Sunday - Day 3

(Note: some of these were actually written in Brazil but the computer was too slow to post and so now I've just added pictures)

So today we got up earlier than I wanted but I was also very excited about my first full day in Brasil. After consulting our agenda I realized Randy (the missionary and friend of Daniel and Jana's) was not mistaken when he said that we were cramming three or four weeks into one week.

We got up and the Pousada had a spread of breakfast for us it just all looked foreign. There was break and fruit but outside of the Pineapple it looked foreign!!! I guess I am in a foreign country huh? They came out and greeted us in a rush of Portuguese that we had no clue what meant but somehow managed for fried eggs and ham sandwiches to appear at our table for breakfast so we were content.

We then walked a short distance to the church to worship with the Boa Viagem congregation. It was wierd to me how Americanized the service was - not what I expected complete with overheads. They interpreted the songs in English and would sing in Portuguese then in English and we knew this was just for us. The Brazilian people are a very warm people. Unlike many churches in the U.S. where you can walk in and hide and not have to talk to a single soul in Brasil you can't get past the door without a hug and customary greeting (a kiss on each cheek). Language barrier or not we were greeted with hugs and kisses and they tried to speak to us anyway. (very different from my Paris experience!!!) After service the Brasilian ladies had fixed some of their famous dishes and we had a very fun potluck lunch. Although I was surprised that the food had somewhat of an Italian fair to it it was so so good. So far my fears I would not like the food have not come true.

After a short rest this afternoon we headed for an overlook on our way to a poorer area of Recife called Vila Palmares. Here they have their services at night. We were told about this neighborhood during our preparations and had put together bags of school supplies - pencils, crayons, erasers, etc. for the children of this neighborhood. At the lookout on the way we were able to see the wide expanse of Recife from the tall buildings with the ocean in the background that would make you think you were overlooking Manhattan to behind us the green landscape of the rolling hills.

Me, Jana, Jenn and Yancey overlooking Recife

After pictures we took off down the worst dirt roads filled with potholes I think I have ever in my life been on. We traversed slowly through undescribably poor neighborhoods where families lived in concrete shelters that served as their home and looked at us in awe as not only were vehicles coming through but vehicles with Americans in them. In Brasil Americans are automatically regarded as being very rich. We pulled up at this concrete slab with chairs set up and children roaming around and a very tiny building in the background. The children first wanted to present a song they had gotten together and sang to us and welcomed Daniel and Jana and Baby Jack. They were so so cute. We then gave them the bags we had prepared for them and when we ran out without hesitation the kids opened their treasures and began sharing them with each other. They showered us with hugs and gratitude but seemed more interested in "hanging out" and talking with us. Through interpreters we asked them what they think of when they think of American and there responses were Britney Spears, Elvis, and Michael Jackson and then one of the young boys demonstrated for us some of Michael Jackson's famous moves - it was so funny but humbly that is what they think of when they think of the U.S.

I had a long conversation with Jana during our time with these children and found out this is similiar to the way she grew up. We later found out that many of these children may not even have paper to color on and many of them may not even have the means to attend school even though it is public school. One thing I noticed is how happy these children seemed and Jana said it is because they have their family and community and while they crave the attention and love of something unfamiliar just like kids in America most of them have love and so their very simple way of life is ok because they have a life sustaining love from others. Jana said this was what was most important to her growing up and still her family and how they love and take care of each other. I will forever remember that conversation as I am continually trying to give those that have not been blessed with the material blessings I have a piece of my material blessings instead of a piece of my heart.


We then worshipped with the church there and then they had made us a special desert and we headed back to Randy's to go through the many suitcases of supplies and stuff we had hauled many miles to Brasil. Funny story; Daniel asked if we wanted to just order pizza at Randy's I was thinking cool thinking Brasilian pizza which turned out to be Pizza Hut but not near as greasy as in the U.S. !!! We didn't even have to take napkins to wipe the grease (which is a good thing because cups and napkins are miniature in Brasil).

A couple of things for fun. 1) We passed a Walmart distribution center - yep even Wal Mart has made its way to Brasil.

2) the warmth and love of Brasilians continue to impress me and 3) this place is beautiful. I'm not exactly sure what I expected but in the midst of the poor and the tall skyscrapers is a natural beauty that I was not expecting, 4) My hair is very very curly hair and that is with no products or hair dryer help gonna be an interesting hair week and 5) I am very tired and can't wait to go to the beach tomorrow.
So as they say here Tchau for now.

Today a day written on my heart

Growing up I always heard my mom talk about November 22, 1963 and where she was at the day JFK was shot and what she was doing. I then experienced moments like these in my own life such as January 28, 1986 when the Challenger exploded and one of our very own kindergarten teachers was a runner up to the teacher in space program and days like September 11, 2001 when I was actually on the phone with a banker in the World Trade Center.

There is another day 2 years ago July 7th I will never forget. There are also good days that aren't tragic and while this day was a tradegy it was also a victory for my dear friend Neal. I will never forget his joy, his smile, his charisma, his laughter, his funny saying, and awesome sense of humor and so many other things I mean come on who else puts ketchup on fajitas? (well I guess my friend Jana who puts ketchup on pizza might come close to that but...)

Anyway, today is a tough day. In two years I, his friends and especially his family who are my family have learned to traverse through life without his physical presence but his spirit lives in each one of us. There are times I think of something and think it is cool Neal is here in Spirit and that is an amazing thought. Today I pray for peace for Lloyd, Pam, Meredith, J.R., and Kimberly and all the others who today remember his victory.

We all miss you Neal but are blessed to carry on your Spirit.

Finally Some Brasil Stories

Well actually for the long anticipated funny ones they have to be told in live person so this is just more going to be about the trip.

It was amazing.

One of my friends asked me if it was life changing or was just a good experience. My immediate response was well it was both. There were parts that were fun and a good experience but there were also parts that were life changing. However, as I have thought about this - really I think it is those parts that seem life changing that are really up to me if they are life changing or not.

Anyway, wether my motivation is to not have to detail this trip 100 times to everyone (not that I don't want to its just time does not allow) or that I would like to document some of the memories and I'm a faster typer than writer at this point either way I plan on posting over the next several days a documentary of our trip.

Day 1 - Day 2 - Up early and for those of you who know me this is not my strong suit getting up at 5 AM immediately getting in a van and driving for three hours where I cannot move around but I survived and there are some adventures with security, stairs at the DFW airport, and sitting by people on the plane that will have to reserved for live conversations!!! But we made it to Sau Paulo and through inspections and customs with some funny stories that again have to be told live but without getting arrested by Brazilian police yelling at us in Portuguese so I would say we made it safe and sound. We then had two goals in mind - get baby Jack some milk (aka Jana nursing him) and change some money. We soon discovered that one of our members could not locate her wallet and after a frantic search it was off to the Brazilian police to report a

missing wallet somewhere between Washington Dulles and Sau Paulo, Brazil. Who knows whose hands that is in but one good thing (that I actually at first was laughing at) she had her passport in one location and her money and credit cards in another so she managed through all of that to still have her passport.

We then made it through another plane ride - keep in mind we are on hour about 36 and I have not had a shower and one other thing we found out in Brazil you can't flush toilet paper and so it was run into the bathroom hold your nose while squatting and then add to the mess in the trash can that yes indeed did not have a lid on it!!!

Once in Recefi and through customs and immigration and retrieval of luggage we walked out and Jana and Baby Jack were rushed by her family. It was so sweet as this is the first time her mom or siblings have seen Jack. In the U.S. Jack does not really like people to hold him but it was like he was home in Brazil; he let all of his cousins touch him and play with him and he was giving them his open mouth kisses and he let Jana's mom and sister hold him. It was a relieve to know he was so comfortable.

We then figured out how to squeeze all of us and our 14 huge bags of luggage not to mention all the carry ons into a tiny car and what I affectionately termed the van mobile. We managed somehow and off to our Pousada (hotel) which I was expecting a plain hostel turned into individual rooms. This is what greeted us:

It was so cute and my room was great; my room all to myself which those of you who know me know I loved having some time alone at night. After unloading our luggage we then went to eat at a restaraunt that is famous in Brasil and if you have ever been to Texas de Brazil then you know where we went although I'm sure it has to be better when local!!! We then went to the beach where again those of you who know me well knew I was enamored by the crashing waves; not so much by the big roaches or the big rats running around the rockwall separating the beach from the street but I survived. Then we went to the local street market and then I crashed into my bed and although it was not soft like my bed at home I was so exhausted I slept like a baby!!!

Our greeting to Recife was awesome and I slept with the excitement of the adventures our next week would bring.

At the Restaraunt and Daniel holding Jack while I entertained him at the street market.

Brasil and Brooke Amber

Yes - I am back - we got back from Brasil on Monday at about 4 oclock approximately 36 hours later than the ETA back to Abilene, TX - that is all another story for another day!! That same Monday around noonish or 1 oclock Brooke Amber was born and I am once again a proud Aunt.
Here are some pictures of Brooke and her proud sister Karlee as well as with the whole family.

It is probably an understatement to say things have been crazy since getting back. First I had to cancel and reschedule clients on Monday and then I had to figure out when I was going to research and write a 10 to 15 page paper that the original plan was to have written Sunday night and Monday morning. But somehow some words made their way into that paper and it got turned in. Then I left Thursday headed to Plainview to see my niece and let me just say she is perfect. I didn't get to see Karlee that young so it has been really neat to hold Brooke. She is so perfect - she amazes me she lifts her head already which I have never seen a baby do and I laid her down and she is already trying to turn over. She is awake alot and only cries when she is starving. She laughs and Karlee is super protective and does not like it when she cries. We went over to some family friend's house last night to watch fireworks and it was so cute everytime a firework went off and popped Brooke would jump but she never cried just jumped as they illuminated her face.

I promise I will get updates posted on Brasil. I plan to do a day by day blog. That was the plan there but I ran out of time. I have orals on Wed. and then things should slow way down so I promise updates are coming. Until then I am excited to see my sister Miriam who is coming in. Apparently births in my family manage to get us all together better than Christmas or any other holiday because we are all going to be here tomorrow for the first time in years.

Well I'm off to go see Brooke this morning!!!