Doing Just Fine

We are happy to announce that we got our visas extended another three months and are free to stay in the country until June 28th!  We were pretty sure based off what we had researched that it wouldn't be a problem but still, we feel relieved.

After our trip into the capital for visa extension, we decided to spend the day at the beach to celebrate.

Wanted to let you all know that as it turns out, despite his added responsibilities, Benjamin is doing just fine :)

Assembly/Pioneer Day

March 9,10 and 11 were full of smiles, nice to meet yous, picture taking and spiritual food.

Friday, March 9^th.   Pioneer Day.  This was held in a pretty Kingdom Hall in the nearby larger town (like a Worcester) called Arapiraca.  We had already attended the Pioneer Day at home so it was fun to follow along and add too our english notes.  The Circuit overseer was encouraging the pioneers to make it a matter of prayer to move where there was a greater need in the circuit.  He then said, “We have a couple with us today who came here all the way from the United States to help in Sao Sabastiao!  Couldn’t WE maybe make room in our life to move to the next town over if there’s a greater need there?”  We both flushed red as everyone turned around in that moment looking for us.  But admittedly, the happiest part of the day was when we realized we had just sat with Manoel during his first pioneer meeting.

Abraao, our Circuit Overseer

Here is an incredibly bad photo taken of the four of us:

But why so bad?

Maybe because Ben asked of ALL people, this dear brother to take the photo?:

:) :)

March 10^th and 11^th. Circuit assembly.  This was held not at an official Assembly Hall but a rented open air venue in Arapiraca.  All we knew going in was that the name of the place was “Oasis” which we thought, “Yeah suuuuuuure…..”  However it was in fact a beautiful place!  Here’s somes pics:

It took weeks – literally – of convincing Edite and Franca that they could make it to this assembly.  They said they don’t normally go because Franca, being 91 and all, has to get up and walk around frequently because the chairs aren’t comfortable and well, he just can't make it the whole day.  Edite likes to stay by his side as she’s always worried about his health although it seems it’s HER health that’s more worrisome lately… Anyway we assured them that this year it’s different!  Why?  We explained that we had already been to this assembly and that all they needed to do was say the word and we’d take them back home.  They reluctantly agreed and the morning of, were ready on time!  They were a bit disorganized and nervous and complained the whole way but in the end……..

….stayed all day, both days!!  First time in years.

We enjoyed an ice cream with Franca outside during the afternoon break.  His favorite flavor is “milho verde”= green corn.  Yes, you’re reading correctly.  A corn flavored ice cream popsicle.  I must admit, it’s pretty tasty.  For Franca, it bought him energy for the rest of the day. 

We had several teenagers run up to us wanting to take a picture with us.  Also, the circuit and district overseers and their wives wanted pictures.  We both felt a little silly about all this picture taking but the friends explained how they have never even HEARD of friends coming to help from other countries – at least in this part of Brazil.  The first they’d heard of were Bruno and Amber Echavarria from North Carolina (now our good friends thanks to Skype!) who were here in Sao Sebastiao for three months right before us.

One young brother we met got our number and he and another brother came today to work in service with us.  We had such a nice morning together and after they said, “You don’t understand what an encouragement it is to have friends from the U.S. here, in our state of Alogoas.  It’s hard to explain but we feel so special like Jehovah is really showing us he’s noticing our efforts and that there’s much more potential here.  Thank you for coming!” 

More and more we’re feeling the same way Jeremiah did when he said, “You have fooled me oh Jehovah…” because every time someone says something like those brothers said today we want to cry and laugh at the same time.  We want to cry because the words are so kind and mean so much.  But we want to laugh because little do they know, its US that walk away encouraged and strengthened and feeling special because of them.

PIG. FRANCA. SOFA. RENALDO.

By Ben

These are a few of my favorite things..

The heck with raindrops and roses!  But brown paper packages tied up with string?  Definitely!

Here's what the best mother-in-law in the world just sent:

Thank you for the survival pack Barb!  

The Feira

Here again is a view of our home.  Here is a view of our street.

Monday through Saturday.

Here is the same street on any given Sunday:

Can you find the purple wonder?  I know it’s difficult.

Yes, this is the weekly feira which means = market.  Vendors come from the surrounding areas and set up a booth with their meat/produce/spices/grocery items or products for sale.  It so happens that Ben, Meg, Franca and Edite all live on one of the four streets used on this day.  What does this mean for us?  This means that we are in a great location for shopping.  It also means that we are woken up and KEPT up starting at around 4:00am every Sunday morning when the vendors are setting up.  Setting up must of course involve loud music (forro: pronounced foe-hoe) set on repeat and plenty of cachaça (brazilian rum).  We are slowly aclimating to this early Sunday morning  ritual that happens litterally outside the front door of our small home, though as you’d imagine it’s a bit irritating!  To give a visual, here’s our view outside on market Day:

There are a few grocery stores in town that carry dry goods, frozen meat and sad looking produce which I suppose you could get by on.  But generally speaking the feira offers the freshest stuff at the best prices.  So most all of the local friends, including us, do our food shopping for the week on Sunday morning at the feira.    It’s not just food that is sold however.  There is also everything from patio furniture, mattresses and clothing to tobacco, knives and little chicks dyed green and pink – don’t ask.  It’s sort of your classic scene where everyone is shouting at you to stop at their booth and you’re shouting back “how much per kilo for your_____”  After awhile though, you know which venders you like and trust and you get down a system.  I must humbly admit that with a little help in the beginning from Edite, Ben and I are well on our way to mastering the feira and we love it!  Here is a typical adventure:

An idea of how packed the streets get.

                     

Ben choosing cheese

Cheese getting weighed before final price is given

It smells as good in here as it looks.

Our egg lady

         

Our helper is never far...

A sister in our hall and her husband selling beans

People from the rurals pour in by truck or bus

Usually when we get home, it’s time to snack on chunks of fresh cheese and watermelon while we wash the produce, clean and chop the meat, pick through beans and get to cooking.  Here’s a standard meal:

Oh, and don’t forget the hot sauce :)

Ask and You Shall Receive

Early on in our trip, Ben met Junior doing door-to-door.  He was working out of his home making large metal gates for the outside of a home or store.  Here is Junior working:

        

He accepted a study and is now one of Ben's regular students.

But WHY is he in a tree!?  Well this is what happens when you tell your student that you love avocados and it happens that you're studying on a picnic bench under his avocado tree.  His mother was there to give him lots of directions on which ones were the biggest and best.  He knocked most of them down with a long stick and Ben caught them all with this joke, "Good thing I play baseball!" crickets.....crickets.......  There is a hilarious video of all this, however it appears that videos are just too hard to load :( 

Turns out we left there with a bag full of huge, delicious avocados and Junior left knowing the bible's answer to why we get old and die.  Love service!

Surprise Visitors!

Remember the two couples we met at Praia do Frances?  Well the other day they called us up and said they'd be here in the morning to spend the day!  We were surprised and excited.  They were our firsts "guests" in the new place.  We had a big breakfast then headed to the rurals for a morning in service.  It ended with us all drinking beer and eating tapioca in the bigger city nearby called Arapiraca.  This is NOT the tapioca you're thinking of.. it's a NorthEastern Brazil style taco thing that is amazing!!  But, it merits its own blog so that'll have to wait :) Here's some pics from the day..

             

Quote of the day from Allen upon arrival, "WHEW.  The Society really doesn't like you guys!" -  referring of course to the EXQUISITE beauty of our town!  haha. We love that guy.  They made us feel really good about this assignment, like there would be no reason to be here if not for Jehovah.  It was reassuring.  And, he and Katie met a nice girl who accepted the BT book, gave a donation and I've since had two studies with her.