Where the Rivers Meet

Some of my first impressions of Brazil are of amazingly good food, the sweetest roommates, giant moths, a fish market, and a boat trip. I’ll tell you about the food and my roommates another time. For now, you’ll have to be content with a giant moth, a few fish, and my first boat ride on the Amazon. The “Meeting of the Waters” on the Amazon River occurs about 8 miles from Manaus, Brazil, when the “white” Solimoes River meets the “black” Rio Negro. It’s a pretty sweet sight. The rivers flow together for several miles before mixing. We saw some black dolphins (that I didn’t manage to get any pictures of) and later on we went on a smaller river tour and saw some enormous lily pads and cayman (alligators). We also saw a lot of birds, but no parrots, and no pictures. Switching back and forth between video and photo means sometimes I get one and not the other. But the alligators were very cooperative and I think I managed to get a bit of both for them.

Não, você não vai pescar!

That was my line from the skit I got to be in when we went to the villages in the Amazon. It was The Good Samaritan with cultural adaptation, created by the amazing team we were with. Kadin and I were allowed to join in and we even got lines! (Okay, only one, and I had to practice it three million times, but still, I was excited.) So, in practice it was great. When it came time to do it in front of the audience of adorable children, and I had to beat up Kadin and steal his fishing pole, his face just got in the way of my fist. I honestly didn’t mean to, and I didn’t hit him hard at all, but I did start laughing and had to make an even faster exit than originally planned. I had the most amazing time in Brazil. I truly can’t believe I was only there eight days. It was like finding home in the last place I expected it, and they were instantly family. It will take me several updates to tell you about the trip, and I have endless hours of video editing ahead of me, but here’s a few pictures of some of the smaller precious people here who have completely captured my heart. If you know me at all, you know where to find me anyplace in the world – just look for where the kids are. I am so amazed at how God will bring a no one like me from the far corner of the earth to a tiny village somewhere in the Amazon jungle, just to show one little child how precious, how loved, how valued they are in His sight.  Oh what a beautiful path God has prepared for those who love Him. And when you look into the eyes of these treasured little ones, you cannot help but remember that they are made in the image of God who loves them.

The Book is on the Table

I’ve been here for all of two days, and was so tired the first day that I barely think it counts, except for the fact that I made some amazing friends who at the moment are cracking me up by having almost entire conversations with their three well practiced English phrases. “The book is on the table”, “Open the door”, and “Close the door.” Anytime they don’t what I’m talking about, it will start all over again…  ”The book is on the table.” I have also had a few tours of different parts of the city. One was down to the Amazon River to see the river and the fish market. They have some crazy looking fish. So, before I start trying to write in the broken English I have already begun to speak, I will show you a few pictures and say “ciao” for now.

Those are a type of sardine. …And people think things are bigger in Texas…

Conversations with Kids

I love kids, they’re adorable. And first graders, they crack me up. I have the most entertaining conversations all day long. Except for when they start to talk about my age. I have no idea why this is such a fascinating subject. “Miss Katie, are you in your 40′s?”  To which, I reply emphatically, “No, and we’ve been over this 15 times.” They also occasionally try to make me feel better by asking how old I am and then replying “oh, my grandpa’s older than you”. It makes my day, I tell ya. I suppose it’s better than when they try to figure out why I don’t have kids yet… “Don’t you want to have kids, Miss Katie?” Uh, yeah, there’s just a few things that need to happen first. “Well, why don’t you just get married then?” If only it were that easy…

So, maybe they don’t always have the most encouraging things to say, but I know they’re probably not trying to send me into black fits of depression, and who can be upset when it’s all said so sweetly. I can only laugh, and secretly cry when I go home. (Kidding). In general though, I’m pretty fascinated. They write songs about mermaids that make me nearly cry for trying not to laugh and tell me stories about siblings that make me nearly choke on my PBJ. They tell me about their dreams and goals and I can’t help sending up a prayer for their parents.

“When I grow up I want to be a fighterfighter.”

“You want to be a fire fighter?”

“Yeah, a fighter fighter, cause I don’t care if I die young, cause I don’t like my life.”

“That’s terrible! You’re 7. Why on earth would you think like that?”

“Well, cause my mom said I’m stuck with my sister for my whole life, and I don’t like my sister.”

Who can argue with such logic?

That’s my life at the moment, and now I’m off to bed and more packing for Brazil tomorrow.

More Goodbyes, More S’mores

It’s becoming a tradition. You will leave for the airport smelling like campfire, stuffed full of hotdogs and marshmallows, with lots of sticky hugs and silly photos. It’s our new summer time family goodbye tradition. My family seems to have a lot of goodbyes. We like to traverse the globe, my parents more so than the rest of us, but we always get to say hello again. I’m already looking forward to Christmas and everyone being together (Kevin, if you’re not there, I’m going to come down to Argentina and chew you out.) In the meantime, here’s a few picts of yet another goodbye in the Toliver family. I can’t be too sad though, since I’m meeting up with them in Brazil in less than a week.

plɹoʍ ʎɯ

Okay, my world isn’t really upside down. It’s just been busy with lots of finishing up last minute stuff and packing for Brazil and getting ready for winter and all that chaos. I figured I should try to get a couple more posts in before I head out, since floating down the Amazon hanging out in villages may have the ideal internet connection. I will post pictures and stories when I get back, probably enough for you to feel like you’ve been there and want to go home again. Until then, here’s an old photo (not of me) that gives you a hint of how I feel about the upcoming trip…

Multiplying McClures

The weather wasn’t beautiful until after the session was over, but Kasi lit up the photos with her smile and is so lovely that you wouldn’t even notice the gray skies. I used so many bribes to keep Isabel in a good mood that I am convinced she will barely even remember that there was a camera at the shoot. Originally planned as a surprise for Rane, (which I would have loved also), I was so glad he ended up coming along and we could capture the whole family. I’m excited to meet the newest coming member, but until he makes his appearance, here’s a few of my faves from this session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Church, My Family

I grew up in church. In fact, there are a few years of my life that I’m pretty sure I spent more time at the church than at my house. They’re the extended family that have been there through every major milestone and mistake. When I have excelled, and when I’ve fallen flat on my face; they’ve seen it all. I first started singing on the worship team at the age of 13. I was so nervous in the beginning. By the time I started leading worship a few years later I knew, without a doubt, I could get on that stage and forget every line, miss every note, and even then they would love me just as much when I walked offstage. They might suggest I practice a little more before I lead again, but they would love me. That’s my family. Today, I got to introduce a new friend to some of my church family, and it reminded me again of how much I love them. We don’t always get along; there is occasionally some sibling rivalry; and we’re definitely not perfect, but all that can’t change the fact that we’re family. I have traveled the world, and everywhere I’ve gone, I have been blessed beyond measure by these amazing people back at home who supported and encouraged and prayed for me consistently. I listened to other’s journeys and realized again how blessed I am. My family is a little crazy, my family often makes me laugh, my family still loves me when all I do is cry, my family is beautiful; and my family always seems to have its arms wide open. Watch out, you just might get adopted.

Here’s a couple pics of my family, well, being family… loving, messy, funny, family…

 

Matt the Model

I had the opportunity to take Matt’s senior pictures last Saturday, and I was a little bit worried about the weather, with it pouring down rain on Friday. However, Saturday dawned clear and bright as though it were a day born for taking pictures. Matt was up for anything and had a few creative ideas of his own up his sleeves. His brilliance in modeling did not quite permeate all his actions that day, and my amazing assistant, Kadin, spent sometime working on getting the keys back out of the car while I fell in love with the previously posted green door and Matt hauled his snowboard around on a hot Alaskan summer day. Fun was had by all. It was a great day, and Matt, I had that worship song stuck in my head for the entire next week after this shoot. Good thing it was a good one. Here’s a few of my favorites from our day’s adventures.

 

He had to start the morning with a Red Bull Special.

 

 

 

 

Just for fun

 

Famali Night

So, last night I had the special privilege of hearing Isaia speak at our young adults group. I’ve known Isaia for the majority of his life, and I am so amazed and excited at the things God is doing in him and through him. Isaia emboldened us with a lickety-split quick message on God-given dreams. He dared us to dream bigger and revealed some of the dreams God has given him. He emphasized the importance of being prepared for the dreams God has given us. Let’s just say I was inspired… and challenged. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like prep. It’s my least favorite part of any journey – prep and packing. So unfun. It’s one of the reasons why I didn’t play sports in high school. Who wants to practice when you can just not. It’s really not my thing.

However, when God prepares us, it’s a little like Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel-son karate. It sometimes looks nothing like what we expect. I’m waxing the car and painting the fence when I want to be jumping on piers and doing Jackie Chan style stunts. As Mariya so eloquently pointed out, one of the ways God prepares us for our dreams is to serve. Specifically, often, serving others who have the same or a similar dream. We sow into them; we stand beside them; we build their dreams and encourage them in the things God has for them. We grow their dream, and often we don’t realize that God is growing ours. Jay mentioned that God also provides for our dream. He created it. He’s the One who gave us the dream in the first place. We just need to be obedient and trust Him. Sometimes, I just need to hear that and remember. The dreams only seem impossible when I forget Who gave them to me.  The “wax on, wax off” chores are only tedious when I forget the big picture. The mountains only look big when I forget who made them. So thanks, to the Famali’s, for reminding me.