The November Rundown - Holy Version

So much to tell, where do I start. The beginning of November we were invited to go eat dinner with the Circuit Overseer in the next town over because for some reason he was dying to meet us. (Don't know why). He and his wife were super cool. He's officially Tio Abraao (Uncle Abraham) to me for more reasons than one... You'll see in the pics. They invited us to go with them to Maceio the next day which is the capital; where the airport is and where we went with Bruno’s mom. The C.O. had to arrange a place for a Bethel speaker to stay a few days and he had to go in person. There we met a number of brothers including Marco, which is an Italian pioneer living there also serving. He’s a good connection to have b/c has a phat house right on the beach. J His mom and a boatload of Italians happened to be visiting when we were there. That was crazy breaking out my rusty Italian which is now mixed with Portuguese. We def had tower of babel going on there. We meet some nice people made some connections and found out there's not only an Italian group, but theres also a Spanish group in Maceio! Very cool news, because Maceio is very cool, on the beach and very NORMAL. So we'll see if we can go there and visit the Spanish group another day.

Pizza with the Italians

November 12th we had our Special Assembly day. There were some mixups with the location down to the last second. It was supposed to be held in our town, of which we would've walked to the assembly. However, due to last minute 3rd world county official run-arounds it had to be held in the next city over. The congregation rented a bus for everyone to go, since most of the brothers don't have cars. It was fun going to the assembly on the bus..not so fun sitting through a hot assembly outdoors (no this wasn't my first time)..but it's hard enough sitting there 8 hours in AC b/c I'm kind of A.D.D sometimes. So imagine with the heat. Oh I almost forgot, the C.O. tio Abraao mentioned us in the assembly. How embarrassing. (I was looking down). Side point, the bethel speaker from the Brazilian Branch Committee happens to be a gringo. They've lived in Brazil for 40 years. As soon as his wife and him walked in the place, I threw my finger out and said "ooohh Americans" with glee. LOL. I did what I NEVER do, I made a beeline and ran up to meet them and told them I was American too (which they did not believe). Why do my own people deny me? "YOU're American?" "Well you don't look it, you blend in well" (says the gringo). *CHUCKLE* Umm...thanks, I guess?

Bus to the Assembly

Lucas from our cong, Bruno and Lucas' Cousin Vanderlison (studying)

Ambruno and C.O Abraao and Elaine

Other news: we returned to the far 3 mile away territory by foot again, “Malhada da Onca”, to do some return visits. It wasn’t as easy to do this time because it’s getting even hotter. It’s burning up by 7:45am! But the good news is: I started a study there. The most exciting part is that even though she humbly said she couldn’t, she actually can read! The hard part is getting to return again. Unfortunately, it’s not that easily to do weekly. Bruno has a bunch of studies, including the guy named Jeova who’s doing really good, learning about himself. LOL. I’m going to attempt to start a study with the first person who I found in service here in Brazil, a gay guy named Wilson with HIV. Ahem, excuse me not gay, a guy with a “different masculinity” that’s what he calls it. I never knew there were “different masculinities”..that’s a new one. Poor guy. When I did the return visit he said he actually felt moved that when we came the first time he wasn’t judged and we were nice to him even though he’s gay. His Pentecostal neighbor won’t even say hi to him. So maybe we can work with that.

So this is the November Rundown the Holy Version because we also went on a trip to Salvador, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. I will save that rundown for another post.

Our Top November Service Pics

This is when I feel like we're in Africa

My Study's Niece and Her Pet Monkey (yes it's tiny)

I could just eat her face

My study's cute grandkids & little friend