Brazil 2013

Day 1
We arrived safely here in Brazil on Friday, August 9. Delayed flights, long layovers, and security checks but we made it through. We were greeted in the airport by Bro Jay & Bro Justin. Bro Josebaldo (that's probably not spelled right) was also there with the van to transport the luggage. We loaded the vans and cars and headed for Caraguatatuba, which is where we will be spending our time here in Brazil. It was a beautiful drive down into town and we were all very excited & ready to stretch our legs and for showers! We went out to dinner for some Brazilian pizza that night and it was delicious!! Since the team couldn't get hotel rooms due to the hotel being booked up, we all get to stay in the homes of the mission team here. We get to stay with Bro Justin & Sis Jenna, Sis Robyn & Sis Madison get to stay with Bro Chiago & Sis Heather, and Bro Gary & Sis Pam get to stay with Bro Jay & Sis Peggy. I think this being the first night, we will all sleep really well, we are all really tired. Tomorrow will be a day of getting some rest and acclamating to the time difference and then a BBQ in the afternoon where we will meet some of the church members. We are all really excited to get going and see all the different avenues of ministry going on here. This trip is going to be a lot of fun, a lot of work, and a lot of fellowship!

Day 2
We were allowed to sleep in a bit in order to try and adjust to the time change. Then we spent the day at a member of the churches house with a BBQ and good fellowship, we all got to try some Brazilian food too, it was all really yummy.. Then later that night the church had their youth night at the church, we were able to sit in and be a part of it. It was a lot of fun with singing, games, and a devotional given by Bro Justin. After services that night they took us to try these Brazilian deep fried sandwich things called pastels.Even though the beginning to this day was "relaxing" we were all very tired due to the time change so again we were all ready for bed. Tomorrow is church and we are all excited to be a part of services here. 

Day 3
The teams first church service with the Ross family. Today, here in Brazil is Father's Day. Church services here in Brazil are a little different than in the states. Morning services start out with the youth singing as well as congregational singing, and then they break off for Sunday School. For SundaySchool the men and women separate. It was very interesting and fun to divide up and be able to have all the girls together and all the guys together... and the girls got to stay inside, the guys had to go outside and it was freezing cold and windy! It was a great service as that concludes the morning church service, then they meet back at night for church services again where it is a "normal american" service with Bro Jay preaching the Father's Day message.  We had a great time in services here in Brazil today and lunch was also really good, they took us to a local restaurant where we were able to try many new foods of which chicken hearts was included... it didn't taste bad, just a little chewy. That concluded our Sunday here in Brazil, this trip has been pretty neat so far and we are looking forward to what we have planned in the upcoming week. Some things we will be doing include, visiting and getting to spend time with the children at the orphange, painting at the church, in home services, youth nights, teaching the youth how to play flag football and make smores, and various other things. It seems like our time here is flying by too quickly. Excited and ready for tomorrow...