10 Random Catch Ups

So how about a totally random catch up today of things going on here?

1.  We're making some friends!  We met a Brazilian family who also JUST moved here and are from Goiania (really close to where we used to live).  They're lots of fun and we have tons in common.  We just had pizza together last night.  Fun and yum!

2.  I am LOVING living on the border of Venezuela and British Guyana!  It's so fun to be able to hop over and enjoy the culture and products there or even when we can't go, there's always someone going.  We can ask them to pick up things for us.  Much nicer than in the middle of Brazil, where we used to live.

3. This kid LOVES acai berry smoothies.  Acai is seen as a special "super food" in the US, but this kid just thinks it's super delicious, which is surprising since it has such an earthy taste.

  4.  Speaking of food, here there are ALWAYS trucks/cars driving down the street announcing deals of things you can buy from their car.  You can hear it really loud from inside your house.  There is even a car that announces you can buy fish from their car....must smell in there!  Anyway, I usually ignore it, but the other day there was a truck selling pineapples...3 for $2!  I ran outside and grabbed some.  The guys on the truck bed were wearing cowboy hats and throwing pineapples at people lined up outside their homes to buy some.  Wish I could have gotten a picture of the truck!

 5.  We feel very loved by our family and friends (supporters back home).  We are so encouraged by notes in the mail and email, people who pray for us, those who give faithfully, and as the icing on the cake, we got this amazing care package from a friend int he mail the other day.  Loaded with so many things we don't have here.  I can't imagine doing ministry without such an amazing team of people cheering us on!

 6.  I know I say it a lot, but we really are feeling very fulfilled in the ministry we are doing here.  Jeyson has SO much to do at the hangar, and it's wonderful to have a job that when he comes home he is thinking about his job in a positive way, planning out what to tackle next and the best way to solve maintenance problems.

7. We think we settled on a church, and it's nice to get  to know people, knowing we'll be back next Sunday.  They even have a ministry for reaching out to pregnant women in the community.  I'm looking into seeing if my new skills can be useful to them.

8.  Speaking of birth classes, the pregnant mom I was helping had a great birth!  I was supposed to be her doula, but sadly it didn't work out logistically at the last minute.  But it was really nice to still be able to visit her after and help her with nursing questions, and I know the relationship is a long term investment...so much more than just having to do with her birth.  I was so encouraged just today to hear from one of the moms I helped in the Spring.  She told me what an impact the classes had on her birth, but also marriage.  What an encouragement to hear!

9. Around here cooking is a lot of work!  The other day I made burritos...and wow!  I had to make my own tortillas, cook beans from scratch, make rice and meat, grate cheese, make my own salsa and guacamole, etc.  Makes you really cherish each bite....but totally worth it!

10. There are some SERIOUS rainstorms around here.  There usually isn't even a drop of rain to warn you either.  It usually just starts with a gust of wind and BAM!  Down comes some of the heaviest rain you can imagine.  And, in 5-10 minutes, it's gone as fast as it came!  But dry season is coming now.  Thankfully that means there will be less mosquitos, but it also means HEAT!  They say soon we'll really find out what hot is....i'm sweating just thinking of it!  :)

Have a great weekend!