wAsHiNg fEet...

This was my sunday morning experience... and I just wanted to share it with you... be blessed, as much as I was...

Jesus wanted to wash my feet this morning...
Somehow it was hard for me to accept it...
I started to cry...and cried... and cried...
Still, I couldn’t take my sandals off,
“my feet are a mess” I thought,
Wounds from thorns, dirt, deep cuts from dry skin... literally a mess...
But Jesus kept speaking:
“that’s why I want to wash your feet...
It’s been hard the path you’ve been paving...
It’s been hard work I know,
and I’m thankful you’ve been willing to walk on it...”

More tears came down my face
As I made myself vulnerable to recognise and feel the hardness Jesus was speaking about...
at the same time
A feeling of relief came through me...
“I want to take care of you...
And I want you to take care of yourself”,
Jesus continued as I kept weeping...
Finally I took my sandals off
And let Jesus “wash” my dirty, wounded and tired feet...
I kept weeping and He kept speaking :
“I want you to do the same to others,
I’ve called you to serve,
And I’m giving you my example
For you to follow.”

Suddenly everything was so clear,
I was never comfortable with the role of a leader,
Mainly because of the heaviness and discomfort the word itself carries...
And even when I knew God was putting me in places and situations to lead,
I never really assumed that, not to myself or to others...
I always said that I was called to serve,
But somehow at this moment it was sinking deep down in my soul...

Yesterday, as I was speaking with some people,
I knew they were resisting my role as a leader in this place...

we all lead, of course, in our own different areas,

but I feel my place here is to oversee the vision I was given to carry...
I expressed my discomfort with role I feel I have to play,
And that I have my problems too with the word “leader”
When it comes to myself...
I said leadership is not a bad thing
When it’s understood as a function
Instead of a position...
And submission to others has been
Something I’ve been learning and growing a lot with...

Now, Jesus was showing me what a leader was about...
It’s all about serving others,
Being clear about our own identity...
It’s about caring for others...
I went to read the passage
Where Jesus washed His disciples feet before being crucified...
John 13:1-20
And I received more revelations...
And it sank in...
I was amazed !!!
Judas was among the disciples at that moment,
And the devil was already feeding his thoughts in his mind...
Interesting, isn’t it ?!!
I never thought about that...
Jesus washed his feet as well,
Even knowing he was going to betray him...

This made me realise
That we are to wash EVERYONE’s feet,
We are to serve ALL with no exception...
I knew that, but somehow it sounded NEW again...
I am to serve all people in this land,
In humility and love...
I started to picture myself washing the feet of those I was having some problems with...
It was powerful and beautiful...


Jesus started to speak about other things...
In my conversation with the people I was having problems with,
they also asked forgiveness for being defensive and even arrogant towards christianity...
They said they recognise
They were the ones having problems with it...
This was another refreshment for my soul...
Rejection has been a strong feeling in my life...
I feel rejection among “freaks” for being a christian,
I understand, but it still hurts...
Among christians (not all) I also feel rejected
For being a “freak”,
Which makes me very sad,
Not for me, but for all those they reject,

not showing the real love of God who accepts everyone...

I felt really glad to be accepted as a christian 
by those who have other ideas about God,
and that made me think about something else Jesus said...
I realised it was on the same passage,
after Jesus washed His disciples’ feet:

“I tell you that whoever receives the one I sent
Is also receiving me;
And those who receive me,
Receive the One who sent me.”

and receiving is about accepting to be served...
Accepting to have their feet washed...

Thank you Jesus...

your teachings are light on my way...

After writing this, I had a good bath 
I spent more than 2 hours scrubbing my feet and taking the old skin away...
I felt soooo good... 

2 LaZy 2 wRiTE...sOrRy...

It has been quite intense with new people coming... different rhythms, many ideas, defining priorities and a very hot summer, which gives us only a few hours early in the morning and late in the evening to do something... nature marks the rhythm, and it´s a waste of energy to try to fight it... 

Here are Ton and Nolan, Lukas and Marcia... Ton is away for more than a week now...he went to Poland to Slot Art festival and he was supposed to go up north for a workshop of "earthbag house building" , but he missed it...he's now on the way back to the land.. we miss him...he is such a presence here...

Lukas is back in Germany as well ... we miss him sooooooo much... it was such a pleasant time with him here and he's such a special person... 

Lyyyyyyyyna , telephoooooone !!! eh, eh...yes, she has many phone calls all the time from family and friends who cannot wait to meet this little precious baby Nolan...he is growing everyday and it's such a pleasure to have him among us ...

Ton , Lukas and Imre (a visit from hungary) on a water mission !!! yes, watering the garden and the trees has been the main mission on the land at the moment...it has been very very hot..arround 35- 40 degrees ... Phew !!! Nice to have some good swims in our pond...Thank God for that !!!

Lukas catching some fish...he had great fun with Josh!

Chris, Carli and Dane Uhler came to visit us for some days...it was soooo fun to have them around... Dane has just arrived from a long trip in Asia and Carli just came from California and was looking for a direction of where to stay this next year as things didn't work out for her to go to Mozambique...so, she will stay with us in the land for a year... soooo amazing!

we drove together with Marcia to "Moses ", where our friends are... Andrew (Memphis) prepared a surprise party for Vonny's (River's) birthday... they just got new names... we had to wait in Amieira's "cafe" until they all came and we were ready to go down and surprise her... we had such a nice time with them and their friends from Oleiros...

we slept over and had another wonderful and relaxing time the next day... I needed it ! I  finally got to meet the Winter´s friends and neighbours, Peter (Sunshine Dundee) and Sue (Moonbeam Pocahontas)... Peter is just a character ! I couldn't stop laughing at his jokes... I love this community, they call themselves "Zion"...and I'm sure I'll be there many times when I need a rest, or simply to hang out with this beautiful new friends

Chris getting some "Nesperas" / Luquot 

Chris and Dane "walking on the water" in Cambas, att the river Zêzere...

making a raft and it was not for our pond... Carli, Dane and Chris thought it would be a great idea to go back to Lisbon on a raft on the Tagus river / "rio Tejo"... why not ? 

we took them to the river in Willi's van...

and they finished the details on the water...

doesn't he look like Tom Sawyer?

we also had a nice day at the river...it was Lukas´ last sunday with us...and Stephi was also visiting so she came along...
they left on sunday from Vila Velha de Ródão (after Castelo Branco) and arrived on thursday to Lisbon... not bad
they got stuck on one of the few dams on the river, but Carey and Marty (their parents) went to rescue them and drop them down the river so they could finish the trip...

they also ran out of food supplies, but Carli said everyone they would meet on the way in other boats would give them all their food... God provided all their needs...

"row , row, row the boat
gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
life is but a dream..."

This song totally fits these 3 siblings...

IT IS NICE TO DREAM...
AND SEE DREAMS COME TRUE...
EVEN WHEN PEOPLE MAY THINK YOU ARE CRAZY ...
they are a good example ... keep going Chris, Dane and Carli... live your dreams !!!