Clothing Sizes and Update on My Campout

Hi Everyone,
The girl who is sending me the video is moving this week so I have not received the video yet or any pictures. I hope to get them soon.

I lost a few pounds since I have been here so I decided to buy a new pair of capris because my other ones were too big. I bought a size 40! Okay, I realize that is not the US sizing chart but it is still a shock when you have bought a much smaller size number your entire life. On the upside, I weigh 61 kilos. That makes a girl proud. It is crazy, how much girls pay attention to numbers, isn't it? God made me the right size just for me. Thank-you for making the person You want me to be and in Your image!

Campout in Written Form

Hi everyone,
As you know, I went on a campout last weekend. It was great for my Portuguese and for relationship building. In the next few days, I am going to post a video of me telling my testimony in Portuguese to about 75 people. Also, I will post pictures of my campout. I spoke in Portuguese for about 10 minutes! Check out my blog in a few days!!! By the way, this video is very choppy at points so bear with me! I will translate what I said too for you. Also, I was able to share the gospel for the first time in Portuguese to one girl at the camp. I also had the opportunity to talk to several kids at the camp. Also, I will be helping a college-aged girl named Jessica with her English for the next few weeks until I leave for Belem in December. She will also be helping me with my Portuguese. It is not a formal class or anything but it will be fun to get to hang out with her.

Ate mais, (until later)
Nova

New Country, New Language, New Hairstyle, and New Social Security Number

Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. As you know, I am in a new state of everything in my life. So why not change my hair and my Social Security Number as well. Okay, I did not change my social security number but I got the equivalent in Brazil. First, I got bangs for the first time since I was 12. My mom says that it is not really all that different but still it is a change. I will post pictures soon. My hair is short too. Linette, the hairdresser in Brazil teases me just as much as you do but in Portuguese!

Now...here is a crazy story!!

If you remember, I went to Federal Police a few weeks back to complete info to get a Social Security number (CPF number) for while I am in Brazil. Well, the federal police would not allow me to send my card to the missionary language school but they would only send it to my permanent address. Well, I live in a house that rents out rooms to boarders or mostly to university students. The homeowner must not know me as well as I thought because when my CPF number came in the mail. She didn't know who Nova was so she threw that letter in the trash!!! The Lord was watching out for me! The maid knew who I was and was going through the trash and found the letter. She opened because she saw my name on it and realized it was for me. She gave it to my roommate to give to me. I thanked her so much!!! One of the missionaries, the language director spoke to the homeowner and explained the situation to her. Thank-you, God for always putting someone in my path to protect me and for YOUR constant PROTECTION! I even got to speak to the homeowner some more today in Portuguese. You know my every need before I know I need it and sometimes even when I don't realize it. Praise the Lord! Amen!!!!

My Church Campout and Prayer Request

Hi everyone,
I am going on a church campout over the holiday weekend. It will be on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It will be 3 days of total Portuguese. I am excited that I will be going on this trip because it is going to force me to speak in Portuguese the whole weekend. But also pray for physical strength and understanding. I am making progress in the language and I can hold on a conservation in Portuguese for about 2 hours. I will take my camera and I will post pictures of my campout. Until next time! Lord, thank-you for your external promises and You uplifting your servant. You constantly remind me where I have been and how You have delivered me. Thank-you for your forgiveness!!!! Thank-you for the honor of serving You in Your Work toward Your Kingdom!!! Amen!!!

Muito Prazer Book

Hi everyone,
I just completed book 2 of my language study. I passed my 2 hour oral examination. Okay, now I am tired. Continue to pray for understanding and strength. God, thank-you for being so good to me. All my studying and conversations have paid off! I love you, O LORD!

Tchau,
Nova

Brazilian Prayer

I am learning Brazilian Prayers in the second book of my study. Here is one prayer:

Senhor, nosso Deus,
Fortalece-nos com Teu poder. Pedimos-Te Tuas bencaos. Nos oramos em nome de Jesus. Amem!

Translation:
Lord, our God,
Strengthen us with Your power. We ask of Your blessings. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Lord,
We do need Your power and Your blessings. Thank-you for all You do in Our lives!
Amen!

In His Power,
Nova

Bank and Cars

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!