Brazil vs. Argentina

Last night Brazil became the first South American country to qualify for next years World Cup. Brazil beat Argentina 3-1. These two countries have a long and fierce soccer rivalry. Imagine the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox or Texas and Oklahoma and double it, maybe triple it and you will come close to what is at stake in such games between these two countries. Consequently, beating them in Argentina to earn a spot in the World Cup becomes that much more special. It’s nice to be on the winning side of this rivalry (at least this time …).

Brazil continues to be the only country to have played in every World Cup.

“Speaking of Sin”

I just finished reading the book “Speaking of Sin: The Lost Language of Salvation” by Barbara Brown Taylor. I simply wanted to share a quote from this book.

“By the grace of God, I am being mended, and God has called me to be a mender too. Since many threads are stronger than one, God has put me on a sewing team. Day by day, our job is to hunt the places where the world is ripped and bend over the damage to do what we can. Every good deed, every kind word, every act of justice and compassion tugs the torn edges closer together. The truer our aim, the smaller our stitches and the longer the patch will hold. We made plenty of the rips ourselves, and some of the worst ones show evidence of having been mended many times before, but that does not seem to discourage anyone.

Mending is how we continue to be mended, and we would not trade the work for anything.”

Unexpected Visit

As you guys know, shortly after we arrived we started working on Sara’s application for a permanent visa. We submitted her application and hadn’t heard anything about the process since then. At the time, we were told to just wait. Yesterday, while Sara was in Portuguese class, I received a surprise visit from the Federal Police. We had been told that eventually we would receive such a visit, but we weren’t told when that would be. He arrived around mid-afternoon. He introduced himself and explained the purpose of his visit. The agent then proceeded to ask to see our bedroom, Sara’s closet, our bathroom, and finally he wanted to see pictures of us (which he compared to the visa application photos). An interesting experience to say the least, but, the bottom line is that Sara should have her permanent visa by January or February 2010.

Our First Package

We (finally) received our first package from the States!  Ever since we left in March, my mother has been collecting things that we either forgot or things we didn’t think to bring so that she could send us a package.  She finally reached critical mass (enough stuff to fill the small fixed amount package at the Post Office) and sent it off into the unknown.  The person working at the Post Office told my mother that it would only take 6-10 days for the package to be delivered.  We had no reason not to believe him, especially since the cards she’s been sending have arrived in a mere 4 days.  But, 30 days later, when the package still had not arrived, we began talking about what to do as far as making a claim on the insurance for the package.  We had resigned ourselves to the fact that it was lost in transit and my peanut butter and Reader’s Digests were lost forever.  But, two days later, as Nathan and I were coming home from the gym, our doorman ever so casually mentioned that a package had come for us that day.  I was so surprised and excited that I could hardly keep from opening it right there in the elevator.  And after 32 days in transit, the only problem with the package was that the chocolate chips had melted and then rehardened all in one clump, and that’s certainly not a problem I mind having.  I thought it especially fitting that when the package got here, emblazoned across the front was “America Supports You.”  Yes, as a matter of fact, America does support me, in more ways than one.

Package from Home

Bowling in Brasil

This past weekend Nathan and I went to Rio to visit his family and celebrate his brother’s 18^th birthday.  For his birthday, Jonathan planned the whole day for us, the highlight of which was going bowling at the local mall.  Now you have to understand that before we went, Nathan and his family had been telling me stories about what bowling was like in Brasil.  According to them, the biggest difference is that each of the pins is held up and in place by strings, and that the strings can sometimes affect the way the pins fall down or knock into each other.  So, in my mind I was picturing some kind of elaborate puppet-show with all the pins jerking around on these strings.  I was actually really looking forward to seeing how it all worked- you know, another funny story to tell back home.  You can imagine my disappointment then when we got to the bowling alley and everything was exactly the same as it was in the States.  Well, not everything.  There are strings attached to the pins, but I was halfway through the first game before I even saw one of them.  And I could never tell a difference in the way the pins fell or anything else for that matter.  I was actually hoping for a big difference because then I could have used that as my excuse for doing so poorly (bowling has never been my strongest sport).  Instead I simply found another way that being here is like being home- I am bad at bowling in both places.

Nathan at the Bowling Alley

Rio minister’s meeting

Yesterday I went to the Rio minister’s breakfast at the Ramos church. We had to leave at 6:30 a.m. to beat the traffic in order to make it there by 8:30 a.m. Even though it was only a small group this time, it was still good. We spent time talking about fasting, and then we had a time to hear how things are going at the other churches (we had representatives from four churches) and we spent time in prayer for each other. I’ve only been to two of these meetings, since they are bi-monthly, but I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Our Dryer

Those of you who read our newsletters know that Nathan and I have been working without a dryer since we got to Brasil.  This has meant line drying and therefore ironing nearly everything we wash.  That has not been fun.  Well, Nathan and I finally bit the bullet and bought a dryer.  When it was delivered, the first thing I noticed was that it has a setting for 180 minutes.  That’s right- a setting for 3 full hours.  And, on the dryer itself are instructions telling you that if you are running a full load of clothes, use the full 3 hours.  Three full hours!  Never in my life have I used more than an hour and 20 minutes, tops.  Usually it’s only somewhere around 50 minutes.  I guess it’s just one more reminder that we’re not in (Ar)Kansas any more.

US vs. Brasil

The U.S. soccer team sent ripples across the soccer world on Wednesday as they beat the number one team in the world, Spain, 2-0 to earn the right to play in the championship game of the Confederation Cup, which is being played in South Africa. As you know, the U.S. is not known across the globe for its soccer so, needless to say, this has caused a stir. That afternoon I went to workout at the gym after the game and three people, one of whom I’d never spoken to before, mentioned the game. Just yesterday Brazil beat South Africa 1-0, earning the right to play the U.S. on Sunday.

While the U.S. is clearly the underdog in this game, the fact that they have made it to the final match is an accomplishment. Whatever the outcome of the game I’m sure folks will have plenty to say to me at the gym on Monday.

Feliz Aniversario!

Ages have been changed to protect the innocent

As Nathan mentioned in one of his blogs, Connie (Nathan’s mother and missionary to Rio de Janeiro) had a birthday this last week.  As part of the celebration of her birthday, Nathan and I went to Rio to spend the night with the family.  We also went out for a celebratory lunch and had some delicious brownies and homemade ice cream for dessert.  Overall, a good time was had by all, as was too much to eat…

All of that to say this, if you get a chance this week, be sure to wish Connie a happy belated birthday. 

Brazilian Garden

There are a few food related items that one just can’t find here in Brazil. Because of that we’ve had to substitute or do without those things. One thing we’ve missed is salsa. Sara and I have made taco salad a few times and have tried to make our own salsa to go with it. We’ve experimented with different salsa recipes and have improved it each time yet the one thing that is missing is something to spice it up. Because hot peppers are so hard to find here we’ve had to use only bell peppers.

Thursday was a holiday and since it was my mother’s birthday Sara and I made a day trip to Rio to be with her. While there my dad informed me that he has been growing his own peppers. I’m not sure what kind they are but they have a little kick to them, or at least more that bell peppers do. So, I took one of his peppers and have planted the seeds. Never thought I’d have a garden in my Brazilian apartment or much less be in the pepper growing business. But now we have a small pot with some seeds we’re hoping will sprout and give us peppers for our salsa.