Man, what an experience. What a week. Last Monday, I left Porto Alegre for Canela in the Serra Gaúcho of Rio Grande do Sul to attend the Brazilian Missionary Conference. The first day was quite exciting because of all the familiar and new faces I saw. It was really cool to meet Carlos Castilho,a missionary in Rio supported by MacArthur Park. We were roommates.

I was truly blessed by the presence and teaching from Murray Wilton, mentioned in my last post. He led the daily men’s sessions. What I learned during our sessions is the relief that comes from complete reliance on God, filling your life with the Spirit makes a difference in your desires, far better is joining in God’s work rather than constructing my own ideas of reaching others, and the freedom that comes from absolute, nothing held back, let it all out confession to another brother. Murray cares and he lets God work through his life. He was a gift for me.

John Willis, from ACU and the Highland church, took us (”the two that were listening”) across the Old Testament and a bit of the New. The day and evening trips were fun too. Gramado EXPLODED with music and Christmas lights. For some reason the ATMs in the area would not let some others and I take out money. One day we visited Parque Estadual do Caracol, home of Cascata do Caracol, a 130m (426ft) waterfall at the base of 768 steps. My thighs burned for a few days. It was a good time to catch up with my olf friend Ali and her husband Mark who are now working in Itu.

Cascata do Caracol, Canela, Brasil

The crown jewel of the fun at the conference was banquet night. No roast this year, but a Murder Mystery Dinner. I know, my head almost exploded like an atom bomb. I asked myself, “How can fifty-something people participate in the murder mystery of Big Daddy?” Well the organizers, the Rio team members did an excellent job. Drag and all.

Thanks to the Porto ALegre team for an excellent conference.

I went from Canela to Tramandaí on the coast to meet up with Roberto and Moema. I was there one night, but I couldn’t go to Brazil in the summer and not go to the beach. “Those who know the good they ought to do and do not do it, sin.” The next day we went back to Porto Alegre. I met up with Clemens, a friend I met in São Paulo on the way from Santiago to Rio. We had a great conversation and it was good to see him again. EARLY Sunday morning, after two and a half hours of sleep, we went to the airport to catch my flight (6:10A) to Buenos Aires via São Paulo.

Kevin Blume prayed over Dottie, a speaker at the conference and currently my housemate as she is working with the Santiago team, and I as we were about to depart. He’s a special guy with a big heart and a top notch family. Dottie and I arrived in São Paulo and made our way perplexedly through the airport I do not love. The signs in the airport are truly backwards. Well she headed towards Santiago and I Buenos Aires, after an hour+ delay (this is Brazil).

Buenos Aires was fun. It was one day/night. I stayed at a nice hostel, V&S. I have a lovely meal at a parrilla a few blocks away, El Establo. Honestly they had this Caprese salad (basil, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and a vinaigrette). Oh yeah. I left my chocolate and chicken from the restaurant in the refrigerator locked up in reception and had to leave prior to the front desk opening. My flight left an hour later than I was thinking, so I could have stayed longer, but that’s ok, I had the opportunity to talk Sueli, my Brazilian roommate at the hostel. Man, our room was hot. While waiting for our, yes, delayed flight, we met Mariano and his newly wedded wife on their way to Brazil for their honeymoon. It’s amazing who God leads you to talk with. Well they were great and before I knew it I was saying goodbye, Mariano hopped up, and gave me a hug and a kiss, well, you know, “kiss-the-air-next-to-my-ear kiss. Those Argentines. Gotta love them.

Now I’m back in Santiago. In the words of my friend Renzo, “buenas noches handsome men.”

Sadly, I did not mention it in my last post, my point-and-shoot camera’s screen broke in Rio so I sent it back with the group to be returned to my mother, so no photos. Check out Mark & Ali’s blog and The Blumes’ blog for some photos and other points of view.

So we had the opportunity to go to Corcovado, the hill with Cristo Redentor overlooking Rio, and we went. I guess since it now is one of the Wonders of the World the administratio thinks it can charge how ever much. R$35 per person! It was my third time in Rio so I had to visit even though the price was a bit outrageous.

Time with Abel and the Aggies was refreshing, a change of scenery. The churches in Cosmos and Jabour are so loving and welcoming. They even threw me a surprise going away party with a cake that we had on New Year’s Eve that I commented to the maker was delicious. The hostess of the girls wrote me a poem and gave me a shirt. The love here is incredible. It was one of the best times I had in Rio. Who knew Skip-bo could bring so many people together?

Now I am amongst more friends in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Moema and Roberto are a couple that hosted Brandon and I when we here in June. They insisted that I come back and stay with them for a bit, so I am. We’ve visited the local botanical garden, worshipped together, eaten great food, and walked through the city. Yesterday we went to a house church at the home of one of the missionary families here, Kevin and Benay. A man, Murray Wilton, spoke on how we regard each other and everyone around us.

I head out to Canela for a conference today. Should be good.

I have the joy to return to Rio de Janeiro to accompany a group from the Aggies for Christ for about a week. It’s always good to be amongst the brothers and sisters in Rio. The group is composed of six people including myself. I am so happy to be in the presence of good friends and fellow travelers from A&M. Last night we gathered around and had a bit of worship time together in English (a rare happening). I hope this time is refreshing for all; I am already feeling the ’saudade’ of having to leave soon. I will be here until Friday, 4 January.

Have a happy New Year!

So this was our first time to be in Porto Alegre. Pretty much everything (except Foz do Iguaçu) before this point have been new experiences. The missionaries we worked with in Porto Alegre were fantastic, funny, and hospitable.

We worked most of the time at a place called Chacára, a alcohol and drug rehabilitation center for men. We built a dormitory brick-by-brick. I think only one member of our group had previous masonry experience. It was excellent to work along side these men and at random they would shout out “Gloria a Deus!” (”Glory to God!”).

We also had the opportunity to stay with host families, and I do have to say, ours was the est. Ha! No, Roberto and Moema were superb people. Always making sure we were comfortable and well fed. Man that was some good food.

I had a fantastic time in Porto Alegre and I can not wait to return in the future.

Brandon and I have the pleasure of staying with a family this week, as do all others of the group, but Brandon and I have the pleasure of being with Moema, Roberto, and their son Keldy this week whie in Porto Alegre. We were at Jennifer’s and Sascha’s house on Tuesday and twice Moema and Roberto called to check if we were ok. We had not been assigned homes, so I jumped on the chance to stay with people that were SO excited to keep us.

They are sweet and considerate. They were not sure if we would be comfortable staying with a bi-racial couple that has a cat and a dog, no worries we said. Truly they are servants and some of the most hospitable individuals I have had the pleasure to be with. Brandon has a great attitude as well, so it makes they stay that much better. The food is not bad either.

In other news, I sat on a granite table today in the mall food court and broke it off the pedestal. Oh well. The mall staff were only concerned if I had been hurt. Not really, just a bit embarassed.

It was a quick stop, but we had a fantastic time in Foz do Iguaçu. Originally we were going to visit Itaipu, the largest power plant (a dam) in the world, but we opted to go shopping in the third largest duty-free zone in the world - Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. Cheap computer stuff and everything else.

The visit to the park was nice too. We actually received passport stamps this time when we crossed the Brazil-Argentina border to Argentina. It made my day. Most of the group went on the boat ride, but I decided not to. It was pleasant walking around tha park, touching coaties, looking at the falls.

Quite a good visit. Now we are in Porto Alegre after a thirteen-hour bus ride overnight. Should be fun.

So I was typing up a post two days in an Internet café in Rio when the computer restarted. A bit frustrating, so I’m back.

Rio was fantastic. If there was one word to sum up our time in Rio de Janeiro, it would be encouragement. It truly was a fantastic destination to start our trip. We worked with Abel Azevedo, a man dedicated to planting churches in Rio.

Abel is the son of a man from Mozambique and a woman from South Africa, he lived in Mozambique for much of his early years, then moved to Portugal in service to the military, then to Canada to work (but it was too cold for his taste), so he moved to Brazil and that’s where we find him. He helped us the last time we were in Rio working with a congregation in Ramos (a neighborhood of Rio) and last year I emailed him to see if he would, again, be interested in working with us. He told me “Of course.”

The two churches we worked with are located in far west Rio de Janeiro. They are Jabour and Cosmos. They’re not large congregations but are filled with people who love God and serve each other and their communities. Abel informed me that we are the only group that has ever visited these churches and what a blessing of encouragement it is.

The encouragement was reciprocal. We had an amazing time in Rio and can not to return in the future.

Leaving Miami, Frank is out	Abel squatting
Abel speaking to the confluence	Dancing in the favela
Group atop Pão de Açúcar	Amanda and I above Rio
I was out of it	My friend Lucas and I at Barra
Carol with David	Abel being Abel

Oi todo o mundo,

  We are in Rio, gorgeous Rio. I’m a bit pressed for time, but we have been so blessed to work with two fantastic, small congregations on the outskirts of town. I will be updating as much as possible, when possible.

Até logo.

It´s so sad to be leaving Brasil and South America tomorrow. It´s been such a blessing here. I constantly was apologizing for being a burden, but every one is quick to ensure that there is no burden.

Itu has some amazing individuals. Thanks to Felipe, Marusia, Marcio, his parents, Antenor, Phyllis, Ali, Paul, Jorge, Jefferson, Guto, JB, Pamela, Salena, Reid, Shirley, Clau, Heather, and so many others.

It´s been great. Thanks for your immense hospitality.

Our last day in beautiful Buenos Aires was wonderful. We were able to take a bus tour of downtown and visit several sites. We departed very early on Thursday to go to Foz do Iguaçu (Brasil).

Iguazú (Argentina) is a place where Argentina, Brasil, and Paraguay meet, but it is better known for the massive water falls that fall there. Amazing to see, feel, and hear. Brilliant. See the pictures.

Ah, but Foz do Iguaçu was not all fun. We left the hotel at 5:45A on Saturday. We arrive at the airport and some one realized their bag was left at the hotel and an other could not locate their passport. On top of that, two members going to Santiago again were not allowed to board, because of a mistake of the travel agent. So eleven, out of sixteen, board and depart to Sao Paulo.

At Sao Paulo we wait for ten hours for the three who went back to the hotel to arrive. They come in at the other airport on the other side of the city, a two hour drive through traffic. So finally all are back at the same airport, but the one still can´t find their passport. Four of us leave to Itu with out knowing if the one will be able to leave the country. Luckily, the two not allowed to board got new tickets and the airline found a lost luggage with the passport inside.

God is in control.