OUR MAN IN BRAZIL

March 6, 2005

Hi Ed,

Things are going well down here in the southern hemisphere, although its been a hot one. Ueli, the Swiss guy I am staying with, told me the other day that he saw on the news that the past few months have been the hottest period in the last 20 years. So, I guess that is the reason the heat has been so insufferable this time. Also, my room, though it has a ceiling fan, ventilates very little and therefore stays in the mid to upper eighties. I just got a little thermometer and so now I know. The coolest was this morning when it was 83-84. Oh well.

I have finished the tree trimming for now, though various people on the base are coming to me with more cutting requests. I started mid-week last week on a project of pouring the driveway and walkways for the Hope House--( this is the house for the boys where I stayed last year). This will be a great project to have done as it was such a mud pit last year and would be again when the rains start if it doesn't get done. It is nice to be working down there as I enjoy getting to know the boys. There are five there now and they love attention so much they really go out of their way to say, 'Hi' and give five every time they come out or go by. The house, set down the back of the hill on the base, is so separate that otherwise I wouldn't get to see them much. It is also nice that we have formed a small team to get this project done. An older Danish man heard about YWAM's project here through a newspaper article and, though is not a Christian, wanted to come and volunteer. He speaks enough English that we can communicate and is a very hard worker. There are a couple of the older Brazilian boys (or should I say young men) that are helping us as well. This weekend I went into the city to just look around and get a few things and then today, Sunday, I went back to the English Sunday School.

The case about Toni went before the judge on Friday and he appointed someone to make a report about Toni's condition and give it to him within 20 days. Ueli said they all went to the hospital but the judge didn't even go as far as to go into Toni's room. So, as of now there is no new update but continue to keep him and this judgement in your prayers.

All for now

Timber

February 19, 2005

Hi Pastor Ed,

So I am here at the base at Recife and it is just as hot as I remember it. I am staying in the house with Ueli–one of the base leaders–a Swiss family with two young boys. Also four of the older kids (16-18 years old), fruits of the ministry from the past years, are living here. It’s quite a happening place, but for now I have my own room and bath so its pretty nice--his VIP quarters, he says. I feel quite privileged as there are two schools running right now with 46 students, and so they are packed in dorms.

I have worked the last couple of days and, boy, is it hot. I have been fixing the holes in the cobblestone road up the hill to the base. Still unsure of what project will take up the bulk of my time–hopefully the beach–just kidding. There is a big building project going on here, as they are building a sizable preschool and eventually, as money allows, a grade school for the community. The preschool ministry is kind of a pre-emptive strike, or plan, to try to help these kids before they end up on the street. They have hired a contractor for most of this work, though a number of the boys of the base are working there as well. I think it would be difficult to join them though with the language barrier.

Thanks for your prayers about my ticket change. All I had to do was talk to the right person in Boston and she said, 'Oh that’s easy, I'll just delete that leg of your journey from the computer!' My luggage got left behind in Washington D.C., but thankfully I got it all the way to the church in Curitiba a day and a half later.

Well, I had a good little vacation in Curitiba. It was nice to see Jardel, Inez and his two young kids who I have never met before. We went about 300 KM to the south east for the weekend to a beautiful beach. The water was actually cool and very refreshing.

I drove home and got a good initiation to the crazy Brazilian driver. At 65 mph, they like to drive three inches off your bumper.

Southern Brazil is so much different than any of the rest of Brazil that I have experienced. It is much more 'first world.' It could almost pass as a European community, and the beach areas felt very Mediterranean. I know there are still large favelas (slums), but the city is much cleaner and you see much less of the poverty. It is also much less humid and, though hot in the days the nights are cool and very nice, even though now is summer. Jardel says that the winters are very cold with temps actually dropping to near or even below freezing at night sometimes, and nobody has any heating. I read that it’s not uncommon to have 50 degree variations in temp from the lows to the highs on a winter day. I stayed with his pastor–actually one of several pastors of his church, but this man was 31 years old!! A nice guy and he is studying English. Jardel is heading back to Mongolia in two weeks, so he is going to have the opposite climate shock as me.

It has been neat to see everybody here again. As it is a big base, there are many familiar faces, although many of the names I've forgotten or never knew. The Brazilian names are so hard. I think it’s like the language, and I just don't do to well with it. It has been really encouraging to see the progress here as well–new projects going, a large new section of wall finished, and four new boys living in the Hope House (where I stayed last year). Unfortunately, they go through so many boys before they actually get boys who are willing to stay and give up the 'freedom of life on the street.' There is so much poverty and dysfunction around here. It is sad. Community kids actually come around begging as we work because we are working right along the entrance by the street.

I guess Toni is doing about the same, although they say he has quite a lot of movement with his left arm and foot. Doctors say it is just involuntary reflexes, but they have seen evidence that he actually will seemingly, purposefully try to move something. Mary, his wife, is doing quite well and has asked me if I would like to go visit him, so I will. The date of March 4th is the day that the judge will hear the case to decide if the government will pay for home health care. This is very expensive and so it is the big prayer request. They feel that if they bring him home before this, it will discourage the government from ever paying, so please pray for a positive ruling.

I also covet your prayers as I settle in and adjust.

Hope all is well there.

God Bless,

Timber