TiMe 2 bUiLd ...

Spring is sprouting...and that gives me hope and reminds me of God's faithfulness, goodness, compassion and mercy...
These last months has been quiet 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 on my personal journal which helps me to realize what's inside of my soul... I realize I 've got lots... and so I'm allowing God to permeate those rooms which are often locked or rarely opened... It's been good, but quite exhausting... that's why building stuff 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 it 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 in the end of the day... it feels good... specially when I see the result of it every day... it's much different from the work in our souls... most of the times we have no idea of what is going on...
we see nothing changing... it even seems useless sometimes... but it's in the course of time, after the storms pass or the desert ends, that we realize how much we have grown, how much we've learned, how much we've changed...
And that work is God's to do...I'm sure God is as delighted with that work 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 is left for me to do is to TRUST, and WAIT... God knows exactly how the project will end (contrary to the work I'm doing with my hands, as I only have an idea of how I'd like it to look like), and I know that in the end it will be good, pleasant and perfect...



Anyway...changing the subject...
I've had a very pleasant time at Moses with Vonny, Andrew and the kids, Elouise and Joshua... Actually I went 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 to Joshua... On sunday we had a lovely quiet day, a nice fish for dinner and "march mellows" (however you spell it) for dessert :-)... on candle lights...
yes, it looked nasty...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 ...doesn't matter what... 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....And 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 (not exploited wood of course)... And so she did... they bought this amazing beautiful African wood, finely worked by a local portuguese carpenter...
But all the rest, they did it themselves... all the plastering inside the house, the wood work, repairing the roof...oh and the bath place...bummer, I forgot to take a picture...it's so beautiful and pleasant !!! with a boiler inside to make it really warm...Hmmm !!!
But amongst all the nice things, they have been going through a lot these last months as well... But there they are... with Joy and peace in their hearts... They know they are doing the right thing... what brings life into their hearts...

I'll finish with a song...the one that is probably annoying you every time you open my blog :-)

"when all we have is all we need
and the Love of The Lord will forever be
for to do God's work and to live in Peace,
let the promise of heaven may be with you..."

Oh, one more thing...
As you probably know, or if not, I'll remind you, our car is gone...
Everyone tells me it's not worth it to repair it, but anyway, I guess we need a car at the moment... and preferably one that we can use to work and carry stuff...
So, 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 some willing to loan us some money for a year as they did to buy the land...
If you are willing to support us here to buy a car, let me know and I'll send you the details for bank transfer or paypal account...

Ah, another thing I was almost forgetting... the time to send your inscription for the PERMACULTURE COURSE is till the 1ST of MARCH... don't loose this opportunity if you're really interested on it...

Bless you all

PEACE