"Carnaval"

Monday and Tuesday were two of the most important days of the year here in Brazil - the famous celebration of "Carnaval", where Brazilian flock to the streets for incredible displays of dance and pageantry for hours on end. But at the heart of the music and parades is a tradition that started long ago with a belief that it could be a time to feast on all that our hearts desire. Until Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, when candles are lit and a fast begins. But for most now, it's only the biggest party of the year and a major preoccupation about where to spend it.

Here in Belo we are far from the ruckus of Carnaval. Most prefer to travel to Rio or Salvador and if not then the smaller country towns are preferred to Belo Horizonte. What's most sad to me about the festivity is not the drinking and partying but the heart it reflects towards "religion". Carnaval reveals the feeling most have - my relationship with God is lived out through religion where I fulfill my duties and repentance is a must to appease God. It shows a lack of faith that only God satisfies and that his satisfaction is more than just in word but real.

On Monday we gathered with around 20 friends for a cookout. We had a great time and I was thrilled to see the students who were there. Jimmy and Maggie's parents, here visiting their new grandchild Grant, also spent the day with us. I can say of the 20 or so who were here with us, they are a group living by faith to encounter a richer satisfaction. And amazingly all by God's grace. It's not a group of monks but people touched through others to see God's favor towards us in Christ. I hope you can read through the clichés to see I'm talking about a faith-driven real relationship with God as we seek to understand our place as adopted children and his unconditional love towards us.