Hava' ee

I really don't enjoy sitting down and writing about the deep ponderings of my heart, which is why I love pictures hehehe, but then again narrating gets tiring :) so I will ponder for a bit, and then continue with the typical random ramblings....

I hate trying to articulate exactly what It feels like to be in a BEAUTIFUL place far far away from everyone you love. I was talking to a friend today and it felt so good to know I'm not the only one who feels different every HOUR of the day. One minute I am SO SO HAPPY to be here and don't want to leave, the next I am really homesick. The weird thing is that it's far enough away that i might as well be in another country, but it's still the U.S so I can so easily pick up the phone and call people up and be reminded of how much I miss them. In a way, I think it would be much easier if I was forced to be cut off from communication lol. The best word I can find to describe it is "surreal" because the whole experience is SO FAR outside of my comfort zone... i never in a million years imagined that I would pick up and leave for three months, because I'm not that TYPE lol (i.e it's such an ebersole thing to do). For that reason I feel like It takes real effort to make the whole experience be a time that I enjoy, rather than something that fulfills other people's expectations.

I'm a person who really enjoys spending time with few people or just one person, rather than hanging in a big huge group. So, because I spend most of my time in a big huge group(there is something like 40 mission builders alone!) I think right now it just feels like i've made a lot of "acquaintances" but only one or two meaningful friendships. I have one REALLY good friend here who is leaving in a week....... and i'm really sad about that. A lot of the mission builders who are here, specially the girls actually, came here with a friend and sometimes even more than one! (WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THAT!?) needless to say, I am a little jealous of those people :) but on the other hand I know the circumstances here are exactly what I need to push me out of my comfort zone, and it's forced me not to be so dependent on people to fulfill my needs, but rather God, whom I have grown very close to :)

With that said, there are so many things that I love about being here.

* Mile 88. i will never get sick of water so warm and blue :) and waves !

*MAIL! specially packages :) heheh If you knew how happy it makes me, you would write more.

*POG= passion, orange, and guava juice.

*Realizing that the world is so much bigger than our little neck of the woods

*I love the fact that after work, I can do everything or nothing at all :) no comittments, no errands, NO SCHOOL WORK! During the week I actually don't do much, and I LOVE THAT. Some people who are here spend their whole time occupied with "stuff"(which is fine!), but I feel so blessed to have free time! I am learning to enjoy that. Back home I feel like I was always on the go (ask the people who lived with me!) , running from here to there, driving driving driving, doing doing and doing........ i'm really enjoying not making plans and just "seeing how I feel" :)

* NO TV! there is NO CABLE TELEVISION ANYWHERE. not at Hale Ola, and nowhere on campus either. That would also explain why there is so much time... and makes you realize how much time is wasted in front of the t.v

* I love the question "where are you from?" There is usually an awkward pause after I'm asked this. I found out really early on that If I said "Brazil" people would ask "why do you speak such good english?" and if I say "Boston" or "east coast" people would be very disappointed lol (I dont look like a new englander apparently). So now it's always a "originally from Brazil-but been living in the states for a long time :) that usually satisfies most.

*The prayer room at campus. At times just a peaceful quiet place to pray/read etc... and other times... the place is on fire. i love both.

*Harashi's: sushi place a block from hale ola where I can buy 6 pieces of sushi for $2!! if you pay $5 the sushi is huge. it's just really good cheap food.

* I can't forget to rub it in....I LOVE THAT IT'S HOT EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! sure, soon i will be freezing cold like you ANNE!! :D but i'm pretty warm for another two months and that makes for a very happy brazilian.

* I LOVE LOCALS... They're really cheap hawaiian flip flops.

* $1 hot fudge sundays around the corner :D


The End.
SHOUT OUT TO ANGELA... for making me laugh out loud with a very funny letter this week.

Random pictures or nothing in particular... enjoy

My locals :D



Downtown is only a block from where we live which comes in really handy. There's always something to do, someplace to go


This is SO COOL. A beach volleyball court in the middle of downtown in between some shops. Mission builders go here to play volleyball at night all the time

SKATE NIGHT!! every tuesday night YWAM opens up the Ohana Court for skaters in the community and the public as a form of outreach... the turnout is always huge. It's fun to go and watch when there's nothing better to do :) they play loud music and sell chocolate which is always a plus