A few pictures

I only have a few minutes to type this because Im at an internet cafe. Marie Ines was so kind to take me to the city today to buy a few things like a bin to wash my clothes, string, and a little sponge for the shower. I will add two pictures for you and hopefully add more at another time! One is of Tete and her painting. I almost had a heart attack as she smashed my brushes, but the result was beautiful. I hung it as art in our house. The second picture is the inside of our church. Simple and beautiful!

It has been much too long

How I have looked forward to writing this as last week I didnt write anything.

On Monday was my first day of daycare that Bea didnt cry. I was so happy. We made a figure of Mary and Jesus for a tiny alter in the school house to pray before we begin. You wouldnt believe how cute it is to see her doing the sign of the cross. Then today, she decided that she did not want to go and when I was carrying her (she was crying) she peed all over me. I felt this warm liquid and I thought to myself that is strange, I must have stepped in warm water. And then after a few moments I realized, oh no! She's peeing on me. I quickly ran and took a shower. Please pray for us. I am out of ideas of what to do. She is such a happy little girl at other times, but in a moment she can begin wailing. There is this deep pain in her heart that is seeming impossible to erase.

Also today I found my first parasite in my foot. They call it "a bug of a pig." It comes from poop and they are very common here, but painful. They all laughed and luckily baby Francisco and Padre Cristiano have them too. They cut it out and it should heal quickly.

We received a new missionary from Argentina a few hours ago. Right now he is residing in my house, but when Cece and Nicolas leave for Argentina in a few weeks, he will live in their house. It is really nice to not be the only one learning portuguese.

My portuguese is coming along and yesterday on my apostolate to the Passagam, the poor town close to us, I actually understood what the Brazilian woman was saying. This is a big feat as they all talk very quickly and in a low voice. She lived in this house that looked like Shrek's. We crossed this railroad track and away from all the other houses and dirt, she had this beautiful garden. She takes care of all her flowers. It seemed like paradise. But how lonely she is. All her kids have moved away and people are constantly asking her for food. She was tired and her heart worn out. She didnt want Padre and me to leave and was enticing us with food and juice and flowers. How lovely she was without any teeth and her toenails beaten down.

This other lady we encountered in the Passagam is a true miracle. I am unsure of what disease she has, but she is confined to a wheelchair. She doesnt have use of her feet or hands. Yet she has made a room into a library and has desks for the children to come and do their homework. She flips through the pages of the books by whipping her hand. What patience and kindness she has for them. She has 7 children, none of which are her own. Her youngest is one years old. She was left on her doorstep without clothes at 6 weeks old. So she took her in and cares for her as her own. My favorite is that little Yasmine does the exact same thing as Raelin did at one. You ask her where her telephone is and she whips out her hand to her ear. I think this woman is a saint and I hope our friendship grows so I can learn from her.

Another big moment for me was when Jai-jai, a 20 year old here asked me to help her with English. She is very self conscious because she was held back a grade and has much difficulty to learn. And she came up to me and asked if I would help. It is a very different thing to help someone on your own accord because you think you have something they need, but it is different, when a person reaches out to you and asks for help. God must be in me that she felt comfortable to ask me to help. It is helping me with my portuguese too because I have to compare the two languages.

And lastly, I have a new little friend here. Tete. Tete is 7. She is adopted by Jai-Jai's mother because her own mother does not want her, nor her grandmother. The poor child heard all of these things--that no one wants her. I cant imagine what sadness she has in her heart. On top of this, when she was living with her mom, they had a one room house. So she and her three sisters heard and saw ALL the things that went on. Adult things no child should learn. Now she teaches the other children here bad words and things that are inappropriate. Dona Joselita who is her adoptive mother is exhausted. Tete makes trouble at school as well. She spits on the people in her house and is a wreck. So they asked me to help. Now we sit in the hammock and sing. We dance around the house. We paint and cook (Hannah-- she loves my bread with egg in the middle. thanks to you for teaching me. every day she shows up asking for it.) Soon we are going to make a tent with sheets (Yes, I dread washing them afterward, but hey this is what loving is, right?) Soon I will be an authority figure and be able to help her return to being a child. I thank God for intrusting her to me.

Lastly, I wish to ask for recipes. I have to cook 3 times a week and I am out of ideas. I fear making the same things always. We have bread, eggs, rice, beans, many many fruits, pasta, potatoes, tomato, onion, green beans, carrots, cucumber, tomato extract, salt, pepper, sugar, condensed milk, flour. I think that might be it. Any ideas? email me erica.c.tighe@gmail.com

This weekend I have a day of rest--a weekend of rest-- with a girl who is part of another community in Salvador. She stayed here two weeks and then invited me with her to thebeach. I am going to have time to upload pictures! I have some miraculous ones. Daniel had his seventh birthday the other day and so I made a crown for him. He wore a bow tie too. Oh they are to die for!!!

Many prayers,
Erica

When the Going gets tough

What a busy few days it has been. During my time at the escritorio this weekend, I managed to break the computer. I have no idea how. I was simply writing my letter to my sponsors and then it went black. I spent the rest of my weekend feeling terrible about it. And of course I didnt save my letter. I had forgotten what it was like to be using a PC.

I am learning the slow life of Brazil. I tried to bring my efficiency from the United States here and it back fired. (Also did you know that we should not call ourselves Americans? They say that all the people here are Americans here and that I am a Estados Unidian or something. It is quite frustrating.) So I have decided to accept the slowness here and really embrace it. I am going to allow myself time to learn the language and the people and when I feel like I need to sit in the hammock I am going to.

Sorry for the short post. Today I spent the time talking to my family because life has been a bit more difficult. I think the Honeymoon phase is wearing off in the fourth week. I want to talk to people and not always have to think so hard. I want to fit in and have friends here. But these things take time. So I ask for many prayers this week for my life here. And I continue to pray for you.

Com muito amor,
èrica

My First Wish List

I have to preface that I am living a life of poverty WITH the people of Brasil and so it is difficult for me to ask for too many things-- as they dont have families and friends to write to for things. I get about 30 dollars a month to buy things like shampoo, etc. However, I will ask for some things that can help all of us here (a few things are helping for the beauty of our life).

If you desire to mail a package, some things I desire
good scissors
a single hole punch
water color paper
bakers twine
any art materials for me (doing art is a good way to relax)
paper to write letters (i only brought one notebook and didnt realize that the reason i had never used it in 5 years was because it doesnt tear out easily)
a regular notebook to plan my lessons in
body wash (they only use bars of soap and i find it impossible to shave my legs with this!)
anything to decorate with... left over fabric even. our house is quite drab
pretty napkins that i can make flowers with to hang in my house (like i did for mimi's party)
paper dollies
a glue gun?!!! am i asking too much?

and for my little escolinha

with much thought, it is difficult to think of things for classrooms. we really just need the basics.
we have a ton of paint brushes, but no paint
we only have recycled paper with other writing on the other side, but no new paper or thick paper for painting
we have 4 things of playdoh
we have lots of colored pencils, but no crayons or markers
i would LOVE some childrens books in english (i want to make a library in one corner)
and if anyone desires, i would LOVE to hang a globe
other than that, let your imagination wander

what were your favorite things to do as a child? maybe you can comment on the bottom with your favorite things!! it is good for us to remember the joys of childhood...

i went through many stages--- beading necklaces, creating friendship bracelets with that thin thread (oh theyd love that!), making cards.

i would love to stock the shelves with tons of different supplies and let the kids use their imaginations too. These kids have toys yet they prefer to tear the banana leaves and make crowns and belts like "indians." how amazing would it be to put out all sorts of supplies and let them create what their hearts desire!

my prayer today for each of you as you read this is to connect with the child within. do something today that makes you giggle with glee. jump in a puddle or throw a snow ball.. since its winter there (i cant even imagine as we are in the middle of summer here).

Pontos Coração
Fazenda do Natal
Erica Tighe
Cx P 28
CEP 43 700 000
Simões Filho-BA
Brasil

with love from all of us here,
erica

At last... fotos!

Que bonito all the desire to help with my escolina. I need to create a list of things I desire. I have a dream already in my head of things I need, but quite a bit is impractical to send all the way from the US. BUT I will make a list for now of things for the children---materials and eventually once I figure out how much money I can spend here, I will begin asking for other things!! What a blessing.

Today is my first day of descansa--rest day. Irma and I came to Salvador to the small office they have and I was able to upload pictures. I am literally dripping sweat sitting here, but I accept the sacrifice because I am so excited to share tehse with you. I had a total fail though in my rush to pack that I forgot to take photos of the church, other houses, the school, etc. But I guess it's like a relationship.... you dont reveal EVERYTHING right away because if you did, the other person would lose interest. And so I keep some secrets to reveal at another time!!
the gate into the fazenda!
my first view of the hill!
bea received a new violin. this is irma josete, my roommate
a sign for me!

the view from the window in our kitchen
the little altar in our kitchen
our kitchen that is always full of many many antsshowing padre arno. i also live with padre
tete and bea in our hammock
me and bea at a festa to say goodbye to one of the amigas das criancas, the hearts heart about 20 minutes away from us.
the church where i attended a two hour mass!
the bug that joined me in prayer.
irma and me!
beautiful beach for my first time going!!!
bea in some shades to block her eyes from the salt water
gabriel, 4, who belongs to lucas and estefanie a french couple. he was left by his mother at 6 days old and they are trying to adopt him. they have been in teh fazenda SEVEN YEARS.
building a piscina
gorgeous!
this beautiful resort!
a very funny photo for you
tete, oh tete. she is 7 and often heard singing throughout the village. she is adopted by dona joselita, my walking partner
after the beach, we went to this museum of sea turtles
nina and marcus. marcus's brother is daniel. they live with maria ines and reno and baby jose, from france.
carolina, a permanent member, bea and tete
jean lucas and diego
rafaela and daniel as ninja turtles
i went to another two hour long mass. the church and city were very beautifully, though so it made it worth it.

in the church
nina, irma josete, and rafaela. depois missa we went to lunch at the priests house. i even got to drink a beer!
a church entirely made of wood. the altar and all are carved wood. amazing
a cow arrived in my front yard!
padre arno teaching something
why doesnt daniels hat fit? i have no idea
me and nina
my lovely bea
me and dona louranhia, a missionary from brazil
i live with a lot of french people as you can tell by this outfit
we all went to the beach for an outting before school began. que lindo!



reno tried to climb the tree to get coconuts
this is diego. he has lived here since he was a young boy. he was abandoned into a little corner. we took him in and he is amazing now. he doesnt talk, but he definitely speaks with his eyes.
mateus was much better at it
bananas from our banana tree!
the hammock
the view from the other side of the porch... there is our laundry basin to wash
the beautiful church
the clothes line after i did diegos laundry
the church in the passagm which is where many of our people come from. it is an INCREDIBLY poor town, i guess you could call it. but the church is gorgeous and overlooks the amazon river!!

i had my first dinner party!
here is my bed. there is nothing on the wall because i didnt bring anything. and patrick, no i never make my bed. it is much too difficult with my mosquito net
the clothes of irma and then all of my things. she also has a desk and a bookshelf. and two of these shelves are mine. i refold my clothes every week because they get very untidy...

Until more,
Erica