Finally!

            Several years ago, Terry and I went to Greece, on a mission trip with Global Missions Project, to play with the Celebration Orchestra, led by Camp Kirkland, a good friend from Nashville. So, I receive regular emails and updates from Global Missions Project, and recently I’d received one relaying the need for string players to go to Curitiba, Brazil in June. It may have come previously but I probably deleted it, knowing that while I was in “hard” chemo, there was no way I could travel out of the country. Even my domestic travel had been somewhat restricted while my immune system was compromised.

            This email, however, caught my eye, and stayed with me long after I read it. My heart is partly in Brazil anyway. I’ve adopted 4 Brazilian children, and spent a total of almost 2 months there during the processes. The people who helped me with the legalities of those adoptions have remained good friends, so I’ve visited them many times, in several cities where they have lived through the years. Each time I go, we visit orphanages, finding out their needs, and the last time, I was interviewed on a local TV station in Joao Pessoa. At that time, June of 2011, I learned of another ministry that needed a lot of help with construction and renovation, so my intent was to return in October with a crew of people to help with that.

            I presented the need and the plan to our church, at that time, a young church plant near our home in Georgia. There seemed to be interest, but the timing just wasn’t right. We were to learn the reason soon.  Funny thing about our plans. Life happens. God definitely had a much better idea--doesn't He always?            

            In July 2011, Terry and I had a recording session in Nashville, and while there, spent a day with Mike Haight. Recently, the instrumental director at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison, MS, had resigned, and of course, that’s exactly what Terry is best at. Mike invited us to come to the church for an interview the next week, which we did. We met many wonderful people, who have now become good friends. The short version is that August 15, 2011, was Terry’s first day as the instrumental director of Broadmoor.

            Our excitement at being there has not dimmed one bit. Though we had been looking for this type of position for almost 6 years, God definitely brought us to Mississippi in His perfect timing.

            I’ll backtrack just a bit here. 2 days before Terry’s 1^st anniversary at the church, I discovered a lump in my breast. Because of a dear friend, we were able to get an immediate appointment with her brother-in-law, a wonderful doctor, and he “fast-tracked” us to the hospitals for tests, biopsies, and meeting with surgeons. My cancer diagnosis was August 23, and in less than a month, on Sept. 10, I had a radical bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. On October 19, I began a six-series treatment of chemotherapy. The loving way the people in the music ministries cared for us was absolutely overwhelming. We felt surrounded by thoughtful, praying friends, and God worked mightily through them as they poured their love into our lives. From unpacking moving boxes, to making meals,  “babysitting” me after surgery, picking me up to take me to lunch, to texting or calling with encouraging words or Bible verses, to making window treatments, and even doing our laundry, these friends were the hands and feet of Christ in action! Several came to sit with us in the hospital for each procedure.

            The way God worked everything out for us was definitely more than we could have asked for or even thought. And, once again, His timing is certainly much better than ours. Right in the middle of the cancer discovery and surgery we received 3 very precious gifts from Him. On August 19, Teddy and Jack Williams arrived to Bobby and Mary Lynn, and on August 21, Noah Yepko met his mommy and daddy, Hayley and Jason, for the first time. Of course I could take up the rest of the post writing about my new grandsons, but suffice it to say that pictures of them brought me such joy on some of my lowest chemo days.

            Since I love ministering to the people I meet on all my mission trips, I felt like a caged lion during the months when I could not travel overseas. So, when the email about the Curitiba mission trip kept nagging at me, I wondered if God was calling me to go. First, of course, I would have to ask my oncologist if my immune system numbers were approaching normal. The trip also needed to be in between chemos, because even though I’m finished with the hard drugs, I still go every 3 weeks for a 35-minute “chemo lite” drip. Checking the calendar, the dates worked perfectly. When Dr. Young called me back and said lightheartedly, “Go, and have a great time!” I felt such freedom and relief.

            Next morning, Terry and I had our usual Bible reading, along with the devotional books we also read, and one of the verses was Malachi 4:2. “For those who revere the Lord, He comes with healing in His wings, and you shall leap like calves released from the pen.” Are you kidding me? My eyes tear even as I’m typing this, because that is exactly how I feel. One translation uses the illustration of frisky colts in the pasture. I wasn’t leaping and running on the outside, but my heart definitely did a few flip-flops.

            I only had 3 weeks to prepare, and find a way to finance this trip. God brought money from unexpected sources to cover my entire trip. I guess He really did want me on this one. 

            There's so much more to tell you, but we have a rehearsal in 20 minutes for the evening worship service. I'll write about this morning's service, but if you want to see for yourselves, look up www.pibcuritiba.org.br 

            Til later.

   

Ahh, Brazil

Just a quick update--more later.
Arrived on time, AND, luggage arrived at the same time! Weather is cool and rainy, because it's winter here, but it's kind of a nice change from the hot humidity of Mississippi.
We represent 12 states, Mexico, and even have 2 from Nairobi, Kenya. Rehearsed last night with the nationals, and I think this morning's orchestra will sound good! We're participating in the worship service, and have a rehearsal in a few minutes, so I'll try to get in some longer blog time later, though they're keeping us busy from morning till night, according to the schedule.
For now, Bom Dia

returning home

The last security has been passed...I’m now sitting at the gate waiting for my flight to be called. We made it to the airport in 1½ hours. On a Sunday, there’s no traffic, but the closer we got to Recife, the worse the condition of the roads. Even though we arrived way early to check in, there was a huge line ahead of us already. We counted 3 separate tour groups of teens...probably all of them are going to Disney World. There are parents, sisters, and grandparents, all here to see their kids off, so the line is “padded” with many extra people. However, for the hundreds of us who will board the plane, there are 3 check-in agents and each person seems to take forever. We arrived at the airport at 8am and I just stepped up to the check-in desk at 9:20. Why it took so long for the others, I’ll never know, because I walked away at 9:21. Quem sabe?

Shalomir and Renan came with us because Drew was not so familiar with the directions. There’s just one highway to Recife, but once you get here the airport exits are not so clearly marked. Coming to pick me up last week, Drew got lost 2 or 3 times. The flight is late so we still have time to have a little breakfast – at least a coffee and a pao de queijo (bread with cheese baked inside it...a favorite of many Brazilians). When we get to the security gate, it looks crowded, but everyone is just saying goodbyes – many times over! I walked right through and on to the x-ray machines. Since my other suitcase was still too full to use as a carry-on, I had to check it, so I put my liquids in it. The US is the only place I’ve ever had to take off my shoes...never in other countries, however, they have to do a closer inspection of my bag. Turns out in Brazil, contact cases and contact solution are classified as liquids. In all the other countries, contacts and solution are classified as medication...I thought that TSA security would be the same everywhere, but obviously they don’t agree with me. Anyway, the security agent found a plastic bag in which to put my contact solution and 2 contact cases...then took quite a long time to examine my EPI pen...turned it over and over. I explained that it was medication in case of a bee sting. Remembering that I saw not one bee during my entire 10 days here...maybe she hasn’t either. No flies, one or 2 mosquitoes, and 2 wasps at the beach. Most beach homes don’t even have glass in their windows and none of the apartment homes have screens. I left my windows open all day and night and never saw any flying critters. It’s just not a problem at all – boy I sure wish we had this “non-problem” in Georgia!
Something I may have forgotten to mention is the fact that even though Shalomir and Maikol had a hot shower, it was in their master bedroom bath. Maikol hadn’t been feeling very well, so he was in bed most of the time...I would have had to ask him to leave. Plus, most mornings we left so early, that if I wanted the hot water bathroom, I’d have had to shower at noon, when we came back to get ready for lunch, so I just continued to take the cold showers. Fortunately, though, the water is not icy cold, like ours is, so it wasn’t quite the shock it could have been. Mainly, staying there was much more like being with family because from 21 years ago when we first met, every time I traveled to Brazil, I always stayed with the Saunders family. There are 2 biological children – Shalomir is the elder, and Joshua is a couple years younger than her. There are also 6 adopted children, all grown with children now. Naomi is the adopted child I know best because at one time I had considered adopting Naomi and her brothers, Abraham and Marcio. But instead, Drew adopted the 2 older ones, and Marcio went to another family who really wanted just him. He was such an adorable little boy...I fell in love with him instantly, but he had already been spoken for – just waiting for paperwork when I met him. Naomi is now around 26 years old and lives in Waupaca, WI. Guess how that happened? She had one child here in Brazil, and around age 1, the child became very sick and died. So Drew wanted to “distract” Naomi from her grief and asked if she could come visit us for a month or so. Since I’ve spent so much time with her, she’s more like a daughter to me and we were thrilled to have her there with us. That month turned into 6 months, at which time she had met a boy who asked her to marry him...which then allowed her to remain in the states on a permanent green card. Even when we moved away from Waupaca, Naomi had made so many friends there she wanted to stay. She now has 4 children and has remained right there in Waupaca. Right now, Drew is considering visiting her for a while until the visa problem gets resolved. His other option is to apply for a marriage certificate and hope he can get someone to “grease” the wheels a bit and expedite a license for him to marry Sueli immediately.

I’ve got so many little notes in my notebook, it’s going to take a while to sort them all out and categorize them. We talked more about when I come back with the group – things we want to do, places we want to take the group, and the work that has to be done. For anyone considering making this trip, please be assured that I will request that your hosts have hot water showers for you. That’s probably more common than not, especially in the homes of Cidade Viva church members, so don’t worry about the cold water. The meals will probably all be together in one place so you don’t have to worry about eating or drinking anything terribly unfamiliar to you unless you really want to. Another consideration is host families who speak English. With the school at Cidade Viva, and Drew’s English classes for the adults, that’s probably a non-issue. I’ve discovered that when in doubt, sign language works just fine. Everyone has bottled water but there’s no need to worry about brushing your teeth or taking showers in it. I remember on a trip to China (before the western world was even allowed in) we couldn’t even use the tap water for brushing our teeth...every night we received a thermos of hot water outside our hotel room door, and each morning we brushed our teeth with it, so I got used to doing that activity with warm water. But here it’s not so critical.
There is so much more...keep checking my blog, because I’ll be updating everyone on what’s going on in Joao Pessoa as well as more definite plans for our team trip.

Saudades

On my last day here, Drew arrived about 8am because we were supposed to leave at 8:30. This whole week he has had some business emergencies, so many of our appointment times had to be changed. But he brought over some papaya, delicious ham, and a thermos of coffee from Sueli, which I enjoyed while he was on his call.
Stopping to pick up Sueli, we drove out to the Casa de Salem, where Helio was volunteering this morning. There were several young mothers with their babies, waiting for the doctor. One of the biggest problems in the favelas is there are so many babies being born. The clinic offers free birth control, but the girls forget to get it! Helio showed us around the small building – there is a dental chair and some equipment, and another office where he sees his patients. Sueli’s sister, a pediatrician, was going to meet us there to see what she could do for them. We got a call that she was blocked from coming by a big truck that was stuck in the mud – up to the axels. So we drove to the end of the street and picked her up. She spoke with Helio and decided the days she would be available to volunteer.
I heard a lot of rain in the middle of the night, and early this morning it rained as well, but by now it was clear, sunny, and hot. When we left Casa de Salem, we had planned to go to the beach, and Sueli invited her sister, Bete (Elizabeth), to come with us, so we dropped her car off at their parents’ home and continued on to Praia do Sol (Sun Beach) for, as Drew puts it, “the best crab and shrimp anywhere”.
The trip took about 40 minutes, and there weren’t very many people there because it’s not a protected beach (no life guards). So we had the place almost to ourselves, though the longer we were there, the more people continued to arrive. There are many little shacks in the area, all with different colored tables, chairs, and umbrellas in front of them. Each one tried to outdo the other with the decibel count of their music. The bass was pounding so loudly the grains of sand were jumping (ok, so I exaggerated...what can I say, I was raised to speak in Baptist!). Evidently one shack finally won because the others turned their sound systems off. This place is owned by the parents of Sueli’s daughter’s boyfriend (got that?), so of course we had to eat there. The server brought beers for everyone (when in Brazil...), and crab soup for me and Drew – the two sisters didn’t have any. But they loved the crabs. I prefer my crabmeat out of a can or casserole dish...seems like a whole lot of work and messy hands for such a little payoff! I managed to navigate my way through just one crab, and I’m sure it was good, but to me it was just annoying! Shortly, a plate of shrimp and French fries arrived as well...Drew doesn’t eat crab. (ok, then, how could he assure me this was the best crab on the beach???). Every place that we've had shrimp, it's been served with the shells on. I seem to be the only one who peels it - everyone else just chews the shells too. (eeuw!)
We washed our greasy hands off in the ocean, which was muito agitato (very rough) today – probably from the storm last night. The water wasn’t as warm as yesterday at Besso Beach, and the color was brown from all the sand being swept up by the big waves. Sat back down at our table and continued our conversation, Sueli and I in the sun, and Drew and Bete under the umbrellas, which had to be tied down because it was so windy. One thing I noticed here is that everyone discusses and discusses things over and over again. It’s all about the relationship, which I’ve mentioned I appreciate.
Had to get back for a 4:00 meeting with Sueli’s brother-in-law, Ricardo, a lawyer who just happens to hold the position of “vice-mayor” in the town council. The hope is that he will be able to help Cenca in some way. Maria Jose, Sueli’s eldest sister, is married to Ricardo. Their son Bruno greets us at the door, and surprises me with fairly good English. Ricardo and Maria Jose don’t speak English, so 2 conversations take place at the same time...the 2 couples in Portuguese, and Bruno practices his English telling me (and showing me on his computer) about a project in another poor community that he and some friends have been working with. They have built houses and hope to add a sport court soon. They’ve done a lot of work already and he asks me if “my people” will be interested in helping their project, called Um27 (One twenty seven, for James 1:27 – the verse that talks about helping the widows and orphans). I always feel humbled and overwhelmed at the same time, because I am only one person, but when I join with others in the body of Christ, we can accomplish so much. I also feel a huge responsibility to return as I have said I will – many times - with groups of enthusiastic people willing to give their lives away – people who will commit to an ongoing relationship with these who are so needy.

On my last evening here, “the fam” (Drew and Sueli, Shalomir, Michael and Renan) treated me to a Churhascarria! Sal e Brasa (Salt and Ashes.....literal translation). The salad table is huge and I have to remind myself not to fill up on salad, because the waiters keep coming around to our table with skewers of different cuts of meat, which they will slice right there for us. This particular restaurant also has a sushi bar. We eat until we have to be rolled away from the table and can’t even think of looking at the dessert cart. While we’re all together, Michael calls Marta (his sister) so we all talk to her. She’s on her tour to the south of Brazil and Chile, and she’s FREEZING! We’ve seen pictures of the snow and ice on last evening’s news. Marta is more than excited and prematurely appreciative of what “my group” is going to do for Cenca.

Outside the Churhascarria, goodbyes are said – Sueli can’t come with us tomorrow because her son is returning from a church retreat and we all think she needs to be there for him. So, it will be quite a while before I see my dear new friend again and our parting is emotional.
I will be sad to leave my friends...21 years is a long time to know someone... especially in the case of Shalomir who was just a little younger than Renan when I first met her. I watched her grow up during the years I traveled frequently to Brazil. She is so smart and capable, and has matured from a girl to a lovely young woman who loves interacting with people, and a very caring mother for this little boy whose biological mother could no longer care for him. In fact, his birth mom was one of the first girls Marta helped raise in the orphanage she started – the Shalom House. Kinda completes the family circle in a way. Just reminds me how we’re all connected and God has given us the responsibility to care for each other.

I'm already filled with saudades (there's not really a translation except it just means "missing") for my new friends and not so new friends, and the people for whom I hope to help make a difference. I've traveled all over the world, and love every place I've been, but somehow, Brazil is different. Each time I leave this beautiful country, a little piece of my heart stays behind. Please think about coming with me on this mission trip in the fall. Your life will forever be changed.

Ahhh, the beach!

No English classes today, but Drew picked me up at 7:30 to take me to Sueli's apartment so I could watch her make cuz cuz. This is a type of corn meal that is soaked and then steamed, and here one puts it on the plate and tops it with a fried egg. Not bad...pretty bland, but since I love to learn regional meals, I'll know how to make this for Terry when I get home. Sueli laughs at me with my camera, photographing every step of this process. It's not really hard at all, but hers is much better than Penha's, so of course I want to learn from the best! We have our breakfast and then go back to pick up Shalomir and Renan in order to meet Rosinha at one of the orphanages.
The first place we go has between 11 and 13 people (depending on who you talk to). Most of these are young mothers who have come here for refuge from abusive men - husbands or otherwise. They are very young and all have babies. My biggest disappointment is that Rosinha won't allow me to take pictures, lest someone somewhere discover where these women are. The home is well kept and nice, taking into account the poor standards. I meet each gal and her baby - one of the girls is now 18 and has been here since she was a baby. She has nowhere to go, so if she helps out at the home, they won't have to kick her out. When we meet, she has a big smile and kisses me on both cheeks, (the usual greeting) and I can tell she has a very sweet, helpful spirit.
On to the next orphanage, run entirely by the state of Paraiba. Lar da crianca Jesus de Nazare. Jesus of Nazareth Children's Home. Here the state forbids me to take any pictures as well because many of the kids have been removed from the home and they don't want the parents to find out where they are. One of my very favorite things to do is photograph children's faces, and I'm just itching to sneak out my camera. However, all the ladies who work there watch me as if I'm there to steal one of their babies! There is one who is just one month old, sleeping in a pram. He is one of the babies who has been "rescued" from being tossed in the garbage. Yes, you read it right. In fact, just today, another baby has been discovered on a garbage heap in Sao Paulo. Rosinha and Cidade Viva have started a campaign, going through the streets with loud speakers, and also passing out flyers for mothers who don't want their babies. "Please don't throw them on the garbage", urges the flyer and the recorded message...going on to say "adoption is an option." It probably doesn't rhyme that way in Portuguese, but the message is still the same. It's way beyond my comprehension how anyone can physically toss a human being onto a garbage heap. Then again, living in America, we've just "invented" more civilized ways of abusing people - either mentally or emotionally. I know, because I'm a survivor.

Jesus of Nazareth home has about 130 residents, many of them physically or mentally disabled adults who have been here all their lives, and obviously have no place to go. Several of them never even have any visitors, though family may live in the area. On the way out, we encounter the woman who runs the home as well as one of the mothers whose children live in this home for financial reasons. She has just birthed her 9th child (all from different fathers, of course) - some of them live with her, and some live in the orphanage. Can't imagine what one must feel, coming to an orphanage to visit one's children.

Since my time here is quickly winding down (it's Friday and I leave early Sunday morning), Shalomir wants to take me to downtown Joao Pessoa because there are several very old and beautiful churches. When the Portuguese first settled in Brazil, all the other cities were settled on rivers; Fortaleza, Recife, Olinda, and of course Rio de Janeiro. Joao Pessoa was the first and only city settled on the river and only later did people begin to move toward the ocean. We went into the oldest hotel in the city, Hotel Globo, which is now called the Spanish consulate. There may be a small office somewhere in the building; however, it's little more than a museum with a few artifacts from the original hotel. The views from this property are incredible and we spent quite a bit of time here, taking pictures and walking around. At one point, a guy stuck his head out of a window and said "Where are you guys from?" Turns out Alvares has been a tour guide to Orlando for 25 years, taking groups as large as 250 people. He knows Marta (as Shalomir says, "everyone knows Marta") and tells us that he's going to be 60 this year so he's thinking of retiring, but he misses going to Orlando with the tours!

The oldest church was next on our list of 'things to see while you're in Joao Pessoa'. Igresa St. Francisco. It's 500 years old and not in use any more, though others of the really old churches are still being used as wedding venues. Shalomir is an excellent tour guide...she has worked in the hotel business and teaches school children, also running the English department at Cidade Viva, so she's well versed on the history of the place and the buildings. She also knows all the good shortcuts through the center of the city!

After lunch at Marta's (for menu see 5 previous blogs...) Shalomir and I decide to get our nails done. I've done this with both Jaime and Hayley (Terry's daughters) and Mary Lynn, my daughter-in-love, and it's a fun "girlie" time together. Renan comes with us and charms all the other ladies in the salon. He's so outgoing and extremely well-behaved. I think I've seen him cry once and that was because he smashed his finger in a door! He chooses white polish for his mother and I get purple. I was so relaxed I nearly fell asleep. When I wake up so early, I'm pretty ready for a little nap by this time in the afternoon.
After going back home to pick up Drew, our next stop is the policia federale. His visa has run out and he is asking for an extension...which he does not get. He and Sueli want to get married, but they find out from the notary that it takes a very long time for permission because so many people are just marrying Brazilians in order to live here. Much discussion ensues, after which nothing is really resolved. (it's the Brazilian way) But the new police station is so close to the beach we decide to stop. This is a great wind-surfing beach and there are about 5 or 6 guys out there today. For once, the sun has remained out most of the day and it's absolutely gorgeous. I've immediately got my flipflops off and head for the water. It's very warm, though not too clear. Drew (again!) needs to get back home to receive a business email but Sha offers to drop him off and come back to pick me up. Being polite, I demure, but she insists. Well, if somebody just HAS to stay at the beach, I'll volunteer! Renan stays with me and we pre-arrange a place to meet...the turtles where we stopped the other day just to take a picture. She figures it'll take us about 45 minutes to walk there. Renan and I start walking and, surprise, surprise, he gets his shoes and socks wet. Oh well, he decides to take them off and roll up his pants. We discover crab holes, lots of sand dollars, a rainbow, and a "river" left by the ebbing tide. I'm pretty fluent in 7-year old Portuguese, so we can understand each other just fine. Along the way it seems expedient (in the mind of a 7-year old) just to go ahead and get all the way wet, so he splashes happily and I take pictures. I think Shalomir must have been speaking in "Brazilian" when she said a 45-minute walk, because we don't dawdle much at all and after 45 minutes, our meeting place still looks pretty far off. We begin encountering people who tell us that there's a lady waiting for us "back there". We look, and, sure enough, there she is, waving to us. Renan sets off at a run, but by now we're in the softer sand and it's like slogging through oatmeal up to our ankles...it still takes us about 15 minutes to reach her and by now it's getting dark. (Next time I'll have to remember it's about an hour and 5 minutes.)
We stop at home for a quick shower, then to Manacai Restaurant (it's an outdoor place) for sandwiches. I have a tapioca (no, not what you're thinking...it's dry tapioca put in a frying pan to coagulate and become a flat tortilla or soft taco) with shredded chicken. Renan has a pastel (again, no, more of what we would call an empanada) He drinks a huge glass of Acai (Ah sah EE), thick, like a milkshake. Mine is cupuacu, (ku pwa SUE) made from fruit only found in the Amazon, definitely an acquired taste. Off to the mall to drop off Acai juice and extra cups for Shalomir and Michael's milkshake shop (Tribo Milkshake e Yogurt - Milkshake and yogurt Tribe). I have to have the Creme de Papaya con Liquor de Cassis milkshake. I just have to. Then we're off to look at CDs. We've been listening to a CD by a young worship leader named Aline Barros - in Marta's car and I've really enjoyed it, so we'll see if we can find it here. Which we do, as well as DVDs, but I just get the CD. Shalomir chooses some kids' movies for Renan and her school children.

After our long walk on the beach, both Renan and I are really tired. His manifests as "squirrely" and talkative. Mine doesn't.
Michael is home when we get there but after a quick hello, I'm anxious for my bed.

TV interview

I feel like I'm back in school. Up every morning bright and early...it gets bright around 5am here, and this morning for some reason, the guy whose car was parked directly below my window thought it'd be a good idea to press his car lock button about 8 times in a row, honking the horn each time. I disagreed.
But since I was up, I made myself coffee and tried to connect to the internet to post my blog from yesterday...with no success. Drew has showed me how to disconnect the wires, but I felt lazy enough to just stay in my room, drinking my coffee and reading. Happy Bookers (with a "B") get-together in the neighborhood 4 days after I arrive back home so I've got to get this month's book finished.
After breakfast, back to Cidade Viva for the advanced English class. Today also I'll meet Paula Carosi, who will interview me for the TV program broadcast by the church at Cidade Viva. She's part of the class. Today, she WAS the class. (Everyone has paid for these lessons, but since they all work at Cidade Viva, sometimes they get tied up in their offices). Since no one else came, Drew agreed that we should just take a tour of the property. Before we begin, though, Paula gives me a very complete history of Cidade Viva and the faith of Pastor Sergio. He is a man who thinks big and has the confidence that God will do it. He is a pastor who researches the gifts of the people in his congregation and once he finds out, tells them he knows they're good at such and such, so they need to do it! And they do. (are you getting this, Pastor Neil?) This church is very involved, has over 20 different ministries around the city of Joao Pessoa, and so many in the congregation seem very willing to give sacrificially. In order to do some of their projects, of course, the people need to give more. For one of the projects, one woman stood up and said all she had was $50 reis, ($30US + or -) but she wanted to give it all and be an example like the widow in the Bible. Others have given cars and vans as well. Paula explained that so many of the people are very involved in all aspects of the ministry, from drug rehab to working with prostitutes, reuniting families, helping prisoners...and the list goes on. At last count, 28 separate ministries coming from Cidade Viva.
When Paula finishes, we take the tour. The school so far runs through the first year of the 3-year high school here in Brazil...possibly equivalent to our 10th grade. Very nice building with colorful classrooms, and Paula explained that the children's very favorite thing is their lockers! Of course it was pouring. We also see the offices of Cidade Viva, the "brains" of the operation (nice and cool in the computer room...a/c turned off everywhere else) and the TV studio where we'll have our interview this afternoon.

Finally changed money for the first time...dollar is falling (no kidding), which gave me less reis to spend. Oh well, I'll have to make do. (that also is a joke, because I never buy much at all.) In our hotel in Maragogi, I saw a ceramic figure that I really liked, but since it was in the lobby, I figured they would not appreciate if I took it. Therefore, I will look for them here...in the Feira de Artisanato (Handicraft Fair). Next time I come I want to buy some clothing, made from fabric only made here in Joao Pessoa, not dyed, so in shades of tan and natural white, but this time my eye is on the ceramic woman. There are 3 floors and as is usually the case, many shops that carry the same items...but different prices, some negotiable and some not.
We visit all the shops that carry ceramic figures, but ya gotta be careful and look at the faces. Some are prettier than others. We find the perfect woman and the price is a good one. No "discount", but that's okay because she's taller than some I've seen at the same price. The proprietor wraps the mulher ceramica (ceramic woman) very carefully, I pay the 40 reis and we're ready to go for lunch to Marta's apartment. However, we discover that Shalomir and Renan are in the bank right next door so we stop to say hello. That's one of my favorite things about Brazil (and many of the European countries I've visited) - the fact that relationships are more important than schedules. There may be an appointment set for a certain time, but if we happen to see someone we know, we stop and talk. The bank has a very little revolving door that only admits one person at a time. Make sure you do not take any metal items in with you, or the door stops. Renan was watching carefully at the bottom and the top of the door and I could just see the puzzlement in his little mind - what made it stop sometimes and not others? I call him "Mr. Gadget" because he has already figured out things about my camera and Droid that I've not known in all the time I've had them! As cute as he is, and with his dimples, he's going to be trouble one of these days, for sure. His mind is so quick and his eyes are full of mischief. He hasn't even been living with Sha and Michael for a year yet, but he knows he is loved and he's so willing to give it back as well. Even though we saw each other this morning, I get a nice tight hug. I love getting those. He's wearing one of the shirts I brought for him that is supposed to change colors in the sun. Unfortunately, it's still raining, but maybe before I leave, we'll get to see it.

For lunch, you probably won't believe we had liver and onions, chicken, and the ever present beans and rice to be topped by farofa - manioc flour that is dried and, in this case, mixed with chopped bananas...doesn't sound appetizing, I know, but makes a nice topping for the beans and rice. This time no salad, which is fine because that too, varies little to not at all. Much of the food gets overcooked, and therefore, quite dry. And EVERYONE cooks with way too much salt. (they also brew their coffee highly sugared) I think when we bring the groups we'll have to have some ground rules with the cooks - leave out the salt (or at least most of it), and brew coffee without sugar. There doesn't seem to be very much variety in what is cooked in the home, but they make up for that with the vast array of delicious tropical fruits and juices.
This afternoon I'll be interviewed by Paula Carosi for her TV show "Universo Femino" and I'm proud to say I was her very first interview entirely in English. Until now, she's used translators, but since she's been taking lessons with Drew, her crew wanted her to speak English and Drew will then transcribe the interview for the subtitles. She did and excellent job, and I thoroughly enjoyed her and her questions as well as her reactions to my answers. She said something no one but Terry has ever said to me. At the end of the interview Paula asked me to bring my violin the next time and play for her show, but for this time she loved hearing the music in my eyes. I'm getting teary just remembering that. Quite taken by surprise, for once I did not have a response.
We had a meeting set up tonight with Samara, who runs Cenca, assisted by Marta, and the head of the town council who will receive the project explanation and requests. If he approves this, Cenca will have some government funds with which to continue their work. As I'm writing this, we got an email from Samara, who explains that her kitchen ceiling has just collapsed and she has to wait for a repair man. We then called to inform Ricardo, the head of the council and he replied that he will do everything possible but right now he's tied up at the courthouse because the roof has collapsed. I ask you - what are the odds of that? (the 2 don't even know each other) We're still scratching our heads. We'll postpone this meeting till Saturday and hopefully no more ceilings and roofs will collapse!
Sha's coming to pick us up. I have strange requests. I want to go to Carrefour to buy a pot for cuz cuz. No, not our couscous. Corn meal that sticks together a little like rice. Drew likes it with a fried egg and now that I've tried it, I think I'll bring some home and make it for Terry. This is a tall pot with a built-in steamer/container. Of course I have to buy the cuz cuz as well. A package of farofa has appeared among my items too. The first time I went to Carrefour was in San Paolo 21 years ago. There were 100 cash registers. Yes. All of them in use. And the personnel navigates around the store on roller blades, checking prices, etc. When I took out my camera to record this phenomenon, I was swiftly reprimanded by one of the guards at the front of the store. Nao! Nao! Nao foto! Like I was going to steal some deep, dark secret and open up my own store in Orlando or something. The store originates in France, and Terry and I have also been to a very large one near Paris, but not as big as that very first one I went to in Sao Paolo.
We're waiting right now for Sueli to come pick us up for dinner. Tonight it'll be just the 3 of us so we're going back to Nau, from Sunday night, my first night here in Joao Pessoa. The shrimp was SO good and the rice SO creamy, we want to repeat the experience. After that, the bed will invite me very quickly, so I'll just sign off for now and see you again tomorrow.

sunset on the beach

Up at 6 in order to be ready for Drew to pick me up for English class. These adults really want to learn, and the class is even more fun than yesterday. 2 of the 6 from yesterday return, along with 4 others I haven’t met. Today we continued conversing with each other about locations of places and their relationships to each other. “The barber is behind the coffee shop”, etc. Lots of laughs. Sueli met us here because afterward we’re going to look at an apartment Drew and Sueli want to buy after they are married, which should be within the next year, or sooner, depending on Drew’s extension of visa for Brazil. He has lived here most of his adult life until the last 7 years when he was in Spain teaching English. After 5 years out of country, one loses one’s permanent citizen status and needs to re-apply for permanent residence. Brazil allows dual citizenship, and since he’s from England, he also has a British passport. If he uses that one, he doesn’t need a visa for the States.
When I applied for, and received, my visa for Brazil, I noticed this time the indication is that it’s good for all travel within the next 10 years. Much different than my trips 20 years ago, when each time I came, I had to apply for a new visa. I asked Drew about it and he said Brazil plans to eliminate all need for visas very soon. Joy! Cut out several exasperating steps of the process!
The apartment was closer to the ocean, and very nice...but as it was not completed yet and all open, we had to ride the construction elevator – ok, it was a cage – on the outside of the building. Of course just because everything was all un-enclosed, it had to rain! But we don’t have any more “important” appointments for the day, so I guess “rain hair” will have to do. Though it was foggy, I still had pretty good views of the long beaches. I hate that it’s so cloudy because at night I can’t see the southern cross constellation that only occurs here and not north of the equator.
Sueli left for work and we took our usual lunch at “the gathering place”...Marta’s apartment. Today it was just Drew and me...Lourdes and Carlitos had gone to Recife for some medical appointments. Lunch is always the same – the biggest meal of the day (which I like) – and consists of a nice salad, usually lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. Olive oil and vinegar are set on the table. Penha makes scrumptious, tender liver. (ok, everyone who just said “ugh” doesn’t get dessert tonight!)
There are pieces of chicken and also ground beef besides these delicious liver pieces. Always, there is rice and black beans. Here in the north, one puts the beans on the bottom and tops it with the rice. Since my first several trips to Brazil were to the south (Sao Paulo, Rio, Curitiba, etc.) I learned to put the rice on the plate first, then the beans. So, I usually say Eu sou Paulista (I’m from Sao Paulo). It’s not quite as heated an argument as the Gators vs. the Seminoles, but comes close!
Here one would take a coffee mid-morning, but not usually at lunch. The lunch beverage is usually fruit juice (cashew, one of my favorites, maracuja – passion fruit juice, strawberry...here the list of fruit juices is seemingly endless). Occasionally there are potatoes and yesterday we had manioc prepared just like boiled potatoes. It’s sweeter and a bit softer than the potatoes. There is no dessert.

Back at Shalomir’s apartment we both tried to get on the internet but it kept failing. Who knows? (makes me feel right at home...we’ve actually had far quicker and better connections here than Terry and I do in GA) Since I’ve always got several books to read, I’m fine. Drew needed to skype with some business associates so he was frustrated for a while. When Sha returned with Renan (they arrived to lunch after we left) we all left for the mall, where she had an appointment with the “landlord” of her milkshake shop. Drew and I each had shakes...mine was nutella and he had “Creme de Papaya con liqueur de Cassis” (papaya cream with Cassis) and I think that’s my next choice. Mine was good, but his was heavenly. Renan, at 7, has already figured out some things about my camera that I’ve never known. Scary. He loves to take pictures so he played around with the camera, being very careful – and also my Droid phone. At one point, he asked me in Portuguese, though his parents are trying to teach him English as well, “where are the games?” He enjoyed looking at some of my pictures of the cruise, Terry, and Meisha and Max.
When Sha’s meeting was over we headed to the beach to walk for a while...Bessa beach. They’re all pretty, but this is one of the favorites. From the beach, we drove to the river - praia do jacare - (alligator beach - but no, there were none) where our intention was to watch the sunset. Though it had poured in the morning, by this time it had cleared up. Drew found us a spot at one of the little restaurants on the water and Shalomir, Renan and I walked through the little artisan kiosks there, where I bought some necklaces and 2 hats. Why? Terry asks...because I needed more necklaces and hats. (doesn't everyone?)
Sunset was less than spectacular because the clouds had rolled in, but we had some nice crab balls and guarana and listened to the guy who plays saxophone to Ravel’s Bolero every evening just at sunset. Searched all over the internet for a name, but couldn't find it. If you just google Ravel’s Bolero sax player at sunset in Joao Pessoa, you can see what we saw last night... 3,884th presentation.
Hurry home to change and go to Cidade Viva, first for a meeting with Rosinha about her work in the orphanages, and then for the church service, which began at 8 and ended around 9:30. Everyone was hungry so we stopped at a Japanese Restaurant for sushi buffet (little 7-year old Renan loves sushi!) before bedtime. Having dinner at 10 pm makes it more difficult to sleep, but I always figure I can sleep on the plane going home. Maybe.