Friday meetings.....

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!!

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!!!

¡¡¡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 -:)

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!!

Estanis!! No comments:-)

Pic Nic in Barcelona!!! Pictures!!!

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

Pic Nic in Barcelona!!!

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-

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!

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

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

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

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.

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...

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...

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

Birthday Party 2010

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!

La vida no es un ensayo

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

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

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

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....

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

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....

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

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

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!

Chivo's Birthday Party

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...

Pictures & Vamos Juntos New Version!

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

Vamos Juntos - Good music, friendship and fun!

Vamos Juntos in Barcelona

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

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

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

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

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

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"...

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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 )

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

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

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

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!

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