The Purse Snatching

On the last day, which was last Thursday we had a beach day, just north of Recife. (Recife is the shark attack capital of the world, so we didn't want to swim there, and I can't say that I was too comfortable in the water just an hour north either.) The church group was all going home on Friday, and my friend Kelly, her husband Lance and I are staying until December. Towards the end of the beach day people started to pack up the van. I stayed at the beach to watch the stuff. There were about 5 backpacks and piles of clothes and towels left. The beach was pretty deserted by this time and there was no one within 40 feet. I put my purse on a table and walked about 6 feet away to pick up and shake out a towel. By the time I turned around, (about 45 seconds later) my purse was gone. We searched for about 10 minutes, but I never heard or saw anyone, so I really didn't believe that it was stolen. After a while the restaurant manager (whose restaurant is right on the beach and we had eaten lunch at) came out to see what the problem was. I explained that my purse was missing and she had all of her employees split up and look. I still didn't really believe that it could have been stolen. I literally had my back turned for about 45 seconds....the time it takes to walk 6 feet, pick up a towel and shake it off. Anyway, long story short the crew was able to round up about 3 witnesses who saw the guy running and eventually they were able to identify him...but they could find him. Apparently he was one of the oyster sellers who walks up and down the beach. Eventually we found ourselves in the police station giving a detailed account of every item in my purse, (he wanted to know everything, down to the make and model of my chapstick.) So that was an interesting test of Kelly and my Portuguese. My wallet (with my credit cards and about $150 in cash), my camera, my cell phone, sunscreen, Portuguese phrase book, etc. etc. The next morning the whole group left for the states and Kelly and Lance and I headed back to Brasilia. The generosity of the group gave me enough money to eat and sleep for the next few days, but I still needed to get my credit card replacement sent to Brazil somehow. When we arrived in Brasilia on Friday morning and we found out that the house we were suppose to rent fell through. So here I am, in the middle of a foreign country, without the ability to communicate, with no means to get money, and no house. I know that sounds pretty hopeless, but to me, this is an amazing opportunity to overcome obstacles. I have already been overwhelmed by human generosity and the Lord continues to surprise me with new challenges daily.