faith + portuguese

So tired. Wednesday was the beginning of the mask photo shoots... sure I'm not taking pictures, but I have to be there. I'm so tired. I help out with the mask for most of the day, and then I go to my office and work my regular 30 hours a week. My room is a wreck at home. Clothes are everywhere. This week has been quite a challenge. I'm relieved that school is starting tomorrow.

I am so glad that everyone is back here in Walla Walla. I keep seeing friends everywhere and it's so great to catch up with all of you. I'm so happy that I my registration has been finalized. Friday night I came home and I checked to see what my down-payment to get into school this quarter was. I just about died when I saw it. I really felt completely hopeless. I stayed up another couple of hours worrying. I called my mom and we prayed about it. I don't know why it is that I have so little faith. God has been working miracles for my family for years, and yet I still never believe. I am so caught up in this world. I'm used to taking care of myself, doing it all myself, taking on the world, just all by myself. Even the littlest bit of faith can do wonders. We've been told this, time and again as children growing up in the church. Have faith.

As horrid as it may sound, I need times like this to show me my lack of faith. I need a slap in the face to recognize my error. To realize that I need to have more faith. There is no way that my faith will grow if I do not at first notice a lack of it. A verse comes to mind. I don't know where it is found. To be honest, I don't really read my Bible. I know I should. I make excuses of not having the time, etc. Believe me, I really want to read it. Anyways, a verse comes to mind that goes something like this:

"I rejoice in weakness and in hard times, for in those times I am made strong through Christ." 2 Cor. 12:10

I looked it up on google to see where it was found, but this is in my words and how I have interpreted it. Not many verses in the Bible have stuck in my head, but this one will always have it's place. I find it applicable in just about any situation. With school starting up, me taking 16 credits, working 15 hours a week, and being in charge of my finances, this verse will be often thought of.

On a lighter note (literally—but not intended to be taken as humorous) I have been listening to some fun music from the soundtrack of the movie Thicker Than Water. Most of it is Jack Johnson, of which I'm not really a huge fan of, but there is this artist called Smoke City. There is one song on the soundtrack called 'Underwater Love'. It is gorgeous. It is sung in both English and Portuguese. I've often heard that Italian is the most beautiful language in the world, but in my humble opinion, Portuguese is the most beautiful language I have ever heard anyone utter. Smoke City had a few singles released in the late 90's and I believe one last album released in 2000. They are from the U.K. but have Brazilian influences. So beautiful.

As for other recording artists that sing in foreign languages, I really enjoy the group Brazilian Girls. The vocalist can sing in at least five different languages including English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. I really enjoyed their first self-titled album the most, but their second album 'talk to la bombe' also has a grungy, coarse charm about it. I recommend both.