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

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!

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.

New Friends

Hi everyone,
I have made many new friends here in Brazil. I met a couple and the wife has invited me on Monday to have another conversation in Portuguese. I spoke to her for an hour and a half today. I learned that her sister has visited KY and she has been to Miami. She is really nice. Also, I met a college student on the next street over and her two sisters. I went to the mall and I heard my name. "Nova, Nova" (okay my first thought was who knows me here in the mall. I know like 10 people. Also, I thought maybe it was someone using the adjective nova) No, it was my friend I met at the park the week before. It is great that God is using me to build relationships here. Please continue to pray about the public transportation issue. I am still getting used to the bus. I am feeling more confident than ever before. God is good!

Pray for relationship building,
Nova

Public Transportation

Hi everyone,
This afternoon was my first time on public transportation. My language helper, Nati and I went on the bus together. It is an interesting task. The stops are quite a distance a part. Please pray that I will get the hang of it. I am a bit nervous. I will practice it several times. I will have to cross several busy roads. They do not stop for pedestrians, which makes it all the more difficult. However, on the bus I have learned how to say I need to sit down because of my leg. That is helpful. I think I will have to get up even earlier to make sure I catch the bus on time. Also, please pray for my strength.

Obrigada, (Thank-you)
Nova

Language school and flowers

Hi everyone,
I have had some good language experiences this week. I met a lady and her 3 daughters at the park. We talked about volleyball and what I am doing in Brazil. (mainly because that is all I know how to say lol) The girls were playing volleyball in the park, so that part was easy. I am going out with a girl from my college dorm who is not associated with the language or my new church today. I pray that I build a new friend and an opportunity to be a witness. Also, we went downtown the other day and it was fun to see how shopping works around here. I will tell you for those people who live in my town, it was like DC. I also went to get my new favorite dessert acai with bananas with a new friend named Pati. (pronounced Pah chi) Her family and I spoke Portuguese for 2 hours. I found out that is my max right now in Portuguese.

I also went to the Federal Police yesterday. I am official and I have my protcol or id number. Hey, I got my fingerprints done again. I wonder if they will be able to read them? lol. (for those of you who don't know it takes me like a billion times for the police to get prints that are readable)

Finally, I am going to a new town next week to see their main hub for flowers. This city was colonized by the Dutch and they have some beautiful flowers. I can't wait. I think it will be on Thursday or maybe Wednesday.

Please pray that I will have an ear for the language. This is what I am struggling the most with right now. I can already read some Portuguese and I am pronouncing Portuguese well too.

Also, that I will continue to build relationships here.

Tchau,
Nova

Bible Study and Church

Let's see...I went to my next store neighbor yesterday. Her name is Thais..(pronounced Tie-ee-is) She has just recently had back surgery and she is 28. Thais is about to be married and she and her fiance are looking for an apartment. She is an engineer and her fiance is an engineer as well. He also teaches English (ESL) classes to Brazilian citizens. She helped me with my Portuguese for 3 hours yesterday. I now know how to say Ela e legal. She is cool. The girls at my dorm are also helping me with my Portuguese. I have eaten a lot of delicious meals including eating rice and beans for lunch and dinner every day. I can't remember the name of a new type of fruit I ate but it is soooo good. It looks like a large purple grape or a dark olive.

Last night, I went to the "college and career" Bible study. I met a girl who has invited me to her house to hang out. It will be fun! She also listened to me while I read the 3 Little Pigs. She said I did well. Mom, I am learning to read that book just for you and well for the children too. I will begin helping out at a local daycare. (Or I should say the kids will be helping me with my Portuguese!)

Finally, I went to church today. I really enjoyed the singing and it was a worshipful experience. Did I tell you that my Brazilian cell phone went off during church and I forgot about that I had it in my purse? I also did not know how to turn it off. Well, I got passed that part and the Brazilian people were gracious to me. I also went over to the other missionary couple's apartment to have lunch. We went to the market to buy chicken and bread. Guess what? I ordered it, I felt like I had accomplished something great like I won a gold metal at the Olympics.

I miss you all!
Lord, you are so faithful to me and you are giving me the ability to learn a new language!! Deus e bom! Me ama! God is good. I love you!

Please pray for:
Thais and her back
my roommate Marilos (I might have spelled her name wrong)
witness opportunities
language, language, language, and more language
Pricillia and Cheyenne (new career missionaries) and a baby on the way
David and Laurie (my supervisor, language missionaries)

P.S. David and Laurie love peanut butter but it is muito caro (expensive) here and Pricillia and Cheyenne love beef jerky!
Tchau,
Nova ( Naw va)