Praia da Forte

About an hour from Salvador is a Sea Turtle reserve called Praia da Forte. Sea Turtles are an endangered species. There are 7 types in the world and 5 of those migrate along the Brazilian coast and 4 of those within our very own state of Bahia. At this reserve they protect the eggs of the sea turtles and help educate local fisherman and others how to keep the turtles safe from fishing nets and other potential dangers.
Last Monday our whole team took a day trip to visit Praia da Forte along with Mary Virginia's mom and cousin who were visiting from the states. The turtles were way cool, especially the baby ones. Dude! Totally righteous! (finding nemo reference).
We were amazed that the turtles lay their eggs and then leave them to hatch on their own. They hatch and make their way to the sea. Then they spend their lives traveling thousands of miles along the coast. 25 years later those same turtles, return to the exact same place to lay their own eggs. Isn't God's world amazing.

What we are reading

We do a lot of reading around here. Lately we are reading Whose Nose and Toes about 12 times a day and in between that we read Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC quite a lot. When we aren't reading books for toddlers, Randy and I are reading books for kids. Mary Virginia's mom came this week and brought with her Randy's very belated birthday present that we had sent to her house...The sixth Harry Potter book! Several other team members are also quite happy that the next Harry Potter book is here in English. I am reading the Chronicles of Narnia. I started with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and am now reading The Magicians Nephew. I just finished the section where Aslan, the great Lion, sings the world of Narnia into existence. I was entranced by the imagry of how beautifully the world was created.
I am also reading Bringing up Boys by Dr. Dobson. It is a great book for parents wanting to raise Godly boys who will grow up to be men who aren't afraid to be the strong, masculine, godly men they were created to be. I knew this book was for me when I got to this section in the first chapter:
"one of the scariest aspects of raising boys is their tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason. It begins very early. If a toddler can climb on it, he will jump offf it. He careens out of control toward tables, tubs, pools, steps, trees and streets. He will eat anything but food and loves to play in the toilet. He makes 'guns' out of cucumbbers or toothbrushes and likes digging around in drawers, pill bottles, and Mom's purse. And just hope he doesn't get his grubby little hands on a tube of lipstick."
This was just a little too familiar for me not to keep reading!

Ready to Go

A few weeks ago we bought a new Chilly Whilly backpack for Kelton. I wasn't sure how much he would take to it, but in the end there was nothing to worry about. He loves it! He can carry around a few of his toys and he gets to feel like mom and dad with their bags now too. The real problem is that it makes him look so old, but I guess that is not too bad either. My boy is growing up.

A Father's Love

A little over a week ago the whole family caught a virus. It is bad enough when one person is sick but add to that the other parent and the child and you get an interesting situation. First let me say that I think and hope that we are finally getting over it. Praise God for that.

This is one of the first time Kelton has ever been this sick (Praise the Lord), and therefore also the first time I have experienced seeing my child in this much consitent pain. It is AWEFUL and something no parent ever wants to see. I just remember on the first night after he had several episodes of spontaneous vomiting how my heart ached to its core. It was the tight squeezing of a vice that made my whole body ache as I asked God that night if he would allow the sickness to leave Kelton and fall on me instead.

This also drew me into consideration of our Father's love and how His heart must weep in agony when we are in pain. And how when our lives are full of pain where else would he be but by our side holding us, couching us, helping us, ... loving us. It is the natural place for a father to be in reference to his hurting child. And so all of this makes me all the more glad that He is my God and I am His child. This is a face of the God I want to tell everyone about.

Court Found!!!

Every Friday (Sexta-Feira) we guys try to get together to play a game of basketball. Because most apartment complexes have a little soccer court, which occasionally has a basketball hoop as well, we have spent most of our times playing in our own courts. Wanting to be able to play more people and start building relationships with Brazilians as well we were always on the look out for a public court that we could use. And we found one.

Last week was the first time the guys were able to play on the new court (I was home sick trying not to move too much.). They talked about it all week and this week I was able to join them. What a game. By the end there were 7 Brazilian teenagers playing with, and beating us I might add. What a blessing. More exercise, a court that is in good shape, and a good group of guys to play with.

Please pray that we are able to build relationships with these guys and that our Lord will be easily visible through us. Play Ball!!!!

Sometimes the days are long

1 to 0 at Halftime

Finally, after several months I have now attended my first professional soccer game. For those who do not know Salvador has two professional soccer teams (at least semi-professional they are both in the "B" league right now.). The other guys on our team and myself watched Esporte Clube Bahia, more commonly known as Bahia, play yesterday. What a game! We had such a great time. The soccer game was fun and the crowd was interesting to watch as well. For several years now people have told me there is no comparison between the Brazilian love for soccer and the American love for football and after yesterday's game I would believe it. When Bahia scored the only goal in the first half the approximate 30,000 people shook the 60,000 person concrete statium. I look forward to my next chance to take in a game and little bit of the culture too.

Meeting with local leaders

Last night I was able for the first time to attend the local leaders meetings for Churches of Christ in the city. It was a great night. They meet every two months for several hours. My Portuguese is finally at a place that I can understand at least a little of what is happening. Of course, I still have a ways to go before I understand all of it, but it was a good milstone for me. It was nice to build on the relationships we have been forming with these leaders of the churches. I had a good time and a few laughs especially when after about 20-30 minutes of talking one of the guys would ask if I understand and then wait for me to say, "Sort of." Nevertheless it was a good start and I look forward to more in the future.