Thoughts after 21 Days Back in Brazil

 

Two days after our very long trip back to Brazil we jumped right into all the fun of Pedro and Luana getting married including bachelor and bachelorette parties (more like mild gatherings) and getting their documents at the justice of the peace.

We were happy to have made it in time to participate in all the events, but we were just a little tired still and sorting through our luggage and trying to find things in our house.

Thankfully our dear neighbors helped out with some meals that first week.

The happy couple left later that same week to head to the location of their wedding ceremony in the state of Minas Gerais.  We spent the rest of our first full week trying to get things in order at home.  All of our vehicles needed something, the washing machine was working right, and our water purifier wasn't doing its job.  Little by little we felt more at home and all the cold of the USA wore off as temperatures between rains soared.

And we found many places where water was leaking from misplaced roof tiles into our ceiling.  More work.  And who needs a washing machine when it's raining!  

Somehow we managed to buy groceries, get one car working, order and buy Byron's new glasses and go interior for a weekend to visit some of our old Bible study places.  Seeing the number of people involved at the main church plant that weekend was encouraging.

Our big Mitsubishi Pajero barely made the trip back and forth and we discovered how much work it really needed to get up to speed.  Just something else to add to the long list of things to fix and take care of.  But we can be thankful for Carlinhos and Clarinha who have stepped up to the plate to take care of the work in Lage dos Negros.  So our hurry to get back in the game doesn't have to be too fast.

Furloughs are fun, but there is so much to do before you go and after you get back to jump back into ministry.                                                                                      Little by little, inch by inch, we are moving forward and thankful for the ones God has prepared to join us in ministry in the Salitre Valley. 

Now we are working out details of our weekly schedule and how best to fit in to what has been happening since our departure.    

Pedro and Luana's wedding was beautiful.  We traveled 650 miles to get to the city where it was held,  It took about twenty hours driving time.  We are glad we went, but tired again!  We made some new friends while there and met all the people from Luana's church.

         

Things I missed while gone were cuscuz and good Brazilian coffee.  I may have drank a little too much coffee that first week!

I found a walking pal and have resumed walking four times a week.  Hopefully I can begin work on all the pounds I acquired eating too many hamburgers and french fries in the USA.  

That's all for now.