I thought I was done getting all my identification papers for Brazil but I was wrong. So today I went to the bank to get some financial papers in order so I can go to the Federal Police again on Friday. I was picked up at the Pousada, where I live and we were off to the bank or at least I thought. The car was making some strange noises. I noticed that the gasoline light was on. I said that the car needed gas in Portuguese. We went to the gas station and the car ran out of gas in the parking lot at the gas station. We were waiting in a line for the gas pump. Oh yeah, did I tell you the battery died too. We finally got enough gas in the car and someone helped us get the car going again. We drove the car to my language school where we picked up the Partridge's van from like 1960. I thought great we are exchanging a lemon car for the oldest van I have seen in years. However, it did get us to the bank.
Now, the bank...
If you have heard my stories about the metal detectors, they are not my friends. I am always checked and rechecked to see if I am carrying some type of weapon because my artificial leg has metal in it. The bank has a metal detector. So I empty out my purse with my keys and cell phone and I forgot about my leg. I walked through the metal detector. It is a revolving door. All the sudden the door stops, I am trapped. The metal detector is going off. Great! I come back through the way I came and told the security guard that I had an artificial leg. I am envisioning crazy things happening but guess what Brazilians are more gracious than when I get stopped at the airport or somewhere in the US. They said ok and let me through..no strip search or anything! I even got to go in the handicap line and I got out of the bank in like 20 minutes. Can you believe it? It is unheard of to get in and out of the bank that quickly here. Praise God! We ran out of gas in the gas station parking lot and I got out of the bank in 20 minutes. I even enjoyed the Partridge's van and spoke in some Portuguese!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Zoo and My Language Mistake...This is Funny!
*Read my post from Wednesday first, if you haven't already. It will make this story make more sense.*
This afternoon I went to the zoo. I didn't take any pictures because I did not know I was going to the zoo until the last minute. I saw the largest python of my life. I saw the cutest bear ever. The zoo trainer was giving the bear milk and he was rolling over like a dog to get the milk. He had to swim across a pool in order to get the milk. He finished it very quickly. He must like milk. I also got my exercise for the day. It was a hilly zoo. Okay, Okay..now my mistake..the drum roll please!
If you remember that I had gotten lost earlier this week on the bus. So my language helpers and I were driving by the same streets that I had gotten lost on a few days before. So I wanted to say...I got lost riding the bus on this same street on Monday and the bus came this way the other day. Okay..here is what I said--I got lost farting the bus on this same street. So they started laughing so hard. I started to laugh not knowing why I started to laugh. Then they told me. I must have turned like 3 shades of red. I continued to laugh. Okay, it gets better. So I told you we went to the zoo. They said, "Wow, Nova it smells here..!" We all started to laugh.
I am glad that God has a sense of humor. I do!
Nova
This afternoon I went to the zoo. I didn't take any pictures because I did not know I was going to the zoo until the last minute. I saw the largest python of my life. I saw the cutest bear ever. The zoo trainer was giving the bear milk and he was rolling over like a dog to get the milk. He had to swim across a pool in order to get the milk. He finished it very quickly. He must like milk. I also got my exercise for the day. It was a hilly zoo. Okay, Okay..now my mistake..the drum roll please!
If you remember that I had gotten lost earlier this week on the bus. So my language helpers and I were driving by the same streets that I had gotten lost on a few days before. So I wanted to say...I got lost riding the bus on this same street on Monday and the bus came this way the other day. Okay..here is what I said--I got lost farting the bus on this same street. So they started laughing so hard. I started to laugh not knowing why I started to laugh. Then they told me. I must have turned like 3 shades of red. I continued to laugh. Okay, it gets better. So I told you we went to the zoo. They said, "Wow, Nova it smells here..!" We all started to laugh.
I am glad that God has a sense of humor. I do!
Nova
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
My Bus Trip and My Evaluation Meeting
Hi everyone,
The missionaries want me to get used to riding the bus because that is going to be my main source of transportation here in Sao Paulo but also in Belem. My language helper and I thought I was ready to try it all by myself. I graduated to Pull Ups and solid food! I was thinking this will be a piece of cake, I have tried it dozens of times with my language helper. I told the bus driver where I was going and I had no major problems. That is until when I tried to do it by myself. The first problem was I was dropped at the wrong bus stop (ponto). I was dropped off at the one returning not the one going. Trust me that makes a difference. I was thinking I will just get the same bus that I take returning and I will be okay. The bus I needed was not on this particular bus stop. Yes, I can't find my way out of a wet paper bag! So I got on the bus and everything was fine. I attempted to tell the bus driver where I was going. He didn't seem all that concerned, so I sat down. Everything was great! Ta bom! For the first 15 minutes, I recognized the streets and it was okay. All of the sudden, I realized that I don't recognize any of these streets or stops. I am starting to think I am lost. (No, I am saved ) I said to myself this bus is supposed to circle around to my bus stop in front of the pousada, where I live. No, it continued downtown to another hospital and I was on the bus for about 45 minutes when I called the missionary and said I am lost. I saw the entire city. The Brazilians were helping me and I was communicating some in Portuguese. I found out that I had taken the wrong bus but it does circle around to my Pousada in about 2 or 3 hours. So I got at the bus stop at 12:30 and I didn't get home until 3:30pm. By the way, this bus goes on the hospital run. So there is a hospital in front of the Pousada but there are also several other hospitals. I found that out the hard way.
God is faithful. He knew that I needed to have this experience in order to strengthen my independence here and my ability to get around. I read in Romans 5 that I will have sufferings will produce proven character then to hope in the realization of God's love for us. He is growing me in ways that I can't express in words but it is for the better.
My meeting on my first month here was yesterday. It was good. One of the words they used was "overkill." Okay, if you know me that is true. I tend to over do it. Okay, Okay, a lot! I had memorized the first book. Well, it did help that I knew 60-80 percent of the vocabulary already. They said that I am doing well making new friends and using my Portuguese to speak to them. Overall, I am doing well. I just need to relax some! God is helping me to relax! Praise Him!
Tchau,
Nova
The missionaries want me to get used to riding the bus because that is going to be my main source of transportation here in Sao Paulo but also in Belem. My language helper and I thought I was ready to try it all by myself. I graduated to Pull Ups and solid food! I was thinking this will be a piece of cake, I have tried it dozens of times with my language helper. I told the bus driver where I was going and I had no major problems. That is until when I tried to do it by myself. The first problem was I was dropped at the wrong bus stop (ponto). I was dropped off at the one returning not the one going. Trust me that makes a difference. I was thinking I will just get the same bus that I take returning and I will be okay. The bus I needed was not on this particular bus stop. Yes, I can't find my way out of a wet paper bag! So I got on the bus and everything was fine. I attempted to tell the bus driver where I was going. He didn't seem all that concerned, so I sat down. Everything was great! Ta bom! For the first 15 minutes, I recognized the streets and it was okay. All of the sudden, I realized that I don't recognize any of these streets or stops. I am starting to think I am lost. (No, I am saved ) I said to myself this bus is supposed to circle around to my bus stop in front of the pousada, where I live. No, it continued downtown to another hospital and I was on the bus for about 45 minutes when I called the missionary and said I am lost. I saw the entire city. The Brazilians were helping me and I was communicating some in Portuguese. I found out that I had taken the wrong bus but it does circle around to my Pousada in about 2 or 3 hours. So I got at the bus stop at 12:30 and I didn't get home until 3:30pm. By the way, this bus goes on the hospital run. So there is a hospital in front of the Pousada but there are also several other hospitals. I found that out the hard way.
God is faithful. He knew that I needed to have this experience in order to strengthen my independence here and my ability to get around. I read in Romans 5 that I will have sufferings will produce proven character then to hope in the realization of God's love for us. He is growing me in ways that I can't express in words but it is for the better.
My meeting on my first month here was yesterday. It was good. One of the words they used was "overkill." Okay, if you know me that is true. I tend to over do it. Okay, Okay, a lot! I had memorized the first book. Well, it did help that I knew 60-80 percent of the vocabulary already. They said that I am doing well making new friends and using my Portuguese to speak to them. Overall, I am doing well. I just need to relax some! God is helping me to relax! Praise Him!
Tchau,
Nova
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Church and My Saturday Walk
Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. God has been so good to me. I was watching a children's television program and I actually understood a little bit of it. I went to the park yesterday and I studied Portuguese. While I was at the park, I met a lady there and spoke to her in Portuguese for about an hour. By the way, she doesn't speak any English. She is a new grandmother of an eight month old little boy. He is adorable. I found out that she is a psychologist and she loves her job very much. She also enjoys watching movies.
Today, I went to church and saw many of my new friends. The pastor spoke about the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. He emphasized peace. It is good to be reminded of God's peace and constant comfort. Please pray for a lady at church whose shoulder is injured. She is in a lot of pain. I thank God for his continued blessing here. I also had a blood sugar issue on Friday and a lady from the church helped me. I can't express how friendly the people are here and how willing they are to help an American. They are patient with me as well when I can't get the right words out. May God bless the people of Brazil.
Finally, this is how the Lord spoke to me today. Colossians 1: 10-14 states: "so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects bearing fruit in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthen with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Lord, I must walk worthy of You. I am continually growing in You and You give me strength and patience to learn a new language. I joyfully give You thanks for this opportunity to learn a new language and to be in a new culture. It is all for You because You are One who took my place on that cross! I give it all to YOU! Amen!
I hope you are well. God has been so good to me. I was watching a children's television program and I actually understood a little bit of it. I went to the park yesterday and I studied Portuguese. While I was at the park, I met a lady there and spoke to her in Portuguese for about an hour. By the way, she doesn't speak any English. She is a new grandmother of an eight month old little boy. He is adorable. I found out that she is a psychologist and she loves her job very much. She also enjoys watching movies.
Today, I went to church and saw many of my new friends. The pastor spoke about the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. He emphasized peace. It is good to be reminded of God's peace and constant comfort. Please pray for a lady at church whose shoulder is injured. She is in a lot of pain. I thank God for his continued blessing here. I also had a blood sugar issue on Friday and a lady from the church helped me. I can't express how friendly the people are here and how willing they are to help an American. They are patient with me as well when I can't get the right words out. May God bless the people of Brazil.
Finally, this is how the Lord spoke to me today. Colossians 1: 10-14 states: "so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects bearing fruit in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthen with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Lord, I must walk worthy of You. I am continually growing in You and You give me strength and patience to learn a new language. I joyfully give You thanks for this opportunity to learn a new language and to be in a new culture. It is all for You because You are One who took my place on that cross! I give it all to YOU! Amen!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
New Pictures of My Family
Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. I put some new pictures on my blog of my family. Everyone has been asking me to put more pictures on my blog so I put some on here. I hope you enjoy them. Language school is going well. I am learning so much! Please continue to pray for my language ability and my ability to understand Portuguese.
Obrigada,
Nova
I hope you are well. I put some new pictures on my blog of my family. Everyone has been asking me to put more pictures on my blog so I put some on here. I hope you enjoy them. Language school is going well. I am learning so much! Please continue to pray for my language ability and my ability to understand Portuguese.
Obrigada,
Nova
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Pictures of My Neighborhood and the Park
This is my favorite house in the neighborhood.
This is where the kids play and I walk at this park every day.
This is my street. 
I love the palm trees. They are everywhere!Friday, September 25, 2009
Pictures from Dutch Country, Brazil
This is their idea of snow--white flowers on a real Brazilian plant.
These fish are a type of Japanese fish that cost like R 2000 or about 1200 dollars each.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
