We arrived in the huge city of São Paulo, Brazil in May of 2007. At that time we started language school in the center of the city. Upon completion of our studies, in August of 2008, we moved to Rio. In December of 2008, we were able to find a house to rent in the neighborhood of Rocha Miranda. Since that time we've been working in a church on the Governor's Island in Rio and making contact with people in our neighborhood for the purpose of planting a church here. We give thanks to God for His calling and enabling. We thank all of you for your friendship.
In June, there is a series of holidays Festa Juninha which celebrate various Spiritist and Catholic saints. This inevitably means thousands of loud fireworks exploding throughout the day and night (it literally sounds like a war zone and Daniel is terrified of these), countless drunken parties, and the launching of homemade hot air balloons that crash throughout the city and often cause fires. Many in our neighborhood pray to St. George (his holiday was celebrated recently) and have stickers of him on their cars hoping that he will protect them. Pray that their eyes would be open to Jesus, the one true God and giver of eternal life.
Here are some photo highlights of the last several months in Rio:
The teens at camp during a game time and Daniel's first birthday.
The baptism of a teenage girl and Easter morning breakfast.
Ellie helping in the kitchen. Ellie - 2, Myla - 5, Daniel - 1
