Feeling Like Home

As of a few weeks ago, I have lived in Brazil for 1 1/2 years. Life has changed so much, but it's amazing how much I've gotten used to the changes. In fact, I hardly even notice anymore some of the sights and experiences that I used to find SO different. Although there are tough days, I have to say, overall it feels like home here.



So, what are some of those things I've gotten used to that I used to think were SO different?


Seeing "owner-less" dogs living free in the city. They don't always travel together, but the other day there were 7 digging through garbage on a street. (I only was able to get 6 together in 1 shot though)

Don't let that scare you off from visiting though, they never pay attention to people....they live in their own world and are almost always small like this.

Also, huge bags of vegetables being sold on the street corner for $5. (Sorry about the fuzzy picture)

Shops along the street that sell huge slabs of granite for extremely cheap! You see it in even poor houses as counter tops, and it's even used as floor tiles.

"Convenience Stores" at gas stations that look like this. (There are some that actually have an indoor store, but the closest one to our home is this one)

The Sunday evening flee market in town where you can buy clothes,

Freshly made sugar cane juice (the sugar cane is in his hand and he is pushing it through a small machine)....

And drink straight from coconuts.

I hardly notice anymore that our shower water is heated eclectically, right over my head! (Except I did notice when I got shocked in our first home since it wasn't set up right. Talk about literal culture shock!)

And one of my favorite things that I've gotten used to, is being able to eat ice cream outdoors all year long :)

Speaking of feeling at home here....we have some exciting news...we decided to buy a tiny investment home here in Anapolis. We had savings before becoming missionaries and had the goal of using it for a home when we move to the north of Brazil so we wanted to find a good way to invest it while living in Anapolis. After talking with many wise people in our lives (our mission's leaders, American missionaries living in Brazil, relatives, etc) we decided buying a small starter home was the best investment in the Brazilian economy. We prayed and waited and looked and finally we found the right one for what we could afford. (Of course Brazilian homes are a fraction of the price compared to the States) So....we bought it. It is actually only a hop away from where our old house was, so we are able to easily continue relationships from our old neighborhood and we are excited that here our new next door neighbors will be moving in in a few weeks. They are a young couple that is about to get married. We know they are not believers so we are praying that we will be able to build and evangelistic relationship with them. Well, on to some pictures!

This is the outside of the house. Unfortunately, you can't really see the home since all houses here have huge walls around them, but hopefully it give you an idea. The big door is the garage door. The house is small but it's the perfect size for 2 and we feel so blessed and excited that it's ours :)

Here's the kitchen...we're still in the process of getting cabinets.

The living room....excuse the shoes on the floor :)

There is an area for grass and a garden out back. Jeyson's mom will be coming this weekend to help us get started. The area you are seeing above is behind the house, but inside that wall you saw in the first picture.

She already helped with the front yard and it came out great! We just need to get some grass! It's been a process getting everything together but it's been really fun. We truly see this house as a gift from God as we serve here in Brazil. Our prayer is that we will always see it as His gift and that we would be faithful to have our doors open for whoever He sends.