Day 5 Tuesday Retreat Time

Thankfully today thanks to the rain we did not wake up to a smoke filled city from the corn festival of the night before. It is so wierd that in the middle of a city with 4 million people that people just come outside of their house throw some wood together and build a big fire to roast corn on. Seems so simple maybe we should bring that back to West Texas. Today was a big day because we were going to a retreat with the church members at a camp about 45 minutes from where we were staying. Jana's good friend Adriana's dad pulled up in a big greyhound he drove for us and we loaded up the people and took off.

One thing I quickly learned that doesn't really bother me is Brasil time is different than American time. In the U.S. 9 o'clock means 9 o'clock or maybe 9:05 but in Brasil we soon found out that 9 o'clock could mean 9:30 or 10 o'clock or 10:30 or pretty much whatever time you want it to be. I love how laid back that is; although I will have to say most of the memebers of our group did not like the time thing. It just gave me an excuse to sleep in once I figured out that is how things operate here!!!!

So we headed off for the retreat. We had a full day planned for the kids complete with games, face painting, relays and just hanging out and getting to know the kids. The women kind of took charge of the kids while Yancey went upstairs with the adults and had a couple of lessons. Our day with the kids was such a blast. Some of my favorite things was the water balloon volleyball, the relays with the older boys and girls, and the pinata (yes just like in the U.S. they rush like mad people after the candy -however they share here). I also got my first stab at face painting. They should let someone else do it believe me this was defanately Jenn and Lee's area of expertise not mine but I tried. You will see my attempt at a red and black soccer ball; luckily this kid is Jana's nephew and he is young and didn't seem to notice.

Some of the members cooked up fiesta soup similiar to tortilla soup and it was so good. Maybe I can get some recipes and post one day. After lunch we went right outside of the fence to take some gifts to the neighborhood kids. It is a long story here but their parents would not let them come join the fun. There are some bad relations there but these kids have tender hearts and hopefully soon those relationships will be restored.

Two of the people (I have spoken about on previous posts) Danny and Lee plan on starting an orphanage here at this camp. It has great facilities to do that and I hope their dream comes true soon because their is indeed a great need.

Probably the thing I enjoyed most was getting to know some of the young women like Pricilia, Natlia, Natalie, Bettina, Hannah, Gabrielle (and so many more but I will quit butchering their Portugueese names with my awful English). They are so sweet and I look forward to spending more time with them the rest of the week. They are so fun and have such caring hearts.

We headed back grabbed some dinner and then went to decorate for the VBS we were going to help with the rest of the week. They assign me (the asthmatic) and Jenn ( no lung capacity) the task of blowing up to whales. Well let me tell you it took us probably 20 minutes but they will have whales (aka great fish) to walk under the next day at VBS.

Our great big fish!!!

Day 4 Monday - The Beach!!!!

Well the hard bed kicked in last night and sleep did not come that well but that was not going to hide the excitement of our free day where we were journeying to the beach. Now I'm not sure what the philosophy was in planning the free day at the very beginning but the weather was beautiful and we had been told since it is there winter and rainy season that it would probably be cool (that is 85 to 90 degrees to them) and rainy everyday. Well the temperature has run true but so far not the rain.

So we headed off for Porto de Galinhas which is a famous Brasilian beach that when the tide goes out pools of fish are formed that you can go swim in and swim with the fish. Why this is such a big deal in North Eastern Brasil is because of the shark situation. Recife means reefs and these beaches are beautiful because of the reefs but unfortunately somehow in the recent years the sharks have been able to get up to the beach area and have attacked many unsuspecting victims. Just this past week a small girl was attacked by a shark in mid calve deep water. There are signs up that crack me up because they say something about DANGER there are more sharks than average. Well since to me average should be zero I laugh at these signs. Needless to say I am perfectly content with swimming with unaggresive fish in a pool where I can ensure there are no sharks before I get in. The beach was beautiful and we took these flat boats out to the pools and swim. We tried to use the water proof camera but I'm not sure it turned out as swell as we hoped. We haven't gotten the pictures from the other water proof camera developed yet so maybe they are better. We had a blast just being at the beach, walking down the sand, seeing the locals selling their things, and just relaxing. It was like we were on vacation!!!

After we had our fill we headed back to Recife. The drive there and back reminded me of Hawaii with all the sugar cane fields and the rolling hills that dot the landscape before they fall off into the ocean. When we got back we ate at Daniel's favorite restaraunt Costa Bravo after a quick trip to the mall where we just could not resist the tempation to go into Wal-Mart. It was tonight that we got our first taste of a downpoor in Brasil. This downpour filled the city with smoke because tomorrow is a corn holiday which is huge here. In fact everyone gets off work and the night before they build these big bonfires in the road throughout the city to roast the corn. Needless to say I don't think they got much roasting done tonight but the smoke and the asthma are not going well together at all.

Today on the drive to the beach we got to spend some time getting to know Danny - the owner and driver of the van mobile. He has moved here and met a Brasilian woman Lea who we have also gotten to know. This sounds very familiar to the Daniel and Jana story. Maybe I should move here and meet a man!!! Danny has made our trip so enjoyable filling us in on history, culture and all while speaking our language!!!

Here are some pictures of our beach fun:

Feeding the Fish as we swim with them

Jana, Me, and Jenn on the beach

On the boat getting ready to head out to the pools This pool supposedly is shaped like Brasil

you be the judge I think it resembles
The whole gang at the pools

The picture you have all been waiting for:

Me being silly; I don't really know the significance of this chicken just know we all had to take turns taken our picture with it. Everybody was so serious and cute I had to excite this group!!!

How can anyone resist Baby Jack's cuteness? I wander if we get good deals and attention from the locals because of his cuteness.

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.