This Morning, I Woke Up in Drug Rehab...

Josh, Mark, Sam and I spent the night out at a secluded farm where recovering drug addicts live in community together. By the time we arrived last night, things were winding down and we just said hello and went to bed. But in the morning, we woke up early for breakfast, and then we all spent an hour in quiet time wherever we wanted to around the farm. I chose a bench outside where I could watch the last minutes of the sunrise. 
After an hour, we all gathered around a tree and Sam led us through our discussion. He started by asking everyone what was going on with them spiritually, what they'd been reading, what they'd been praying about, etc. The first man to speak was upfront about how he'd been putting other things before God and was looking to fix that. 
I found what he said to be incredible. One, because of his honesty. Two, because it was the EXACT same thing Sam was planning on discussing. His plan had been to talk about things that we put before God, and before he even started talking about it, another guy brought it up. Apparently, it really needed to be talked about...

When we returned home, we spent some time working on projects around Mark and Ali's house. They are in the process of making their garage into a bedroom for four boys, so they need a desk. Why buy one when you can build it to your exact specifications? And what a better opportunity to get more carpentry experience than an international woodworking project?
So I drew up some designs for the desk, and spent maybe three hours walking to and from a recycled wood center with my new friend Ismael. We talked a lot, which is surprising since he knows no English and I'm still trying to figure why anyone would want to speak a language called Pork-n-cheese.
But it went well. We both learned a lot of each other's languages, and we got to know each other well. 
(In case you're wondering, the first phrase you should learn how to say in any language is "How do you say ____?" which can be rather difficult, since you can't use that phrase to begin with. Good luck with that.)
As if the conversation wasn't good enough, the recycled wood store (ok, junk yard) was an awesome sight to behold. They had entire houses-worth of junk separated and sorted. Wood, doors, doorframes, windows, stained glass, piping, toilets, and yes, kitchen sinks. Plus, they had a treehouse! I could have spent hours there! Especially since it would take me awhile to figure how to ask if I could go up into the treehouse. 

This evening (you should be catching on to the fact that I had a packed day by now) the youth group from the Igresia de Cristo came over to Mark and Ali's house. Somehow we got thirty people and change into the Kaiser's limited living room. We got to sit in on the group's continuing discussion about finding God in unexpected places. Look out, world, this group of teenagers is obviously serious about going for God. 

My day ended on a high note when, on the way home with the family I'm staying with, we stopped by my new little brother's mom's house. I just stay with the father and son, so it was a pleasant surprise to get to meet his mom as well. 

Drug rehab farm, cross-cultural carpentry, junk yard, Brazilian youth group, and family time. Some of them unexpected, but all means to a great day of relationships strengthened.