Encounters and Losses

By Conceição Maia

Faith is the key to opening our souls, to the manifestation of God in us.
My faith in the presence, power, and strength of God in my life healed me from the painful memories of my past.
During moments of solitude, peace or love; I let the feelings emanate from my heart.
Faith is challenging a dream!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514451182

Conceição Maia

Conceição Maia, or simply Maia, was born in São Sebastião do Rio Preto, (Saint Sebastian of the Black River) in the state of Minas Gerais Brazil. With a degree in teaching, she dedicated herself entirely to her work, beginning her career as an elementary school teacher in her hometown. After that, she moved to Itabira, where she continued teaching for many years. As she turns 80 years old, she publishes her first book, Encounters and Losses, where she narrates a little bit of what she learned and lived, throughout her long journey. Today she is retired and lives in Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, and shares her time between Brazil and the United States where she has been granted citizenship.

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Copyright © 2016 by Conceição Maia.

Email: [e-mail]

English version 2016

Illustrations © by Cassia Maia-Eldridge

Author photos by Raquel Rodrigues

Cover design © Cassia Maia-Eldridge

Translation from Portuguese: Marineti Matos

Revision: Thomas Eldridge

Prologue written by Thomas Eldridge

Editorial Production by Xlibris

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 02/25/2016

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Contents

Prologue: Encounters and Losses Prologue

Introduction

Rebirth

Pearls

Desenchantments

Two Lives

To My Father (In Memorium)

Hapiness

Love

Loneliness

Dreams

Our Street

You

Mom (In Memorian)

Images

Rapture

Happiness! Where Is It?

Mismatches… Of Life

Reminiscences…

Christmas

Optimism

You Left

Pursuit

Tears

Love

To Forget

Meditading

To Alzira (In Memoriam)

Mother - Was You (In Memoriam)

Nostalgia

Spring

Let Me

Wishes

Walk… Walk

Farewell

Shooting Star

Eternal Love: (In Memoriam)

Confession To My Beloved Son Luiz (In Memoriam)

Gaps

(In Memoriam)

Presence

Enchantment

Best Age?

Inner Self

Plenitude

Greater Love

I Found You

Who Am I How Am I

01-28-1933

My Trip To Maranhão

"Faith is the key, to opening our souls to the manifestation of God in us.

My faith in the presence, power, and strength of God in my life healed me from the painful memories of my past.

During moments of solitude, peace or love;

I let the feelings emanate from my heart.

Faith is challenging a dream!

PROLOGUE

Encounters and Losses Prologue

I am honored, to have been asked to help translate my Mother in law Maia’s book Encounters and Losses into English. It has been my purpose, for the translation from its original Portuguese to preserve the meaning of each phrase as intended by Maia. The book first issued in Brazil has been popular there, and Maia as a naturalized American, wished to have her beautiful work available for her fellow Americans as well.

Maia shares her unique life story, and unveils the contents of her heart in her poems, and in her journal. I have found many of her poems to be biographical, while some are written from the perspective of someone astonished by society and the world we live in. Her philosophical observations, of a world detached from God, and growing more chaotic every day, leave Maia staring agape at life’s calamities. She bravely writes and eloquently expresses the most painful moments of her life, but also shares happy times, particularly of her near idyllic childhood, that reveal the upbringing that shaped her substantial character.

The reader is brought back to a time and place with few of the complications of modern life. Sao Sebastiao do Rio Preto, (Saint Sebastian of the Black River) is a rural farming region deep in the mountains of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Rio Preto, was (when Maia was growing up there), a bucolic place remote from central governance. Like the American old west, the people were self - sufficient and hardened by physical labor. In a daily struggle for survival, the regions inhabitants contended with predatory animals, and a dangerous, mountainous terrain, where differences were often settled without juristic oversight. Although life could be tough, the people were sustained by a strong Christian faith, and an abundant spirit of charity. In rural Minas of years past it was common for families to take in an orphan, or maybe a family member in need. Likewise, even a stranger traveling the countryside could count on being able to earn a meal, by doing a bit of work for the famously generous locals.

Maia has passed along these values to her own children, as they also have the strong work ethic and good will notable in their Mother’s pastoral beginnings. Maia has led her life determined to do what is right, making sure to never forget a friend, or neglect someone in need. She is an example for all who know her, and has diligently fulfilled life’s obligations while persevering when it has brought challenges. Maia has beautifully revealed herself in this book, giving the reader a glimpse into a life reminiscent of a New Testament parable. As the person in the parable was trusted with a few things, returning with interest what the Lord had given, Maia has also remained faithful to her purpose, and proven to deserve the commendation, Well done thou good and faithful servant.

Tom Eldridge

To my children, Tarcísio, Cássia and Bira, who were present in all of these moments in my life, and also to my son Luiz, (in memoriam), who has flown to the infinite, but he is still very much alive inside of me.

In memory of my parents, who