Fumes, babies, laughs and firsts

We have officially started on the mural. It looks really cool. Heather and Alicia (one of the missionaries) and I have been working on it. I hope that it is finished before we leave. It is a painting that incorporates the major stories of the Old Testament and the story of the life of Jesus. We have finally fallen into a fairly stable routine. We each meet with readers throughout the week. We help them with their English while reading from the book of Luke. I have 4 readers right now. I also have been teaching part of the Beginner English class that meets twice a week. I was nervous when I started…well I am still nervous but I really enjoy it. Watching a group of about 20 adults sing Head Shoulders Knees and Toes and enjoy it is priceless. We are all currently participating in a Baby Pool. Mary is due in about two weeks. It is a team tradition that everyone tries to guess the time, day, weight, length and this time, the name. Heather and I both are in the running. Right now Heather and Kelton (the 3 year old) are playing hide and seek. It was so cute. Kelton came running in here and climbed in my lap. I put one of his dad’s shirts over him and that was his great hiding place. Heather came in and pretended not to see the large, red growth on my lap. She looked and looked and he jumped out screaming. That was so funny the first…….five times…we just finished time number 12ish. “So Heather, where could you find a Kelton?”
So I have accomplished some “Firsts” while I have been here in Brazil. I have seen people baptized in the ocean, I have eaten chicken hearts, I have sang in front of a church, I went to the beach in Brazil and it didn’t rain, I have ridden on the back of a motorcycle (not a dirt bike…one of the men from church took me for a ride), I went Body boarding with Randy and actually caught a wave, I have had a conversation in 3 languages and more. I think that I will take so much from this experience. Trying to work and function in another culture is harder then it appears. I will be happy to return home but I will miss the small home I have made here. The people that I have met, meus amigos, are wonderful. Irla is 13. She is into theatre and very involved with the church along with her mother and father (his motorcycle by the way). She is always so happy. Dianna is there for every VBS and every time we go to church. She has many nieces and nephews and she brings them every VBS day. She is very involved in the church along with her husband. They were the first ones married in the church. Daniele is in her twenties and she is a doctor. She is a member of our small group and an English speaker. She has a busy life but it is great when we can see and hang out with her. Alex is a goof. He is in the English class. He is in his late thirties and always talks about his family. He loves to joke around with people and always had this huge smile. Rebeka is my Portuguese teacher. We always end up laughing during every class. She is a very good teacher and I hope we get a chance to hang out. Francisco, Jefferson and Silas are three guys that are so much fun. Francisco is 26ish and knows English very well. He loves to sing, talk and learn. Silas is one of my readers. He is 16. He is doing so well but he doesn’t believe it. I pray that he finds his confidence. I met Jefferson not too long ago. He has this blinding white smile that makes him look like a little boy. He is just learning English and he tries so hard. Once, Francisco, Jefferson, Marcos, Jacaline, Robert and I walked down to a hotel where the Baptist missionary team was holding an English service. It was nice. The walk was hilarious. Jefferson had to the bathroom not long after we left the church building. Jacaline and I told him to use the ocean and he was soooooo embarrassed. It was so funny. I told him that in the states when my friends had to go we would tickle them. He did not understand tickle so I showed him. He jumped around and yelled. In another post I will tell about some of my other new friends. Tomorrow is VBS day and it is the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection. Pray it goes well.