What do people see?

The picture shown is two rivers that meet and mix into one.  However, if you look closely at the picture, you will see that they are actually flowing side by side for some time before they truly mix.  One is brown and one is black water.  Where they meet is called the mixing of the waters….once they mix, you can no longer see the two different colors.

This picture made me think of our time here so far.  What do I want to look like in this culture?  Do I want to be so differnt from the Brazilians that I always look a shade lighter or darker?  Also, if I am more "Brazilian" in my ways so that I am not so different, willl I still stand out because of Christ that lives in me?

I pray that in Christ, I will be differnt.  I want the life of Him to flow through me in a way that you can see more of Him than me.  As for being more "Brazilian" in my ways…I imagine that people will always be able to tell that I am American by orgian, but hopefully the colors won’t be quite as distinctive.

On a lighter note:  Things are going well here.  We have had a wonderful time seeing Joel’s parents and being able to asses what we will need to take down to Via for our language training.  We leave the 21st to start heading that direction & we look forward to learning Portg. so that we can better serve here in Brazil.