Kara and I spent a "week in the life" with Jeremy, Jason, Kristin, and baby Jacob recently. We had an incredible time enjoying the beauty of Brasil- from the views from Corcovado and Sugarloaf to the beaches of Ipanema, Leblon, and Barra. But the greatest beauty in Brasil is without a doubt its people. Whether it be playing soccer with students from the nearby communities, sweeping floors and cleaning out trashcans at a local widows home, or walking the streets of Rio, you can see in these people a zeal for life that you just don't see in the States. Looking through the warped lens of our lives in the US, your initial impression is to see a people who have so little, but after just a short time around them you begin to understand that we are the ones who are deprived. In Brasil you find true community,
people connected to each other and committed to each other. You find joy in the most unlikely places and generosity unheard of in our "me first" culture. It occurs to me that it makes sense that our hosts have become so ingrained in this culture. Their daily decision to die to themselves and live their lives in service to the people of this city is challenging to us- and inspiring. It causes us to look outside of ourselves and consider what our community could be like if that attitude were prevalent here. Thank you Jeremy, Jason, Kristin, and Jacob for opening up your homes and opening up our eyes.
Kara and I spent a "week in the life" with Jeremy, Jason, Kristin, and baby Jacob recently. We had an incredible time enjoying the beauty of Brasil- from the views from Corcovado and Sugarloaf to the beaches of Ipanema, Leblon, and Barra. But the greatest beauty in Brasil is without a doubt its people. Whether it be playing soccer with students from the nearby communities, sweeping floors and cleaning out trashcans at a local widows home, or walking the streets of Rio, you can see in these people a zeal for life that you just don't see in the States. Looking through the warped lens of our lives in the US, your initial impression is to see a people who have so little, but after just a short time around them you begin to understand that we are the ones who are deprived. In Brasil you find true community, 
people connected to each other and committed to each other. You find joy in the most unlikely places and generosity unheard of in our "me first" culture. It occurs to me that it makes sense that our hosts have become so ingrained in this culture. Their daily decision to die to themselves and live their lives in service to the people of this city is challenging to us- and inspiring. It causes us to look outside of ourselves and consider what our community could be like if that attitude were prevalent here. Thank you Jeremy, Jason, Kristin, and Jacob for opening up your homes and opening up our eyes.
