It´s hard to believe but this is my last day here in Brazil. Two months have come and gone so quickly! It almost feels like home here so it´s an odd feeling to think about coming back to Scotland. During my time here I have done so much more than I even anticipated. In the space of a few weeks I have been in the city and slums of Sao Paulo, the mountains and beaches of Rio and the beautiful scenery in Bertioga. Of course, the true joy in any journey is the company. I have been able to spend time with some wonderful and inspiring people. The ABBA family consists of so many wise and Godly people who live and serve by faith each day. I am so grateful for the hospitality of all those who invited me to stay in the their homes and spend time getting to know their families. Thankyou to all those people who were so kind and thoughtful.
When I come home I will probably have to answer a lot of questions about my time here. It´s hard to process so much and it will take a while before it really all sinks in. What I will process are the words of wisdom and advice that have been shared from those who have the knowledge and experience to help me ask the important questions. It has been inspirational to work alongside people who have most incredible courage and determination to work in spite of great difficulties, whilst continually trusting in God. The work they do is not always easy and sometimes it is far less than rewarding - but these are good and faithful servants whom I can only aspire to be like. The ministries of ABBA generally and Casa Semear specifically are growing rapidly. The potential is incredible and I´m excited to watch how God´s purposes unfold within them over the next few years.Thankyou so much to everyone at home so supported me in preparation for my trip and all throughout it. Messages of interest and encouragement have been so much appreciated. When I finally get home on Sunday night it will take at least a week, if not more, to recover and get myself sorted out. Please be gracious - jet-lag and culture shock may make it difficult to get organised for a while!
Well, my bags are packed and ready to go. I have one last day at Casa Semear and then it´s off to the airport. I leave Sao Paulo at 11:40pm on Thursday evening and arrive in London at 3pm on Friday. I will be staying in London for a couple of days and should finally arrive in Edinburgh around 9:15pm on Sunday evening. After that I have no idea what awaits me. All I´m hoping for is a good cup of tea.
