In Memphis...for a while?

I arrived in Memphis around midnight December 22.  It was good to be home to spend Christmas with my family after being gone for 5 months.  I came home hoping that my work visa would be ready in time for me to get to Atlanta to pick it up and get back to Brazil for the start of the semester on January 11.  That has not happened, and I don't know when I will be getting my visa.  As much as I want to get back to Belem, I know that God has a plan and a timing for everything.  So, I am in Memphis for a bit.  I just don't know how long that bit will be.  

On my way Home.

I am currently in route from Miami to Atlanta.  I should be back in Memphis around 10:30 tonight.  I'm looking forward to sharing my pictures and experiences with everyone.  Feliz Natal!

Christmas in Brazil

A couple weeks ago, my friend Jenny Patterson asked my if I would like to go with her church to a river community.  Of course I said yes.  Friday afternoon I went with her and her friend from church shopping for school supplies and toys for the kids in the community we would be going to.  The trip down the river was Sunday morning.  It took about 45 minutes to get to the community.

This is the boat that took us down to the river community.
There was a time of singing and a Gospel presentation for the kids and a separate Gospel presentation for the adults (each adult was given a Bible).  After the Gospel was presented, everyone got a snack and was divided into the groups to receive the gifts.

We were able to give each child a packet with various school supplies, a book that tells the Christmas story and 2 toys (one new and one used).  I have never see children more excited and appreciative to receive something so simple.

While the children were receiving their gifts, the adults were waiting in line to pick out clothes.  They got to choose 10 articles of clothing per person in their family. 


 


Here is the group I went with.  

After all the gifts were given and the families were starting to leave, a man from the community took Jenny, 3 other ladies and me in his little boat (it looks similar to a canoe, but it has a motor) to see what their school looks like. I was not able to see much of the inside because it was locked. Oh well.

COOKIES!!!!!

That same weekend I made a few sugar cookies over at the Patterson's house. 

I mixed up some frosting to let Hannah and Haley do a few cookies for them to have. 

  

 While the girls were decorating their cookies I made some of my own.

 Here is the finished product.  I ended up with only 8 dozen.  I had about 10 or 11 dozen to start with, but the climate down here caused the cookies to behave differently than they do in the States and alot of them broke. I think they turned out pretty good anyway.

Wow, Time sure goes by quickly.

Last week we had a Thanksgiving chapel where each class was to participate.  My class made a turkey.  I gave each one of my students an outline of two hands.  They wrote one thing they were thankful for each hand then they colored them.  For the presentation in chapel the students told what they were thankful for then placed their hands (feathers) on the body of the turkey.  Coca Cola, sushi, family, friends, Bible, and mother were just a few of the things my kids were thankful for. 

This weekend, we had a couple days off, so 3 of the other teachers and I decided to take a trip to the beach.  The beach is 3 hours away, so we needed a ride there and back. We had lined up a taxi to take us there and bring us back home.  The taxi driver did not just drive us there and back, he basically stayed with us the whole time.  He really took care of us and kept us safe.  The hotel we stayed at was fantastic as well.  

Time has gone by so quickly.  I can't believe that we only have 3 weeks left of school.  I just found out that one of my students will not be returning to school in January because his family is moving to Jordan.  Please continue to pray that my visa will be ready so I can return to Belem to finish out the school year.

End of Quarter 1.

I finished my report cards Thursday.  We are half way through the first semester.  Time has gone by very quickly and very slowly all at the same time.  Quickly because I can't believe that the first quarter is already over and slowly because the weather never changes so I can't mark the passing of time by the temperature getting colder.


Last Sunday there was an event here in Belem called Cirio.  Cirio is a Brazilian Catholic (however it really is idolatry not Catholic) event that takes place on the second Sunday in October.  During Cirio people come to pay tribute to a statue of the Virgin Mary or "Our Lady of Nazareth".  People will carry models of things they want and some even crawl for miles on their hands and knees as a sort of penance so that Mary will grant their request.  At the peak of the festival there is a procession lead by the stand which carries the statue and trailed by a large rope.  People believe that if they can help carry the rope then Mary will give them a special blessing for the following year.  


This week we only had school on Monday and Tuesday because it was the end of the quarter.  It was so nice to have a few days off even though I didn't do a whole lot.  We did get a couple of good game nights in at the Kennedy's house.  And Saturday Andy Kennedy took us up in his plane.  He has a small 4 seater that he built last time they were in the States.  I got a couple of pictures of the school and in one of them you can see my apartment.  


Please continue to pray for visa situations.  There are 7 of us here on tourist visas and 2 still in the States waiting on a work visa.  The lady who was teaching 3rd grade had to go back to the States to finish chemo.  We are waiting on a 3rd grade teacher.  Also we desperately need people to teach ESL, because we have several students who don't speak English well, much less read and write well enough to succeed.  

Friday, September 23, 2011

Friday at the school around 9am the power went out because of the construction going on on the property.  This also caused the water to quit working.  Thankfully, Fridays are always only 1/2 days.  Needless to say it was HOT and everyone was wanting water, but there was none.   


Fridays are also the days when Marina comes to clean the apartment.  Not only does she clean, but she also does laundry and cooks us a meal for lunch.  When I got home from school, my new curtain was already hanging in my room.  

I bought some fabric a couple weeks ago and finally got Dora, Marina's sister to make the curtain for me.  Now I can actually change clothes in my room. 

Yesterday the high school kids got together to play Ultimate Frisbee.  Later in  the evening they had a party at the school. 

Playing Footsie

Also playing Footsie

Footsie is a group game where everyone stands in a circle holding hands.  One person starts the game by  using one of their feet to touch the foot of the person next to them.  The first person then leaves that foot where it landed.  The second person then uses the foot that was touched to pass it on to the next person in the circle.  This goes around the circle from player to player.  When someone gets out they leave the circle and play continues.  A person gets out when: 1. They fall 2. They cannot reach the foot of the person next to them or 3. They let go of the hands of the people next to them.  The game is over when there are only 2 people left.

After Footsie, several people went inside to play board games.  These are pictures of Triominoes.  Another very fun game.

End of Week 4 of school.

We have just finished the 4th week of school.  This was a short week, because Wednesday was Brazilian independence day and Thursday was a 1/2 day.  Thursday and Friday were Parent teacher conferences.  Those went well.  It would be nice if we could get the air conditioner in my classroom working because it gets really hot.  I guess it's a good thing that I'm not in there very long. (From:  7:30 - 8:30, 9:45 - 11:25, and 1:00 - 3:00)   It is just so hard for the kids to focus when it is so hot.
AVA is still in need of several teachers.  And those of us who are here are still in need of our work visas.  I have everything in for mine except the background check.  I had the background check but it expired...grrrrr.  This week, Marj (school secretary) took me, Carly and Kathleen to get fingerprints done at the federal police.  They have now been sent off for the background check.  Hopefully these come back soon so we can send in for the visa.
There are 3 missionary families who live in the neighborhood next to the school who have been more helpful than anyone else.  They let us us their internet and their Vonage phone.  They even feed us so we don't starve.  :)
Oh yeah, I can't forget...I GOT A MICROWAVE!!!! Now left-overs won't go bad before i can eat them.

Guess that's all for now!