Amazing News!

It is Thursday night and we are leaving for Campo Grande in duas dias. I am so sad to leave my family in Santo Andre and the friends we have made at Metodista! However, I am happy to announce that there are some internship opportunites down here that are open and I have decided to stay for several months to work with Metodista as an aid to the International Programs Director and do an internship through one of the not for profit orgniations that Metodista is connected too! I am thrilled beyond belief that this opportunity has opened up for me and I can't wait to further develop the relationships I have made here and advance my Portuguese. My host parents Franca and Adamir have opened their home to me graciously and I am so excited that I will be staying with them!   

On top of that wonderful news the last few days have been absolutely wonderful! I went to the Projeto Meninos e Meninas de Rua which is a really cool not for profit organization that works with street children and their families to push for human rights. The organization helps the families by providing awareness that they do have rights within the constitution and helps provide ways that these families can fight for their political rights and not just accept the situations they are in. Although it was really challenging because I am not fluent in Portuguese the experience was unforgettable. The association workers were so open and willing to work with us on our human rights project and they even took us to two families homes to meet them and their children. One child's name was Cloud and he, his sister and his mom were so generous to let us into their home to interview them and ask questions as to how the program has helped their families. It was an amazing experience and so encouraging to see that the program is more than willing to have me back to help in anyway that I can offer!

I also finished my Portuguese classes today and I am proud to announce that I recieved a B on my final exam! My proffesors have been such a treat to work with and I look forward to our graduation ceremony tomorrow afternoon. I look forward to sharing more with you as we experience graduation Brazilian style and take our travels to Campo Grande for two weeks. Thank you again to all my family and friends who have supported me all through these amazing experiences and I hope you can enjoy some of the pictures from the children's street project.  

Tchau Tchau!