(Sam) frustrations!!

Last Tuesday was a shocker! Although the communication from the church has been minimal, up to this point it has all been positive, and to the effect that the process is easy and that it’s just a question of them being busy and trying to get the right people in the right place etc. Then suddenly on Tuesday, I got through to the guy who leads our church (Ivo) and he told us that the head guy responsible for arranging the documents (Rubens) ‘has expressed some concerns’ about being legally responsible for us…

We were so frustrated!! The lack of communication didn’t seem like a positive start to a partnership, but we’d given them the benefit of the doubt that the process was well under-way, based on the few times we had communicated. I was able to express our frustrations, and finally he agreed to arrange a meeting with Rubens which we’ll have by phone tomorrow lunch (Tuesday 14th). Crunch time.

As we tried to process this news ourselves and work out what this means, we realised the beautiful irony that we were also supposed to be speaking on Sunday at church all about Brazil...genius timing! We spoke on trust and faith, which seemed like the most relevant topic, and was certainly the most raw and genuine at this moment.

As we take a step back to look at the situation, we are still holding onto our vision of working with young people involved in prostitution in Brazil, but now starting to look at other doors that might open. It will certainly be difficult to let go of all the specific location-based plans, and of friends and networks etc., (and especially our valiant Gus) but after this conversation and after a year of waiting, we are feeling our own concerns about working under such a leadership, and are actually relieved as we look at what other options are available.

Tomorrow – 1pm – is the decision time. We are going to hear their thoughts, and express our disappointment and frustration. Hopefully they will be able to offer an apology and then, if they decide they do want to go ahead, we’ll be asking for some visible action points on their part, and also be setting a couple of deadlines.  

We’ll see what the future holds tomorrow!