Posted December 23rd, 2008 by Jill
- It’s not raining!
- Your internet works.
- You walk outside your apartment, JUST as your bus pulls up.
- You meet someone new and they invite you to a family get together!
- You eat at Bibi Sucos.
- You do your homework……correctly.
- You see someone you know on the street.
- You get a package from home!
Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement! We are missing everyone so much during the holiday season. We are thankful that we are never truly alone. God is the most faithful companion. Love to all!
Posted December 11th, 2008 by Jill
I had one of my best days last Tuesday. I spent all day with Gladis. Gladis is the most wonderful woman in the state of Rio. She lives across the bay, in Rio de Janeiro, but before that lived in Niteroi for two years. Brent and I still have many things we need for our apartment and so I called Gladis to see if she could help me for one full day.
She worked me into her busy schedule and we decided Tuesday would be the day. She came to our apartment, looked it over, and then measured every square…meter. Then we were off. First we went to Brazilian “Home Depot” and chose colors for paint. Gladis talked them into letting us test paint in their store so we didn’t have to take it home and come back. We bought 5 gallons of paint and other painting supplies.
We then went to furniture stores, supermarkets, you name it and were able to take care of the majority of my list! And because Gladis is Brazilian, we definitely had lunch, a snack, and coffee. It was AMAZING to get so many things done in one day. I felt so successful. I felt so blessed!
Obviously, God is pleased to bless his children and pleased to see us happy. But I worship the SAME God every day. He does not change but the amount we are blessed sometimes does. I know I am not wise enough to know the reasons for that. But I do long to stop being so emotionally fickle!
God does not love me any less today. His blessings are not the indicator of His faithfulness the way His promises are. He has kept His promises; I cannot say the same.
“Jesus Cristo e o mesmo ontem, hoje, e para sempre.”—Hebreus 13.8
Posted December 3rd, 2008 by Jill
1. Take a taxi* to Carrefour, the giant grocery store, because it is where the phones are the cheapest.
2. Find a salesperson to help you. (less than 30 seconds)
3. Show him or her which phone you want. (one minute)
4. Wait at the display for him to bring you the phone. (5 minutes)
5. Follow him back to where he got the phone, where he enters all your information to the computer. (10 minutes)
6. Go to the check out area for electronics only and wait for your printout. (5 minutes)
7. Pay for your phone and receive simple receipt. (2 minutes)
8. Take your simple receipt, walk outside the store to the breezeway and get in line for your fiscal receipt. (10 minutes)
9. Take your fiscal receipt back inside store to customer service manager where he will radio electronics that you have arrived. (10 minutes)
10. Electronics representative arrives, takes you back to display and gives you your phone. (3 minutes)
11. Take a taxi to the actual cell phone provider store to buy minutes and get cheapest plan. (10 minutes)
Once we got to the cell phone store, you must take a number and wait for your number to be called and then waited on. Also, your phone may or may not work immediately, but will definitely stop working at some point and ask you to confirm your information in Portuguese to continue use.
*If we had understood how to use buses at this time, we would have (because it is cheaper), this would also add approximately one hour to your total time.
Posted December 1st, 2008 by Jill
Last night I had my first complete hot shower in Brazil! I know there are probably many people without hot showers, but I am a spoiled girl from Cushing, Oklahoma. It was a blessing most appreciated! When we arrived in Niteroi, our first and second hotel room (of three that we resided in, all in the same hotel) offered a lukewarm shower. Our third room had HOT water…until the breaker blew, which happened during every shower, and then you had an ice cold blast of water to finish with.
Then we moved into our new swanky apartment. Our hot water was heated by gas and we were so excited to try it out our first night. However, no matter which way we put in the new batteries, there was no pilot lit and no hot water. So I showered with cold water again. Until Brent noticed that the bathroom floor was quickly filling with water. Luckily he saw it before it could go too far.
The next day, our wonderful doorman came and found a HUGE clog in the bathroom drain and turned on the gas to our apartment, solving all of our problems for the day! These daily victories have been enough to bolster us through looking like idiots speaking Portuguese. We started class today and hope to improve greatly soon!
Posted November 21st, 2008 by Brent
We have spent the last week searching for an apartment to rent. The search is not over, but we wanted to show you (quickly) a few shots of some of the places we have looked at with this video that hopefully is attached to this post. Some of the places are nice, while other places were not as nice. Some of the apartments we can afford and some we can’t. Take a look and let us know what you think. finding an apartmentHope you are having a great week and thank you for thinking and praying for us. Brent & Jill
Posted November 15th, 2008 by Jill
Today was the first day of tangible progress. Most people who know me, know that I love to check things off my list! We have been researching and preparing for so long and today we made a purchase! We may not have an apartment yet, but as soon as we do, Orthobom will be delivering our bed.
Our Brazilian teammate Juliana helped us immensely as we were “making the deal”. We purchased a bed, received a discount for paying all at once instead of using payments and also received a free mattress cover and bed skirt. While we were negotiating, the salesman brought out a recliner for Brent to sit in. Literally got it from the back of the store and carried it to the sales floor.
Later, while we were waiting for our credit card to go through, which took more than 30 minutes, another salesman brought us coffee and french fries and grilled chicked to eat as a snack while we waited. I guess three sales in one day is a good day at the bed store! I can’t imagine what happens in the fancy stores, if this is what happens at the Brazilian version of Wal-Mart, named Carrefour.
One down, one million things to go. Keep praying. We need it!
Posted November 6th, 2008 by Brent
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Posted October 13th, 2008 by Jill
I have to say that we were stressed when we found out that we would have to resubmit our visas. I have to say that I was stressed to discover we would not be leaving “on time”.
Now I have to say I am thankful.
Brent and I have had no trouble using our extra time in getting ready to leave. We have been BUSY scanning documents, pictures, typing recipes, and Christmas card lists. Our families and friends have been more than helpful and we are feeling like we just might get it all done. God has blessed us beyond measure with His timing. We have spent every moment in preparing to go or spending time with our friends and family. We have been able to see more people than we imagined, given our added time.
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.–Psalm 29:11
Posted September 2nd, 2008 by Jill
A beautiful evening at Kyle Field...too bad our time ran out!
It had been more than seven years since I had seen the nationally famous, fightin’ Texas Aggie Band form at the north end of Kyle Field. I was so happy to reunite with my best friend and spend the weekend in College Station. We had such a great time driving around to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. Many things were exactly the same: people saying “howdy” on campus, Layne’s chicken fingers’ secret sauce, and the sense of Aggie pride when you sing the Aggie War Hymn at the game.
I was surprised to see that many things were also different. I saw the Memorial to those who died building Bonfire, more parking garages, and different restaurants. The most striking thing was how most things seemed to be the same; although entirely new people were in charge. A&M has its traditions for a reason. They are taught, modeled and instilled in every new student. As a former student, you are asked to support the “fish” and the programs used for teaching.
It is a beautiful thing to return home and find the same ideals you fell in love with being carried out by a different generation. I can’t help but think that is what we will find when we return home on furloughs to see our home churches. Our children and youth are now being trained for their future leadership. Praise God for giving us the church to help train one another and sending us His spirit that additionally guides us. We continue to be trained until our dying day. We do not graduate from the church!
