Papel y Bolígrafo

birthday party 2011

2011-06-08T09:56:00.001-07:00

Well, it was our last birthday party together...

Me and Patty celebrated our birthday in Barcelona again...

I think it was our 3rd birthday since I came to Barcelona...

We really had fun and I will miss everybody...

Thanks for all! Thanks everyone!
Fábio
Barcelona

Ibiza, Es Vedra and Formentera

2011-06-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

A few months ago our friend Sara invited me, Raquel, Edson and Chivo to go to Ibiza.

We could see how beautiful Ibiza, Es Vedra and Formentera are...

Surely if you are in Spain and have enough time...

You should see and enjoy the beautiful nature...

Fábio
Barcelona

Do not miss out...

2011-03-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

Our last meetings have been absolutely GRREEATTT!
I am so happy to meet so many and different people...

We have been renewing our team and leadership because soon I will leave Barcelona and move to USA, but I am still here and I personally have been so blessed by these meetings.

We have fun, play so many songs, talk about everything, "picamos un montón", play "video juegos" and have fellowship....

If you around...
Do not miss out our Fridays!!

Fábio
Barcelona

London, The capital of England

2011-03-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went to London for work.
Actually, I could see a friend of mine and had a good talk with him besides my work.

London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport. It is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies.

It has the most international visitors of any city in the world. London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers.

In 2012 London will become the first city to host the Summer Olympics three times.

London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries.[

In July 2007 it had an official population of 7,556,900 within the boundaries of Greater London,making it the most populous municipality in the European Union. The Greater London Urban Area is the second largest in the EU with a population of 8,278,251, while London's metropolitan area is the largest in the EU with an estimated total population of between 12 million and 14 million.

London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich (in which the Royal Observatory marks the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) and GMT).

Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, 30 St Mary Axe ("The Gherkin"), St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square.

London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions including the British Museum, National Gallery, British Library, Wimbledon and 40 theatres. London's Chinatown is the largest in Europe.

The London Underground network is the oldest underground railway network in the worldand the most extensive after the Shanghai Metro. Wikipedia.

Fábio
Barcelona

Imagine all people...

2011-01-24T12:55:00.001-08:00

Imagine PlayingForChangeFoundation Vimeo.

Engagement & American Season

2011-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

I had a great time in Florida last week....

Me, Johnna and her family had a lots of fun on the beach, at Busch Gardens in Tampa, enjoying with the kids, swimming pool, playing guitar and piano and also fooooodd!! Other wise I would not have been in USA :-)

We got engaged on January 1st and...
We have been planning to get married in August 2011 in Chicago....

Here are some pictures of my trip, engagement, Johnna, I and her family! By the way, our engagement was in the American style...

Well, this is how Johnna has described our engagement to one of her friends by email :-)

...I was surprised because he arrived Dec 23rd and waited until 2:30a on New Year's Eve to propose! :) We went out to a really great steakhouse in town (Bern's if you are ever in Tampa!) and our reservation was at 11pm. We were seated just before midnight and then finished eating at about 2:15.

We drove a few blocks to Tampa Bay to walk along the water. All of a sudden, he started a beautiful speech about how much he's grown and changed since we've been dating... and before I knew it, he was down on one knee with my grandmother's ring in his hand, asking me to marry him. (As you know, he's Brazilian, so he did some research to find out what Americans do since in Brazil the traditions are different).

We have definitely begun celebrating! But he left for Barcelona on the 1st. We hope to get married in August. Right now we're just spreading the good news. Thanks for the congratulations!!....

Cierre 2010 - Friday meetings!

2010-12-12T05:13:00.000-08:00

We really had a lots of fun last friday!
Thanks for everyone who has made the friday meetings...

I will miss these guys - they are my family!
Have fun with the videos and also you can find more videos at the "my videos"....

Merry Christmas!

Hemos pasado muy bien la semana pasada - ha sido super divertido!
Gracias a todos que han participado y "hecho" nuestras reuniones los viernes...

Estoy seguro que extrañare mucho a todos - sois como si fuera mi propia familia!

Disfruta de los videos!
Además, puedes encontrar otros videos del cierre 2010 en la sección "my videos"...

Feliz Navidad!

Lyon, Francia

2010-11-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

Acabo de llegar de Francia...
Esta semana he trabajado en Paris y he pasado por Lyon...

En Lyon conocí a los tios de Johnna (John y Joy) y también pude visitar, ver y hablar con Jonh y Letha (jefes de Johnna cuando vivía en Belgica).

Hemos pasado muy bien y nos divertimos mucho!

Sinceramente no sabía acerca de la importancia de Lyon en Francia y para Europa.

Te comento 10 interesantes temas de Lyon. Tu sabes que Lyon...

1. Es la tercera ciudad más poblada del país después de Paris y Marsella y la segunda área urbana del país con 1.757.180 habitantes.

2. Es la antigua capital de la Galia durante el imperio romano y por eso podemos encontrar tanta información y historia romana en la ciudad.

Nota: Galia es la región de Europa occidental actualmente ocupada por Francia, Bélgica, el oeste de Suiza y zonas de Holanda y Alemania al oeste del Rin. La palabra galo se refiere habitualmente a los habitantes celtas de esa región en tiempos antiguos y fue empleada principalmente por los romanos que muy raras veces llamaban celtas a este conjunto de diversas tribus.

3. Es sede de la Interpol - La Organización Internacional de Policía Criminal - INTERPOL es la mayor organización de policía internacional, con 188 países miembros, por lo cual es la segunda organización internacional más grande del mundo, tan sólo por detrás de las Naciones Unidas. Creada en 1923, apoya y ayuda a todas las organizaciones, autoridades y servicios cuya misión es prevenir o combatir la delincuencia internacional.

4. Es la segunda ciudad universitaria de Francia, acogiendo en su área metropolitana más de 120.000 estudiantes.

5. Se ve la traboule - utilizada por los franceses a fin de escapar de los alemanes y confundirlos en la segunda guerra mundial.

La traboule es una palabra típicamente lionesa significa literalmente "pasar por", de aquí procede el verbo francés “trabouler” y el nombre "traboule". Podemos de este modo acordarnos para definir la « traboule » como una vía reservada a los peatones, con frecuencia estrecha, que empieza por un pasillo de entrada y cruza uno o varios edificios (y/o uno o varios patios) para conectar una calle con otra.

6. Importantes iglesias:

6.1 La iglesia Saint-Jean de Lyon. Construida entre 1180 y 1480, mezcla el estilo Románico con el Gótico. Almacena un reloj astronómico del siglo XIV.

6.2 La Basílica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Construida con fondos privados entre 1872 y 1896 en una colina que domina la ciudad como marca del triunfo de los valores cristianos sobre los socialistas de la comuna de Lyon de 1870. Como la Basílica del Sacré Cœur de París, su diseño inusual, de Pierre Bossan, toma elementos de la arquitectura románica y bizantina. Entre sus atractivos se encuentran sus mosaicos, y las hermosas vidrieras. Desde la basílica se obtienen unas impresionantes vistas de toda la ciudad de Lyon y sus alrededores.

7. Es la ciudad de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, escritor y aviador francés, autor de El principito (Le Petit Prince), nacido en una familia noble de Lyon.

8. Es la capital de la Resistencia Francesa en la segunda guerra mundial.

9. Es la tercera ciudad europea con servicio publico de bicicleta(1ªAmsterdam,1964; 2ªCopenhagen,1995; 3ªLyon,2005).

10. La plaza de los Terreaux es una plaza central de la parte medieval de Lyon. En el centro encuentras una preciosa fuente, construida por Bartholdi. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi fue un escultor conocido especialmente por ser el autor de la célebre Estatua de la Libertad.

Fábio
Barcelona

Keith Green story

2010-11-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

Johnna just sent me Keith Green story.

It is really cool!

Find attached the first part of his story from wikipedia...
And also the first video from youtube.

If you want to know about him a little bit more, go there.
It is inspiring and worth it!

Fábio
Barcelona

Keith Gordon Green (October 21, 1953 – July 28, 1982) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York.[1] Beyond his music, which shook the Christian world and recording industry, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same. Often considered controversial for his frequently confrontational lyrics and spoken messages, some notable songs written by Green and/or his wife, Melody Green, include "Your Love Broke Through," "You Put This Love In My Heart," and "Asleep In The Light." Green is also known for numerous popular modern hymns, including "O Lord, You're Beautiful" and "There Is A Redeemer."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Green

Friday meetings - more...

2010-11-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

We really have a lots of fun before, during and after our meetings...
It is a mix of so many cultures and languauges...

We literally have a great fellowship and have been building a lots of friendships...
This below video was recorded by Viviane at 1am? Maybe?!Around 1am for sure!!

The neighbours love us!! I am jokking...
We have no problem at all!

It is really cool how we have fun and laugh a lot after the meetings...
We improvise our meeting a lot and at the end we see a GREAT result.

Have fun again and you are welcome to join us!

Fábio
Barcelona

I am not the only one....

2010-11-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

We really had fun by singing Imagine of John Lennon a few weeks ago...

Have fun by watching it!

Fábio
Barcelona

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Gibran Jalil Gibran y Vestiduras & Jesús y Natanael

2010-11-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

Ayer en la reunión mencioné sobre la vida del poeta árabe Gibran Jalil Gibran....

Gibran Jalil Gibran fue un poeta, pintor, novelista y ensayista libanés nacido en Bisharri, Líbano, el 6 de enero de 1883 y fallecido el 10 de abril de 1931 en Nueva York.

Nace en la ciudad de Bisharri, al norte de Beirut, el escritor, artista y poeta libanés Gibran Jalil Gibran viene del seno de una familia cristiana maronita modesta, en la que destacaba una madre cariñosa cuyo afecto y recuerdo guardó hasta el fin de sus días.

Los datos más acusados de su personalidad de niño fueron su tranquilidad, sensibilidad y su afición al dibujo.

En la reunión de ayer he leído el texto del poeta árabe: Vestiduras.

Entonces, empezamos a hablar sobre como a veces vivimos de impresiones y juzgamos las apariencias y no nos damos la oportunidad de conocer a las personas antes de decir algo.

Además, hemos leído el texto de Jesús con Natanel y cerramos el tema. Escribo los dos textos para que sepáis lo que hemos discutido y como son nuestros "Friday meetings".

Vestiduras

Cierto día Belleza y Fealdad se encontraron a orillas del mar. Y se dijeron:
-Bañémonos en el mar.

Entonces se desvistieron y nadaron en las aguas. Instantes más tarde Fealdad regresó a la costa y se vistió con las ropas de Belleza, y luego partió.

Belleza también salió del mar, pero no halló sus vestiduras, y era demasiado tímida para quedarse desnuda, así que se vistió con las ropas de Fealdad. Y Belleza también siguió su camino.

Y hasta hoy día hombres y mujeres confunden una con la otra.

Sin embargo, algunos hay que contemplan el rostro de Belleza y saben que no lleva sus vestiduras. Y algunos otros que conocen el rostro de Fealdad, y sus ropas no lo ocultan a sus ojos.

Juan 1:43-51

El siguiente día quiso Jesús ir á Galilea, y halla á Felipe, al cual dijo: Sígueme. Y era Felipe de Bethsaida, la ciudad de Andrés y de Pedro. Felipe halló á Natanael, y dícele: Hemos hallado á aquel de quien escribió Moisés en la ley, y los profetas: á Jesús, el hijo de José, de Nazaret.

Y díjole Natanael: ¿De Nazaret puede haber algo de bueno? Dícele Felipe: Ven y ve.

Jesús vió venir á sí á Natanael, y dijo de él: He aquí un verdadero Israelita, en el cual no hay engaño. Dícele Natanael: ¿De dónde me conoces? Respondió Jesús, y díjole: Antes que Felipe te llamara, cuando estabas debajo de la higuera te vi.

Respondió Natanael, y díjole: Rabbí, tú eres el Hijo de Dios; tú eres el Rey de Israel. Respondió Jesús y díjole: ¿Porque te dije, te vi debajo de la higuera, crees? cosas mayores que éstas verás.

Y dícele: De cierto, de cierto os digo: De aquí adelante veréis el cielo abierto, y los ángeles de Dios que suben y descienden sobre el Hijo del hombre.

Fábio
Barcelona

Poland and Hungary - pictures and texts

2010-11-01T11:52:00.001-07:00

I just put some pictures of Hungary and Poland...
If you go down, down and down in my blog...

You will find and read some texts about Warsaw, Wroclaw and Krakow - Poland...

And also you will see pictures of Budapest, synagogues and Oscar Shindler's factory.

It was a very special trip and I was able to go through the History deeply...

Enjoy some of the pictures!

Fábio
Barcelona

Ibiza & Sara's family.

2010-11-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

Ibiza is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea.

It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain.

Javier, Kerstin and I went to Ibiza and met Sara and her family last weekend...

We had fun and enjoyed the Island...

It is a beautiful place to relax....

Enjoy some pictures!

Fábio
Barcelona

Friday meetings.....

2010-10-23T06:14:00.000-07:00

In our Friday Meetings one of the most impotant things that we say and share...

It is the issue that we need to have a relationship with God and this does not mean necessarily to have a religion...

If you think about religion ("religión" or "religião" in Spanish and Portuguese) that means ("re-ligar") or re-connect...

We understand this is a good definition because we are far away from God and we need to reconnect with Him...

On the other hand, when we think about religion immeditaly we think about "church" as an institution that was made by Constantine that established the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of Christians throughout the empire.

This "chuch" has to do with building and politics, rules and has brought wars after wars, crusades, inquisition and a lot of innocent blood during the whole History...

For us church means people when they get together!
For us God is bigger than any institution and does not have to do with any denomination!

For us God is really and 100% LOVE!
For us His mercy is over any human being who seeks Him truly with an open heart!

For us to get together it is a moment where our differences are gone!

We "forget" our nationalities, backgrounds, etc. and for a moment we are able to share our weaknesses with each other, our principles and ideas with freedom, we speak about God´s grace that means freedom with responsability and not licentiousness - "liberdad con responsabilidad que no significa libertinaje" (Spanish).

We speak about God, life, family...
We sing, we have a lots of fun and especially we have a great and sincere fellowship.

This is our FRIDAY meeting!

Fábio
Barcelona

Javier y su tarta magica, despedida de Sara & asado argentino!!

2010-10-12T11:44:00.001-07:00

Chicos,

Es para disfrutar de los Videos!
Las tartas de Javier estaban ESTUPENDAS!!!

La despedida de Sara no podría haber sido mejor!!
A lots of fun!!

Good job guys!

Fábio
Barcelona

Asado Argentino!!!

2010-10-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

¡¡¡Qué asado Argentino!!!
Mariano y Javier fueron los comandantes del asado Argentino!!

Estaba muy muy rico!!
Casí 40 chicos vinieron y pasamos muy my bien!

Gracias Mariano!
Gracias Javier!

After our Friday Meetings around 2am -:)

2010-10-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

Only for The Survivors!!
Usually I am on my bed around 1am while the "survivors" stay there...

Sometimes they stay until 6am or 9am and when I leave the house to go to the gym...
I say hi to them again or...

Better...
I say good morning! :-)

Note: To watch more videos, go to "my videos".

VIDEOS!! Pic Nic!!! pIC nIc!!! pIc NiC!!

2010-09-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Estanis!! No comments:-)

Pic Nic in Barcelona!!! Pictures!!!

2010-09-28T13:17:00.001-07:00

GREAT DAY GUYS!!! Thanks for coming!!!

Pic Nic in Barcelona!!!

2010-09-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hemos pasado muy muy bien la semana pasada!!!
GREAT JOB chicos!!!

Wow! Que chulo!!
Get ready for the Barbecue/ Parrillada/Barbacoa/Churrasscoo!!!!
This coming sunday!!! Oh la la!

Fábio
Barcelona

Franfkurt, Fábio & Fábio-

2010-09-28T09:58:00.001-07:00

I had a GREAT time with one of my best friends - Fábio!
I am not talking about myself even though I am one of my best friends of myself :-)

I am just jokking! But...

It was really GREAT to meet my dear friend Fábio in Frankfurt last weekend.
It was CRAZY!

He was working in Frankfurt and would be flying back to Brazil on Sat 10pm. I had just one chance to see him!

As soon as I finished our Friday meeting (normally around 2 or 3am) I was supposed to go to the ariport and take the flight at 6am and because I did not find a direct flight I had to pass by Zurich and then fly to Frankfurt.

And so I did...

However, I was not expecting the "influence" of the French strick and so...

Because there was a strick in France, the flight was delayed from Barcelona and I missed my flight in Zurick to Frankfurt...

Oh my godness!! I was able to negotiate with Lufthansa and took the next flight at 10.30am other wise I would have taken the flight at 1pm and it would be too late to see him...

Besides that, I was trying to contact Fábio in the hotel and Johnna from USA at2am (there) helped me to find the phone number of the hotel by Internet because I did not have it..

When I called the hotel the receptionist told me there was not any Fábio there and the only Brazilian guys were XXXX and ZZZZ :-) I do not remember those names but it was not Fábio...

I could not believe!
I was still talking to Lufthansa and I decided to call the hotel again...

- Hey, it is not possible!
- Fábio has to BE THERE. He is waiting for me! Are you sure there is NOT ANY Fábio?

I asked the recetionist.

- Well, there is one who is Italian. She said
- What is his surname? I asked her

-Silva? she answered me.
-What? I could not believe that!!

-It is impossible because Silva is not Italian. Please, put me through....

Finally I was able to talk to Fábio and adjusted everything...

In summary, everything worked very well! We had fun! We talked about everything! We had good German beers and sausages! .-)

By the way, if we had not had German beers and sausages I could not say we had been to Germany!

He flew back to Brazil and I stayed in Frankfurt...
I had no idea which place I was going to stay when I booked my reservation while I was still in Barcelona...

The BIG surprise was...
As soon as I got to the Hostel in Frankfurt I realized it was THE SAME hostel that I stayed 4 years ago. What a coincidence!!

I love this kind of adventure!
Life is GREAT!

We plan part of the life and the another way we are supposed to improvise...
Think about that!

Fábio
Barcelona

Madrid, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia & Toledo!

2010-09-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Me and Johnna had fun by visiting Madrid, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia & Toledo!

We met our friend Leah in Madrid and really enjoyed the Spanish cities...

Madrid is the Spanish capital.
It is a huge city and has great parks like "el Retiro", very famous and important museums like "El Prado y La Reina Sofia" and good food!

We went to the "oldest" restaurant of the world according to the Guiness' book - Casa Botin!

Salamanca is incredible! My favorite one!
I love that kind of style!

The university is one of the oldest university of the world.
Its "plaza mayor" is considered the most beautiful "plaza mayor" of Spain.
The city is really beautiful!

Avila has the Roman walls and we walked over them!

Segovia has one of the most amazing Roman aqueduct left!
"Cochinillo" is the most important and well known dish of Segovia.

Toledo is a mix of Christian, Muslim and Jewish influences!
It is a medieval city and you will enjoy visiting the churches, cathedrals andu just walk around you will understand what I am talking about...

This part of Spain is really precious because it is very rich!

You can learn so many things and understand the differences between the Spanish cities, provinces, habits & cultures.

GREAT time!

Fábio
Barcelona

Warsaw, Frédéric François Chopin & Wroclaw

2010-09-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and a nice city to go.

There is huge plaza and you can choose good restaurants and taste good Polish food.

The Holy Cross Church has the heart of the composer Frédéric François Chopin. Because his wish was exactly to have his heart there once he died.

On the ohter hand, Wroclaw is a small city but it is beautiful as well.

There are a lot of churches, bridges, very nice façades and it is a good place for a coffee and walk around in order to disconnect from our daily routine.

Warsaw and Wroclaw were my last cities and stops of my summer/holidays of 2010!

I loved to visit and know Poland!

Fábio
Barcelona

Salt mine, Kazimierz & Shindler's list

2010-08-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

To be in the salt mine of Wieliczka was an interesting experience...

They started producing salt in the 13th century and stopped in 2007...

I have walked there for 2 hours and there was much much more to be explored. However, it is not allowed for tourists...

You can read more about the salt mine here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieliczka_Salt_Mine

Kazimierz is the Jewish district of Krakow. The Nazis tried to preserve that place because they wanted to tell the new German generations how they had destroyed the Jews culture and how it looked like. But they could not do it and currently we have Kaimierz which is full of heritage...

The Jewish ghetto (during the 2nd World War) was established in Podgorze district that is very close to Kazimierz...

The Schindler's factory is in Podgorze as well and you can visit a nice museum where will show you how the life was during that hard period...

Steven Spielberg used those areas to make Schindler's list...

It is in Kazimiers that you can find the most important synagogues of Krakow...

The old Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue that was built in 1407 or 1492 but it is not in active use anymore because currenlty it is a museum...

The Remuh Synagogue is the only synagogue in the city to remain in active use. It dates from the 16th century and includes an original ark and a fine cemetery with many old tombstones.

And also Kazimierz is the district where the famous Helena Rubistein was born.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Rubinstein

Now I leave you here with these links...

And you can keep investigating and reading more about Salt mine, Kazimierz & Shindler's list if you like...

Fabio
Krakow

Auschvitz-Birkenau, Poland

2010-08-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Auschvitz was the largest concentration and extermination camp used by the Nazis in the II World War.

Actually the most important museums of London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam and the concentration camp of Sachesenhausen have helped me to understand the History since I started to visit them 4 years ago...

However, I knew that an important piece would be very important to finish this puzzle. It was exactly Auschvitz...

I have planned to go to Auschvitz a few years ago and then this day has come!

When you are in Auschvitz you do not think about past or present, you do not think about money or job, you do not think about your future and debts...

My experience was that a deep peace and profound serenity came to me and made me stay in silence for hours and hours while I was there...

I spent almost 4 hours visiting Auschvitz and Birkenau...

It was a time of reflection and pause...

It was a time to think about life and death...

When you are there you do not focus on anything...

You only focus on the pictures that you see, the barracks that were rebuilt because the original ones were burned by The Nazis as soon as they realized they were losing the war. However, some of those original barracks are still there and they show you exactly how they were...

The same happened with the gas chambers...

The gas chamber was rebuilt in Auschvitz but you still can see the ruins of the Birkenau's gas chamber that has been left...

I really got impressive by observing and understanding the strategy of The Nazis...

They covered the windows of some of the barracks(block 11)and then they could kill the prisoners in the wall and no one wasableto see what was going on. No one could see and no one could hear because they used a kind of "silent bullets".

By the way, between 1941 and 1942 the world did not know and notice what was going on in Auschvitz because The Nazis' strategy was "perfect"....

From 1943 the world started hearing the rumors...

But during these horrible years they were able to deceive the world...

They separeted and selected children and mothers and immediately they were led to the gas chambers because if the mothers went to work (even though they had physical condition for that)and the children were put apart from them the children would cry and so in order to avoid the noise and calm down the "atmosphere" they killed both (mother and children)...

The crematory and gas chamber were at the end of the concentration camp and then as soon as the newcomers got there they would not be able to see what was going on...

Those ones who worked in the crematory did not have any contact with the other prisoners and so The Nazis were able to keep everything in secret and "order"...

The horrible physical condition of the prisoners and because The Nazis mixed the groups and nationalities made the situation be much worse and then the prisoners did not have enough strenght to fight or organize any rebellion due to these huge diferences about languages, culture and physical condition....

For me one of the most interesting thing has to do with the heating...

They had heatings in the barracks but they were just in order to show to the Red Cross and make them think they were "following" the rules for having prisoners of the war. However, the heatings were never used and the Red Cross was "deceived" when they came to investigate the concentration camp..

Once the Nazis knew the war would be over they started burning and destroying everything. They did not want to leave any evidence of the crime and genocide...

As a result of that nobody knows the exact number of people who died in Auschivtz. They mention 1,5 million people.

Most of the Nazis escaped...

One of them...

It is Josef Mengele who was responsible for selecting those ones who would be working and those ones who would be going to the gas chamber...

And also he was the famous doctor who made a lot of human experimentation by using twins and the prisoners...

He escaped after the war and lived in Argentina...

However, after some years he drowned and died in one of the beaches of Brazil, Bertioga.

The memorial of Auschvitz-Birkenau is something that shows us how the History may be repeated...

The memorial of Auschvitz-Birkenau tries to teach us what human beings are able to do against other human beings...

Being there has made me think about what we value and what we do not value in life...

It has made me reflect and do a break & pause about my own life and attitudes...

I left a small stone on the memorial because it is exactly how the Jewish culture does in order to show respect for those ones who have passed away...

It has made me think about all and thank God for the privilege to put my feet on the History and learn so many lessons and especially grow as person...

I hope I encourage you by writing this text and may be able to make you think about your own life...

Fabio
Krakow

Thermal Bath, Synagogue and Angelo Rotta.

2010-08-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I went to a very nice Haman in Fez. Hamam is a very traditional Turkish Bath and very common in Morroco.

Last year Johnna drove me to the city of Spa, Belgium.

It was great to know and understand the beginning of the Spa and enjoy "a very good Spa" in Spa!

Budapest is considered officially a "City of Spas" and also it is very well known due to its medicinal water.

There are a lot of Spas in Budapest and they are very modern. However, this afternoon I went to one of the oldest thermal bath of Budapest because it was recommended to me - Rudas.

When you look at the front of the building it is not very nice but it is really COOL inside! The Turkish bath was built during the 16th century and it was a GREAT experience...

In fact, there is a lot of things to see in Budapest...

The city is beautiful in the evening. The Parlament building that is considered the 3rd largest of the world it is amazing and the chain bridge is very beautiful as well.

However, my experience with the Synagogue it was what I liked the most...

The Synagogue of Budapest is the 2nd largest synagogue of the world...

When you are there you can realize some Christian influence because the Jewish People did not want to be so outside of the cultural context of the city and then they decided to build the synagogue using some bizantine signs and also putting an organ above the altar that is very typical in the Catholic churches.

There is a very interesting cemetery in the same building of the synagogue. Most of those people are anonymous and lived in the Hungarian ghetto during the 2nd World War. Unfortunately, a huge number of Hungarian Jewish were taken to Auschwitz and were extermined there.

For me the most beautiful thing of the Synagogue and what I liked the most in the city has to do with the memorial area of the Synagogue...

There is a silver tree that its branches were cut and they represent the suffering of the Jewish People in Hungary during the Nazis period and you can read names of the families and some people's names in some of the leaves of the tree.

There is other memorial that shows to us a snake in the fire being burned which means the evil was killed and the Nazis period was over.

But the most amazing memorial has to do with the names of those ones who were not Jewish and saved hundreds or thousands of Jewish in Hungary.

They were from Spain, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, etc. and lived in Budapest...

One of the names that impacted me the most was Angelo Rotta from Italy who worked for the Vatican and had diplomatic activities during the 2nd World War in Budapest and then he had an unbelievable courage to give many fake baptismal certificates to many Bulgarian Jewish and was able to save them...

Basically I keep learning two things with this...

1. His action reminds me when Rahab assisted those Hebrew spies by hiding them and telling the soldiers that she did not know where they went.

Life is more important than any other "value" because life is the supreme value!

2. Sometimes the most important things have not to do with the biggest things but with its meaning. For example, the Jordan river is not the largest river of the world, it is not the cleanest river of the world but it carries by itself a huge importance due to its meaning!

So, if you go to Budapest...

Maybe you will love to see the hills, the bridge, the parks, the monuments, the Parlament building and other turist attraction but I would like to tell you just one thing...

If you go to the Synagogue and understand what I am talking about you may see things and start living life through a different point of view and perspective.

Because life is simple and we do not need too much to understand the rich and happiness in the simple things of life...

Think about it!

Fabio
Budapest

Prague, Budapest, Krakow & Jewish People...

2010-08-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

I have realized the huge connection between the Jewish People and the cities Prague, Budapest and Krakow...

Prague has one of the most important Jewish Cemeteries of the world...

They do not know how many tombstones are there - probably 12.000.

They say that the first ones were put there in the 15th century...

Budapest has the largest functioning synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world. The first one is in Jerusalem...

Krakow has the most important concentration camp that was used by the Nazis...

As we know it is Auschwitz!

People say that more than 2.5 million Jews died there.

In addition, Krakow is very well known because it has been the scenery of the one of the most important movies of Steven Spielberg that is named Schindler's list!

Almost 2 years ago I was in Prague and could live this "Jewish environment"...

Especially by walking on the Jewish streets and neighborhood, looking at the synagogues and understanding their "signs"...

This morning I had the privilege to see the synagogue of Budapest...

And next week I will be visiting Krakow in order to see and understand the History a little bit more.

I am very excited because I love to study the cultures, their differences, museums, art and the History...

By the way, it was more than 3 years ago that I planned to go to Krakow and visit Auschwitz.

It was exactly when I went to visit other concentration camp that is called Sachesenhausen in Berlin.

For some reasons I have not been able to go to Krakow and visit Budapest but now it is their turn and I am really "diving in this ocean"...

I believe the History is for being studied...

But also for being understood in order not to be repeated...

Think about it!

Fabio
Budapest

The world is becoming smaller...

2010-08-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time that I do not write anything here...
I am in Budapest right now...

Soon I want to write about my trips with Johnna...
We have been to Toledo, Salamanca, Avila, Madrid, Segovia besides Catalonya...

We had a lots of fun....

And also I want to write something about my last trip to Morroco...

I know I have already put something about Morroco in my blog but I would like to speak (a little bit more) about the very famous Roman city that is called Voulubilis!

The world is becoming small and smaller and much smaller every day...

The day before yesterday I was with Johnna in Madrid...
We took the flight and went to the Girona's airport....

Yesterday morning we had to go back to the airport but it was the Barcelona's airport...
She left Barcelona and flew back to the United States...

I went back home and she called me at 20pm to tell me she was in Atlanta and in a couple of hours she would be flying to Tampa, Florida...

I told her I was leaving my place to go back to the airport of Barcelona to fly to Budapest...

She said we would be flying at the same time...

I just got here and as soon as I arrived in the city I bought my ticket to go to Poland on Monday and I will take the train for 10 hours in order to cross Hungary and get to Krakow....

The world is becoming smaller due to the globalization...
We are becoming citizenship of the world..

Nowadays the borders and passports "are gone!!!"...

The languages are becoming common between different people and nations....

It is a privilege to participate of this generation....

Take your seat and your flight because the world is inviting you to get ready to understand that the sky is your limit!!!!

I will come back soon in order to share more and more things with you....

See you then!

Fabio
Budapest

Videos - Biiirrtthhhddaaayyy PPPPaaarrttyyy 2010

2010-06-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Birthday Party 2010

2010-06-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

My friend Armando and I have celebrated our birthday party together at Daniel´s flat.

We had a lot of fun last Friday...

If you want to see more pictures you can go to my flickr and clink in "Galeria de Fabio Muniz".

Enjoy!

Fábio
Barcelona

Friday Meetings Videos!

2010-06-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

La vida no es un ensayo

2010-06-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

La vida no es un ensayo pero se parece un juego de ajedrez. La vida es real y no hay tiempo para experimentos, pues responsabilidad con libertad es sinonimo de consciencia, gracia, misericordia y respecto.

Sabiduria y experiencia son dos virtudes que no se compran, no se venden, no se transmiten porque no es un legado que uno puede dejar o pasar al otro como se pasa una herencia de padre al hijo.

¡Ojalá fuera así! Todo seria más facil, pero no lo es...

Sabiduria y experiencia se adquieren cuando caminamos en la vida, cuando ensuciamos los pies, cuando herimos y somos heridos directa o indirectamente, cuando nos falta aliento y pensamos que no vamos a lograr...

El tiempo nos enseña pero no somos eternos...

Por lo tanto, si antes eramos guiados por nuestros impulsos cuando eramos niños, ahora somos guiados por costumbres y habitos...

Tenemos que replazar las malas costumbres por las buenas costumbres pues como adultos no somos más guiados por estos impulsos de niños aunque algunos no consigan crecer y así, se hacen mayores pero siguen siendo eternos adolescentes en su manera de ser, hablar, actuar y ver la vida.

Las malas costumbres abren puertas para el fracaso personal, profesional y en la vida de una forma general.

Por lo tanto, debo adquirir las buenas costumbres y convertirme en su "esclavo".

Cuando yo era niño, hablaba, pensaba y razonaba como un niño; pero al hacerme hombre dejé atrás lo que era propio de un niño. Ahora vemos de manera borrosa, como en un espejo; pero un día lo veremos todo como es en realidad. Mi conocimiento es ahora imperfecto, pero un día lo conoceré todo del mismo modo que Dios me conoce a mí. Hay tres cosas que permanecen: la fe, la esperanza y el amor; pero la más importante es el amor.

Fábio
Aeropuerto de Barcelona antes del vuelo a Casablanca
21.05.2010

Unnau - Germany

2010-06-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

Who knows Unnau?!

I have asked my German friends and NO ONE has heard about Unnau :-)

The best definition is:
Unnau is between Cologne and Frankfurt.(period)

If you want to get there, you should ask my friends Fernanda and Thomas and then they will help you to get there - other wise you will be in trouble in order to figure out where this beautiful small village is in Germany.

The mountains, castles and green woods are part of its scenario...

It is one of my favorite places to go and take a rest. My friend Fernanda knows it.

By the way, Fernanda is Brazilian with Japanese background and married Thomas who is from Autria and lives in Germany. Can you imagine their kids?!

Yes, you can.
They are beautiful.

I love to play with Sebastian and have fun with him.
The new member of their family is Andrew and I met him last weekend.

Sara, her mom Doris and Zoe joined us in Unnau.
We really had a great time together.

So, if you go to Germany, do not forget about Unnau even though you should look for it in the map very very carefully in order to find it!

Fábio
Barcelona

Fez - unforgettable city

2010-05-31T15:24:00.000-07:00

Fes or Fez is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat.

If you do not pay attention you may be run over by a donkey at the medina of Fez.

The oldest and largest dry cleaning of North Africa is on Fez and it is amazing to see how they work there.

The University of Al Karaouine in Fez was founded in 859 and it is one of the oldest university of the world. It is inside of the Kairaouine Mosque.

Fes is an unforgettable city and you should spend your time there by eating tangine, drinking menthe tea and enjoying having different and delicious desserts.

Fábio
Barcelona

Casablanca and Meknes - Morroco

2010-05-31T14:55:00.000-07:00

I just came back from Morroco and it was one of the most amazing trips that I have ever done...

The culture is great,the weather nice, peope are friendly and it is fantastic to understand their mentality.

Casablanca is the largest city of Morroco. It is considered the economic and business center of the country as well.

The Hassan II Mosque is the largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina.

Meknes is a city in northern Morroco, located 130 kilometres from the capital Rabat and 60 kilometres from Fez. I loved to visit there.

Volubilis was an important Roman town and it was one of the most interesting places that I have visited in Morroco.

If you like adventures and love to figure out how we are different by understanding cultures, languages, food and habits - you should go to Morroco.

Fábio
Barcelona

Friday - Meetings at Daniel´s place....

2010-05-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

I am so happy for participating of our Friday meetings...
It has been a time for thinking about life, having fun and meeting people...

We have been talking about what we are supposed to do or not to do if we say that we know God...

We have been sharing about our fears, experiences and hope with each other...

We have been growing and discussing about maturity and how we are supposed to live life...

We have been talking about how people live a double life and how this may have serious consequences in life...

We have been discussing about how one can minimize and deny some problems and deceive him or herself...

It is a pause, a break and a moment for reflecting and thinking about our actions without judgement and prejudice...

Welcome to our meetings!
Come as you are!
Come, enjoy and participate of our Barcelona' season...

We wait for you there..
Fábio
Barcelona

One day after Easter in Barcelona

2010-04-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

The cross is empty and He is not there anymore...
His grave or tomb is empty because it is MONDAY!

Praise God! It is MONDAY!

One of the most amazing things that I saw in Israel 13 years ago it was in the garden tomb because it was written: "He is not here, for He is risen".

I have talked to some friends and we realized that Easter (in Barcelona) is a little bit "weird" even in our churches.

Bryan my American friend told me that no one preached about Easter, ressurection, etc. in his church.

In my local church there were only a few people in the service to celebrate Easter...

I said to some friends "Happy Easter" and I "felt" that something was "wrong"..

Barcelona has a huge History behind its "history"...

If you look at the past you will understand how its "church", religion, the Spanish dictatorship and other issues have made Barcelona what it is...

..but Easter keeps being Easter and so I thank God for His ressurection and because He is alive!

I just got a nice email from Johnna and I loved it.

Our friend Wainer, who is missionary and lives in Brazil, wrote her a very nice email and message about Easter and I would like to share it with you...

May God bless us and make us think about Easter and his ressurrection and power every day.

"We know life is at times complicated and ups and downs come to all. We know that we do not always understand the challenges and tragedies that happens on earth. It is at times painfully clear that life is not always under our "control" as we would hope. The choices for our lives are at times made by circumstances way above our control and by others. And yet...

When we encounter and are encounter by faith... when our eyes, heart and minds are open to Jesus and the eternal perspective we have in HIM... Heaven is waiting for us! Then, this faith/conviction and hope is undoubtedly the greatest gift one can have while traveling the earth...

HE is alive and there is hope... HE is alive and eternity in the Father's home where we will be reunited with those who went before us... and see our loved ones... is coming! Praise the Lord!

We begin this Monday, the day after Easter Sunday 2010, with new hope in our hearts and renewed gratitude "Because He Lives we can face tomorrow, Because HE lives, all fear is gone, because we know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Have a most blessed Monday, Tuesday... and may HIS blessings of love, faith and hope be ever growing as you walk this side of eternity. And may the power from above in Jesus be with you today giving you also double strength, and refreshed determination to go on."

Back to Barcelona....

2010-03-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

I am back...

Brazil was really a great time...

First of all, because my family is doing good and we really had fun...

Second of all, Johnna was able to know my culture, parents, sister and enjoy our summer, beaches and good food. My parents blessed us and our future in a blessing service.

And third, me and Johnna had the privilege to speak to different groups and meetings in a certain Baptist church. We met her friends (missionaries) in Rio de Janeiro, visited the group of Bolivians who have lived for many years in São Paulo and also she met many of my friends.

It was a great experience for us!

Fábio
Barcelona

Brasil - uma estação temporária

2009-12-31T11:06:00.001-08:00

Acabo de chegar no Brasil...

Estou feliz por estar com a minha familia e curtir o verão brasileiro..

Na semana passada estava no meio da neve belga e antes de vir para São Paulo, passei um dia no frio de Barcelona para agora encontrar o calor agradável brasileiro...

Sei que estes dias me trarão muito descanso e muita reflexão...

Os dias passam rapidamente e o que mais tenho aprendido durante estes últimos 7 anos é descobrir como viver um dia de cada vez e aproveitar o máximo da companhia dos meus amigos e familiares que estão próximos...

Aprender a viver o presente e o momento é o desafio que todos nós estamos chamados a viver..

Fábio
São Paulo

Christmas in Belgium

2009-12-31T10:40:00.000-08:00

I had such a great time in Belgium a few weeks ago...

I was with Johnna, her pastors, friends and Tess (Johnna's roomate).

It was really cool to spend time with them and understand that Christmas is more than presents and food, more than nice trees and lights...

Christmas has to do with Christ in us...

Christmas has to do with hope...

Christmas has to do with Emmanuel - God is with us...

Christmas is to understand Jesus was born and divided the History before and afer Him..

Christmas is to understand Jesus was born in our life and divided our "story" before and after him because it is "his-story" in us!

Fábio
São Paulo

More music! Birthday Party! Vamos Juntos!

2009-11-25T11:07:00.001-08:00

Chivo's Birthday Party

2009-11-25T10:51:00.000-08:00

Last week we had fun together and celebrated Chivo's birthday party!!
TE QUEREMOS DAAANNIII!!
I invite you to join us for the NEXT MEETING!!!
You are welcome!

Fábio
Barcelona

Quienes Somos, Cumpleaños, Pica Pica and more...

2009-11-14T10:38:00.000-08:00

Pictures & Vamos Juntos New Version!

2009-11-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

It has been great to start a new season of Vamos Juntos...

I want to thank the pastors of Vineyard (David and Martin) for being able to believe that the Gospel is more than "buildings" and the own Institution...

I want to thank my dear friend Dani who is opening his great flat for our meetings...

I want to thank God for giving me the chance to live in a city like Barcelona that is absolutely amazing and meeting people from everywhere...

And also I want to thank God for giving me friends like Nate and Robert who were with me in the first version of Vamos Juntos...

You guys can see more picts in the link "Behind the Flash" and go to the page number 01 (Tu Galeria).

Take care,
Fábio
Barcelona

Proverbios - Instrucción, Obediencia y Promesa

2009-11-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

Vamos Juntos - Good music, friendship and fun!

2009-11-14T10:24:00.000-08:00

Vamos Juntos in Barcelona

2009-11-07T10:26:00.001-08:00

We are starting our meetings in Barcelona again...

Almost 3 years ago I started meetings like that and we really had fun....

In 2007 and 2008 my friend Nate helped and we had a great time together by meeting people from everywhere, building friendships and talking about life, God, culture, art in a very simple way...

Last week we had our first meeting of 2009 because I felt we were supposed to start a new season of Vamos Juntos in Barcelna and my friend Daniel opened his great and comfortable flat for us and now we can get together there every Friday for having fun, a good talk, drink and eat something while we sing and talk about our day by day, faith, religion, relatioship with God and other issues that have to do with us...

You are very welcome to join us...

If you are around, give me a ring or just come over because we start our meetings at 20.15...

Wait for you here!

Fábio
Barcelona

Johnna and I in Belgium

2009-11-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I was with Johnna in Belgium and we had fun...

And also we had the opportunity to preach together 3 times...

If you would like to know what she does in Belgium..

There is a link in my blog to her blog that is called Johnna, la Belchica.

It is not necessary to comment anything about the name of her link and the pictures that I am leaving in my blog now .-)

Fábio
Barcelona

Waterloo & The African Church

2009-11-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

When we are almost there and want to give up...

2009-10-28T11:35:00.001-07:00

Have you ever felt the feeling that you are almost there but....

You have been tempted to give up...

Very often we think about the possibility of giving up...

Very often we think we cannot do...

Very often we feel we are not able to...

Very often we get discouraged and imagine we will not get there...

Very often we are almost there and we want to give up...

When this feeling comes to our heart and we have a terrible fear inside of us....

We should understand our strenght comes from the Lord...

Our steps are guided by Him...

Our goals are not our goals but they are supposed to be His goals in our hearts...

Our life is not ours anymore but our life belongs to Him...

He will take care of us even though it seems like He is distant and indiferent...

He will take care of us even though it seems like He has forgotten us...

He will take care of us even though it seems like He has not heard our prayers...

He will be with us even though I may fail...

He will be with us and take our hands in order to lead us....

He will be with us and we will not be just almost there...

We will get there and be there by His grace...

It is just by His grace that it is possible to "survive" in this fallen world..

It is just by His amazing grace that we do not give up on...

It is just by His grace that we will find a place of peace in our heart...

Because He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, He gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble...

But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.

Fábio
Barcelona

O que significa viver pela fé

2009-08-29T09:43:00.001-07:00

Por muitos anos escutei o signficado de viver pela fé...

Os anos passaram e comecei a entender que viver pela fé era muito mais complexo que seguir normas e regras, doutrinas e uma cartilha de "podes e não podes".

Entendi que viver pela fé era uma escolha diária, especialmente quando a vida te mostra uma cara amarga e feia...

Entendi que trabalhamos pela fé, educamos nossos filhos pela fé, levantamos no dia seguinte pela fé e até casamos pela fé ainda que eu possa amar a minha esposa e vice-versa.

Num mundo te tantas ambiguidades, num mundo caído onde a melhor intenção pode tornar-se o teu próprio inimigo, devido ao fato de ter sido recebida através de uma percepção equivocada, e assim, o que era uma boa intenção, virou uma má interpretação pelas vias da má comunicação e da leitura superficial e parcial...

Então...

Vivemos pela fé para que haja justiça...

Vivemos pela fé para que a verdade prevaleça...

Vivemos pela fé ainda que a tua reputação não seja coerente com a verdade que está dentro de ti porque o que vale nesta vida é o caráter, e o mesmo que tem a ver com o que você é e não o que dizem de ti ser...

Vivemos pela fé porque o justo somente é justo porque foi justificado por Aquele que é JUSTO....

E assim a justiça que não tenho, mas Ele a tem, eu a tomo pela fé, e me torno justificado pela mesma fé, e portanto, tenho paz com Deus, me reconcilio comigo mesmo e com os homens que foram criados â imagem e semelhança dAquele que me justificou sem me pedir nenhuma explicação...

Tudo é pela fé.

Por isso o justo viverá pela vé debaixo do Sol.

Fábio
Barcelona

Back to Barcelona

2009-08-29T09:42:00.001-07:00

I just came back from Belgium and tomorrow I have to go to work....

I had fun in Belgium, studied French and spent time with Johnna and her friends...

I am home and thinking how time flies...

This Belgiun experience is making me think how I have been spending my life, which level of quality and what I have been building in life...

Since I was 17 years old I have been understanding the most important patrimony that one can have in life has to do with people - friendhips!

It is exactly what it happened in Belgium during these last 2 weeks...

Fábio
Barcelona

A "long time ago"...

2009-08-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

I am just checking some pictures and what I found??

Wow, my first classes of piano...

By the way, my great grandmother was my first teacher...

Fun with my dad in a city that is very close to Sao Paulo...

Playing with my friends and my sister...

Playing with our friends...

Currently, our friend Fernanda lives in Germany and is married a great guy from Austria-Germany and has two beautiful kids. It is one of my favorite places to go and take a rest - their home!

Yeah! A "long time ago"...

Fábio
Barcelona

African church in Waterloo

2009-08-12T10:48:00.001-07:00

I had a great experience by talking to the African church in Waterloo...

Johnna has translated me from English into French twice and it was really good.

It is nice to see and understand how different cultures can be together...

This experience with the African church has been one of the experiences that I have had during this belgium season in the summer of 2009.

Fábio
Waterloo

Waterloo - Holidays...

2009-08-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Waterloo is a nice city...

It is a very important city because Napoleon lost his last battle there.

I have been spending my time with Johnna and her friends...

It has been a time for pause and break...

It has been a time for thinking about life and meeting new friends...

It has been a time for enjoying living life with simplicity.

Fábio
Waterloo

Luizinha - a gift of God for our family

2009-07-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

I just talked to my mom...

I like to plan everything that I do in life but I like to improvise as well - that is why I like music but I work as an administrator.

My mom called me and I was writing so many things that I had already prepared for my blog but because she called me I started to find some pictures of Luizinha, my beautiful and sweet niece who is almost 2 years old, and now I am improvising and writing something about my family and Luizinha.

I love my family. I miss them and I am looking forward to seeing them in December.

My mom is the personification of the generosity.

My dad is the personification of the honesty and integrity.

I love my sister as well and she is very sweet and we have had much fun as I lived in Sao Paulo.

God has given to her a beautiful child who has brought joy for each one of us - especially for my mom and my dad who miss me so much.

Family has to do with the fact of living live life laughing and crying, having hope and sometimes being desperate, but one thing it is true and I am sure -

Family was born in God's heart!

Fábio
Barcelona

Beethoven, Strauss and Amadeus Mozart

2009-07-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Vienna is the city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who was a composer of the Classical Era. He composed over six hundred works. He was born in Salzburg but lived, died and was buried in Vienna.

It was nice to see his house and visit a certain cafeteria where took place one of his concerts. There is a very nice statue of Mozart that is close to the City Hall of Vienna.

Johann Strauss is other name that is everywhere in Vienna. He was an Austrian composer as well and composed the famous "The Blue Danube".

There is a huge monument of Strauss in a park very close to the centre of Vienna.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. Although he was born in Bonn, he moved to Vienna. He continued to compose, even after he was completely deaf. This amazes me!

Last year I went to Bonn and visited his home. Bonn was the capital of Germany before Berlin and has a beautiful and important University. Although, Bonn is Beethoven’s city, he died and was buried in Vienna as well.

Fábio
Barcelona

Sigmund Freud and Vienna

2009-07-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have read some books of Sigmund Freud...

I like the concept of the Id, ego, and super-ego.

It was defined as the three parts of the psychic apparatus by Sigmund Freud, and it is considered the structural model of the psyche.

Almost 5 years ago I was reading some books regarding this issue, and then I decided to talk to my friend Tom who is a good psychologist and a great pastor about that. We were in a very nice cafeteria in the middle of Sao Paulo and he drew all the process in a piece of paper and showed me how it worked.

Sigmund Freud , was an Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology.

He lived in Vienna at Berggasse where currently it is his museum.

One of my favorites books is The Interpretation of Dreams and he wrote this book exactly at Berggasse.

The book has to do with the understanding of unconscious mental processes.

It was good to visit his house and know exactly where he lived and worked for many years.

I have been to some cafeterias of Vienna where he spent time, and actually they are very well known in the city.

Freud had to flee and go to London due to the Nazis persecution and there, in London he died.

Fábio
Barcelona

Bratislava - Slovak Republic

2009-07-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

Bratislava is a very small city...

I am sure you can walk around there for 5 hours and you will know everything...

Everything means a castle, a nice plaza, the main church and...

That is all .-)

It is the capital of the Slovak Republic and the population of the city is about 429.000. It is very close to Austria and Hungary.

In order to go to Bratislava from Vienna by train, it takes only 1 hour and so if you are in Vienna, I suggest you to take the train and go to Bratislava, and then you will understand what I am saying...

Fábio
Barcelona

Víctor Frankl - El hombre en busca de sentido (Man's Search for Meaning )

2009-07-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

Acabo de llegar de Viena…

Mi amigo Edgar me ha prestato un libro de Viktor Frankl que nos muestra su experiencia en el campo de concentración en Auschwitz.

Estoy casí terminando de leerlo...

Viktor Frankl nació en Viena, Austria el 26 de Marzo de 1905. Él fundó la tercera escuela de psicoterapia vienesa a la que llamó Logoterapia.

En otoño de 1942, junto a su esposa y a sus padres, fue deportado al campo de concentración. En 1944 fue trasladado a Auschwitz y posteriormente a Kaufering y Türkheim, dos campos de concentración dependientes del de Dachau. Fue liberado el 27 de abril de 1945 por el ejército norteamericano. Viktor Frankl sobrevivió al Holocausto, pero tanto su esposa como sus padres fallecieron en los campos de concentración.

Víctor Frankl aunque haya sido un prisionero en el campo de concentración, no ha escrito su experiencia bajo la óptica de un prisionero, pero bajo el punto de vista de un psiquiatra.

El hombre en busca de sentido (Man's Search for Meaning) ha sido traducido a más de veinte idiomas y la Library of Congreso en Washington lo ha declarado como uno de los diez libros de mayor influencia en América.

Dejo aquí en mi blog una de las partes del libro que más me ha llamado la atención mientras lo leía hoy por la mañana en una cafetería cerca de casa.

La pregunta por el sentido de la vida

Lo que de verdad necesitamos es un cambio radical en nuestra actitud frente a la vida. Debemos aprender por nosotros mismos, y también enseñar a lo hombres desesperados que en realidad no importa que no esperemos nada de la vida, sino que la vida espere algo de nosotros. Dejemos de interrogarnos sobre el sentido de la vida, y en cambio, pensemos en lo que la existencia nos reclama continua e incesantemente. Y respondamos no con palabras, no con meditaciones, sino con el valor y la conducta recta y adecuada. En última instancia, vivir significa asumir la responsabilidad de encontrar la respuesta correcta a las cuestiones que la existencia nos plantea, cumplir con las obligaciones que la vida nos asigna a cada uno en cada instante particular.

Esas obligaciones y esas tareas, y consecuentemente el sentido de la vida, difieren de un hombre a otro, de un momento a otro, de forma y manera que resulta imposible definir el sentido de la vida en términos abstractos. Jamás se podrá responder a las preguntas sobre el sentido de la vida con afirmaciones absolutas. “Vida” no significa algo el destino de cada hombre, un destino distinto y único en cada caso singular. Ningún hombre ni ningún destino pueden compararse a otro hombre o a otro destino. Tampoco se repite ninguna situación, y cada una reclama una respuesta distinta. Una situación, en ocasiones, puede exigirle al hombre que construya su propio destino realizando determinado tipo de acciones; en otras, le reportará un mayor beneficio dejarse inundar por las circunstancias, contemplarlas y meditarlas, y entresacar los valores pertinentes. Y, a veces, la existencia demandará del hombre que sencillamente acepte su destino y cargue con su cruz. Cada situación se diferencia por su unidad irrepetible, y para cada ocasión tan sólo existe una respuesta correcta al problema que plantea.

Cuando un hombre descubre que su destino es sufrir, ha de aceptar ese sufrimiento, porque ese sufrimiento se convierte en su única y peculiar tarea. Es más, ese sufrimiento le otorga el carácter de persona única e irrepetible en el universo. Nadie puede redimirle de su sufrimiento mismo: se personifica según la actitud que adopte frente a ese sufrimiento que la vida le ofrece como tarea.

Para los prisioneros estos argumentos no constituían especulaciones muy alejadas de la realidad, más bien se presentaban como los únicos pensamientos capaces de ayudarnos y defendernos de la desesperación, aun sin percibir ningún indicio que nos permitiera albergar alguna esperanza de salir de allí con vida. Ya habíamos superado la etapa, el debate ingenuo, de creer que el sentido de la vida consiste en alcanzar objetivos a través de la creación de algo valioso. Nuestro sentido de la vida abarcaba los amplios círculos de la vida y muerte, del sufrir y el morir. Ahí se entablaba nuestra lucha.
El hombre en busca de sentido
Víctor Frankl

Um giro pela Europa 360º caindo em Viena

2009-07-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Tenho tido o privilegio de viajar por quase toda Europa – Portugal tem uma beleza colonial, Lisboa é cortada pelo famoso Tejo e cheia de histórias da navegação, entre elas, as de Vasco da Gama e Pedro Alvares Cabral. Porto é industrial, é puro business e tem o seu encanto também!

Poderia escrever sobre as cidades suiças e gastaria horas descrevendo cada “cantão” suiço – alemão, italiano, francês e romanche. No entanto, Genebra foi a cidade que me convidou para uma viagem inesquecível há quase 4 anos atrás. Genebra foi a capital da Reforma Protestante e além disso tem um charme singular e único!

Seguiria falando do Reino Unido composto por Irlanda do Norte, Inglaterra, Escocia e Gales – seus castelos e lutas, suas histórias e campos verdes inigualáveis.

Passaria pela Irlanda e pela histórica cidade de Belfast que traz "grafites" gravados e desenhados nos muros que estão espalhados por toda cidade, os quais poderíamos chamar de museus abertos que nos contam capítulo por capítulo acerca das tantas históricas batalhas entre católicos e protestantes...

Chegaríamos na Alemanha onde cada bairro, cada cidade, cada província nos remete há algum evento, uma Alemanha que nos recorda de duas guerras mundiais e nos convida a visitar as entranhas da História através dos seus fascinantes museus que tem a ver com o povo Judeu e com o Holocausto.

Além de falar dos campos de concentrações, cidades reconstruídas por forças aliadas e monumentos por todos os lados em memória daqueles que un dia perderam e deram as suas vidas em uma Batalha que parecia não ter fim.

Falar da Italia é falar de arte, é falar de Michelangelo, Rafael e Leonardo da Vinci. É falar do Renascimento e de grandes catedrais, é falar de uma cidade como Florença que é verdadeiramente um museu aberto. É falar de Roma que abriga boa parte da História mundial e que dispensa comentários, é falar da mágica Veneza ou da singularidade de uma cidade como Pisa que nos transmite esta particularidade através da sua torre inclinada.

Seguiria falando da Bégica e Holanda que compõem o cenário dos países baixos, da Suécia e da linda Dinamarca, mas Viena foi e tem sido de todas as cidades que tenho visitado, uma das cidades mais belas, glamourosas e especiais.

Viena é uma cidade de contos de fadas...

É a cidade de Mozart, de Bethoveen, de Strauss e de Freud.

Cada rua e cada monumento nos recorda algum evento histórico…

Ela é rica, é bela e formosa...

Viena é fascinante pela sua grandeza, pelos seus parques e pela sua história...

Viena é a cidade das cafeterias, é uma cidade de estilo, classe e nobre.

Viena é para ser vivida e visitada com calma, desfrutando de cada momento e passeio...

Viena é a cidade que nos convida a viajar pelo passado sem perder os passos do presente e sem deixar de perceber as características do futuro.

Vale a pena conhecê-la!

Cafes, Celebrity Customers and The Magical Prague

2009-06-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Prague is magic and has a lot of interesting places to go.

Actually, it is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.

The most important places are The Prague Castle, Saint Vitus Cathedral that is the oldest gothic cathedral in central Europe and (by the way) it is inside of The Castle, The Old Town, and finally The Jewish area.

Personally, I love to go to cafeterias and spend my time reading books and studying there...

Praga has a lot of cafeterias and some of them are really famous...

There is one which is in the Jewish area and has a very nice enviroment. It is called Franz Kafka. Actually, Franz Kafka was one of the major writers of the 20th century. He was born in a Jewish family in Prague.

There is another one that I really liked, and then I would recommend you to go if you visit Prague. It is called Cafe Slavia.

At Cafe Slavia there is a guy who plays a piano as you have either a Czech beer or a good coffee(of course)..

If you go to one of those cafeterias of Prague you may become a "celebrity" by joining Sigmund Freud and Franz Kafka as customers because they have been there as well...

Fabio
Prague

Bon voyage - a text from Johnna's blog

2009-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

I read this text in the blog of Johnna...

Johnna is an American missionary, lives in Belgium and (currently) works for an African church.

The text is very interesting - Bon voyage!
Fábio

One of my students gave me this:

Quand je suis né, j’étais noir,
Quand j’ai grandi, j’étais noir,
Quand j’ai peur, je suis noir,
Quand je vais au soleil, je suis noir,
Quand je suis malade, je suis noir.

Tandis que toi, « homme blanc ».
Quand tu es né, tu étais rose,
Quand tu as grandi, tu es devenu blanc,
Quand tu vas au soleil, tu deviens rouge,
Quand tu as froid, tu deviens bleu,
Quand tu as peur, tu deviens vert
Quand tu es malade, tu deviens jaune
Et après ca,
Tu as le toupet de m’appeler « homme de couleur » ?

(TRANSLATION:
When I was born, I was black. When I grew up, I was black.
When I'm scared, I'm black. When I go in the sun, I'm black.

When I'm sick, I'm black. But you, white man, when you were born, you were pink.
When you grew up, you became white.

When you go in the sun, you get red, when you are cold, you become blue, when you are afraid, you become green, when you are sick, you turn yellow.

After all that, you have the nerve to call me, "person of color"?)

individualism, individuation, individuality and individualist. Bon voyage!

2009-06-14T03:40:00.000-07:00

I have already spoken about this issue but it is the first time that I am writing...

I have read some books of Jung and heard from Caio Fábio...

What I am writing it is just the result of what I have read, heard and reflected...

Thinking about some books of Jung, Caio Fábio'comments and the Bible I would like to write the difference between individualism, individuation, individuality and individualist.

God has NOT called us to be an individualist but generous, altruist and a “giver”

He knows us personally (as an individual) because we are not part of any "mass".

He knows our names; He is our pastor and calls us individually according to John chapter 10. The prophet Isaiah says He knows the stars and their names; He knows the number of the stars and in his “financial balance” does not have any difference.

His accounting is perfect!

Everything matches!

He does not get 8 out of 10, He gets 10! -:)
Ps: 8 out of 10 was my accouting test result

He put a unique fingerprint in each one of us! We are unique in this planet.

By this point of view we have a unique individuality and personality...

That is why we are in a process of individuation in order to know us ourselves gradually.

Sometimes I am scared when I realize what it is inside of me and so I can understand what Paul says about a certain and hard fight inside of us!

Jung says about the concept of shadow. Paul explained it to us before Jung and Jesus taught us what there were in our hearts 2000 years ago and also Jeremiah said that our hearts were deceitful 630 BC!

We are in a process definitely!

We see everything partially according to Corinthians 13 and one day we will know all as we have been already known by Him!

We will receive a little and white stone with our names.

Only you! Only me! We (all) will know our names individually!

At that day the process will be over! However, (at the moment) We have an ID in Christ as individuals!

So that is why I am not supposed to preach as my pastor does I cannot speak as everybody does because we are unique people and this means exactly the process of individuation and individuality!

Of course we are influenced by people...

I am! I have been influenced by many people

But never! Never!

We should lose our identity and the way or manner to be a person with the features and characteristics that (only) we have!

Wives lose their identities due to their husbands’ behaviour...

Sons lose their identities due to the tyranny of their parents!

That is why we must respect each other, the limits of others, their cultures and mainly the way that they have for being “gente” – Spanish word. I love this word.

On the other hand, I cannot accept the individualism because this has to do with egoism and our ego; when we practice the individualism, we are the centre of all attention and so we are thinking just in us, of us, about me, and me…

“Me” is the main word for the individualism.

It means we are the king of the Universe. Our culture is the best, our, me...

...our, the best, better and the best…

The opposite is: We have been called to practice hospitality and generosity!

May God bless and help us through this temporary journey on Earth!

I am adding some texts from wikipedia about these issues.

I have separated from the whole text what it is interesting and helpful..

Carl Gustav Jung (German pronunciation: 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker and the founder of Analytical psychology.

Jung's approach to psychology has been influential in the field of depth psychology and in countercultural movements across the globe. Jung is considered as the first modern psychologist to state that the human psyche is "by nature religious" and to explore it in depth.

He emphasized understanding the psyche through exploring the worlds of dreams, art, mythology, religion and philosophy. Although he was a theoretical psychologist and practicing clinician, much of his life's work was spent exploring other areas, including Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, sociology, as well as literature and the arts. His most notable ideas include the concept of psychological archetypes, the collective unconscious and synchronicity.

Jung emphasized the importance of balance and harmony. He cautioned that modern people rely too heavily on science and logic and would benefit from integrating spirituality and appreciation of unconscious realms. He considered the process of individuation necessary for a person to become whole. This is a psychological process of integrating the conscious with the unconscious while still maintaining conscious autonomy.
Individuation was the central concept of Analytical Psychology.

Jung was thirty when he sent his Studies in Word Association to Sigmund Freud in Vienna . The first conversation between Jung and Freud is reported to have lasted over 13 hours.
Six months later, the then 50 year-old Freud sent a collection of his latest published essays to Jung in Zurich, which marked the beginning of an intense correspondence and collaboration that lasted only six years and ended in May 1910. At this time Jung resigned as the chairman of the International Psychoanalytical Association, where he had been elected with Freud's support.

Today Jung's and Freud's theories have diverged, Jung being a psychiatrist and Freud being a psychologist, however they influenced each other during intellectually formative years of Jung's life, Freud being already 50 years old at their meeting and well beyond the formative years

Jungians claim that Jungian psychology individuation is a process of psychological differentiation, having for its goal the development of the individual personality. "In general, it is the process by which individual beings are formed and differentiated; in particular, it is the development of the psychological individual as a being distinct from the general, collective psychology.

Individuation is the process of transforming one’s psyche by bringing the personal and collective unconscious into conscious.

Individuation has a holistic healing effect on the person, both mentally and physically.
People who have advanced towards individuation, besides being physically and mentally healthy, they are harmonious, mature and responsible. They promote freedom and justice. They have a good understanding about the workings of human nature and the universe.

The Shadow Jung note is always the same gender as the individual. To become conscious of the Shadow takes considerable moral effort, recognising the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. Jung contended that this act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge.

The Shadow is considered to be a collection of inferiorities, undeveloped, and regressive aspects of the personality. They are primarily of an emotional nature and have a kind of autonomy, displaying an obsessive or more accurately a possessive quality. Jung describes emotion as an activity that happens to the individual rather than an activity of the individual, further reinforcing the idea of the autonomy of certain aspects of the psyche such as the Shadow.

The actions of the Shadow usually happen where adaptation is weakest, and at the same time reveal the reason for its weakness – that is a degree of inferiority and the existence of a lower level of personality. It is at this lower level, with its uncontrolled or scarcely controlled emotions that one behaves more or less like a primitive who is more or less a 'victim' of these emotions and is practically incapable of moral judgement.

Although with persistent effort the Shadow (to some extent) can be integrated with the conscious personality there are certain features which offer a great deal of resistance to control and prove almost impossible to influence. These aspects are generally associated with projections, which are not recognised as such, and their recognition is an achievement beyond the ordinary.

The Shadow represents first and foremost the personal unconscious, and its content can therefore be made conscious without too much difficulty

Collective unconscious, sometimes known as collective subconscious, is a term of analytical psychology, coined by Carl Jung. It is a part of the unconscious mind, shared by a society, a people, or all humanity

Barcelona - Campeón de la Champeons League

2009-05-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

Acabo de llegar del piso de Sara....

El Barça es campeón de la Champeons League!

Barcelona está en fiesta! Catalunya está en fiesta! Los argentinos también!

Messi ganó a Cristiano Ronaldo y ha dejado su marca en el bello estadio de Roma...

Cristiano ha perdido la cabeza en el partido y tampoco ha encontrado el balón.

Pujol ha sido un monstruo - incansable!

Valdes siempre constante y pasando seguridad.

Piquet, un joven que promete mucho.

Sylvinho, presente cuando debería estar..

Xavi, un robador de balones fenomenal.

Iniesta, una campaña (Champeons, Liga Nacional y Copa del Rey)fantástica!

Quién se olvidará del golazo contra el Chelsea en el último minuto!

Podría seguir hablando acerca de cada uno pero ha sido un trabajo de equipo...

El balón pasaba de pie en pie, parecia una orquesta y que tocaban la 5ª sinfonia de Beethoven...

De hecho, había un arquitecto en este equipo y que acaba de hacer Historia en Camp Nou - su nombre es Pep Guardiola!

Nadie podría creer que este "chaval" enseñaria al Barça el camino del éxito y llegaría hasta donde ha llegado...

Lo han logrado! EL triplete es del Barça!

Por lo tanto, como dicen por aquí en Catalán...

Visca el Barça! Visca! Visca! Viiiissca!

Fábio
Barcelona

Fábio, SImi y Patty - Cumpleaños en Barcelona

2009-05-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Ha sido una gran alegría (una vez más) celebrar nuestros cumpleaños juntos - Simi, yo y Patty.

Todas las fotos están en: My links Behind the Flash – More pictures.

Las fotos de la celebración del año pasado están aquí:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vamosjuntos2007/page4/

Los videos de la celebración del año pasado están aquí:
Birthday Party I, II, III, IV y V.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=munizfabio0106&view=videos

Have fun!

Fábio
Barcelona

Nadar es una de las pasiones que tengo...

2009-05-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

Nadar es una de las pasiones que tengo…

Me acuerdo que cuando luchaba Karate (entre los 14 y 18 años) salía del “tatami” a las 22h y aunque pudiera estar cansado, tenía fuerzas para irme a la piscina directamente - Lo hacía normalmente tres veces a la semana...

A propósito, me acuerdo de un amigo japones que se llamaba Marlon y siempre atraíamos a todos del club para vernos luchando. En una de las ocasiones lo he superado y me hice campeón del torneo interno del club Juventus que está (todavía) ubicado en el barrio italiano llamado Mooca en la ciudad de Sao Paulo...

En 1996 cuando estaba en Israel siempre conseguia encontrar un “hueco” para nadar en el hotel en la ciudad de Jerusalén donde estábamos hospedados - aunque hubiera necesidad de pedir las gafas para nadar en la recepcion no dejaba de hacerlo…

En Canada aunque estuviéramos bajo zero (a veces menos 25 grados) siempre encontraba coraje para cruzar algunas calles y caminar unos 10 minutos hasta llegar al gimnasio que estaba cerca de casa, y allí, nadaba...

A veces llevaba Bryan y Elisabeth conmigo y nos divertíamos mucho...

Llevo 3 años en Barcelona y por lo menos (me acuerdo) de haberme apuntado unas 3 veces en distintos gimnasios del Ayuntamiento para nadar, pero por motivos de estudios, universidad, etc. nadaba por unos 5 o 6 meses y paraba...
nadaba otros 4 meses y paraba...

De todas maneras, ahora estoy de vuelta, llevo (casí) un mes nadando en una piscina del Ayuntamiento que está cerca de la Sagrada Familia y me siento como si estuviera en el cielo cuando doy las brazadas allí...

De hecho, hago toda esta introducción simplemente para comentar que sería (yo) la última persona del mundo que debería decir que una de las pasiones que tengo es: nadar!

Cuando tenía 7 años aproximadamente estaba en Valinhos (ciudad cerca de Campinas – 150 Km de Sao Paulo) en la linda casa de mis tios. Me encantaba viajar con ellos a Valinhos – casa grande, 10.000 m2, corría con las gallinas, subía en los árboles, comía un montón de frutas y me divertía en la pisci...

Piscina?¿? Sí, una piscina!¡¡

Me acuerdo que todos estábamos comiendo cuando salí de la mesa y fui a la piscina en una bella tarde de sabado...

Cuando me acerqué a la piscina, me acuerdo que había un juguete en el agua y quise cogerlo...

Intenté, intenté, me estiré, un poco más...

Y tchibum!!

Cuando me di cuenta estaba dentro de la piscina, intentando de todas maneras coger un caño que había dentro del agua para llevarme hacia fuera pero no conseguia hasta que desmayé...

Cuando abrí mis ojos en una "flash", pude ver y darme cuenta que mi querida prima Eliane saltaba adentro del agua y me estaba rescatando literalmente...

Me acuerdo de este escenario perfectamente, mis padres no estaban con nosotros, solamente mi querida abuela y mi hermana, mi tía Yolanda ha hecho una respiración “boca a boca” y todo el agua que había dentro de mis pulmones vino hacia fuera...

Fue un gran susto a todos nosotros!
Casi perdí mi vida! Podía ver y oír las lágrimas de todos los que estaban allí...

Ahora puedes entender porque sería la última persona del mundo que debería decir que mi pasión es nadar...

Puedes imaginar cuanto "debo" mi vida a mi prima Eliane...

Mi querida prima Eliane no podía tener hijos y entonces decidió (hace algunos años) adoptar a dos niños. Me acuerdo que orabamos por ella y en una de las ocasiones en una reunión en la casa de Dikran (un señor de origen Armenia que lideraba un grupo en su casa y que posteriormente se ha hecho una iglesia) y su esposa Silvia, oraron por Eliane, poniendo sus manos sobre su vientre...

Pasaron algunos años y Dios le ha concedido un gran y precioso regalo desde su propio vientre - una linda niña que se llama Bianca...

Mi querida tia Yolanda falleció de cancer hace 8 años aproximadamente y me llamaron para hablar en su funeral. Muy emocionado empezé a contar sobre mi cariño y consideración por ella a todos los que estaban presentes...

Quiero terminar escribiendo que la vida nos presenta "una cara fea" muchas veces, un susto, algo que no esperamos puede suceder y visitarnos...

A veces, no sabemos si pasaremos, si superaremos, hay traumas, consecuencias, choques, muchos fueron abusados cuando eran niños, otros no saben lo que es recibir un cariño y abrazo de un padre, hay algunos que fueron abandonados por la propia madre, otros rechazados cuando (todavía)estaban en el vientre...

Lo que ruego a Dios es que nunca permita que las "sorpresas y visitas inesperadas" de la vida tengan fuerza y poder de amargarme y tampoco que se hagan como un veneno sutil que es capaz de neutralizar y quitar la alegría y gratitud de mi corazón paulatina y gradualmente...

Que Dios nos ayude a traves de su gracia a vivir la vida con ésta gratitud y capacidad de superar lo que supuestamente debería atemorizar y meternos en una cárcel existencial.

Fäbio
Barcelona

Time to think about life…

2009-05-02T01:56:00.000-07:00

But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven – except the Father alone. Mathew 24:36

Almost 10 years ago many people were afraid because the millennium was coming and many said the world would finish in 2000…

Nothing happened in 2000 and we are almost in 2010.

When I was a teenager many pastors from different nationalities and denominations said and prophesied the year that Jesus would be supposed to come back (sometimes they said the exact day for that)…

Nothing happened and we are still here…

Nobody knows when Jesus comes back…

Nobody knows when the day of the Lord will come…

Nobody knows it - except the Father alone!

On the other hand, (personally) I feel we have been living a very important part of the History and it has been such a great privilege to belong to this “last generations”.

Maybe you are going to tell me: “Fábio, Jesus said to his disciples about wars and nations that would rise up in arms against nations and kingdom against kingdom and also about famines and earthquakes in various places and all these things would mean the beginning of birth pains”…

And also you could conclude your thought by telling me…

”We have seen these catastrophes and wars since the beginning of the world and nothing has been new since then”…

I would say you are right! That is true!

In fact, we have seen and read about wars, famine, brothers against brothers, nation against nation, etc since the beginning of the world…

In addition, if we just go, read the Bible and know the History a little bit we will see so many examples regarding these issues like Abel and Cain, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, the plagues and famine in Egypt, etc.

However, we have never seen two great world wars before like those ones from 1914 to1918 and from 1939 to 1945…

We have never seen a genocide before like the Holocaust that killed almost 6 million Jewish…

Last year I was in Lisbon and I heard about the Great Lisbon Earthquake that took place on November 1st, 1755, and was followed by a tsunami and fires destroying absolutely all the city. Actually, a few weeks ago I read a text saying that the consequences of the Lisbon Earthquake were felt (even) in the territory of Finland at that day.

In 2004 I was in Canada when the tsunami hit regions of Indonesia and destroyed everything killing 229.000 people. At that evening I remember when my Polish friend who was working for The World Vision told me about all the efforts that her Non Profits was trying to do in order to raise founds and help those families that had lost everything due to this horrible tsunami.

In 2005 I was leaving Toronto and going to New York when the Hurricane Katrina's came to New Orleans in August, 2005…

In September of the same year I was in Florida and had to change my tickets to fly to Houston because the Hurricane Rita was exactly coming to Houston from Florida in Sept, 2005…

Last week I read a certain article on the Internet in which said that 17% of the Spanish people have lost their work due to the difficult economical situation in the world and this terrible crisis…

I have never thought that one day companies like GM and Chrysler would be broken…

Last week I read the details about the Spanish flu that killed almost 50 million people in 1918…

Unfortunately, we are facing what they have called the swine flu…

Earthquakes, tsunamis, infirmities and other catastrophes do not come just to visit those people who have been considered poor, without instructions, studies and countries that have been called and belonged to the third world...

It does not matter if you are a secretary or business man, rich or poor, a famous person or not, a prince, king, celebraty or one of their servants –
the fact is: everybody is vulnerable…

I could continue to write and say about the global warming, thaw, destruction of the forests, changes of the climate, etc…

By the way, who of us could rebuild our ozone layer or the ice of Antarctica?

It is not pure demagogy because it is our reality…

During this last century we have seen, read, felt, lived and heard about what I just wrote above – except the Great Lisbon Earthquake that took place in 1755.

This makes me more sensitive concerning the values of life and also in the same manner it invites me to understand much more what it is really worth in life…

One day everybody will be before Him and then at that day…

When?! I do not know when and I do not want to try to know it…

But one thing I know He is coming soon and so at that day…

There will not be any religion, business, anxiety, famine and any other issues that could make us worried about life because He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.

May God protect us and keep His grace, fire and peace on our hearts!

Fábio
Cafeteria Fresh & Ready
Barcelona

Un corazón agradecido y una sensibildad para vivir

2009-04-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

picture taken in Andorra, 2007

Acabo de agradecer a Dios por mi trabajo, por el hecho de estar en Barcelona estudiando, conociendo a tantas personas, visitando a tantas ciudades en Europa, etc.

Sin embargo, hace algunos días y semanas no sentía esta gratitud, tampoco me quejaba, pero oro a Dios para que nunca me sienta indiferente...

Sentirse indiferente y apático son síntomas de un proceso de petrificación...

Cuando uno entra en un proceso de petrificación nada más habla de vida y tiene sentido...

Además de ser indiferente, en último análisis este individuo siente que la vida conspira contra él, que hay injusticia en todo y por todos los lados, pero lo que existe la verdad es una presunción y soberbia camufladas y vestidas con piel de humildad, porque sienten que deberían estar donde no están, sienten que deberían ser lo que no son aunque digan que sean lo que supuestamente es fruto de la imaginación pues lo vale y cuenta es el mundo de las aparencias y el aplauso de los demás...

Este individuo puede estar con su familia, pero es como le diera igual: estar o no estar...

Tiene comida en la mesa, pero es como fuera normal pues nunca ha probado lo que es sentir hambre y no tener absolutamente nada como una gran parte de la población mundial lo prueba...

Tiene trabajo pero se queja porque querría cobrar más mientras tantos buscan una oportunidad aunque sea para ser uno más en la compañia y poder dar un mínimo de provisión a los suyos...

La palabra de Jesus a todos aquellos que son indiferentes es la misma que ha dado a los de Laodicea:

Y escribe al ángel de la iglesia en LAODICEA: He aquí dice el Amén, el testigo fiel y verdadero, el principio de la creación de Dios:

Yo conozco tus obras, que ni eres frío, ni caliente. ¡Ojalá fueses frío, ó caliente!

Mas porque eres tibio, y no frío ni caliente, te vomitaré de mi boca.

Porque tú dices: Yo soy rico, y estoy enriquecido, y no tengo necesidad de ninguna cosa; y no conoces que tú eres un cuitado y miserable y pobre y ciego y desnudo;

Yo te amonesto que de mí compres oro afinado en fuego, para que seas hecho rico, y seas vestido de vestiduras blancas, para que no se descubra la vergüenza de tu desnudez; y unge tus ojos con colirio, para que veas.

Yo reprendo y castigo á todos los que amo: sé pues celoso, y arrepiéntete.

He aquí, yo estoy á la puerta y llamo: si alguno oyere mi voz y abriere la puerta, entraré á él, y cenaré con él, y él conmigo.

Al que venciere, yo le daré que se siente conmigo en mi trono; así como yo he vencido, y me he sentado con mi Padre en su trono.

El que tiene oído, oiga lo que el Espíritu dice á las iglesias.

Dios nos libre de la crisis y de los sentimientos que habitaban la iglesia de Laodicea.

Fábio
Barcelona

Cadiz, Tarragona and Rome...

2009-04-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

I just came from Cadiz and enjoyed visiting some places that have been related to the History.

One of these places has to do with the Roman Empire…

The Roman theatre of Cadiz is located in the “barrio del Pópulo” and was found in 1980. It was built some years before Christ – probably 60-70 years before…

It is one of the biggest Roman theatres of the world and the first one that was built in the Iberian Peninsula.

Other very nice Roman theatre is in Tarragona - there are some texts about Tarragona in my blog.

The Roman Circus of Tarragona is one of the most interesting archaeological sites and one of the most well preserved theatres of the old Roman Empire according to some studies.

It was built at the end of the 1st century and had a capacity for 25.000 spectators.
It is a great place to go and see...

Of course I am supposed to finish this article talking about the most important and well know Roman theatre: The Colosseum or Roman Coliseum!

It is in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. And also we should remember that it is the largest theatre built in the Roman Empire.

According to some studies its construction started between 70 and 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD under Titus. It had a capacity for 50.000 spectators and it was used for gladiatorial games, executions, battles, etc.

I hope you have been able to enjoy reading about one of my favorites topics: History!

Fábio
Barcelona

My last email from Barcelona to my friend Nate

2009-04-15T11:43:00.001-07:00

My good friend Nate,

I am not sure if you are still around...

If you are leaving Barcelona in a few hours...

Or if you are already reading these words in France...

One thing I am sure..

I (we) will miss you...

One day we will remember and talk about everything again...

One day we will be together again and many fruits that you do not know and see at the moment will be seen and known!

At this day we will be face to face with The One who is the reason that we have lived and done what it is done...

Who can forget our meetings at Starbucks, Hotel close to Ramblas, Haggen Dazs, our Headquarters at Oveja Negra, Cervecería Catalunya and its delicious "pan con tomate", the great Petit Apolo, Agape, pools, baptism with giant waves that were enough to surf :-), sauna and our intention to go to the gym even though it was closed :-), Frangelico with apple juice, International Dinners, Salsa, prayer meetings on the beach, your winner apple pie, kebabs, Raval, our French conversations with Laure, Nathalie and a table!!, our friend Freddy and his lovely turtles that almost were died by me, sweet popcorns with a little fire, our faithful small mouse at Agape, Kfé-i-máS, Alpha course, Caipirinhas with Cachaça from Girona, Brazilian rodizio I, Brazilian rodizio II, Braizlian rodizio III ...just kidding:-) Cine Icaria, English breakfast, FreeWay and the funny birthday cake stolen and eaten by our lovely neighbours, your faithful friends Cherry and Tobia, Strogonofes, Irish pubs with Guiness and finally a leaving party from 13.30h to 21h and an unbelievable "dominicano"...

It is accomplished!

Life is done by making mistakes and failing, making right choices and doing good...

Life is built by having divine appointments and being natural and sensitive...

Life is done by tears and joy...

Life is done by God´s grace that is enough for us!

I thank God for your friendship and I know you are leaving many seeds in our hearts and also on the Spanish soil...

As usually I say...

For you it is just the beginning of a certain end because Spain has been a part of your trainning and is almost over...

There is much more in the near future...

And so...

At the same time it is the end of a certain beginning because from now on you are going to reach a higher and new level of maturity, experience, dreams and plans.

Take courage, be faithful, seek God from all your heart, be sincere and go forward because He is in, with and upon you!

May God bless and guide you in all you do my brother...

In Him who has called us to go to the nations and make disciples.

Love you...

Your Brazilian friend, Fábio

Barcelona
April, 2009

Andalusia - Pontius Pilate, Trajan, Hadrian and Christopher Columbus

2009-04-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Seville is a very interesting and beautiful city...

It has many places to go and visit. It is located in Andalusia - South of Spain..

One of its interesting places is called Pilate's House.

Some people say that Pontius Pilate lived his last days and died there. Others say that it is not true because Pilate probably died in Tarragona, south of Catalonia.

In this blog you can read about Tarragona or Tarraco as it was named at the Roman times.

On the other hand, for sure the Emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born in this area of Spain - in Italica that is just 7 km from Seville.

In theory, Christopher Columbus is in the Cathedral of Seville...

I say "in theory" because some people affirm that his remains have been left buried in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo.

Anyways, Christopher Columbus left Cadiz to go to America in his second expedition for sure...

In fact, this region is full of so many things concerning art, history and religion that I would say...

If you are around...

You should visit Andalusia and go through its legend, truth and myth!

Fábio
10.04.2009
Parque Maria Luisa, Sevilla

Assim é a vida...

2009-04-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Assim ela é...

Assim é a vida...

Erramos, acertamos, provamos e tentamos...

Aliás, tentamos e somos "tentados", provamos e somos "provados" constantemente...

Falhamos e voltamos ao mesmo teste, retornamos a mesma prova e sabemos que ela é assim...

Superamos e conseguimos dar um passo "adelante" como dizemos aqui...

Ainda que seja um pequeno passo, assim caminhamos e avançamos.

Estamos em processo!

O fato é que enquanto eu viver nesta existência e possuir este corpo mortal a minha alma seguirá sentindo esta aflição entre viver e morrer...

No entanto, um dia todo olho o verá e toda língua confessará que Ele é o Senhor porque Ele ressuscitou dentre os mortos e tomou o direito de ser a pessoa mais importante do Universo.

Ele enxugará dos nossos olhos toda lágrima e neste dia já não haverá aflição e nem dor, provas e nem tentações, não haverá...

A morte morreu e Jesus a matou na cruz do Calvário e quando ressuscitou nos deu a esperança de crer no amanhã...

Num amanhã cheio de paz e de real gozo porque a nossa relatividade já não existirá mais quando vier Aquele que é Perfeito e estivermos face a face com Ele.

Ora vem! Maranata vem Senhor Jesus!

Fábio
Sevilha
09.04.2009
Semana Santa

Dios y la Contabilidad

2009-04-02T12:45:00.001-07:00

Estoy estudiando contabilidad...

Hace algunas semanas en una de las clases del curso me di cuenta que Dios nada tenia que ver con la contabilidad.

Contabilidad es una ciencia exacta y desde el comienzo debe cuadrar...

Cada deber supuestamente tiene un haber...

Cada cargo sigue a un respectivo abono..

¡Dios no es así!

Dios no tiene caminos y estratégicas lógicas porque dice el profeta que sus pensamientos y caminos son más altos que los nuestros...

A veces pensamos que el Balance de Dios tiene diferencias imposibles de arreglar, nos damos cuenta que estamos con pérdidas y todas las nuestras inversiones no resultarán en nada...

Nuestro Patrimonio Liquido se está yendo...

Hay amortizaciones irreversibles...

A veces pensamos que la Cuenta Final no cuadrará y no llegaremos al Cierre Final con beneficios pero...

Siempre hay un pero de Dios...

¡Me gusta esto!

Dios es un Dios de peros...

Nunca es demasiado tarde para Él...

¿Te acuerdas del ladrón de la cruz?

Nos olvidamos que Dios es Aquel que ha llamado a Abraham y Sara con edades avanzadas, llamado a Jeremias y Samuel cuando eran todavía niños, a Gideón, Pedro, tu y yo...

Dios es un Dios que transforma historias como la de aquella mujer que llevaba 12 años sufriendo con un flujo de sangre pero súbitamente...

Un encuentro, un cambio radical, una nueva vida, nuevo camino, nuevo...

Historias como de Maria Magdalena, Zaqueo, Saulo, Lázaro, etc...

El salmista dice que Él levanta del polvo al pobre, Y al menesteroso alza del estiércol para hacerlos sentar con los príncipes, con los príncipes de su pueblo...

Él hace habitar en familia a la estéril, gozosa en ser madre de hijos.

La contabilidad de Dios no es la nuestra...

Aunque parezca que hay diferencias que nunca encontraremos, sepas que su Balance y Cierre Final siempre cuadra porque Él es soberano y tiene control de todo lo que nos sucede...

¡Todo nos ayuda a bien!

A Él sea toda la gloria.

Fábio
Barcelona
02.04.09

It is never too late!

2009-03-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

It is never too late to say to someone "Forgive me because I have done this, this and that".

It is never too late to re-start a friendship that has been lost for any reason.

It is never too late to think about life, family and good values again.

It is never too late even though you feel tired and have been betrayed many times.

You can trust in God. You still can see Him through His children who are in all around the world...

It is never too late even though you have lost your joy and hope for any reason.

You can ask God to renew your mind and heart...

It is never too late to say to your mother, father, brother or sister "I love you and thank God because I was born in this family, with this culture and language".

It is never too late to open your heart for God and see how beautiful life is...

Let God be God and you will see He is God!

Fábio
Barcelona

¿¿Qué hago cuando no sé lo que hacer???

2009-02-13T09:15:00.002-08:00

Normalmente cuando nos preguntamos a nosotros mismos ¿Qué hago ahora? es porque no tenemos ni idea de lo que hacer...

A veces esto tiene que ver con una decisión seria, importante y crucial...

A veces es algo sencillo y que no nos traerá tantas consecuencias si tomamos una decisión precipitada...

A veces es algo que ya lleva días, semanas, meses o hasta años con nosotros y vivimos una profunda indecisión...

Por lo tanto, ¿Qué hago cuando no sé lo que hacer?...

A mi no me gustan las fórmulas y los pasos para que la gente pueda seguirlos como si fuera algo mágico..

De modo que una vez seguidos cada paso, punto y regla todas las cosas se ajustan perfectamente bien....

Definitivamente no creo que esto funciona y no significa necesariamente que si para uno ha funcionado, funcionará para todos...

Cada caso es un caso (punto final).

Y además, personalmente creo que Dios es suficientemente libre y creativo para tratar cada uno de nosotros de una manera singular, personal, individualizada y única.

De todas maneras, orar y no precipitarse son decisiones básicas antes de decidir cualquier cosa y sobre todo cuando nos damos cuenta que no sabemos lo que hacer...

Esperar y estar en silencio escuchando su propio corazón es algo que nos hace bien...

¡Sí! Nos hace bien a nuestra alma, mente y cuerpo...

Sentir paz es imprescindible antes de cualquier decisión, sea lo que sea...

Me encanta la naturaleza y pasar tiempo con ella pues me habla de vida, de Dios, de libertad y siempre la recibo como una poesia de Dios a mi.

¿¡¿Equívocos???¡?

¿Quién aquí nunca se equivocó? ¿Quién aquí nunca se precipitó? ¿Quién aquí nunca ha cambiado los pies por las manos? ¿Quién aquí nunca ha decidido algo mal?

¡¡¡Todos nosotros!!

¿Hay alguien que quiere casarse para divorciarse? Hay alguien que quiere tener hijos para verlos en las drogas? ¿Hay alguien que quiere abrir una empresa para verla fallida? ¿¿¿Hay??

¡Estoy seguro que no!

Pero la vida nos trata (a veces) de una manera que no esperamos y tampoco queremos.

De modo que la mejor cosa que debemos hacer cuando no sabemos lo que hacer es...

¡NO HACER NADA!

Es descansar y saber que todo pasa en nesta vida, vivimos ciclos y que un día este huracán existencial dará lugar a un lindo y bello jardin lleno de flores.

Este día vendrá y llegará...

Y cuando venga, me acordaré de todas las enseñanzas que la propia dificultad me ha mostrado y explicado porque todo, absolutamente todo nos ayuda a bien según el apóstol Pablo...

...hasta las peores crisis existenciales y las más terribles situaciones que uno pueda pasar nos ayuda a bien porque amamos a Dios y Él tiene un propósito para cada hijo Suyo.

Es no hacer nada hasta que venga la paz para hacer...

...para decidir y tomar el paso siguiente.

Te invito a pensar en esto.

Fábio
Barcelona

Belfast - the capital of Northern Ireland

2009-02-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago me and my friend Edgar went to Ireland and we enjoyed visiting Belfast and the Irish coast...

There are some interesting and important things about Belfast:

1. Titanic was built there in 1912...
2. C S Lewis was born there in 1898...
3. It has been well known due to the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants...
4. It was inspiration for Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels...

If you want to see some photos I will put them in the Flickr. Go there and enjoy!

Fábio
Barcelona

Devoción, Pasión y Oración - Salmos

2009-02-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

La semana pasada me desperté y este Salmo vino a mi mente y corazón...

Salté de la cama y fui directo a la Biblia que estaba al lado...

Y empezé a leerlo...

¡Cuan amables son tus moradas, oh Jehová de los ejércitos!

Codicia y aun ardientemente desea mi alma los atrios de Jehová: Mi corazón y mi carne cantan al Dios vivo.

Aun el gorrión halla casa, Y la golondrina nido para sí, donde ponga sus pollos En tus altares, oh Jehová de los ejércitos, Rey mío, y Dios mío.

Bienaventurados los que habitan en tu casa: Perpetuamente te alabarán

Bienaventurado el hombre que tiene su fortaleza en ti; En cuyo corazón están tus caminos.

Atravesando el valle de Baca pónenle por fuente, Cuando la lluvia llena los estanques.

Irán de fortaleza en fortaleza, Verán á Dios en Sión.

Jehová Dios de los ejércitos, oye mi oración: Escucha, oh Dios de Jacob,

Mira, oh Dios, escudo nuestro, Y pon los ojos en el rostro de tu ungido.

Porque mejor es un día en tus atrios que mil fuera de ellos: Escogería antes estar á la puerta de la casa de mi Dios, Que habitar en las moradas de maldad.

Porque sol y escudo es Jehová Dios: Gracia y gloria dará Jehová: No quitará el bien á los que en integridad andan. Jehová de los ejércitos, Dichoso el hombre que en ti confía.

Así son los Salmos...

Tienen que ver con pasión, genuina devoción, oración y entrega, confianza y esperanza...

Que Dios pueda hacer con y de nuestra propia vida un Salmo de adoración y devoción a su nombre...

Fábio
Barcelona

E-mail and talk 2 me (NEW!!)

2009-01-27T15:34:00.000-08:00

E-mail and talk 2 me is a new section in my blog where you can read some e-mails from my friends. Go to the link E-m@il and Talk 2 me(NEW!!) Enjoy!

E-mail and talk 2 me es una nueva sección en mi blog donde puedes leer algunos de los correo de mis amigos. Vete al link E-m@il and Talk 2 me( NEW!!) Disfrútate!

E-mail and talk 2 me é uma nova seção em meu blog onde você pode ler alguns emails dos meus amigos. Vá ao link E-m@il and Talk 2 me(NEW!!) Divirta-te!

E-mail and talk 2 me è una nuova sezione nel mio blog dove puoi leggere qualcuni email dei miei amici. Vai al link E-m@il and Talk 2 me (NEW!!) Divertiti!

Fábio
Barcelona

Pensando no passado, plantando no presente e esperando o futuro.

2009-01-24T11:55:00.001-08:00

Acabo de mostrar algumas fotos ao meu amigo mexicano Edgar.

São fotos de quase 10 anos atrás. Fotos com gente da minha primeira igreja - Presbiteriana do Brás, fotos dos primeiros retiros, fotos das minhas primeiras pregações, fotos com a minha família, fotos com tantos amigos, fotos que tem a ver basicamente com Brasil e Canadá.

O passado existe para nos dar esperança e nos lembrar de coisas que sentimos saudades. Aliás, somente sentimos saudades do que um dia foi bom.

O passado existe também para que possamos aprender com os muitos erros cometidos...

O presente é um momento que temos que construir e aproveitar, curtir sem medo do passado e nem mesma da ansiedade e incerteza que nos visitam acerca do futuro...

O presente é um presente de Deus e uma nova oportunidade para fazer certo o que um dia fizemos errado...

O futuro está nas mãos de Deus e é algo a ser vivido lá...

O futuro é o resultado do nosso presente pois colheremos os frutos ali...

De fato, os colheremos daqui algumas semanas, meses e anos pela graça de Deus e se assim Ele nos permitir...

O tempo tem seus limites dentro da nossa existência, pois um dia nascemos, vivemos e morremos...

Aliás, o que podemos amealhar e levar desta vida - e o que é mais importante, não tem a ver com a casa própria e nem mesmo com o melhor e mais luxuoso carro do ano, não tem a ver com a conta mais "rexunxuda" do banco e nem mesmo com a carreira mais exitosa...

Mas tem a ver com gente, com amar ao próximo, com o fato de fazer o bem, com o fato de ver no outro Deus em sua imagem e semelhança, tem a ver com a alegria de acordar e ter a gratidão de saber que Deus é soberano e senhor do tempo e vive o presente-passado-futuro porque é Eterno.

Portanto, aproveite o dia que Deus te deu hoje e desfrute da companhia das pessoas, amigos e família que Ele mesmo te deu pela sua infinita e maravilhosa graça.

Fábio
Hospedería Casa del Pueblo
Barceloneta

Sometimes....

2009-01-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we do not know what we are supposed to do...

Sometimes we want to give up...

Sometimes and sometimes...

Sometimes we want to stop...

Sometimes and sometimes...

When this happens I know we can count on God by praying and keeping in silence...

We can hear His voice and feel His breeze...

I know we can find a refuge in Him even though sometimes we do not "feel" Him...

I am sure He is present and able to hear our prayers...

It is by faith and not by feelings...

I know that I know that our future is in His hands even though our present shows us a hard way...

Sometimes we can feel fear but...

Always we can go and run to Him and ask for help...

Fábio
Hospedería Casa del Pueblo
Barceloneta

A Psalm with an unique word in Portuguese!

2009-01-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

I just came back from the beach…

Usually I go there to pray.

Although it has been a cold day I was able to stay there and thought about one of my favorites Psalms in the Bible - the Psalm 42.

Basically, it is one of my favorites Psalms because it has to do with a specific word in Portuguese that is very hard to translate. It is “saudades”.

The Psalmist tells us about something that happened in the past…

He is missing it in the present and he is not sure if it will happen again in the future…

But he trusts…

But he has hope…

But he has faith...

But he decides to lift his head up and go back to life…

And so he writes, sings and starts to pray…

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"

My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Fábio
Hospedería Casa del Pueblo
Barceloneta

Multicultural Christmas in Barcelona

2009-01-10T04:28:00.000-08:00

We had a nice and good time together!

Edson, Roberta, Barbosa and I (Brazil), Nara (Peru), Giuseppe (Italy), Marcel and Ilse (Holland), Laurent (Colombia) and our great friend Edgar (Mexico).

Enjoy the video!

Fábio
Barcelona

My favorite books

2009-01-10T02:48:00.001-08:00

If you want to know some books that I have read. Go to my favorite books.

Si quieres saber algunos de los libros que he leído. Vete a my favorite books.

Se você quiser saber alguns dos livro que já li. Vá a my favorite books.

Se vuoi sapere dei libri che ho letto. Vai a my favorite books.

Barbosa and our Christmas - singing in Dutch?!!??

2009-01-10T02:27:00.000-08:00

No comments -:)
Sin comentarios -:)
Sem comentários -:)
Senza comenti -:)

Fábio
Barcelona

Videos & Fotos

2009-01-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

If you want to see more videos and pictures. Go to my videos and/or videos vamos juntos and Flickr and/or photos vamos juntos.

Si quieres ver más videos y fotos. Vete a my videos y/o videos vamos juntos yFlickr y/o photos vamos juntos.

Se você quiser ver mais videos e fotos. Vá a my videos e/ou videos vamos juntos e Flickr e/ou photos vamos juntos.

Se vuoi vedere più video e foto. Vai a my videos e/oppure videos vamos juntos e Flickr e/oppure photos vamos juntos.

Un agradable autostop y un inesperado diálogo en Oxford

2009-01-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

Mi amiga Sara me había dejado en la principal estación de tren de su ciudad - A propósito, me parece que solo hay esta estación en la pequeña, pero bella Bristol-:). De modo que le he agradecido por su hospitalidad y pude coger el tren rápidamente pues ya estaban cerrando las puertas.

De modo que cuando me doy cuenta, después de casi una hora y media de viaje, estoy llegando en Oxford.

Tenía ganas de conocer a Oxford, la Universidad, sus jardines, algunas pubs pero especialmente quería visitar todo lo que tenía que ver con C.S.Lewis.

Fui a la oficina de información de la ciudad y la única info que obtengo es el número del autobus y que C.S.Lewis vivía en el suburbio de Oxford.

-Mira chico, este es el teléfono del reverendo, responsable por la iglesia, por si acaso.- la señora me comenta, pues tenía que concertar una cita para ir a este lugar.

-Muchas gracias, pero aunque no pueda hablar con él por lo menos quero ir allí para tomar algunas fotos.- le contesto con grand entusiasmo pues por lo menos sabía que era posible llegar a esta iglesia en autobús.

Salgo de la oficina de información, visito básicamente toda la ciudad, universidades, etc. y cojo el autobus número 9 cerca de la cafeteria Cafe Nero.

-Perdona, ¿Sabe usted cual es la parada que debo bajar para ir a la iglesia y la casa que tienen que ver con C.S Lewis?- pregunto al bus driver esperando alguna información extra..

-¿CS Lewis? Hmmm. ¿Estás seguro que es el número 9 que debes cojer?- pregúntame con un aire de desconocimiento.

-Estoy sí, pues en la oficina de información me comentaron que era este el autobús.

-Bueno, venga. Creo que sé mas o menos donde debes bajarte.- me dice el bus driver

Después de unos 30 minutos de viaje, el autobús llega en una determinada parada y casí todos se bajan.

-Hey, ¿Ésta es la parada final? ¿Es aqui dónde tengo que bajarme?- le pregunto, un poco perdido en medio de un barrio residencial.

-Bueno, podrías bajarte dentro de unas dos paradas pero la casa de CS Lewis está por aquí, si quieres, puedes ir caminando y la encontrarás.- me comenta esto mientras ya preparaba el autobus para partir.

Cruzo la calle y veo a niños jugando en el parque, casas que se parecen juguetes de tan perfectas, árboles que dan la impresión que están danzando un baile de invierno, mientras los casí menos 4 grados nos dicen:¡Bienvenidos a Oxford!

-¡Hola! Por favor, ¿Sabes dónde está la iglesia de CS Lewis?– pregunto a la madre que está jugando con sus niños en el parque.

-¿Qué?- Me contesta asustadísima porque no es normal algo así en Inglaterra y además llevaba una mochila en la espalda y parecía un viajero.

-¡Ah! ¿CS Lewis? Tienes que coger la primera a la derecha y bla bla bla (en inglés) siempre mencionado “the six bells”…

No tenía ni idea donde estaba “the six bells”.

-“Thank you for your help. Have a nice day!”– le digo sabiendo que debería preguntar a alguién en seguida.

Cojo por lo menos la primera derecha y veo a un señor inglés hablando con un joven en frente de su casa.

-Perdona, ¿Sabes dónde está la iglesia que tiene que ver con CS Lewis? Estoy seguro que es por aquí.- les pregunto yo.

-Bueno, me parece que su casa está por aquí, pero la iglesia(una pausa silenciosa)-comenta el chico primero y luego queda pensando.

-Me parece que la iglesia está en aquella zona.- el señór inglés me lo dice y apunta con su dedo a la zona mencionada.

-Bueno, ¿Tardaría unos 20 minutos caminando?- pregunto yo.

-Más o menos.- el señor sigue hablando y explicando como llegaría a tal iglesia, así como indica todas las calles que debería supuestamente tomar.

-¡Vale!- le contesto y me preparo para irme.

-¿Sabes qué? Venga, entra en mi coche y te enseñaré donde está la iglesia de CS Lewis- me dice el señor inglés y me hace más que una sorpresa pues no esperaba tal invitación de un inglés en medio de la nada.

Entramos en su coche y hablamos por unos 10 minutos mientras me dejaba delante de la iglesia que CS Lewis participaba y asistía cuando vivió en Oxford. De manera que tomé algunas fotos, caminé por el jardin y noté una placa escrita “CS Lewis’ grave”.

Estaba emocionado pensando en muchas de las frases y cosas que li acerca de CS Lewis en sus libros. Me puse al lado de donde estaba enterrado y segui tomando algunas fotos. A esta hora solo el frío y el viento me hacian compañía como si fuera una sinfonía.

Cuando salgo del jardin de la iglesia y me doy cuenta que no había ni una sola persona en la calle, pensé que era practicamente imposible volver al sitio que estaba el autobús. Además, era exactamente en aquella zona que CS Lewis había vivido.

-¡Hola! Perdóname, pero acabo de ver la iglesia y donde CS Lewis está enterrado, ¿Podría decirme usted donde está la casa de CS Lewis?. –pregunto al único jóven que cruza la calle rápidamente.

-Bueno, debes coger a esta calle y después aquella y esta y esta.- sigue comentándo todo el trayecto que debo hacer para llegar allí.

-Bueno, muchas gracias.- le contesto con una sonrisa que expresa mi gratitud.

-¿Sabes qué? Tengo que pasar en frente de la casa de CS Lewis, te enseño todo. ¡Venga pues!- me dice el joven inglés en un momento que parecía que estaba soñando con tantos encuentros angelicales.

Empezamos a caminar mientras decía que había nacido en Oxford y conocía todo por ahí. me preguntó de donde era y lo que hacía yo por Inglaterra.

Hablamos y caminamos unos 20 minutos.

-Está aquí. ¡Ésta es la casa de CS Lewis! me comenta con mucha alegría.

-Allí adelante, verás el jardin y un pequeño banco donde CS Lewis se sentaba para escribir sus libros.- sigue diciendo el chico.

-Muchas gracias.- le saludo y me acerco a casa.

Tomo algunas fotos y luego me voy al jardin, me siento en el pequeño banco y empiezo a apreciar toda la naturaleza que está alrededor, el lago que está bien delante de mi, los árboles, flores, pájaros y soy capaz de imaginar cada una de las estaciones que visita a este precioso lugar durante el año.

Puedo entender porque CS Lewis describe el bosque en Narnia y entiendo porque le encantaba estar y pasar tiempo ahí en compañía de los árboles, pájaros, lago y toda aquella naturaleza que le ofrecía poesias a su corazón como un regalo de Dios y de su maravillosa gracia.

A propósito fue CS Lewis quien dijo que lo más importante en esta vida no es saber si estoy al lado de Dios, pero si Él está al lado mio, pues no sgnifica necesariamente que cuando estoy al lado de Dios, Él esta al lado mio. Sin embargo, si Él está a mi lado, yo estoy al lado suyo.

Te dejo con esta reflexión para que pienses un poco acerca de las motivaciones que invaden a cada uno de nuestros corazones.

Fábio
Barcelona

C.S.Lewis and Oxford

2009-01-08T15:18:00.000-08:00

Oxford is well known due to its University. Actually, it is the oldest University in the English-speaking world.

I enjoyed visiting this amazing city because I had a great opportunity to go to many places that are related to C.S.Lewis.

Clive Staples Lewis was born on November 29, 1898, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1908, his mother Flora Lewis died from cancer, which contributed to Lewis' early atheism.

It was his Magdalen College rooms that Lewis converted, very reluctantly, from long-held atheism to a belief in God. In 1929, Lewis knelt down to pray for the first time since he was a child. Lewis was not yet a Christian; only a theist.

In the 1940s and 50s, C.S. Lewis was a member of a small group of like-minded friends called "The Inklings." They met the Eagle and Child Pub on St. Giles Street in Oxford to discuss literature, writing, religion and life.

Another prominent member of the Inklings was Lewis' Catholic friend J.R.R. Tolkien; discussions at this pub contributed to the final form of both Lewis' Narnia books and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series.

The Kilns was the name of C.S. Lewis' home from 1929 to 1963. It is now on a cul-de-sac called Lewis Close, but in his time it was all by itself in the middle of eight wooded acres. It is located in the village of Risinghurst, which is now an eastern suburb of Oxford (postcode OX3 8JD).

Lewis lived at the Kilns with his brother Warnie, an older woman named Mrs. Moore (the mother of Paddy, Lewis' college roommate that had died in World War I), and Mrs. Moore's daughter Maureen. Later, long after Mrs. Moore's death, Lewis' wife Joy moved in with them for the last few years of her life (and as seen in the movie Shadowlands).

It was here at the Kilns that Lewis wrote all the Narnia books and his other classics. The house plays a significant role in the stories as well. In real life, a few children who were evacuated from London during the WWII bombing came to stay at the Kilns.

C.S. Lewis attended services at Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry with his brother Warnie for 31 years, from 1932 until his death in 1963. The Anglican parish church was built in 1849.

The grave of C.S. Lewis is in the churchyard of Holy Trinity. The epitaph was written by his brother Warnie, who then was buried with him a few years later.

Fábio
Barcelona

Napoleon y mi madre

2009-01-02T10:03:00.001-08:00

Mi madre, que es una de las personas que mas admiro, siempre me decia:

-Hijo, nunca debes hablar que de esta botella de agua nunca beberas...

Hace pocos meses estaba en Waterloo, cerca de Bruselas en Belgica y pude leer algo sobre la ultima batalla de Napoleon y su derrota.

Acabo de llegar de Paris en tren y he concluido que la vida puede traer algunas ironias.

La historia de Napoleon me hace pensar en algunas de ellas...

Primero, que el gran conquistador, general de guerra esta enterrado en un sitio que se llama "Les Invalides".

Segundo, que en las dos primeras guerras mundiales Inglaterra y Francia eran aliadas pero en Waterloo Francia ha perdido exactamente a Inglaterra.

Y tercero, por muchos años si cogieras el tren en Paris, llegarias en Inglaterra en la estacion Waterloo...

Que ironia!

Invalidos, de aliados a enemigos y una estacion llamada Waterloo que conecta la gran Paris a Londres.

Estoy seguro que en esta vida nunca podemos decir "nunca" a absolutamente nada pues ella por si sola nos trae y prepara ironias que nunca podriamos haber imaginado...

Fabio
Bristol
Con un teclado sin acento

Oscar Shindler y el aeropuerto de Barcelona

2009-01-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

Simplemente me acorde de la pelicula de Oscar Shindler cuando estaba en el aeropuerto de Barcelona porque senti que siempre podemos hacer mas...

Lagrimas vinieron a mis ojos porque pense que podria haber hecho mucho mas en Barcelona, encontrado mas personas, ayudado a mas gente y ....

Oscar Shindler habia comprado a muchos judios y salvado a otros tantos con sus bienes, pero al final de su vida empezo a decir: "Este coche, este reloj, este...podria haber comprado mas judios, podria haber salvado a otros tantos, aquellos tambien, podria, podria y podria..."

Nunca sabemos lo que podemos hacer, nunca sabemos cuanto tiempo tenemos y por eso debemos aprovechar al maximo cada dia y cada momento, disfrutando de la compañia que tenemos al lado nuestro, de amigos y de la familia, haciendo lo que llamamos de bien a todos que podamos aunque sea una sonrisa, un abrazo y un gesto de gratitud.

"Everything is for season" y tenemos que entender cuando empieza y cuando se termina "a season" en nuestra vida, puedes leer mucho en mi blog sobre este tema...

Fabio
Bristol
Ps: con un teclado que no tiene acentos.

Navidad en Barcelona

2009-01-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hemos pasado dos dias de gran fiesta...

Eramos muchos, mi amiga Ilse de Amsterdam y su hermano han venido a Barcelona para estar con nosotros (puedes leer acerca de Ilse en el texto - Un encuentro en Barcelona, una visita de Holanda, un divine appointment).

He dicho al grupo que no fue el 25 de Diciembre, la fecha exacta, del nacimiento de Cristo porque en el invierno Maria y Jose no podian hacer el viaje hacia Belen. Ademas, sabemos que por motivos politicos en el siglo IV Constantino establecio esta fecha como si fuera el nacimiento de Jesus y por eso lo celebramos hasta hoy.

De todas maneras, mas importante que simplemente saber que Cristo ha venido, nacido y dividido la Historia de los hombres en dos partes, es entender que El puede nacer en nuestros corazones cada dia y dividir nuestra Historia en dos partes, antes y despues de El.

Por lo tanto, Navidad es cada dia, Navidad puede ser Hoy, Navidad es saber que nuestro Dios, Dios Emanuel, Dios con nosotros esta vivo y nos da paz porque su nombre es Principe de Paz.

Fabio
Bristol
Con teclado ingles

Abraao, Davi, Sansao, Pedro e eu

2009-01-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

Abraao falhou!
Nao se escandalize, mas ele falhou!

Ele se precipitou quando tomou Hagar como esposa e desta uniao nasceu Ismael.
Ate hoje sabemos que judeus e palestinos tem problemas devido a este conflito original entre Ismael e Isaque. Apesar de sua precipitacao ele foi chamado pai da fe!

Davi 'e conhecido como um homem segundo o coracao de Deus, todavia nao necessitamos falar dos seus terriveis erros - dispensa qualquer comentario - o fato de ter planejado algo tao macabro envolvendo Urias, um adulterio, assasinato e tanta frieza e conspiracao me faz pensar que nem mesmo o diabo seria capaz de algo tao meticuloso, sutil e cronometrado.

Apesar de...
Davi sabia entrar na presenca de Deus com arrependimento, um coracao contrito e quebrantado.

Poderia falar de Sansao e poderia falar ainda mais de Pedro que em um momento de inspiracao e revelacao afirma que Jesus 'e o Filho de Deus e logo lhe disse que nao deveria ir a cruz, quando subitamente a reacao de Jesus 'e: Arreda-te de mim Satanas!

Tantos outros personagens, tantas outras ambiguidades e falhas, tantos outros motivos tortos e paradoxos.

Nao sou diferente de nenhum deles e me sinto as vezes um Abraao e muitas outras vezes um Davi. Sinto-me como Davi e muitas outras vezes como Pedro.

Sei quem eu sou, e sei o que ha dentro de mim, mas a sua graca me basta e me anima a seguir porque Ele 'e capaz de fazer nascer um lindo e resplandecente amanhecer de uma grande e densa tarde de sombras e trevas.

Fabio
Bristol
Ps: Com um teclado sem acentos.

Londres y un texto sobre Napoleon

2008-12-29T11:06:00.000-08:00

Quiero escribir algo sobre Napoleon, Waterloo y mis visita en Paris pero no he podido por muchos motivos...

Quiero hablar algo sobre lo que mi madre siempre decia de las ironias que la vida puede traer a uno...

Creo que en Bristol tendre mas tiempo que ahora. A lo mejor un teclado que pueda utilizar los acentos tambien...

Dejo estas lineas solamente porque no quiero olvidarme del tema...

Fabio
London

Fiesta de Navidad en Barcelona...

2008-12-26T15:28:00.001-08:00

Me gustaria poder escribir acerca de los ultimos dias en Barcelona, pero acabo de llegar en Paris y estoy usando un ordenador con un teclado completamente complicado..

De todas maneras, volvere a este tema...

Primero quiero comentar sobre la fiesta de Navidad en Barcelona con Ilse y Marcel que es su hermano...

Segundo quiero escribir algo sobre mi tiempo en Barcelona que siento estar acabando...

Tercero y ultimo, quiero escribir algo sobre algunos personajes de la Biblia que fallaron pero aun asi la Biblia les ha llamado de padre de la fe, hombre segun el corazon de Dios, etc.

De momento es esto, pues es imposible seguir con este teclado...

Mejor quedarme tranquilo, descansar y disfrutar de los 2 grados de Paris.

Fabio
Paris

Una pausa, un diálogo y un metro

2008-12-07T04:37:00.000-08:00

Estávamos dentro de uno de los metros de la ciudad de Barcelona cuando empezé a hablar con Nate, mi amigo de Texas que vive aquí en España y comparte el piso conmigo.

-Sabes que cada año que pasa busco entender las cosas positivas, lecciones y lo que he aprendido a lo largo del año- le dije, mientras el metro llegaba en Urquinaona.

- He hablado la misma frase en los útimos 5 años cuando se acerca el día 31 de Diciembre- seguía comentándole.

-¡Hmm, interesante!- exaclamó, y luego hizo una pausa esperándome porque en teoria debería completar el pensamiento.

-La frase era "Este año ha sido mejor que el año anterior"- le dije.

-De todas maneras, este año no podré decir esto- le hablé, pensando en todo lo que había pasado y probado a lo largo del 2008.

-A veces es importante fracasar- me dijo, mirando y buscando el nombre de la parada que acabáramos de llegar.

-Estoy de acuerdo- le contesté, pensando un poco donde, cuando y porque podría haber "fracasado".

-De hecho, una cosa estoy seguro, hoy me conozco más y con todo lo que he vivido a lo largo de este año pude percibir que a veces hago lo que no quiero hacer, hablo lo que no quiero hablar, pienso lo que no quiero pensar- le dije, con un cierto sentimiento de alegría y gratitud a Dios.

-¡Muy bien! – me contestó, con una sonrisa que expresaba su alegría por el hecho de poder haber escuchado algo tan transparente de mi parte.

-Es solamente cuando nos conocemos que nuestro orgullo, pseudo-conocimiento acerca de todo y supuesta arrogancia pueden dar lugar a la dependencia total y absoluta de Dios- pensé alto, mientras Nate se levantaba para bajarse en Jaume I.

-¡Bueno chaval, nos vemos!- me dijo, mientras el metro ya se preparaba para cerrar las puertas.

-¡Vale¡ Nos vemos y cuidate- le dije, pues nos encontraríamos en Barceloneta para comer un Kebab antes de irnos al cine a las 22.15h con nuestro amigo Edgar de Mejico.

La pregunta que siempre me hago es: ¿Esto me está haciendo ser más gente, humano y dependiente de Dios?

Aunque tenga una cara de religión, ministerio, comunidad, acción social y cualquier otro tipo de actividad que uno pueda desarrolar, si esto no le hace más gente, más humano, no le invita a un viaje hacia dentro de su ser y que implica posteriormente en resultados hacia fuera a fin de ver a Dios en el prójimo...¡de nada vale!

El apóstol Pablo dice ”Aunque hablara todas las lenguas de los hombres y de los ángeles, si me falta amor sería como bronce que resuena o campana que retiñe.

Aunque tuviera el don de profecía y descubriera todos los misterios - el saber más elevado -, aunque tuviera tanta fe como para trasladar montes, si me falta amor nada soy.

Aunque repartiera todo lo que poseo e incluso sacrificara mi cuerpo, pero para recibir alabanzas y sin tener el amor, de nada me sirve”.

Estoy seguro que si los “fracasos” vienen y llegan en tu vida pero te hacen más humano, crecer como gente, crecer como individuo y te dan otra visión sobre la vida, acerca de tu mismo, de Dios y de los otros...

Puedes afirmar como el Apóstol Pablo también "Sabemos que a los que a Dios aman, todas las cosas les ayudan a bien, es a saber, a los que conforme al propósito son llamados".

Pues todas significa TODAS, las buenas y las malas, los éxitos y los fracasos.

Fábio
Barcelona

A simple prayer...

2008-12-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

Lord, I thank you because...

Always You are ready to forgive me.
Always You look at my inside and not my mistakes.
Always Your love amazes me and makes me full of hope.

Help me to seek and find you even though I do not feel You.
Help me to finish my career in life by Your grace.
Help me to see You in other human beings even though they are different than me.

Your mercy is enough for me.
Your grace is present every day.
Your peace is real.

Please, lead me not into temptations, but deliver me from the evil one.

In your name Jesus I pray from all my heart. Amen, Amen and Amen.

Fábio
Barcelona

Fantasmas, monstros e sombras...

2008-11-29T23:08:00.001-08:00

Quem aqui nunca ficou cara a cara consigo mesmo?

Quem aqui nunca olhou pra um espelho e tomou um susto?

Fala-se de deserto e que passamos por momentos de escuridão nesta vida...

Mas o maior susto é quando nos encotramos com o nosso "eu" e deparamos com os fantamas, bichos, monstros e sombras que habitam a nossa alma.

Foi Davi quem maquinou um plano perfeito para liquidar, acabar com a vida de Urias e tomar Bateseba como esposa. Tal perfeição e malignidade como poderia passar no coração de um salmista e poeta?

De fato, habita em nós a poesia, os salmos de louvor e adoração, mas também habita em nós as sombras...

É neste processo que a gente cresce e viaja pra dentro do nosso ser...

É neste processo de auto-conhecimento que de lagarta uma bela borboleta levanta voo..

É neste processo que tornamos total e completamente dependentes da graça de Deus...

É neste processo que todo julgamento se acaba e deixamos de lado as nossas pseudos convicções de força e arrogâncias espirituais que tem a ver somente com um ser "pra fora"...

É neste momento que a nossoa oração é: Senhor, olha pra dentro de mim por favor e não considera o que se vê, mas visita o que ninguém vê...

Porque quando eu era imaturo eu queria mostrar-Te o que se via, mostrar-Te o que todos viam, minhas ações e tudo que era externo ainda que fosse feito em nome da solidariedade e até mesmo em Teu nome...

Mas agora que eu me conheço, sei que dentro de mim habita um cordeiro, mas também fantasmas e sombras, desertos e bichos que me assustam e que hoje fico cara a cara com eles...

Enquanto viver neste mundo caído, terei que tratar com eles e enfrentar-los um a um, mas sei que a tua graça me basta e que sou um ser em processo..

Sei também que esta natureza ambigua uma dia será completamente regenerada...

Ora, que este dia venha rápido, pois é neste dia que toda lágrima será enxugada e todos os medos, sombras e fantasmas já não existirão porque só haverá lugar para o Cordeiro, e Ele reinará.

Fábio
Barcelona

The End of the Beginning or The Beginning of the End?

2008-11-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3

You must understand everything is for a season in life and...

You should know if you are in the end of the beginning or in the beginning of the end...

Everything is for a season and purpose and...

You should know one day this season (that you are now) will be finished and a new one will be started for a new purpose.

Think about that!

Fábio
Barcelona

Un encuentro en Barcelona, una visita de Holanda, un divine appointment...

2008-11-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Acabo de enviar un correo a Ilse confirmando que ella y sus amigos pueden venir a Barcelona en Diciembre y que nuestros pisos estarán disponibles a ellos.

La conocí de una manera insólita y singular y a partir de esta fecha muchas cosas han pasado…

Ha sido así…

Tenía la costumbre de ir a la playa por la noche porque me gustaba estar un rato solo, pensando en las cosas del día que habían pasado, orando y escuchando mi corazón . Vivía cerca de Barceloneta, en el barrio de Raval, y por lo tanto 15 minutos con la bicicleta eran suficientes para llegar al puerto Olímpico.

Era una noche muy fría, otoño-invierno, no había básicamente nadie en la playa y me acerqué al mar y me senté. Llevaba guantes, gorra, llevaba abrigo porque hacía frio y ya era muy tarde.

Normalmente me quedaba hasta las 11 de la noche pero aquella noche sentí que debería permanecer un poco más por alguna razón, una razón desconocida…

A las doze de la noche, las luzes se apagan, no sabía que el Gobierno estaba ahorrando energía y me acuerdo que tomé un susto, pero como no había nadie en la playa, me quedé sentado orando y pidiendo a Dios gracia para aquella semana pues estaba siendo una semana de muchas preguntas sin respuestas…

Cuando seguía solo orando y escuchando mi corazón, sobre la una de la mañana más o menos, se acercó una chica y pasó en dirección al mar, la miré y pensé que podría hablar con ella algo pues a lo mejor estaba borracha y de alguna manera podría hablarle que estaba allí porque creía que era posible hablar con Dios y que Él era accesible y estaba cercano a nosotros.

De repente la veo sin sus sapatos y cuando pone sus pies en el mar.

-¡Ah!-grita asustada, pues el mar estaba absolutamente frío.

Viene caminando a mi dirección.

-¡Hola!-le saludo, directamente.

-¡Hola!-me responde, pero con un acento muy fuerte y me doy cuenta que no habla español.

-Can you speak English?-le pregunto rápidamente.

-Yes. I can- me contesta, y se acerca a mí.

No era capaz de verla muy bien porque hacía frío y estaba muy oscuro, pero empezamos a hablar en inglés.

-¿Qué haces aquí y cómo te llamas?-le pregunto yo.

-Me llamo Ilse, soy de Holanda y estoy tocando en una fiesta aquí al lado -me responde-, ¿y qué haces tú aquí? -me pregunta, curiosa por saber lo que hacía sobre las 2 de la mañana en la playa solo.

Inmediatamente pasó por mi cabeza que ésta sería la oportunidad que tanto esperaba de hablar con ella sobre una relación con Dios, de una manera muy sencilla, como de un hijo que habla a su padre.

-Trabajo en Barcelona pero mi gran pasión es ayudar a la gente -le digo.

-¿Tú eres cristiano?-me pregunta, interrumpiendo el flujo de la comunicación.

-Sí,¡soy cristiano!-le contesto, exacatamente en el momento que sentía la brisa soplando sobre mi rostro.

-¿Eres brasileño? -me pregunta, pues seguía curiosa queriendo saber más detalles acerca de mí.

-¡Soy brasileño!-le contesto, mirando hacia su rostro pues de una manera también inusitada fui capaz de verla con más clareza pues había como si fuera una luz sobre su rostro y ví la expresión de su sonrisa por el hecho de haberle respondido que era de Brasil.

-¡Soy cristiana también!-me dice, con alegría y emoción.

-¡Ah sí!, exclamo, dejando que termine lo que supuestamente debería completar.

-Estaba en la fiesta y salí un rato para orar aquí en la playa- seguía, con entusiasmo.

-No estoy sorpreso porque llevo más de 2 años encontrando gente así- le digo.

-Mi pasión es Brasil y me gustaría ir a Brasil para hacer misiones- me comenta, con pasión.

-Estoy seguro que esto es un “divine appointment”- le contesto, seguro que la probabilidad de haber un brasileño con una holandesa a las 2 de la mañana en Barceloneta estadistícamente hablando es casí nula.

Pasan algunos minutos y cuando veo estoy hablando sobre el real significado de ser Iglesia, que no es una estructura o un conjunto de dogmas, pero donde dos o tres están reunidos, somos las Iglesia, aunque haya diferentes idiomas, culturas distintas, estilos de vida completamente antagónicos, si tenemos el mismo Padre y Dios, Señor de todos, somos su Iglesia.

Cuando me di cuenta, Ilse estaba de rodillas sobre la arena.

-Oraré en portugués-le dije, porque sabía que quería irse a Brasil.

Cuando se levanta, traduzco la oración al inglés.

-¿Puedo cantar una canción? -me pregunta, llena de alegría.

-Podemos hacer la cena o hasta bautizar a cualquiera pues agua no nos falta en este lugar -pienso yo.

La chica empezó a cantar en inglés y sentia la brisa y las olas del mar como se hiciesen la segunda voz de su canción y era como si la letra dijera: Id y pregad el Evangelio por todas las naciones…

Cuando se levantó, solo le he preguntado su correo electrónico y lo he apuntado en mi teléfono. Eran las 3 de la mañana más o menos cuando cada uno tomó su camino como si estubiéramos anestesiados o dentro de un sueño.

Cuando llegué a casa, parecía de hecho un sueño, un ángel había pasado por mí o yo era el própio ángel pasando por Barceloneta pues alguién esperaba a un encuentro inusitado, una palabra, una oración, un “divine appointment”.

Fue exactamente así que conocí a Ilse hace casí dos años.

Fábio
Barcelona