the little things.

Well. I think I love it here.

Everything is going swell here in Altamira, Para, Brazil. Everyday something different happens and it feels like a new adventure awaiting my encounter. I love that. It doesn't really ever get boring. A couple days ago I was feeling pretty homesick. Firstly, I was actually physically sick so that brought my spirits way down. And secondly, its Christmas time. This is the first time in my life I am separated from family during this family gathering season. And third, its hot. No snow, no cold, no wearing sweaters and heavy socks and driving in the snow and ice covered roads. So homesickness hit me pretty hard.

But all is good now. I am concentrating on everything that is good about being here instead of being home. I am enjoying the little things. Let me explain...

Today I wanted to do something kinda adventurous, risky, and a little ambiguous. I took my hammock and rope outside, and climbed a tree. The tree already has some boards that Bud put up for the kids for an easy climb. So I tied the ropes to some branches about 10 feet off the ground and hung my hammock. Then I went and got my book and read it above the ground. It was kinda scary. I had to trust those knots in the ropes... But the knots obviously ended holding because I am writing this right now. But this isn't the thing I really wanted to focus on. As I was reading I heard something on the ground below me. I looked and saw a huge black and yellow lizard. One I have never seen in the yard before. It was cool. I saw it twice while laying vulnerably in my suspended hammock. I started thinking. If I had not done this laborious and somewhat stupid task of putting my hammock in a tree, I would have never seen this cool lizard. I have had my hammock out there before but I was closer to the ground so that made me think I would have missed this incredible sight if I had not hung my hammock in a freaking tree!

Another little moment. I played soccer today with some guys from the church. (It was awesome, by the way. I really like playing soccer with Brazilians because its so intense and serious. They all pretty much know what they're doing. So that makes it fun. Because I don't. But I love learning and adapting and trying to do what they do.) Before we played, Neyilton, the guy I took along was talking to me. What he said gave me a nice feeling. He said, (in Portuguese, but I will translate) "Your'e going back in May right?" I told him no, that I am already leaving in March. He looked at me in a surprised way and sincerely said, "No, don't go." His eyes told me he was being sincere. I told him I would definitely be back someday. So yeah, I gotta come back. These are friends I will be leaving. Just like home. I left friend behind, but I knew I would soon return. Now I will be leaving more friends and I know someday I will be back to see them someday. Hopefully.

So I have written about these things because they are simple happenings. But they have helped me in a big way. Homesickness sucks, but thats when you just gotta enjoy the little things. That is what I am doing. And these little things happen every single day.