriona de sódio) em cartelas de 10 tabletes- Cloruro de sódio 0.9% em frascos de 1000 ml- Poligelina ou gelatina succinilitada 3.5% em frascos- Dexametazona 4mg/ml em ampolas- Diazepan 5 mg em tabletes- Diclofenaco 25 mg/ml x 3ml em ampolas- Lidocaína clorhidrato 2% S/E em frascos de 20 ml- Paracetamol 120 mg/5ml em frascos- Paracetamol 500 mg em tabletes- Dicloxacilina x 500 mg em cápsulas- Dicloxacilina 250 mg/5ml em frascos- Ibuprofeno 400 mg em tabletes- Ibuprofeno 100 mg x 5ml em suspensão- Adrenalina 1 mg/ml em ampolas- Dextrosa 33.3 % / 20 ml em ampolas

Insumos
- Algodão medicinal rolo x 500 gr em pacotes- Cateter Intravenoso Número 18- Cateter Intravenoso Número 22- Cateter Intravenoso Número 24- Micro gotero- Equipo de venoclisis- Esparadrapo antialérgico 5 x 4 a 5 metros em cones- Gaze esterilizada- Luvas esterilizada- Luvas de exame- Seringas descartáveis 5 cc c/a Número 21 x 11/2- Seda negra 3/0 C/A cortante- Vendas de gaze 4 X 1 mt- Vendas elásticas 4 x 5 jardas- Vendas elásticas 6 x 5 jardas- Yodopolividona 10% x 1000 jardas, Extensão DYS

2007-08-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

I suppose to try to keep updating my blogg...but I feel so lazy to do it. I´m not patient in front of the computer anymore. It´s difficult to write in English. But I enjoy to see my friend´s bloggs and I will try to do it as well...

Before I come back from Norway, a woman asked me what was faith. I couldn´t find the words or thoughts in my head, but I could feel it. And it´s how I feel it now...I can´t explain yet.

Someone asked a man if he had some crisis in his faith and he asked: "No, never"."How come?". He replied: "It´s simple. The secret is the obedience".

What I mean is...I will never understand everything about life and never get all answer I would like to. It´s difficult to accept...

But the only way is to TRUST. Since I can´t understand it at all, sometimes I have to the risk and just trust...sometimes, trusting means being "blind"... many times, when I can´t understand how Julia can trust us so much, how she is so sure we have the best for her, she just met me some weeks ago. But I see the first step to build a strong relationship is trusting... and even she can´t speak yet, I think she is one of the strongest relation I have now.

...I think it´s getting more descomplicated...

2007-08-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

"O homem que não quer morrer por uma causa não é digno de viver" (Martin Luther King)

"A amizade é um amor que nunca morre" (Mário Quintana)

"Nossas dúvidas são traidoras e nos fazem perder o que, com frenqüência, poderíamos ganhar, por simples medo de arriscar" (William Shakespeare)

"A ausência está para o amor como o vento está para o fogo: apaga o pequeno, abrasa o grande" (Umberto Eco)

2007-08-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

São Paulo: A City Without AdsFrom Adbusters #73, Aug-Sep 2007

In 2007, the world’s fourth-largest metropolis and Brazil’s most important city, São Paulo, became the first city outside of the communist world to put into effect a radical, near-complete ban on outdoor advertising. Known on one hand for being the country’s slick commercial capital and on the other for its extreme gang violence and crushing poverty, São Paulo’s “Lei Cidade Limpa” or Clean City Law was an unexpected success, owing largely to the singular determination of the city’s conservative mayor, Gilberto Kassab.
Tony de MarcoAs the driving force behind the measure, mayor Kassab quelled the rebellion from the advertising industry with the help of key allies amongst the city’s elite. On many occasions, Kassab made the point that he has nothing against advertising in and of itself, but rather with its excess. He explained,
“The Clean City Law came from a necessity to combat pollution . . . pollution of water, sound, air, and the visual. We decided that we should start combating pollution with the most conspicuous sector – visual pollution.”
Since then, billboards, outdoor video screens and ads on buses have been eliminated at breakneck speed. Even pamphleteering in public spaces has been made illegal, and strict new regulations have drastically reduced the allowable size of storefront signage. Nearly $8 million in fines were issued to cleanse São Paulo of the blight on its landscape.
One sore loser in the battle was Clear Channel Communications. Having recently entered the Brazilian market, the corporation was purchasing a Brazilian subsidiary as well as the rights to a large share of the city’s billboard market. Weeks before the ban took effect, Clear Channel launched a counter-campaign in support of outdoor ads, with desperate slogans that failed to resonate with the masses: “There’s a new movie on all the billboards – what billboards? Outdoor media is culture.”
Although legal challenges from businesses have left a handful of billboards standing, the city, now stripped of its 15,000 billboards, resembles a battlefield strewn with blank marquees, partially torn-down frames and hastily painted-over storefront facades. While it’s unclear whether this cleanup can be replicated in other cities around the world, it has so far been a success in São Paulo: surveys indicate that the measure is extremely popular with the city’s residents, with more than 70 percent approval.
Though materialism and consumerism, along with gang violence will continue to pollute the city of São Paulo, these human dramas may at least begin to unfold against a more pleasant visual backdrop.
– David Evan Harris

On The Media’s Bob Garfield interviewed Vinicius Galvao, a reporter for Folha de São Paulo, Brazil’s largest newspaper, about São Paulo’s ban on visual pollution.
Tony de MarcoBob Garfield: I’ve seen photos of the city, and it’s amazing to see this sprawling metropolis completely devoid of signage, completely devoid of logos and bright lights and so forth. What did São Paulo look like up until the ban took place?
Vinicius Galvao: São Paulo’s a very vertical city. That makes it very frenetic. You couldn’t even realize the architecture of the old buildings, because all the buildings, all the houses were just covered with billboards and logos and propaganda. And there was no criteria.
And now it’s amazing. They uncovered a lot of problems the city had that we never realized. For example, there are some favelas, which are the shantytowns. I wrote a big story in my newspaper today that in a lot of parts of the city we never realized there was a big shantytown. People were shocked because they never saw that before, just because there were a lot of billboards covering the area.
BG: No writer could have [laughing] come up with a more vivid metaphor. What else has been discovered as the scales have fallen off of the city’s eyes?
VG: São Paulo’s just like New York. It’s a very international city. We have the Japanese neighborhood, we have the Korean neighborhood, we have the Italian neighborhood and in the Korean neighborhood, they have a lot of small manufacturers, these Korean businessmen. They hire illegal labor from Bolivian immigrants.
And there was a lot of billboards in front of these manufacturers’ shops.And when they uncovered, we could see through the window a lot of Bolivian people like sleeping and working at the same place. They earn money, just enough for food. So it’s a lot of social problem that was uncovered where the city was shocked at this news.
Tony de MarcoBG: I want to ask you about the cultural life of the city, because, like them or not, billboards and logos and bright lights create some of the vibrancy that a city has to offer. Isn’t it weird walking through the streets with all of those images just absent?
VG: No. It’s weird, because you get lost, so you don’t have any references any more. That’s what I realized as a citizen. My reference was a big Panasonic billboard. But now my reference is art deco building that was covered through this Panasonic. So you start getting new references in the city. The city’s got now new language, a new identity.
BG: Well, cleaning up the city’s all well and good, but how do businesses announce to the public that they’re open for business?
VG: That was the first response the shop owners found for this law, because the law bans billboards and also even the windows should be clean. Big banks, like Citibank, and big stores, like Dolce & Gabbana, they started painting themselves with very strong colors, like yellow, red, deep blue, and creating like visual patterns to associate the brand to that pattern or to that color.
For example, Citibank’s color is blue. They’re painting the building in very strong blue so people can see that from far away and they can make an association with that deep blue and Citibank.
Tony de MarcoBG: Now, the city has said, having undertaken this effort, it will eventually create zones where some outdoor advertising will be permitted. Do you expect São Paulo eventually to just revert to its previous clutter?
VG: Not to revert to previous clutter, but I think like very specific zones, I think they’re going to isolate the electronic billboards in those areas, in the financial center. I don’t think they should put those in residential areas as we had before.
BG: Now, the advertising industry is obviously not happy about this. They’re complaining that they’re deprived of free speech and that it’s costing them jobs and revenue. But is there anyone else in São Paulo who’s unhappy about this? Tell me about the public at large. What’s their view?
VG: It’s amazing, because people on the streets are strongly supporting that. The owner of the buildings, even if they have to renovate a building, they’re strongly supporting that. It’s a massive campaign to improve the city. The advertisers, they complain, but they’re agreeing with the ban. What they say is that we should have created criteria for that to organize the chaos.

http://adbusters.org/the_magazine/73/So_Paulo_A_City_Without_Ads.html

2007-07-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

...LEARNING TO REST...

"We indeed have become very preoccupied people, afraid of unnameable emptiness and silent solitude. In fact, our preoccupations prevent our having new experiences and keep us hanging on to the familiar ways. Preoccupations are our fearful ways of keeping things the same, and it often seems that we prefer a bad certainty to a good uncertainty. Our preoccupations help us to maintain the personal world we have created over the years and block the way to revolutionary change. Our fears, uncertainties and hostilities make us fill our inner world with ideas, opinions, judgements and values to which we cling as to a precious property. Instead of facing the challenge of new worlds opening themselves for us, and struggling in the open field, we hide behinde the walls of our concerns holding on to the familiar life items we have collected inthe past"

2007-07-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

...TWO SPECIAL PEOPLE...

I want to register this day.
Arriving in Norway, Siri, one of our teachers, told me we should try to find someone responsable for us during this time in Norway. Someone who we could share all the experiences. Someone who would really pray everyday. Someone who we trust and trust in God. Someone who would keep all the information with confidence. Someone who will receive you when you go back.
At first, I thought, I don´t need it. I have God, I have my parents, I have my friends. I can easily get adapted... But I decided to look for someone. I chose the new couple of pastor in my church: Augusto e Alessandra. I was no sure it would be necessary, but it was ok to follow a good advice...
All the times I went to my counselour in Oslo, who I appreciatte so much: Aase Edith. She was a missionary in Brazil for 22 year. She lived among the indians, without eletricity for years and then, in the rich city of Curitiba. I guess she can understand better than me the differences in Brazil. It was a nice when I could speak Portuguese and open up my heart. But every month when I came smiling, she asked me: Are you still smiling? Every year the people come crying after some months. But I was really happy to experience God in these time and I knew I was going home soon, there was no reason to cry. We always had good talks about Christian life, our experiences and in the last times, we just had social time...she took me to see the city and to have dinner in her house. And I hope I will meet her in November in Brazil.
So, I asked myself if it was really important to have someone "responsable" for me in Brazil... it was nice to know someone was praying, but it was also a bit work to keep them informed about everything.
Coming back home I understand how much it was important! Today, they took me to the "Chocolate Farm" just for a short walk and relax. Then, we went to have dinner in the shopping mall and to see the supermarket after 10 months...and to visit my dear friends: Vanessa and Fernanda who just got a new cafe. Some talks, but just to spend time together, to help me to feel a part of a fellowship again.

2007-06-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

CULTURAL SHOCK!

It´s interesting...the shock is bigger when we go back home. When we move abroad, we think: "it´s a new country, a new culture, I have to learn and accept". When something is difficult we think: "It´s going to finish, I´m just staying for 10 months". But when we come back home, it´s our country, our society and you can´t change it. It´s more difficult to accept...
When I was in Norway, I always thought: "I could find it in Brazil, we have everything". It´s true. But when I see what we have in Brazil and we didn´t in Norway, I get scared.
I went for a meeting in Sao Paulo on Monday and everything scared me. It was always there, exactly the same when I left, I used to meet that everyday going to work. But now my eyes changed. I can see in a different point of view. Arriving in the airport, everybody looked the famous people, but they are not interesting anymore, I have no idea who they are or what they are doing. But waking in the streets, I meet the poverity, the trafic, the dirty.
I didn´t use to like Faustao, a TV program on Sundays, but he was there since I remember myself. In the last Sunday I got so annoyed with him: he shouts all the time, doesn´t let people talk, doesn´t listen others...
My brother is living just 3 blocks from home and we just drive to go there. When I say I will walk they say it´s dangerous...I shouldn´t. At the same time, we never lock the doors and we leave the keys in the car. Everything is so safe inside home...
Arriving in the airport my mother said to me: when you left, you were just a little girl, now you are a woman. Acctually, she just meant: you are fat!
Comingo back from Sao Paulo she asked me: "Why are you using the same clothes for the second day? Didn´t you take a shower?". It´s so tipical Brazilian...you should never use the same clothes and always take a shower.
Going to the church...You are not so fat as we heard. Uau! You learned to walk without high heels!
So many small expectations...
At the same time, I´m enjoying my Brazilian life... talking my own language, even if sometimes I wish I couldn´t understand...I discovered it´s not so bad to listen just what you need to.
Going to the stores, meeting friends, spending time with family, especially with my niece and my sister in law, (changing dypers, cooking, washing and driving), eating a lot (I had forgotten how Brazilian food is good, especially my mother´s!)...and losting 3,5kg..ehehe.
Receiving a very warm reception at the church from people I know since I borned and from people I didn´t remember...even if I didn´t feel like talking a lot, a hug or an invitation for a visit was enough to make me feel welcomme.
I´m still feeling in Norwegian time...tired at 8 o´clock awaking early and annoyed when people come late. But time will fix it too...

2007-05-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

"A cada dia que vivo, mais me convenço de que o desperdício da vida está no amor que não damos, nas forças que não usamos, na prudência egoísta que nada arrisca, e que, esquivando-nos do sofrimento, perdemos também a felicidade." [Carlos Drummond de Andrade]

2007-05-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

SOUTH AMERICAN NIGHT

Eu e a Rafa - recepcionandoCantando "Senhor te quero"

Como nao podia faltar, danca!

Danca boliviana

2007-05-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

DIA 17 DE MAIO

Esse é o dia nacional da Noruega, onde eles adquiriram a propria constituicao, apos terem sido dominados pela Dinamarca. Nesse dia fica evidente como os norugueses sao patriotas! Diferente do dia 7 de setembro no Brasil, todos os noruegueses vao para a rua, usam roupas tipicas, muitos defiles, sorvete e cachorro quente.

2007-05-01T12:10:00.001-07:00

...UM ANO DE MUITAS DESCOBERTAS...

"Being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of expure, rejection and being hurt again"

"Há no ser humano, um profundo paradoxo: o que ele mais deseja é ser conhecido tal como é, mas ao mesmo tempo, isso é o que ele mais teme...É imprescindível que nos enxerguemos, pelo menos de vez em quando, assim como somos; é importante compartilhar nossos segredos mais profundos. Caso contrário, corremos o risco de esquecermos quem somos na realidade; vamos, pouco a pouco, nos acostumando até o ponto de chegarmos a aceitar como verdadeira a versão da nossa pessoa que exibimos em público. A imagem que projetamos é uma versão editada, que mostramos ao mundo na esperanca de que a considerem mais aceitável que a versão real. Se é to difícil fazê-lo diante de nós mesmos e perante o Senhor. Se não o fizermos, nunca iremos amadurecer...
Se deixarmos que a Biblia nos examine, ela nos revelará aquilo que realmente somos. Nosso Pai é especialista em descrever-nos com precisão e em amar-nos como somos. Deus quer ministrar a nossa pessoa real, não uma versão editada"

2007-04-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

De volta pro Hald...

Rafaela, eu e a Marte (my roomate)

É, eu sei que estou demorando muito para atualizar... eu preciso me esforcar! Cheguei na segunda-feira de Oslo, ja estou em Mandal de novo.
Demorou para cair a ficha e eu entender que eu estava mudando, deixando Oslo, a minha casa, o meu quarto, os meus amigos. Entender que talvez nunca mais eu veja muitos dos meus novos amigos. Eu sei que existe computador, msn, skype, email...mas nunca e a mesma coisa.
Domingo chuvoso, eu fazendo as malas, mas ainda assim nao acreditava...

Ao mesmo tempo é animador ouvir tantas novas estorias vividas ao redor do mundo. Ver que Deus continua agindo. Ainda que o sentimento seja de inutilidade, é nítido ver como todos amadureceram, como experimentaram um relacionamento com Deus mais de perto. Um pouco mais tranquilos, cada um no seu canto, com muitos pensamentos, sonhos de volta e do que fazer para mudar o mundo.

Como no Brasil, hoje e feriado, fizemos churrasco na praia

Churrasco noruegues

2007-04-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

FELIZ PASCOA!

A Pascoa na Noruega e uma data quase tao importante como o Natal, com muita comida, comemoracao e muitas tradicoes.

Como no Brasil, comeca com o carnaval (claro que eles nao usam essa data nem esse nome), mas enquanto a gente come bacalhau depois de 40 dias apos o carnaval, eles jejuam nos 40 dias ate a Pascoa. Nesse tempo, todo o pais se mobiliza para fazer doacoes para a igreja e para organizacoes missionarias ou que ajudam outros paises em necessidade.

Como no Brasil, claro, o ovo representa a Pascoa e o novo nascimento. Porem, sem os coelhinhos...alias, alguem poderia me explicar de onde eles sairam?? Bom, aqui eles usam pintinhos...e por isso, a cor da Pascoa e amarelo. O que representa algo mais tambem e nao me lembro. Todas as casas ficam cheias de pintinhos e decoracao amarela, tulipas e ovos. Tudo muito koselig!

Nessa Pascoa tivemos o privilegio de passar na casa de uma amiga, Synnøve, ela e a lider da organizacao com que a gente trabalha em Oslo. Ela se formou no ano passado para ser professora, e agora faz teologia para se preparar para mudar para o Azerbaijao no final do ano. O pai dela e pastor numa pequena congregacao no interior, ao leste de Oslo, perto da Suecia, numa cidadezinha chamada Aurskog. Por isso, fomos a igreja todos os dias e pudemos conhecer um pouco mais de perto das tradicoes norueguesas.

No sabado, unico dia que nao tivemos culto, fomos visitar a avo dela numa cidadezinha bem perto. Uma senhora muito simpatica e muito atenciosa, mesmo sendo em noruegues, as palavras e lagrimas dela revelavam o quanto ela e uma mulher de fe. A sinceridade transparecia em cada um dos sentimentos das suas palavras. Cada estoria que eu nunca pensei ouvir da boca de uma senhora de tanta idade. Tanta honestidade e tantas licoes. Quanto mais sua fraqueza era revelada, mais fe eu via nas suas palavras e na sua estoria. Uma visita marcada pra sempre...

E como todos os dias, fomos ao culto. Na sexta, todos de preto na igreja. O gigantesco orgao e deixado de lado, so voz, a capela. O altar vazio, nenhuma luz, nenhuma vela, nenhuma decoracao. Apenas uma toalha preta com 5 rosas vermelha. Nada de doces. Peixe, como no Brasil. E todas as conversas giram em torno de cada detalhe da morte de Jesus. Nao e possivel nao se deixar envolver com todo o clima de tristeza do dia...
Super pedagogica, essa e uma tradicao da familia deles, fazer bonequinhos e encenar o dia da morte de Jesus, entao la fomos nos repetir a cena...

No sabado, as 5hs, a Pascoa comeca e os sinos comecam a soar, tocam sem parar durante 1 hora em todo o pais, nos lembrando que a Pascoa esta chegando. Domingo fomos acordados com a mae da Synnøve cantando e trazendo um ovo cheio de doces!!! A festa comeca novamente, todos se vestem como para uma festa. A melhor comida. Quase tao importante como o Natal. Entao nos preparamos e toda a igreja foi ter o cafe da manha juntos.

Dentro de todas as tradicoes, conheci uma familia muito especial. Um pastor serio, que por tras de todos os rituais e da "batina" se e que posso chamar assim...tem uma vida simples, compromissada, que mostra Jesus em cada uma das suas palavras, atitudes e sentimentos.

2007-03-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

PERFEITA PRA PROPAGANDA DA HYPOGLOSS!!! ...saudade...

...ansiosa pra te conhecer...

...meu irmaozinho que esta grandao e ja virou titio!!

2007-03-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

...I LOVE MY CHURCH...

1.Where Christ is present in faith, the home is church, too.

2.Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships - often in our own homes.

3.Faith is caught more than it is taught.

4. The church is a living partnership between the ministry of the congregation with the ministry of the home.

5. If we want Christ children and youth, we need Christian adults/parents around.

It was a part of the seminar I watched in a Creek conference called BARNELEDER.

Some famous speakers from US, who I didn't know from before, and I really admire now: Sue Miller and David Anderson.

And I can say, after the conference, I feel so grateful...

Grateful for my family and the education they gave me, for my parents and my brothers. It was there where I learned how to give the first steps. Each "home service" at night when I was small got a very precious value. We used to look forward to the meetings, we use to fight to organize the folders, to choose some songs, listen the story and sometimes to listen not so good things about us.

I was growning up and learning to receive people at home...be hospitality...in the paper, I was the leader of the youth, but who really was doing everything were them. My father used to take each one to take us to the movies or even to take us to another city...even after he had worked for the hole night.
Every wednesday, we had cell group at home. After working, they always prepared some food for us. The group got so big that they had to buy more chairs. Around 50 people every week, who used to leave very late and make lots of noisy...Many who didn't feel comfortable at the church, but felt in my house.
Remembering the year that my grandparents leaved at home, my mother was in a hurry all the time, but never complained she was tired.
My friends still can go to my house when I'm not there. Many times, instead watching a movie with me, they were sitting in the kitchen next to my mother to talk with her...(isn't it Silvana?? hehe).
David Anderson told us he started a campain: INVITE A FRIEND TO YOUR CHURCH. It means: invite your friends to your home, because there is your first congregation. This what I learned since I borned. And this is why I'm so grateful to have my parents as example for me.
At the same time, I always believed we were the perfect family and now I know we were so much far to be...so many problems, so many things I didn't agree. But again, David remembered us how the Christianity was built through people who were making mistakes all the time. And this is how the Holy Spirit works, through HUMAN BEINGS, when they are sincere.
I would like to write all the Bible examples he gave us. But it's enough to say how many times my parents told us their mistakes. How many times they told me things I didn't think they should say...

"There is no real faith without doubts! But it's walking in faith with doubts in GRACE!"

I received a lot, I learned a lot, had so much good examples, and now it's a big responsability to apply all of this...at the same time, the only thing I really expect and want is a family who is sincere, honesty about everything and then, together, we can be a church.

2007-03-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry for my norwegian and international friends that I got to know here in Norway...
I know that I have this blog to keep in touch with you, and it suppose to be in English!
It has been difficult to write something in English. It's easier to take it in portuguese, and believe: it has not been easy to write it in portuguese also! I never can finish my thoughts and never can express what I'm feeling in words.
But I want to share with all of you about my life in Oslo and what I have been learning here. Maybe everybory should learn portuguese!!

Nothing matters more than knowing God’s purpose for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them. (Rick Warren)

I think this is the question that I'm always asking God...What do you want from me??? And sometimes, I know His answer and it is: just REST and TRUST. It's everything for free, by my grace (Salmo 37:5; John 16:6-7 and Romans 8:32). At the same time, something moves inside me and makes me feel so grateful and longing for God that I feel I can not just stay where I am, in my comfortable life, pretending that nothing is happening around me...

What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as what happens inside you.

Just to feel it, I know that God is working in my life...it's not from me. Maybe this feeling, this wish of doing His will is enough for Him. But still, I don't understand...God is who makes us to want and realizes...My question for these months left is that yet..."What should I do? Where do you want me to be?"

Everything you do can be spending time with God if he is invited to be a part of it and you stay aware of his presence.

...While I don't know the answers...the only thing I can try to do....

2007-03-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

GÅ I TRO:

Foi uma conferencia estudantil em Bergen do dia 23 a 25 de fevereiro. Milagrosamente, nao choveu!!! Essa e a cidade que mais chove na Noruega...a Rafaela que o diga, foram quantos dias mesmo??? Mais de 3 meses, nao?! Nisso devo dizer, gracas a Deus, estou na capital! Mesmo sem poder desfrutar da paisagem ma-ra-vi-lho-sa de Bergen. Montanhas por todos os lados. Na estrada, ja dava para perceber a mudanca de paisagem. Muita neve, algumas vezes era impossivel ver a estrada. Mas como todos os noruegueses, com muita cautela, o motorista dirigia vagarosamente...os 500 e poucos kilometros duraram horas sem fim na estrada, aprox 10 horas. Tudo super equipado, cheio de tecnologia: sabe aquelas televisoeszinhas onde vc ve o caminho, traca o trajeto, ve o mapa, enxerga onde vc esta...tudo isso...nao era sonho nao, era realidade. No meio de tanta tecnologia, a estrada mais cheia de curvas que eu ja experimentei, se me lembro bem, ganha das serras quando desciamos para Santa Catarina...nao tinha como nao passar mal naquela serra de Juquitiba...eeecaaa!!!! Pois e, relembrando a infancia...

Relembrando a infancia tambem nos hinos antigos, ainda que cantados em noruegues. No meio das agitadas cancoes e "worship songs". Seminarios ministrados por pessoas pra la de importantes na Noruega: uma madre que estuda o Big Bang, um general, um homem de negocios, uma professora, entre outros...contando um dia mais humilde que tambem dei um seminario sobre a escola da qual faco parte.

Pra complementar, um autor famoso, sueco, de uma igreja "pentecostal". E que fique bem claro que no sentido noruegues, quase todas as igrejas sao pentecostais...e nao ha preconceito nisso, ou algumas vezes...Bom, que pregacao!!!! UAU! Sentia como nos bracos do Pai, voltando a essencia do primeiro amor. Chamada ao deserto. Descansar e confiar. Quando o que mais importa e estar na presenca de Deus. E pra ajudar, encontrei a Livia, esteve no mesmo intercambio ha dois anos atras, com quem eu pude compartilhar, conversar, orar e ser encorajada.

Tantas coisas para contar...mas o sono e maior que eu...e mais uma vez nao consigo expressar tudo o que eu gostaria...

Essa foi a primeira coisa que vi no jornal quando cheguei em Oslo...amor a primeira vista, e tive o privilegio de passar 3 dias ali, ser tocada e abencoada, encontrar novos e velhos amigos. Ouvir frases malucas em portugues (esse povo de Bergen, viu..). Conhecer noruegueses que nasceram no Brasil...(eita confusao!), falar muito portugues...

Portuguese meeting...essas sao duas das meninas que estiveram no Hald e foram pro Brasil

Livia, veio para a Noruega ha dois anos pelo intercambio da ABU. Casou e agora se prepara para o campo missionario...Timor provavelmente...

2007-03-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

Estou sem palavras...
Deus e muito bom...
Tanta coisa tem acontecido nesse ultimos dias.
Talvez eu devesse comecar a contar todos os detalhes de todos os dias, pq senao, nao tenho como contar o desenrolar de tudo...ao mesmo tempo, nao tenho tempo pro computador e o que mais tenho aprendido, ou pelo menos tentado, e viver AQUI e AGORA.
Estou um pouco deprimida...NAO QUERO IR EMBORA!!! Calma, calma... vou explicar... se e que isso e possivel...
Todo mundo fala tanto de missoes transculturais. A gente olha para os missionarios como herois. Missao como uma coisa grandiosa. E vou dizer a verdade, nada e tao grande como parece, mas tudo e tao complicado como nao parece. O que eu quero dizer e que...nao ha nada de tao especial em ser missionario num outro pais, o que ha de especial e o que Deus faz nas nossas vidas quando se esta numa cultura diferente, o quanto voce aprende a olhar para si mesmo e para seu pais, o quanto voce se desapega a tudo que nao e essencial, o quanto as mudancas marcam a sua vida. Mas ao mesmo tempo, nada e tao bonito e colorido como se ouve por ai. Entender uma sociedade diferente, se comunicar, nao ser olhado como um estranho no ninho e principalmente, se comunicar. Se comunicar e a chave de tudo, ser conhecido, conhecer, entender o que se passa ao redor. Tudo isso leva muuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiiiitoooo tempo! Nao e preciso ler muito sobre antropologia para descobrir o quanto isso leva tempo, o quanto se adaptar numa nova cultura nao e tao simples...
Mas dentro de todas as "complicacoes", tenho que dizer, que eu amo a Noruega. Fico impressionada com o sistema, com o governo, a educacao, o sistema de saude...e tudo mais. Da para ver valores cristaos em todos os lugares. A honestidade, a funcionalidade de tudo...(se e que existe essa palavra..)
Enrolei, enrolei e nao vou conseguir explicar todas as coisas... mas resumindo, Deus tem sido muito bom e consigo comecar a enxergar meu papel aqui, ainda que eu so tenha 2 meses em Oslo. Esse final de semana foi ultra especial. Muitos amigos, muita oracao, muito compartilhar e muitos desafios. De repente, Deus respondeu tantas das minhas perguntas aqui. E de repente, encontrei tanta gente tao sedenta, de Deus, de amor, de amigos. Todos muculmanos. A quem eu aprendo a cada dia a admirar, a amar, a conviver.
Obrigada, Senhor!

2007-02-28T14:36:00.000-08:00

GOL

Gol is a place where we went to talk about Brazil and a norwegian project in Santa Fe do Sul, near from Aracatuba, where I lived for 4 years, when I was studying.

This was a confirmation camp where they went to play a game (that I forgot the name!). All the students, when they are around 15 they make de confirmant class, like "primeira comunhao" in Brazil. It's a great opportunity to teach the Bible. But it is so difficult to reach them. They made such good things for the project, raised so much money, but I wish that they were interested to help with their own strengh, that they were interested to get to know the project.

Suemmey
They were challenged to make creative things to raise money for the project

2007-02-15T03:56:00.000-08:00

DIA A DIA:

Não sei porque me propus a falar disso... complicado explicar tudo o que eu estou fazendo e o que eu fiz. Poderia dizer que numa mistura de rotina e mudancas drasticas, tenho feito coisas muito diferentes.

Quando chegamos em Oslo, mal tinhamos tempo para nada. Saiamos bem cedinho pra aula de noruegues, iamos pro escritorio direto e depois pras reunioes, simplificando...saia de casa 7:30hs e voltava depois da meia-noite. Nao encontrava ninguem em casa. Nao podia reclamar, estar ocupada, fazer tantas coisas diferentes, encontrar tanta gente, so ajudou a conhecer melhor diferentes partes da cultura e sociedade norueguesa. E preciso dizer o quanto isso e dificil e toma tempo...como e importante ser parte da sociedade para poder sair de expectador e ser ativo.

Esse ano mudou. Nao temos aulas de noruegues, o que e uma pena...sinto saudade dos meus amigos. Ao mesmo tempo, novos desafios. As segundas, vou ao jardim de infancia, se e que posso chamar assim...um lugar totalmente incomum, numa organizacao chamada KIA, uma organizacao crista que trabalha com estrangeiros, especialmente muculmanos, o objetivo e ajuda-los a entrar na sociedade, e para comecar, nada melhor do que aprender a se comunicar. Temos aproximadamente 50 criancas, cerca de 5 pessos para olhar todas, de todas as idades, racas, culturas, linguas e nacoes. Tambem as segundas, comecamos um grupo de estudo biblico que eu diria, e um dos meus grupos preferidos. Mas o que experimentamos e que quando olhamos com honestidade para as nossas vidas atraves da Biblia, nossa comunhao e mais verdadeira e assim, a gente pode olhar para fora e se importar com nossos amigos nao-cristaos. Nao daria para explicar em palavras, mas esse e um grupo muito especial, onde eu encontro pessoas abertas, honestas, sinceras quanto a si mesmas, sedentes para ouvir do Evangelho, dispostas a abrir mao do tempo e do que mais for necessario...onde a gente experimenta a alegria de ser parte do Corpo e de compartilharmos juntos da mesma fé. E depois, uma reuniaozinha em casa, com compartilhar, leitura da Biblia e oracao...encontro missionarios de verdade, cristaos comprometidos, pessoas cheias de duvidas...momentos preciosos que vou guardar pra sempre no meu coracao, inclusive os desafios e mesmo depois da meia-noite quando foi surpreendida com uma pergunta: "Quer orar?". Tercas sao sempre surpreendentes, entre aconselhamento, reunioes com meu chefe, temos reuniao das casas com pregacao e comunhao (o que aqui e muito importante), cafe internacional com muitos estrangeiros (especialmente muculmanos), celula da igreja...e o que mais aparecer...ainda e o dia que temos que ler e estudar. Quartas acordo 6hs...ta tao frio e escuro...mas e o dia de ajudar o Lars, dentista noruegues que tem o projeto em Niteroi, la eu ajudo no que eu posso, mais atrapalho, aprendo noruegues e sonhamos com novas ideias para o projeto. Entre muitas coisas e programas pra noite do CU - Christian Union, temos tempo para dar uma passadinha na MF - Faculdade de Teologia, visitar a Lina (pastora dos estudantes), conhecer gente nova, trocar ideias. Quinta seria outro dia de estudo, mas sempre corrido e cheio de programa "surpresa", tambem seria o dia que eu deveria ir para o Marita com a Suemmey, onde eles saem nas ruas e convidam drogados e prostitutas para um cafe, mas confesso que ainda nao fui. A gripe, o frio, outras reunioes, estudar...tudo foi desculpa. Mas ainda irei...

Sexta vou pro Lars de novo...presente de Deus. Com ele eu aprendo a ser boa dentista e conciliar tudo isso com uma vida coerente com o cristianismo alem de organizar um projeto social tao distante.

Os finais de semana costumam ser cheios de encontros, festas, e domingo, claro, igreja. Quando nao um, dois ou tres cultos. Resumidamente simplificada...essa e a minha semana...

2007-02-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

JULIA

Yesterday, I received some photos of Julia. She is so cute, so pretty...When someone sak me what I miss most from Brazil, the first thing that comes in my head is JULIA. It's funny when you don't know someone, but you are looking forward to meet or can miss so much. It's a pitty that I can't come back in the time and see her so small and cute how she is now. But at the same time, I can experience so many good feeling in Norway that I can miss here before I leave. I was reading the Bible and a little verse that says:

Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered

And I was thinking...and realizing that I'm here just because of the cross. Just because Jesus died. And these is one of the reasons for why he died. To have His people together. And it's so wonderful to be together with Christians from many different parts of the world and see how we are different, we have different backgrounds, different cultures, different points of the view, but the same faith. How could we have the same faith if there wasn't a God guiding us? It makes me to believe that He is really in the control of everything and every nation. His Holy Spirit is still working among us. And I'm so grateful for be choosen and be a part of that. To be able to understand a part of the crazy Gospel for the world and wise word of God.

2007-02-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

KOSELIG BURSDAG!!!!!!

MEU ANIVERSARIO!!!!!!!!!!

Oie pessoal!!!!
Obrigada por todos os parabens, abracos virtuais, scraps, etc.
Obrigada ao Depto de Missoes da igreja que enviou dois livros muito especiais que eu tanto queria. Alem de todas as outras coisas, da lembraca e do carinho.
Obrigada aos meus pais que mandaram uma caixa enorme, cheia de pao de queijo em po que eu tanto queria (agora nao sei quem mandou..hehe) e chegou furado, deixou a casa toda cheirando queijo, especialmente meu quarto...mas valeu...deu pra aproveitar os que chegaram inteiros e todos adoraram!
E claro, nao podia deixar de citar dois telefonemas especiais: ROSANA E PAULA. Duas amigas pra sempre!
E dificil expressar o significado de cada gesto e cada simples sorriso, cada presente quando se esta tao distante. Quando nao tem a disposicao tudo o que quer. Quando o dinheiro nao compra todas as coisas e se compra, voce nao pode comprar.
Bom, mas tenho que deixar registrado como esse aniversario foi especial! Como estou me sentindo feliz e privilegiada.
Lembro dos ultimos aniversarios, era tao chato estar de ferias no aniversario e nao poder encontrar todos os meus amigos. Nao ligava pra festa, queria meus amigos. Mas sempre tive festa e sempre passava o dia correndo com as coisas da festa...juntando tudo isso, parecia um dia mais chato que especial.
Mas esse ano foi mais que especial. Comecei na segunda a noite, com um compartilhar e estudo biblico na minha casa (com os 7 estudantes com quem eu moro). Como eu sonhei quando cheguei. As pessoas se abriram de forma tao sincera e aberta. Se desafiaram. Se encorajaram. Meu coracao pulava de alegria. Recebi varios abracos, mas estranhamente, nenhum parabens.
Na terca de manha, ouvindo muito barulho (sempre sou a primeira ou uma das) e pensando que estava tarde, achei que devia descansar. Quando de repente, ouco uma musica dentro do meu quarto...todos que moram comigo dentro do meu quarto com uma enorme cesta de cafe da manha, preparada por eles mesmos e um lindo presente. Flashes, musica, abracos e eu mal conseguia abrir o olho, muito menos pronunciar uma palavra. Tais, how old are you becomingo now? "Vinte e tres!".
Levantei, levei o cafe da manha pra baixo, e todos tinham voltado a dormir!!! Pao com carinha de queijo, presunto e tomate. O famoso e cara geleria de blue berry. O tipico brown cheese noruegues. E um livro sobre Vida Crista e Odontologia. Tudo caprichado.
Saindo de casa pra preparar um seminario...encontro Suemmey, depois Eldbjørg. Talvez eu devesse voltar pra cama. A campainha toca e Sue pede pra eu esperar no quarto. Quando novamente, ouco musica e Marianne, Astrid, Suemmey e Eldbjørg chegam com mais cafe da manha, o Nugatti que eu amo, uvas que sao preciosidades aqui, bexigas, etc.
Me preparando pra sair, vou pra Sue chama-la e uma mesa linda me espera para comer. Claro, tinha que ter Grandiosa!
Fui comprar as coisas para a Festa do Brasil, visitar um nene lindo e a noite, tivemos uma reuniao com os estudantes de odontologia.
Quarta corri com os preparativos da noite brasileira, que atraiu muitas pessoas. Tive a ilustre presenca de duas brasileiras super especiais, a Carol e a Gisele, alem do Runa, claro! Fizemos uma deliciosa comida brasileira...e mais uma vez, uma surpresa...pude comemorar de novo na reuniao de estudantes internacionais, quase 50 pessoas. Todos adoraram a comida e o bolo tava uma delicia!
Ah..enquanto isso, uma festa acontecia em casa, para mim e Åshild, uma grande amiga que mora comigo e estuda odonto. Tive duas festas ao mesmo tempo, ve se pode! Cheguei em casa, muita gente ja estava la...e muita gente ainda chegava. Passamos ate 2hs da madrugada conversando, muita gente do kolektive, onde eu moro. Muita piada. Mesmo em noruegues, me senti incluida. A Anja, uma norueguesa que esteve no Brasil e tem sido super especial tambem apareceu. E terminamos a noite com uma boa, agradavel e edificante conversa (eu e a Åshild).
Enfim, no meio de tantas supresas, tantas festas, tantos novos e velhos amigos (que mesmo distante estiveram presentes). Posso dizer que foi um aniversario inesquecivel! Porque no meio de tudo isso, pude ver como Deus e fiel. Como estar aqui e um presente de Deus. Como posso ver ele agindo na vida de cada pessoa de forma tao clara e tao perto. Como posso me sentir abencoada nos pequenos gestos. Sao tantos sentimentos e pensamentos, dificil expressar em palavras, pricipalmente quando as palavras na sua propria lingua fogem da mente.

Como chegou meu presente... enfestado de queijo!!!!

2007-02-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

DENMARK

2007-01-25T03:49:00.000-08:00

WEEKEND

Indo pra capela na sexta de tardezinha e ja estava tudo tao escuro. Muita, muita neve nas montanhas. Os noruegueses correm demais e adivinhe se nao ficamos pra tras...e pior, nos perdemos!!! Mas gracas ao celular, encontramos um pessoal que vinha logo atras...5,5km na neve, no frio, mas vale a pena pra ver toda a paisagem maravilhosa....

A famosa capela no meio da floresta. Pertence ao Laget e é incrivel ver o cuidado que eles tem com ela. Todos os finais de semana temos cultos ali e muitas pessoas caminham por horas para assistir.

Aprendendo a fazer o famoso wafle noruegues! Todo mundo tem que trabalhar no domingo. E todo domingo temos o famoso cafe na igreja, onde vendemos varias coisas.

Uhnnnnn....

Nessa hora apareceu um rato...e os higienicos noruegueses, que nunca viram um rato ficaram surpresos, preparam as cameras, deitaram no chao...tudo pra ver um nojentinho rato no meio da sala....diferente do que a Rafa diria, todo mundo sentado bem pertinho, com altas conversas, gente de varias partes do mundo...

Caminho de volta...neve, neve, neve...tres horas e meia de caminhada na neve, alguns tombos, muitas subidas, mochila pesada...isso sim que e trabalho!!! hehehe..Mas nao tenho do que reclamar!!!!

2007-01-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

In Lillestrøm, representing NOC (Niteroi Oslo Cooperation): Lar's project. Acctually, a very nice project that you should get to know!!!!!! In the embassy stand where I got to know very nice people!

Playing soccer against norwegians. I got to know the girl who was the responsable for me make up in the children. She has been in Brazil and probably will come to the CU.

Green people...and Marcos in the background (he is working in the embassy)

My brasilian friends: Cintia (with her portuguese accent - not brasilian!!) and Rafaela (guria tri legal who came to visit me in Oslo)

Picking up a name to give a trip to Brasil

2007-01-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

FAREWELL PARTY

I don't know what I was feeling...missing my norwegians friends (Hald's students, they were at Hald before go for many different countries), missing my new norwegian friends that I got to know in Oslo, missing my family and my friends at home in Brazil...

This time, the farewell party was different. Few people. Quiet. In the dinning room. Just Siri and Monica (teachers). I had to share...(a little bit scaring!!!).

Again, it was really nice to meet my international friends and listen how they are living, what they are learning and what God is doing in their lives. And again, I had a very special roomate...who prayed with me almost every day and shared her life with me...THANK YOU!!!!

Giullian (Kenya) and me

2007-01-13T01:11:00.000-08:00

INFIELD COURSE

Tow weeks to rest, meet the international students and think about what we are doing here, how was this time and how it should be in the next months.

A surprise trip on Saturday...to the zoo in Kristiansand! Very nice to meet this people again...missing the norwegians at Hald. Nobody was awake so late to talk and play Legretto...(hehe...Marte...we missed you!!).

Me and Johnson (Uganda)

Preparing to go the zoo...

2007-01-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

The girls from my house
After a seminar about how to treat the girls and the boys, we had to pick up a little paper with some name and find your pair...I was Lara Croft and this is Brad Pitt!!!! hehehe...
After the dinner, we walked to the church and had a beuatiful service there

The most organized good bye that I have ever seen

2007-01-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

GODT NYTT ÅR!!!!!

On December 27th, I went to a camp in Mesnali, arranged for Laget and NMS for teenagers from 14 to 18 (I think!). I had just arrived from the Christmas and after that, had to finish my paper yet. I was so tired that I really didn't want to go, I just needed to rest!

I arrived very tired and didn't have energy to talk. It was not so easy to talk with the teenagers also. They were afraid of speaking English. I started to feel so lost, as I have never felt before in Norway.

After some days, I could talk so much with the girl in my house. They were just talking English all the time and saying for the other: Don't be rude, speak English! They were special and important for me. I was impressed to listen them speaking English so well and telling deep things about their lives. I got to know a very kind and nice guy, who tought me some funny norwegian words!!! "ER DET MULIG??? NEI; IKKE VET JEG!!!!!". Acctually I got to know him because he was always alone in the last line in the services, and I was always going there and asking: Can you translate for me, please? Now I think he doesn't like so much...but I was asking him to help me, since he was alone and not afraid of speaking English (and very weel!!). In the last day, he accepted Jesus...and it was a surprise for me that he was not Christian...It was the best new year's eve present that I could get!!!

It was the first time that I went to ski also!!!! I felt down so many times...you can't control yourself...it's a very strange feeling!!!

It was very funny!!!!!!

Cold?!?!?! Not for the norwegians!!!

2007-01-07T04:40:00.000-08:00

Valeu demais
as noites mal dormidas
ansiando a paz perdida, pretendida
que eu já não sabia mais
onde é que fora se esconder
valeu o tempo de esperar
o teu querer...

Valeu demais os dias mal passados
caminhando atrás de planos mal tracados
que eu só posso agradecer
a tua mão que me livrou
Valeu o tempo de esperar, mas já passou...

Pois eu estou bem certo breve tempo de aflicão
não pode comparar-se a nossa eterna salvacão
E os dias de tristeza
servem mais pra destacar
a imensa glória e honra
com que Deus vai nos brindar

Valeu demais,
valeu o tempo e o contra tempo
que essa estória traz
e cada vão momento
Fica cheio de esperanca
que é a certeza da presenca
do Senhor, em cada passo
por onde eu for!
(Guilherme Kerr)

2007-01-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

We just finished a movie called Hotel Rwanda.
The film is about the real story of Paul Rusesabigina, who was able to save 1268 lives in genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
I’m shocked.
It’s true, I never think about war. I never think it still exists.
Remembering ENCA – training in ABU (Brazilian Laget) – I’m recalled to a simple life. How can we have so comfortable life, nice clothes, nice house, nice car…and just ignore everything else around us???
Looking all that people in the film just sending so many letters and waiting the world just to look at them. Send help. Do something.
I was just wondering all my refugees friend from the Norwegian classes and all that that I interviewed to my paper at Grønland (in Oslo) in that scene. And this is why I cry. They are safe here, but still not feeling loved. Not feeling accepted.
There are so much to do. We have to change our eyes to the world (not for our own world). How can we start?
Coming to google, what I discovered is that Brazil sells chocolates for countries in the war. I just can say that I feel so shy to read that. Around 1.000 enterprises exporting for different countries like: Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Cong. In the last year, just Garoto Chocolates exported 800 ton for Iraq, for US$1,5 million for a country without most important items to life. “In July, we lost 3 trucks with food products. Every day they have to trading with some radical groups to pass in some ways and other times, they need to change the way”. Just sold for 3 times the international price.
“It’s no risks. In the last 6 months we sent US$ 100 mil for Iraq” – says the director who gives hospital materials, especially for babies.
“The only reflect is that they can ask a extra tax, a war fee, because it’s a conflict area”
Since 2004 yet, we sell 16 ton per year of candies and caramels. It’s US$ 27-28 mil in each time.
Between January and August in this year was sold US$ 52 million to Iraq, US$ 1,6 million to Afghanistan, US$ 44 million to Haiti and US$ 111 million to Libyan. Among sugar, tobacco, meat and chicken machines, ethanol and candies.
“That is attractive in a country with war is that many of them are disposed to pay the urgent price. Besides that, when they start to rebuild the country, you are already there”

2007-01-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

HALD INTERNASIONALE SENTER

Estamos de volta! Depois de 3 meses em Oslo, estou de volta a Mandal. O tempo passou voando!!!

Agora só os estudantes internacionais, já que os estudantes noruegueses estão espalhados por diversas partes do mundo. Um pouco diferente dessa vez, uns quilinhos a mais, cabelos curtinhos ou tão compridos, muitas roupas de frio...mas o que mais sinto falta é de cada um dos estudantes noruegueses.

Estou com saudade de Oslo, de cada um dos amigos que fiz lá e até mesmo dos não tão amigos...não é tão fácil conhecer as pessoas quando não se fala a mesma língua, nunca imaginei que as barreiras poderiam ser tão grandes, claro, a gente tenta se comunicar em inglês, mas nunca é a mesma coisa...enquando cada olhar, cada gesto, cada favor tem um significado muito maior. Aprendo a valorizar as pequenas boas coisas da vida! E é no meio dessa Torre de Babel que me lembro da nossa natureza caída e corrompida.

Temos tido um programa mais tranquilo, com pouco mais de tempo livre. Precisamos descansar do corrido final de ano, onde todos estiveram trabalhando nos frios acampamentos. Também precisamos refletir, pensar no que passou e refocar no que virá. Afinal, já estamos no meio do programa!!!

E mais uma vez fica evidente todo o cuidado e atencão de cada um dos professores para cada um dos alunos. Nos sentimos cuidados, abencoados, protegidos.

Voltando, posso ouvir cada um dos testemunhos e ver o cuidado e acão de Deus na vida de cada um. Muitas oracões respondidas. Muitos coracões apertados, saudade de casa, dos namorados, da comida. Mas todos muito gratos por tudo o que tem acontecido. Aprendendo muitas coisas, cheios de sonhos...

2006-12-20T03:40:00.000-08:00

LINDA, LINDA, LINDA!!!!!

Como é difícil expressar aquilo que você pensa e sente em outra língua...Como é possível gostar e sentir tanta saudade de alguém que ainda nem conheco????

2006-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Back to the norwegian course!!!

Sometimes, some miracles happen! I do not know how, but we are back to the class. Thanks for some friends who felt that and asked some people to let us go back to the classes.

We received with so much hugs and welcomes!!! One of them sent us a letter (it isn´t cute?). I feel so happy to get to know all these people.

Even if I can not speak norwegian, we can talk about so many different things in our lives. It is so nice to feel that when we just love and learn about different people, it does not matter what religion, race, culture they are...and we can really be good friends! This is a little bit about what we could see in the Nobel FredPris, looking so many photos about war in God´s name. I felt shy to see that we, as Christians were doing (second the photos that I saw there).

2006-12-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

Present from my dear friend from Brazil... Natasha: Thank you very much!!!
I miss all of you!!! Our conversations, restaurants, studies, discussions...hehe...

Na, Tati, Ro, Rosa, Marcitcha, Má Maluf:

And do not forget our deal!!! hehehe (nobody is going to get married until I come back!!)

2006-12-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

The people can think that I am just a tourist here...

It is true that I am getting to know so many interesting places!

Beautiful buildings

Going to parties

MUCH MORE THAN A TOURIST!

There are so many new things every day! It would be impossible to write all of them here and ilustrate with all my photos. All of this new and nice things are a part of beeing abroad in a new culture. As well to feel lost some times and do not understando what is goind on. But I think that summarize what is beeing really important here can be describe with Samuel Escobar's word in his book:

"...In my own limited experience within the IFES, I am acquainted with hundreds of missionaries whose call to service came at the time they were students...I have already mentioned movements that minister among young people and students, movements that have been more open to taking risksby creating models of sensitive multicultural missionary teams. Participants have been able to look at their own culture from a critical distance. This has veen facilitated and reflection in the light of God's Word this has been an important training ground for mission...facilities for travel allow this educational process to be experienced through short-term visits involving immersion in others cultures, and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ in other lands"

2006-12-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

Takk for sist!

This is our teacher from Hald, Siri.

She came to visit us, to know how the things are going, see where we live and talk. It was really nice to receive her here! Even if for so short time, we can feel that the people are taking care of us all the time.

2006-12-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

Norskkurs:

Some of the students (some of the muslims can not apper in the photos)

She teaches me a lot...

Nils Peter, our teacher

Siri, other teacher

They made a party for us

...with a delicious chocolate cake...

Just to say good bye!

Today suppose to be our last day with norwegian classes. But God surprises us!!!

At first, we went to this class where the students can talk just in norwegian, since they are living here for a couple of years. In the begining, we were just observing and not understanding anything!!! I thought it would be impossible to talk with them some day.

It is still very difficult to talk with them. At least, I can understand a little bit now. And I try...I do not know so many words, some times I just have to write it because they can not understand my pronounciation.

Even if I can not talk so much, I learned so much. Much more than norwegian and the culture. I learned about people. How to get to know them, understand their cultures. Learn to love them. See that they were so open for us, so kind, always giving me some food or tea (even when I did not want to eat, they were insisting so much). It has been so nice to be with so different kinds of people, from differents parts of the world. Different religious and believes. Different backgrounds. Different languages.

I have been attending the classes just for 6 weeks. I could not talk so much. But I felt that I was really usefull, without saying anything. I felt that I had good friends. We went together to the Nobel Fredspris, where I could not be the same after look that and I could think that the peace has to start with us (how you can read in the last post, there are many different photos about different people in many countries where the have wars in the God´s name).

I have so many things to tell about these classes and this time. But it is so difficult to express everything in English!

2006-11-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

This is the picture of the man that was my husband. It is the face of death. Acen Paska.

(this is just one of the sad stories that I saw)

”Terrified and Terrifying” tells the stories of child soldiers from Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Cambodia, Congo, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia. The Nobel Peace Center wishes to use this exhibition to spotlight what is called the world’s longest hostage drama – the use of children as soldiers.The exhibition presents photographs and films about child soldiers, as well as drawings and paintings made by children who have been child soldiers. The children’s artworks are hard-hitting symbols of the traumas the children still carry with them. Short, gripping stories linked to each picture give the public an even deeper understanding of the everyday life of a child soldier. Unicef estimates that around 300.000 child soldiers are being ruthlessly used in armed conflicts to fight the battles of adults. Children as young as eight years old are put at the front line of violent hostilities. Young girls are abducted and have to perform sexual services for older soldiers. Some children are forced to kill members of their own family as a test of their loyalty to the army.
Photographer Marcus Bleasdale in the exhibit in front of two of his pictures of child soldiers in Uganda. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen
At the Nobel Peace Center we experience every day children’s strong desire for peace. And we also see that children are exploited in wars in many parts of the world. Using this exhibition, Terrified and Terrifying, we wish to bring the story of child soldiers into the spotlight and focus on what is also known as the world’s worst hostage drama.

How can we contribute to peace?
The Nobel Peace Center wants to contribute to peace - through reflection, debate and involvement. The Center presents the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and their work, and Alfred Nobel.

2006-11-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

My crazy teammate, always using just a T-shirt...

...while I am always freezing...look what beatiful "lue" (made from Marte...the best roomate!!!)

Visiting a Laget´s group in Hamar

We went to Hamar with Ludvig to visit one of the Laget´s group. We met many nice and open people. And we could talk with them and get to know more about their work. Ludvig tought about your relationship with God and with other Christians in the fellowship. Me and Suemmey gave a short testemony. It was a week that I was thinking so much about my life and reading the Bible could see how many things God was teaching me about my life. It has been nice to see how God never lost the control in any situation in our lives.

2006-11-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

TAKK FOR LAGET

In the last weekend, the General Forsaling, it´s like our CN in ABU

While the people was deciding, we were working in the kitchen (except Leandro!!!)

I got some mark to remember this weekend forever!!! When I meet you, you will see...

Because norwegians do not like bread!!!

2006-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

Somethings that I learned about Norway...

- Midsummer Night
- Russ
- May 17th
- Pålegg
- Potatos, potatos, potatos...argh, potatos again!!
- "norwegians smell milk"
- Coffee: black, please! (qithout milk or suggar)
- Drinking water (in the bathroom!!)
- Fire alarm
- Newspaper
- Elks
- Fresh air
- The Jante Laws
- Matpakke
- Never tell someone they are fat
- There is not bad weather, just bad clothes

"Do not think you are alone if you feel depressed in the dark winter months". (There are hundreds of others who feel the same way).

"Do not over estimate yourself and drink more than two cups of black coffee when visiting - you may find you will never be able to sleep again!"

"A Fishball mentality...an image how the world ought to be...that images requires first and foremost that the world be a larger edition of Norway"

2006-11-07T06:18:00.000-08:00

Norgemarkcapelle

Coming back...walking, walking, walking, walking and walking!!!!

Cooking in the Chrstian Union

Waiting the trikk

It´s always raining!!!

Mc Donalds

2006-11-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

In each day I meet more special people!!! Do you remember when me and Suemmey were working in the firsts days in Oslo? We were working to a camp for the people who support Laget. There, Eldbjørg told about us and a woman called her friend telling about me. Her friend is a dentist here in Norway and he has a nice project in Niteroi. His name is Lars.
He called me and we meet him and two of the brasilian girls in their house. It was really funny!!!
God is always surprising us!!! It has been nice to thing in some things that I can do when I come back to Brazil.
He has such a nice project to help the poor people. They teach english and soccer to them, and the are trying to do some exchange programs, how he did with this girls. But needs help, people comitted to work and support this project!

2006-10-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

My house: I live with more 7 students. They have been so nice and helping me all the time.

In the CU - Christian Union, one of the meeting that we attend. It´s on wednesday for international people. We always have a nice dinner with a different food. In that day the girls from Nepal were cooking with Tim from Canada. In the last week, was me and Suemmey who cooked.

My dear friend Marianne...in a greek restaurant where we went just to drink coffee!!! Funny time...

2006-10-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

One of the churches that I went

Sometimes we need to be critic, boring...because just when we analyse we discover the mistakes and can get better...
But what I am experiencing here is the opposite...with a inocent look, I think that everything is perfect and many times it seems that the motivations and norwegian intentions toward God are so alive and true. Look for what is essential, with innocence teach me also.
Go to the church, full of liturgies, seems very boring for a brasilian used to listen (and do) complains about the service or to see inovations (always!).
I really can feel God´s presence and see the people sheding themselves, broken in God´s presence...it makes me think that the problem is in the form...of our hearts...which goes just to analyse everything and not to meet with the Lord.

2006-10-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

My first days in Oslo...

In these 3 first days we have been so busy!!! Yesterday and today we spent our holy day in the Laget´s office helping to prepare some surprises for the camp tomorrow. This camp is to meet some of the 8 thousands people who supports Laget´s work. They pray and give financial support. It´s very nice to see how the organize and always have someone praying for your work. It was really nice to be there in these first days and get to know more people to don´t feel lost and alone.

Laget´s bookmarker

Suemmey and Eldbjørg

2006-10-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Waiting the train in Kristiansan, with so many luggage in the rain....

Moving to Oslo!!!

On Friday I moved to Oslo. I was not believing...acctually, I´m still not believing that I´m not coming back to Hald. Arriving here, we went for one of the Laget´s meeting in the university. On Saturday morning, we went to a camp with the people that we are living with. There were around 17 people. It was a great opportunity to know the people better and make some friends. Coming back on Sunday, I was really tired...we had to walk for 1,5 hour in the forest to the city and take the underground...in each step I was praying to God give me strengh and I was feeling like He was carrying me. Arriving home, after took a shower, rested...reading in my bedroom...I start to miss Hald so much, to feel alone...while I was saying exactly this to God...my mobille rang: was Marte, my roomate!! It was so nice to talk with her!!! Again, I was feeling how God was looking for each detail.
I slept and some time after, the phone was ringing again. I looked for my mobille and it wasn´t calling. When I saw the phone in my room shining. Trying to awake, I said: ALO? (in portuguese!!). When the voice answered: Is Daniel there? I went down to look for him when I met some of the girls who lives with me and start to talk. Then, another guy arrived to talk and started to tell many things about his life and faith. I was really surprised, I would never imagine a norwegian and talking about faith with someone new. Then another guy joined us to talk and we decided to pray for each other almost in the middle of the night.
With these little details, I can feel that God is in the control and taking care of me and my fears...I just can say: THANK YOU LORD!!!

2006-10-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

The little princess arrived!!!!!!!!!!

Hudson e Tatiane, my brother and my sister-in-law. Aren´t they a beautiful couple?? I´m sure they are!!!
I deserve all the hapiness for you and this little baby. Her name is Julia. She borned on September 20th.
I´m really looking forwad to come back just to take her in my lap and kiss her... I wish I could come back just for a while to see her... besides I don´t know her yet, I feel that she is a part of my life...

My mother, she is looking so good as a grandmother, isn´t she? The most careful woman that I´ve already known in my life (I´m not saying this because she is my mother!!!). I have to confess that I´m jealous seeing this.....hehe

My father, the grandfather now!!! Always showing the videos of her in his mobille... I´m going to loose my throne...sniffff...but I´m sure that they are going to take care of her so well as they have done with me...

Sometimes, it´s not so easy to be so far...when you see many new and good things are happening with the people that you love...

2006-09-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

HALD
It´s so hard to write something in English!!! (Another time I will tell you how many times I missunderstood what some people told me...then it was really funny).
On Sunday, after I take an allergy from a plant, I decided to come and write lots of things that was happening...but you cant´t believe what happened...the fire alarm turn on and it was really noisy...I was so scared that I closed the window and run away. At least, it was a false alarm!!!
So, I just want to show Hald, the school that I´m studying for these months. Acctualy, I´m moving for Oslo in 2 weeks, where I´m going to work with the students. I´m sure that I´m going to miss here so much...I love this place and the people here...

2006-09-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Jeg er trøtt!!!!!
So many new things every day!!!
As soon as I can (or want...hehe) I will write more!!!

2006-09-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

FIRST POST!!!
I´m sorry for my brasilians friends, I will have to try to write in English, besides my poor English and the mistakes that I´m going to make...
This is the way that the Hald´s students are going to know about each other, and it´s going to be a part of our information work...
At least, it isn´t in Norwegean!!!!