TiMe 2 bUiLd ...

Spring is blossoming...and that gives me hope and reminds me of God's faithfulness, goodness, compassion and mercy...

These last months have been quite intense for me, in many aspects, that's why I've been so rubbish to post on my blog... 

As I said many times, it has been an introspective season, with lots of thinking, lots of writing in my personal journal which helps me to realize what's inside of my soul... I have a lot at the moment... I'm allowing God to permeate those rooms which are often locked or rarely opened... It's been good, but quite exhausting... 

building with my hands has been a good way to relieve my mind, or at least keep it busy in more practical things ...

you can check out here what I've been doing this last month since I came...
Actually I already mentioned in a previous post about the prayer shelter... It has been a delight to see it taking shape...I finished the structure yesterday, and I can't wait to put the cover and dirt on top of it...

It is very encouraging to work with my hands... to get calluses... dry hands... sweat and tiredness at the end of the day... it feels good... especially when I see the result of it every day... it's much different from the work in our souls... most of the time we have no idea of what is going on...
we see nothing changing... it even seems useless sometimes... but it takes time, for storms to pass or deserts to end, for us to realize how much we have grown, how much we've learned, how much we've changed...

That is God's work in us...I'm sure God is as delighted with that work in me as I am with mine... I'm sure God can see the results in me everyday, but at the moment I see nothing and sometimes I wonder what is really going on...

All that is left for me to do is to TRUST, and WAIT... God knows all my imperfections and S/He gently shows me where I could improve ... As for my work, it´s a bit different as sometimes I have no idea what I´m doing, I´m following instincts and allowing the process to teach me...

Coming out of the land for a bit...
I've had a very pleasant time at Moses with Vonny, Andrew and the kids, Elouise and Joshua... Actually I went there because of Joshua's birthday... I was actually "kidnapped" on friday to stay with the kids on saturday while Vonny and Andrew went to buy some presents for Joshua... On sunday we had a lovely quiet day, a nice fish for dinner and "marshmallows" for dessert... There was no open fire, so they cooked the marshmallow on candle lights...
Everything about it looked unhealthy...but hey, it was fun !!! we're still alive !!!

I was amazed by the work these guys have been doing by themselves... They had to leave "Bacelo", the first land they were living in with Peter And Sue, because of some disagreements ...It´s not the place and not worth it to go there now...

Anyway, they lived for a while in their neighbors' house in Amieira (the village up the hill), which was great, they said, to get to know more of the portuguese culture... I bet they did...
Finally, in December, they moved in to Moses as they finished restoring one of the future guest houses... It's beautiful !!!

Look at the nice windows and door ?! Vonny shared with me how that was a promise she made to an african friend... she asked her that, if one day she would have to buy wood to build something, that she should buy wood from Africa ( from a sustainably managed source and not from illegal logging)...  so she did... they bought this amazing beautiful African wood, finely worked by a local portuguese carpenter...

All the rest, they did it themselves... all the plastering inside the house, the wood work, repairing the roof...oh and the bath place... I forgot to take a picture...it's so beautiful and pleasant !!! with a boiler inside to make it really warm...

It hasn´t been easy though. They have been going through a lot these last months as well... And there they are, with joy and peace in their hearts... They know they are doing the right thing... what brings life into their hearts...

One more thing...
Our car is dead... Everyone tells me it's not worth repairing it, but anyway, I guess we need a car at the moment... and preferably one that we can use to work and carry stuff...

I've been looking for some second-hand pick-up's , and the cost goes between 2.500E, and 4000 Euros...
I'm sharing with friends to raise some support for that, and I already got someone willing to loan us some money for a year as they did to buy the land...
If you are willing to support me here to buy a car, let me know and I'll send you the details for bank transfer or paypal account...

Another thing I was almost forgetting... the time to send your inscription for the PERMACULTURE COURSE is until the 1ST of MARCH... don't miss this opportunity if you're really interested...

Bless you all

PEACE

IsRaeL aNd pAlEstiNe...WaLk aBoUt LovE...

I just got annoyed and sad with an e.mail i received to "vote for Israel"...
I respect the person who sent that to me, but I had to reply to check if he was in his good mind...sometimes we just don't think about what we're doing...specially when it comes to signing petitions on the internet...
so the e.mail goes like this:
" Please login to this to vote and consider forwarding this
> important message to your friends and colleagues
>> Apparently CNN is pushing a poll showing that 60% vs. 40%
> of Americans favor "Palestine" over Israel in the
> war in Gaza. We must respond with numbers and be heard. We
> must stand together. Thousands of these emails are going
> out across the world right now. Be a part of supporting
> Israel. See also the hateful messages being left if you
> need motivation to become involved. Please pass this to all
> concerned.If you have not already done so, please click on
> the link and then simply click on the Israeli
> flag..."

I was disgusted just by the language... who are "we" who are supposed to stand together?!!

Are these "hateful messages" the best motivation to get involved?!!! ... This makes me sick...

Shouldn’t WE (fellow human beings) be for PEACE and JUSTICE for all...?!!!

I’m not for "Israel", and I'm not for "Palestine"... I´m more protective of Palestinians simply because they are being oppressed and suffering injustice under the Israeli state for many years... The jewish God I know would also be for the oppressed, as always.

I have some good Israeli and Palestinian friends... And I love them all !!! And I'm sure they would love each other, if only they could meet together...
I’m for a reconciliation between brothers and sisters...for peace... If there is Hope for Heaven on Earth, there is Hope for this...

I’ll not read propaganda... I'm sure I can hear many hateful messages both from "Palestine" and "Israel" ... these might be nations (I'm not even going into that discussion here), but they are made by people like you and me... and so often people don't agree with their Governments... they are equally human beings, who suffer, who might feel injustice, who might feel anger sometimes, who might feel hatred, saying and doing horrible things to each other... 

Is it easy to forgive when we are wounded ?! Be honest !!! Both Israelis and Palestinians are tired of seeing terror, family members being killed, their land being stolen, etc... Would you easily forget and forgive if any of this would happen to you ?!!
What they both need is to forgive and heal... and maybe to have role models to help them, instead of a bunch of people, who probably know nothing about their reality, voting for one or the other...
In the end, they are both victims of fear...
We should not encourage this hate as children of God... as ministers of Peace and reconciliation...

Lets pray for Peace... Real PEACE that comes from FORGIVENESS... Not by man's power, not by armies or Government agreements... Not by propaganda of hate...
Let us pray that FORGIVENESS takes place... And for the best to be decided for both these peoples who suffered so much already... Lets pray for wisdom for those involved in the peace/reconciliation process... because this is too complex for me to figure out what is best to do...


Instead of focusing on the bad things that are happening, let us remember that there are good things...

This next March, it will start the Walk about Love 2009 in Israel ...starting from the south until the north...
a bit of their description:
" We aim to walk the entire length of the land of Israel from South to North , to show the rest of the world that it is possible for people of different races, colors and nations to understand each other. Gathering together with all of our different cultures and languages, we will share a demanding challenge.

A One Thousand Kilometer Walk In Three Months .
Our mission is to demonstrate that coming together in harmony is possible.
This protest is a heartfelt cry for connection and unity. We are but tourists passing through this world for a short time. Lets not waste our time.
Come together and enjoy a true connection as one human family – living, working, walking, singing and dancing together. The sharing of our beautiful differences towards the common goal of Global Brotherhood will enrich us all.

Walk About Love is firstly a universal musical festival featuring artists and musicians from all over the world. This exchange of musical cultures, we believe, will create a universal understanding. Dancing together we will learn to love and accept each other. "

...the "foolish" showing some wisdom to the so-called "wise" in this world...

May Palestinians be invited, (if possible for them to get in some territories) and welcomed ... May the message of Love be transmitted, that we can live together and love one another without fear, irrespective of our religious beliefs, our colour, our nation, etc...

This is the message we are to carry as children of GOD!!! The God of ALL Nations, peoples, tribes and languages !!! The I AM !!!

May God Bless us all...

SHALOM
SALAAM