Living Above the News

On Sunday (Easter), we are going to a big soccer game here in Goiania--Brazil vs. Peru. The stadium in Goiania has been closed for some time, so this is the inaugural game being played there. I don't know much about soccer, but I wanted to experience a game with people who are crazy about it. I'm sure it will be an exhilarating experience!

On Tuesday, while at the Bungalow, it rained. Rain in Brazil is much different than in the States. When it rains, one just goes on about one’s day, many times without an umbrella. It’s tropical weather and the rain comes in the afternoon after the clouds have filled with humidity so much that they just burst. The rain is a welcome thing, to ward off the heat and stickiness that has been the order of the day thus far. So, here we are in the hot pool and the rain clouds come overhead. I was a little upset because I wanted to get sun. I know one can get sun during an overcast day, but during rain? It happened. I got a little sunburned while it was raining. Very strange. Then we went back to our room about 3 pm to wait for the rain to pass and we fell asleep until 6 pm. Oh well. The nap was fantastic. Oh, I forgot to tell you that the Bungalow includes a hammock. Very cool. More later. Hopefully, I'll have some pictures to share soon.

The first morning at the Bungalow when we went down for breakfast, Daniel said, "They probably won't have eggs and bacon for breakfast." I would actually have been disappointed if they had. When I'm in Brazil, I want to have Brazilian breakfast. Every morning we had fresh fruits such as papaya, honey dew, pineapple, huge grapes, and another fruit that looked like a tomato, had the consistency of a grape, but tasted like nothing I'd ever had before. Add to this--fresh bread, strong coffee, and unlimited fresh juice! I love the acerola juice. Each acerola cherry has one gram of vitamin C in it. When you realize that they are about the size of our grapes and that it takes many to make a glass of juice, I guess you could say I'm overdosing on vitamin C because I keep having the acerola juice--for breakfast or ordered from the bar that's inside the pool. It's delicious--and my blood sugar has been very low! Other fresh juices we had for breakfast include: o...

Yesterday, Daniel and I got back from Caldas Novas--which is a hot springs reservation. Thanks to Guil (the Brazilian drummer who lived with us about 6 months), we stayed in a resort called Poussada do Ipe. Guil set this up to repay us for having lived in our home. It was such a nice vacation! It was bungalow style. We spent the day at the warm pools, in the sauna, and sleeping a lot in the air conditioned room. I know that sounds strange, but air conditioning is a luxury here! And something we miss dearly!

Hey, this is my first chance to write from Brazil. Although it's only been since Friday that I've traveled and since Saturday that I've been here, it already seems like a long time. I don't really know why. I'm having fun even though the travel was laborious. I only got about 2 hours of sleep on the plane. The flight was completely full. We had 78 "angels" travelling with us--high school kids from a Baptist church in Tampa, FL, who were spending their spring break going on a mission trip to Salvador, Brazil. They were all wearing bright orange t-shirts and they were all a little fiesty. But the flight was a blast. Such energy and such love for the Lord! I was "chosen" by Customs this time. This was an even more welcome treat after getting fingerprinted and photographed after about 12 hours of travelling. Yeah, the guy was letting all those angelic teenagers through and then he took one look at my bags (not the ones under my eyes) and pointed to t...

No peace will be upon them With bombs strapped to their chest. No peace will be within them Their souls will find no rest. No peace tonight in Bethlehem Where the Prince of Peace was born. The sounds of tanks and guns Fire well into the morn. No peace along the Wailing Wall. No sleep will hem them in. No peace for fighting brothers— Blessed sons of Abraham. No peace found in Jerusalem Whose name itself means “peace”. No rest tonight in Palestine. No calm in Tel Aviv. Their daily call to prayer Resounds that “God is great”. But no amount of prayer Can save a heart of hate. No peace for them in paradise, No martyr’s welcome rings, No rivers flowing with sweet wine, No virgin for them sings. His Love they could not grasp And no stranger could peace tell. Their souls will never find their rest— There is no peace in hell.