It is hard to believe it is already December. This is especially hard when I am sitting in the shade sweating! It is 87 degrees here and will be about that the whole time we are here.
The studies at the hotel went well. Yesterday we met with two different congregations and were encouraged. The next 10 days (including today) we have studies every night and some studies scheduled during the day. It is a busy time, but encouraging.
I enjoy these trips, but I miss being home too. I miss my kids and grandkids and the brethren at home. We will probably be doing a lot of traveling next year. The list of place Dennis needs to go keeps growing.
We are enjoying time here with friends who moved here from Sao Paulo. We have had so many good conversations about so many differnet subjects.
I hope everyone had a very good day yesterday. I still miss being home for holidays. We did have a very good, but tiring, day yesterday. We left our hotel at 2 a.m. the plane left Manaus at 4 a.m. We stopped in three other cities before arriving in Fortaleza. Joao and Angela met us. We got to their house had lunch and crashed fcr awhile. Studies at the hotel were from 7:30 until 9:00. 18 people came. We got home and crashed again. Today we have a leisurely day with studies again this evening.
I can't let this day pass without noting that it is Dennis's birthday. I am so blessed to have him as my husband. I couldn't ask for a better man. He is very spiritually minded. He is a great husband and father. He knows my needs almost before I do. I love him more than words can express. Happy Birthday, Dennis.
I am finally feeling comfortable again. We are in Manaus and it has been HOT all day. CNN say the high was only 82, but I think it was hotter. The other major factor here is the high humidity. It feels like Florida in July!
We had a really good day today. We had worship with a small congregation here and then five more hours of studies. We were in a very small building with poor ventalaiton. We arrived to find the power was out. This meant no fans! The roof is made of fiberglass roofing panels. The building was HOT! Everybody was sweating. Dennis looked like he had gotten caught in the rain. Fortunatly, the power came back on so the fans worked. It was still really hot. I don't deal well with the heat. I was very happy to get back to my air conditioned hotel room!
Tomorrow, Dennis and I hope to do a little sightseeing. Tuesday, Dennis has classes starting in the morning. I will teach a class to the ladies at 6:00 p.m. (on raising kids) and then Dennis has a study with the whole group at 7:30.
We head to Fortaleza VERY early on Thursday morning.
I was using the wrap one day that I was over there. :) Tiffany thinks it squishes Mackenna too much... I think it's just right! :) I have better pictures... I really just sent that one picture as a joke. I'll send a couple more pics later.
I have way too much to do and not enough time to do it all!
Please pray for Heather. She is three months pregnant and having a really rough time. She has EXTREME all day sickness. She takes medicine for it, but not she can't even keep that down. She has already lost a lot of weight. Along with being sick she has four kids to care for (Emily-6, Logan and Lucas-3 and Elisa-1 1/2). It's not easy.
This weekend has been so encouraging! The studies went very well and one man was baptized. Praise God! This morning we met with a small group of Christians. It was so very encouraging to be with this group. They are eager to learn and grow.
Tomorrow we head back for Sao Paulo. When I get back, I will post some pictures of a little sightseeing we were able to do.
Sounds like you did, indeed, have a great weekend! Have safe travels home. btw -- I didn't get Joey's deals at a store...we have a huge consignment store here in town but the items are priced quite high in my opinion. Twice a year, we have a consignment "event" and it runs for three days in the spring and three days in the fall. Not connected with the store at all. I love the half-price Saturday opportunity especially for little kids' clothes that they will probably only wear for one year.
