Finding a Little Piece of Heaven

I have always wondered if people that go across the world to find something actually do. They take the time, money, and resources to travel to a new location hoping for experiences that make it worth the trip. I am very new to this whole traveling thing and so I have never really looked for something in travelling, just enjoyed the ride and the adventure. Today, in the middle of the slums of Brasil, in a faded green, very worn down house, surrounded by my friends and some of the poorest and humblest people in Brasil, I found a little piece of heaven. 

Normally I am not the most sentimental guy but today it was one of those moments that just make you appreciate your life. It is amazing the way that people act, meaning their need for things. How often everyone is in need of something new and something better, I often times being included in this group. We put so much value on the things that have no REAL value. Today, when I was sitting on old, uneven stairs, overlooking the crowd as my friend Joe sang a song to a crowd of people, I couldn't help but be humbled by the circumstances. The young kids there are almost all in bad and sometimes abusive family circumstances, the program we work for struggles to keep up with the needs of the community, the building we were in was in need of serious repair, and they were all just satisfied to get food to eat and have music to dance to. Would we be satisfied with such simplicity? Is what is important the latest gadget, or family and tradition? I couldn't helped but be touched by the moment. My beautiful wife standing in the midst of the group, smiling up at me, reminded me why I married her: She would be satisfied with simplicity. I really am the luckiest guy in the world to have a girl that would love to travel to some random place, work for some random company, and put our lives on hold in order to better the lives of those around her. She makes my day, every day, and she does it in any country we might be in. She is the perfect example of love.

I started to recall the reason for my change from medical school to pharmacy and I know that simplicity is what I really want in my life. I want all of my focus on my family and community, not on school or work or money or anything else. I want to travel the world with my honey, play ball with my kids and watch their games, and help them with their math. If I drive a crappy car the rest of my life, it would be alright because I would still have that which truly makes me happy.  Playing soccer on the streets is so common in Brasil but nonexistent in the United States these days. Have the kids of the US become absorbed in the electronic generation and never taught what really has value? It makes me wonder, and for this I love Brasil. They may have nothing, but still with nothing they never forget family and tradition. In no way are they perfect, but family and tradition is key in their lives. I admire them and the love they have as a people and the fact they hug and kiss ever person they encounter. I am so thankful for their example.

Like I said, I am not normally the most sentimental guy, but today I had to express my gratitude for my life and the things I do have. I am thankful for the opportunity to be here, it is an amazing one and a once in a lifetime chance. I would not trade it for anything. Hopefully Cindy and I will have more opportunities like this in the future, also ones that we can bring our kids on as well. I want them to always know what holds true value in life.

Anyways, here are some pics of the party we went to. I won't lie, it was pretty fun :)

 These top two are pictures of the CCJ, where we are doing our internship.

 They were playing a fishing game with a broom handle and they were fishing out of an old suitcase.

 They were playing some game, I have no clue what it was.

 Yeah, she's beautiful :)

 This is "quadrilha", a Brazilian dance they do for the festa de sao joao

 They colored all over me for the party, so no, I don't have a beard and unibrow.

This is Joe playing the guitar and the crowd watching. He did awesome.