Feb. 1, 2008 - New blog site
We are moving to a new blog site. We have had some trouble with this site since we have been here in Brazil. Also we have had trouble setting up some things on this blog that is much simpler on other blogs. We will keep up both sites for a while. We have a link in the "Links " section of this blog. Here is the direct address www.joelandcharlotte.wordpress.com. This change will allow us to post a lot more pictures and many neat features.
Thanks for checking out our blog!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 23, 2008 - Changes in Weather
Some people told us that during the rainy season it gets cooler but others told us that there is just a lot of rain. Since we have never experienced any place that has a rainy season other than Texas in the spring, we really did not know what to expect. We survived the 90+ degree temperatures with the ultra high humidity from August through December (without an air conditioner) and we are really enjoying the cooler (highs in the upper 80’s) rainy days. For the last ten days, I think it has rained nine. Sometimes we just have a hard rain and it is over, but other days it has rained off and on all day long. One night last week it rained almost all night long. It was so cool when I woke up the next morning that I had to find pants to put on Abigail.
With the change in weather we have had more mosquitoes in the house. We are trying to keep them out but with six people coming in and out, the mosquitoes easily sneak in when we open the door. We have increased our "OFF" usage and hope this will keep them away. There have been cases of Dengue fever here in the past, so mosquitoes are not our friends. In other parts of Brazil there have been reports of other diseases that are carried by mosquitoes as well, so we want to be safe when it comes to sicknesses. Pray that God would protect us from these things.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 19, 2008 - Thoughts about this week!
The girls started back to school this past monday. They had a good first week back.
Joel and I adjusted to having classes without the three older girls being at home to help with Joshua and Abigail this week. We are making progress in the language studies and speaking for myself (Charlotte), things are starting to come together. I am actually understanding more. Pray that I will have more opportunities to use my language learning.
Our week began on a sad note for us. We received an e-mail on Monday from our Church in Tennessee letting us know that they won't be coming in March as planned. They did not have as much interest in the mission trip as they expected. Joel and I were both down most of the day Monday after we received the news. They may consider coming later in the year and bringing a smaller group. We are praying that this will work out.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 14, 2008 - Fitting in
It seems no matter how hard we try to blend in with Brazillians we always seem to stick out. It may be the fact that we are a family of seven or it may be the fact that our hair color is so much lighter than nations or the fact that we talk to each other in English, we just can't figure....
Brazillians typically have dark or olive skin, dark or black hair, and most of them are small and not very tall. When you look around you do see some people with blonde hair. Most of them have dark eyes and eye brows and you can tell they are not naturally blondes. Our teachers even use the word for blonde when they talk about Abigail's coloring. Abigail's hair is an auburn color. When we walk into a store (as a family) everyone turns and looks at us. Joshua is getting used to people patting his blonde head. This annoyed him when we first arrived but now he doesn't say much about it.
When walking through the mall one day around Christmas I heard a lady counting our children as we went by. I had a good laugh.
There is a large population of Germans in Brazil but not in the area that we live in. We have been asked more than once if we are German. When people find out we are Americans often they try to speak to us in English. It is very popular here to learn English. There are English schools all around.
Maybe once we know the language better we will fit in better. But maybe not. We will just have to let the Lord's light shine through us so that we can lead others to Him.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 7, 2008 - New Year, new sunburn!
On New Year’s Eve we went to the beach, not to the ocean but a fresh water beach. This is on a river that is about 45 -50 minutes away. The river is so wide that you can't see to the other side. When we went on the 31st it was the coolest day that we have had since we arrived in August. The girls were cold when they got out of the water. The wind was blowing hard so the waves were like the Galveston/Crystal Beach waves that Joel enjoyed as a child. We played about 1-1 1/2 hours and then came home.
We came home and went to another missionary’s apartment to enjoy fireworks from the roof of their building. The view of the city was wonderful. At about a half an hour before midnight the fireworks began. They surrounded us. We had a panoramic view with fireworks going off in all directions. It was really neat and noisy and a little smoky.
On the 3rd we decided to get up early and go back to the beach. With plenty of sunblock and our picnic lunch we headed off at around 7:15. We were one of the first to arrive at the beach around 8:00. We put on our 50spf sunblock and the kids headed out to play. The older girls in the water and Joshua had bowls and cups from home ready to make a sand castle. Joel, Abigail & I sat down under a tree. It started off overcast and the sun was not shinning, but the sunshine ensued. When we ate lunch a little before 12:00 we reapplied sunblock. The kids played for about 45 min to 1 hour after lunch. On the drive home we started feeling the sun's affects. We knew we were in trouble when we noticed Sarah had one of her first sunburns of her life (she's 8 1/2 yrs old.) Her sisters & brother are fairer skinned than she. When we got home we started tearing apart the aloe vera plant in the back yard and put it on the sunburned areas.
We are thankful that Joshua did not get much; only around his eyes where I was afraid of getting sunblock in his eyes. Also, Joshua did not play in the water much. He enjoyed playing in the sand. The other children are a different story. Saturday and Sunday was miserable for all.
On the back end we learned a lesson. We are an early morning swimming family, out of the sun by 10:00am. We are all doing fine now. We are in the pealing stage and out of the pain and misery stage. We are thankful God is watching over us. We won't be going back to the beach anytime soon. The girls start back to school next week.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 31, 2007 - Happy New Year!
We are excited to welcome in a new year in our new home. Thank you for praying for us this last year. Please continue to pray for our continued language learning.
We are thankful for our new friends we have met this past year and old friends with whom we have reconnected. We welcome your comments and e-mails. There is a link on the sidebar to e-mail us. Feel free to let us know you are praying for our family and ministry.
Feliz Ano Novo!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 29, 2007 - Enjoying our holidays!
Even though we are thousands of miles from family and friends we had a good Christmas. We tried to keep the traditions we could. We were able to fix our favorite Christmas goodies with a substitute ingredient (can't find graham crackers). The Hello Dollys and Peanut butter Balls turned out good (we are excited, this week we found a store to buy peanut butter).
We went on our traditional outing --looking at Christmas lights, Christmas Eve. The families here do not decorate like in the States, but businesses do. We had wanted to see them at night so we all piled in the car and headed to '"The Hanger" convention center to see their interesting tree. When we were taking pictures of the large tree out front, we noticed a small tree on the side of the building (we rarely drive by this side of the building). As we drove over to take pictures of the tree we discovered a large nativity display. As we were turning around to go park and take pictures we realized we were in the front of a line of cars that where parking to get pictures. This was a neat surprise.
Earlier, before we left the house the kids had opened their traditional one gift (we knew Joshua may be asleep before we got back home). Upon returning home we watched Rebekah's new movie, Ratatouille. The girls were off to bed around 11:00
But no sleeping in Christmas morn. Rachel woke everyone up before 6:00. We had fun opening the gifts. Rachel was very surprised to get her new digital camera (purchased last July),Rebekah had chosen to get a bike with her Christmas money from Mammaw and Aunt Carolyn, but she was surprised to receive the new Barlow Girl CD (purchased last July), Sarah had helped pick out most of her gifts but she was surprised to get the baby doll stroller to go with her new doll. Joshua got a new set of tools and work table--oh the things he will want to fix. Abigail got her first baby doll and several rattles and teething toys. Joel will be driving our lawn guy crazy with all his new lawn tools. Charlotte received her first Brazilian tea pot and cup and a wall clock to match.
After opening our gifts we had to get ready for the other four missionary families to arrive for brunch. We were happy to have our new mission family come to celebrate with us. After eating too much, Paul (fellow IMB missionary) got out his computer and projector and we sang Christmas carols (the words were projected on the wall). We sang verses that some of us never knew exsisted. We were also introduced to a couple of songs written in the 1700 or 1800s. Then the guys and teenagers pulled out the cards.
We had a wonderful day! We are looking forward to making new traditions here in our new home!!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
<- Last Page • Next Page ->
