In welcoming you to my world this week I want to talk about the country I would most like to visit. I have always wanted to visit Brazil and see the Amazon. I have visited many countries in my lifetime, from the northern reaches of the icy, beautiful Scandinavian countries to the southernmost tip of Africa and Australia. I have seen the wonders of Europe; visited France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands. I have been through the romantic scenery painted by poets and artists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. In the east, I have seen exotic orchids in Singapore and Hong Kong and traveled around Australia. Born in Africa, I have visited most of the countries in Southern Africa. In the west, I now live in the USA and have visited Canada and several states. So, that leaves South America to be discovered. 

As part of an international exchange program, I hosted some ladies from Brazil and enjoyed the experience.  They were so enthusiastic on their visit to Cape Town and entertained us with their energetic traditional dancing that I have longed to go to Brazil for a reciprocal visit.  I am not sure if that will happen or not, as life has changed dramatically since then. Change of governments, and we have COVID as well, not to mention getting older! I love tropical forests and exploring new countries, and Brazil holds both the modern and the primeval. The capital city of Brazilia is a modern wonder of architectural design for urban development based on the shape of an aircraft with a central spine and main routes along the center, with 'wings and ‘tail’ for residential purposes. I would dearly love to see the Brazilia Cathedral with its most unusual hyperbolic structural design of sixteen curved concrete columns open to the sky. It is also a national monument.

But the country I really want to visit is a country that has found the secret to living in the Kingdom of God, where people love one another, have compassion for the sick, weary, downcast, and outcasts. The Kingdom that brings hope and healing to those suffering from trauma and brokenness.

The country I really want to visit is a country that has found the secret to living in the Kingdom of God, where people love one another, have compassion for the sick, weary, downcast, and outcasts. The Kingdom that brings hope and healing to those suffering from trauma and brokenness.

How wonderful it would be if that Tree of Life, whose leaves bring healing to the nations, could be in the Amazon Forest and that the River of Life that flows from the Throne of God was the Amazon. In a country where so many indigenous tears have been shed and the blood of missionaries spilled wouldn't it be wonderful if the Kingdom of God was to be found there!

Jesus said how hard it was for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, and it should be entered with the trust of little children. Perhaps our capitalistic and western viewpoints have clouded our vision of the Kingdom of God. Is it time to revisit the teachings of Jesus and look through a new lens focused on His love and compassion for mankind? What country would the Kingdom of God look like then?