Blueberry Muffins, Children's Day, and Julia's Goodbye Party

The Park decorated for Children's Day








Evelyn and I




Tara, Rachael, Lindsey, and I at Capital Steakhouse

Julia, Anna, Christie, and Denice at Capital Steakhouse

Julia and Anna

Julia, Nova and Anna

Julia and I

My friends and I enjoying blueberry muffins

Evelyn's first blueberry muffin


Hi everyone,

I hope you are well. This week has been rewarding and sad too. My Brazilian friend, Evelyn, came over to our house and we ate blueberry muffins. In Brazil, they don't have blueberries. Anna's mom sent a blueberry muffin mix in the mail. Thanks, Mrs. Hatchett. Evelyn had never seen one or had ate one. She loved the muffins. I did too because I haven't had them except once since I arrived in Brazil. They were great. Evelyn kept the blueberry muffin box to remember our day.

Also, Brazil had Children's Day and they celebrate children and they receive presents. Our neighborhood gave a huge party at the park and they played games for many hours. Two days before Children's Day, some of the men painted the playground equipment and the children loved it.

Julia, a student teacher at AVA, has been living with us (Anna and I) for a few months and she is going back to the States on next Wednesday. We had a going away party for her last night. We went to a new restaurant called Capital Steakhouse. Yes, the name is in English. It is the first American type restaurant I have been to since arriving in Brazil. It had real sour cream, bacon bits, and honey mustard. Wow, it was good. It was like an Applebee's and an Outback Steakhouse combined. I won't be going there often because it is pretty expensive. But it was a treat to see off Julia. She is a dear friend and I know she will do well as a teacher. She has blessed my life in so many ways.

In His Service,

Nova

Trail Movie.wmv

Military Band on Field Day 2010 AVA

Field Day 2010

Hi everyone,
I hope you are well. We had Field Day at AVA the last two days. I thought you might enjoy some (shaky videos) and pictures. I obviously couldn't keep my camera still while I was shooting the videos. Sorry, if you get motion sickness! :) Anyway, enjoy them! By the way, I also had heat exhaustion yesterday. Wow, I drank a lot of water yesterday and I still fainted. It is hot! On the videos, the kids were cheering for their team and the miltary police came and did the national anthem of Brazil. It was truly special couple of days! Look above for the videos in different posts.

In Him,
Nova

In the last few days of my quiet time, this verse especially spoke to me. I thought I would share it with you.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." 2 Coriththians 2:14

Vacation, School Started, and the Opera

Mrs. White, a fellow First Grade teacher, came from the USA to give my students silly bands and American candy.


Our Vacation


Mrs. White and Mrs. Patton

Lygia and Francisco at Gabriel's Birthday Party

Gabriel's 6th Birthday Party at School (He is in the Burgundy shirt)

Christie, Anna and I after the Opera

Nova at the Opera

The Opera House

My Friends at the Opera

Curtain Call at the Opera House

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well. I am glad I have internet again, so I can update you. Let's see... I have had birthday party in my class and I went to the opera. It was so beautiful! It was sung in Italian and had Portuguese subtitles. Wow, I actually understood some of the Italian! It was amazing. I had a visitor in my class named Mrs. White. She came from the US and gave my kids special treats--silly bands and American candy. That was a big hit with my students. Also, I have had some minor problems with my stump again (small blisters). So I have had to use my crutches again but I hope to be on my prosthetic leg again soon. My students have enjoyed helping me out! What a blessing! They are learning so much English too. God is so good! I also went to a butterfly sanctuary too. It was so beautiful. I got to see some many regional butterflies. They are so vibrant! I forgot to bring my camera but I hope to go again and I will take pictures next time.

May God bless you!

Nova

Broken leg, School, and Granola bars

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well. It has been a crazy couple of months. I haven't had internet or a good connection since the end of July. So I am going to try to update my blog more often now that I have internet again. Let's see...This school year has been fulfilling and I am teaching my kids about God and how they are fearfully and wonderfully made. We have discussed how we are all different but special according to His plan. About 10 days ago, I fell on one of the busiest streets in Belem. I hurt my left knee and my right leg was swollen so I couldn't wear my leg for about a week. So I taught again on one leg. The English as a Second Language teacher said that I inspire my kids to speak in English because of one instance when one of my students said, "Mrs Bahia, my teacher, Miss Glass has a broken leg." By the way, he doesn't know a whole lot of English. I will not forget that for the rest of my life.

I am so glad God is using me to impact His Kingdom. He is using my leg to reach Brazilians for Christ. Thank-you for being my Rock and Source of Strength.

An Interesting story about a granola bar...

Christie, my friend, had purchased some Nature Valley Granola bars that were made here in Brazil. She saw an actual worm and silk web in her granola bar. Well, I didn't know this had happened and I went to the grocery store the same week and I bought some granola bars. When Anna had eaten about half of her granola bar she spotted a worm silk web in it. Gross!!! Needless to say, I will not be buying anymore granola bars for a long while.

Also, I am attending an English service at AVA now and I thought you might want to see a picture of us. Don't worry! I am also going to two different Brazilian churches weekly too. The English service helps Brazilians learn English. It is a great ministry. Anna leads a small Bible study with some of the people from the English service.

Areas for prayer:

• Please pray for important mission decision



• That my students will grow spiritually, academically, socially, and physically



• That I will glory God in everything I say and do



• That my students will learn English



• The health of several teachers at AVA

I am taking a Bible study with Beth Moore called Believing God. It is a great study. I particularly like this verse: Eph 6:16

"...take up the shield of faith , with which you can extiniguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

Putting on my armor,

Nova

No Internet and School started!

Hi everyone,
Sorry it has been a long time since I updated the blog but I went to a mission's meeting, started school, and I have no internet. My class this year is great. They are all ESL (English as a Second Language). I have 6 students. (4 boys and 2 girls) One of my students lived in the US for about a year, so he actually speaks English very well. I am learning a lot of Portuguese just because my students don't speak English yet. They are learning English fast though.

I also went to the beach for a week for a mission's meeting. It was good to see and to meet my new friends. I learned a lot and I even got to worship the Lord in English. I miss being able to worship the Lord in English! However, as I progress in Portuguese, it is becoming more natural! Praise the Lord!

It has also been a blessing to go back to Saturday evening church services because my church cancelled it for the month of July. July is a vacation month for Brazilians.

Here are few prayer requests:

• Please pray for my decision for extending my term (as a volunteer to finish out the school year)
• My students ability to learn English
• My students spiritual, academic, emotional, and social growth
• That I might be effective witness for Christ inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom
• Physical strength to finish my term strong!

Thank-you for your continued support and your prayers!!

Lord, thank-you for being so faithful and teaching me so much about my self!!!

Great is Thy Faithfulness!!

Nova