The Battle for the Souls

In our neighborhood, Novo Horizonate, we have at least 10 churches tucked into, what seems like, every nook and cranny. We’ve noticed many had sprung up between houses on residential streets, beside little mercardos, well, just about everywhere in town. So, needlesstosay, the area of Brazil that we find ourselves, Acre, is steeped in religion. And the people aren’t afraid to let you know all about their beliefs.

We met, Pia, short for Olympia, so is Pilipino. She came to Brazil twelve years ago as a new bride married through the religion of Divine Principle under the Reverend Sun Myung Moon. This religion is most famous for the mass marriages that you’ve seen on Ripley’s Believe or Not, or some show like that. I don’t believe she had met her husband or had ever been to Brazil before she was married. We ran into her on the street and since she spoke English she was eager to talk with us. I don’t remember telling her where we lived, but there she was one day, standing outside our house clapping her hands and yelling “Anyone home?”. She dropped of her copy of Divine Principles for us to read. This wasn’t so bad, I mean we are used to the Mormons stopping by in the States. But when she showed up again a week later at an inconvenient time to discuss what I had read, I felt a bit put off. She went on in great detail about the troubles that our world faces today and how is it America‘s “duty and responsibility“ to help. As politely as I could, with a half-baked smile, holding Maddie bare butt on my hip, I declined her offer to come in my house.

Next, is Valjir of the Catholic faith. He owns the Mercado across the street from our house. He is part Italian so he tries to speak Italian, which is pretty much Portuguese with an Italian accent. Poor Matt, I usually send him over to get what ever we need, so he gets wrangled into hearing about the Bible. Today is was quotes from the last supper, where Jesus asks the disciples to eat his flesh. Matthew was left with an uneasy feeling, thinking thoughts of cannibalism! He told me this and we laughed.

And then there are the Jehovah Witness’ who come, brief case and bible in hand. They are nice enough, however, when the woman, Lache, came by my default response, “No folo Portuguese” didn’t work, I felt intruded upon. She started in “Goot Morgin”, and walked pass me into my courtyard. At that moment, when I knew she was going to try and talk to me in English, I called for Matthew. He likes to talk to the JW & the Mormons, unlike me, who shuts the blinds and locks the front door at first street sighting.

And finally, Thiago (che-a-go), a young kid that Matthew teaches English to twice a week. He follows Benny Hinn (even has Hinn’s phone number programmed in his cell) of the Evangelical religion and wears a bright hat that reads, “JESUS”. He shared with us a movie called “Left Behind” starring Kirk Camron (remember that guy?). It was a horribly-cheesy movie--don‘t rent it. He convinced Matthew to go with him to a study group. Matthew learned that at this church a member receives merit points for converting people to this faith. So, Thiago would be among the first to be taken during the “Rapture“ if he converts a whole family. I like Thiago but I don‘t think it will by our family that gets him on the first shuttle.

For me, I’m happy to be apart of the non-conforming Unitarian Universalist tradition. Matthew has become a member of the religion of the Dona that he studies and for the kids, well, we are planning on baptizing Maddie at the Dona’s church in June, and Grace was baptized in the UU tradition, so they will be of mixed traditions, just like us.