Here we are celebrating our 813th day of living in Brasil. We have become pretty accustomed to our life here. Things that turned our heads when we first arrived no longer surprise us. But recently I realized most of you are still new to Belem. Some of you have asked us where we live. City? Country? Jungle? I think the pictures on our blog haven't thoroughly captured the strange dichotomy that we call home. Our house is located on the AVA campus, a park-like setting full of fruit trees, tropical flowers and songbirds. It's like Eden except with fire ants. Last night, the jambu trees shed their blossoms like pink rain. I stood under the shower and wondered if I was dreaming. Beautiful and fantastic--did I mention you can eat the blossoms?
Our school and home are surrounded by a big, grey, spike-topped wall and on the other side is another world. Belem and its suburbs contains close to 2 million people. It sprawls out in a wash of cement, festooned with graffiti. Street crime is rampant, even during the day, and murder is commonplace. We are instructed by the police not to stop at traffic lights during the night for fear of car jacking. You get the picture.
In an effort to better illustrate our setting, we thought we'd try to capture a few images of a typical drive to the grocery store. This is difficult because waving a camera around is advertising for thieves. A $100 camera from the States sells for $400-$500 here, so they are a hot item for bandits. Anyway, we discretely snapped some photos as we drove to the local supermarket. Sorry, the pictures aren't great, but they capture a bit of our local scene. If you like this, tell us, and we will try to do it again. Maybe we could take you to the mall, or even the ice cream topping store!!
Do we worry about crime? Of course, and we take the necessary precautions. One must be cautious and wise. But I was talking to a missionary who works in some of the roughest neighborhoods in Belem. I asked him if it was dangerous. Of course it is, he said, but I believe God is bigger than the danger. And I have to agree.
2 comments:
I enjoyed this insight very much. Being surrounded by 2 million people doesn't sound like living in the jungle! And I agree totally...God is greater than the criminals and the evil that surround you! May His mighty hand of blessing and protection be upon you always!
Wow, Tim and Jill! It reminded me a lot of what the city of Ndola, Zambia, where katy and Sid are, looks like. Also, the living in the compound with a secured gate, where inside it is a bit of a garden atmosphere. I think that somehow I thought Belem was not as impoverished. God bless you and the children as you minister there. Maria
,
Post a Comment