Wonderful Smoked Pork

This past week we went and visited missionary friends of ours. We went to build a better relationship with them and to help them with what we can.

Preparing for Smoking the meat

I really enjoyed our time with this couple. We had a great conversation with the couple. I was so proud of Tati talking in English with the missionaries.

Smoking the pork

I can’t say enough about the pulled pork sandwiches that were made for us after a 7 hour smoke.

What a succulent result!

Not only did we get to talk and build a relationship but we got to help with some of the projects that they had for their ministry center. This included hanging pictures and painting window shutters.

Painting the Shutters

New Reality for Church

We have returned to meeting physically together at church for 3 weeks now. This has been very similar to how we returned to meeting in June.

Socially Distancing During Church

The reality of greeting people at the door with masks, a thermometer and requirements is very difficult. Trying to welcome people while still protecting them and others is something that we have not mastered but are working towards.

Live Stream for the Church Family

I am having difficulty thinking that the body has returned to corporate worship when we normally had 90-140 adults and children before the pandemic hit and now we are averaging 30-40 people. This does not include those who have been participating via live stream which basically brings us back to the same number of people we had attending before the pandemic hit.

So thankful for the worship and media teams

Before the pandemic we did not live stream or record our services. However, now we have been doing this for the past few months. I am looking forward to when the restrictions for children are lifted and many families will be coming back to church.

Returning to Sports?

Over the coronavirus pandemic we have seen an end to sports as we knew it.  I never imagined a time when major sports would be permanently canceled world wide.  I thought of scenarios where for short periods sports would be canceled due to natural disasters or political upheaval but a global pandemic never crossed my mind.  I especially thought of football here in Brazil.  Nothing can stop football in Brazil.

Tati and I at a Sacramento Kings Game in October 2019

I have seen the priority of sports dropping in my life over many years.  I remember watching hours of football, basketball and even baseball during my college years.  I would watch a good 10-15 hours of sports on any given week and on certain weeks up to 40+ hours (or so it seemed). I loved sports and followed my favorite teams.  Over the years there have been more important things that happened in my life which did not allow for me to spend the time watching sports that I used to.  I remember a few years ago when I was thinking back on the NFL and college football seasons realizing that I had only watched parts of 3-4 games over the entire regular season.  I thought that was weird but a sign of what was coming.

Coaching American Football

After I moved to Brazil I found watching sports was something that relaxed me.  It was also something familiar which I would do to have some sense of normalcy in a strange culture.  Sports also was a way that I could relate to some Brazilians here.  I would host football or basketball watching parties at my house.  I also started to learn more about soccer which is a huge part of the the Brazilian culture.  I have watched more sports here than before.  Sports is also something that Tati and I enjoy watching.  One of the highlights of our first trip was a trip to see the Sacramento Kings play.  Tati loved that experience.

Missions Team Basketball Outreach July 2019

Now due to the BLM and social justice movements and the corona virus cancellation of various seasons I have been rethinking my sports options.  I am very turned off by the social justice focus which seems to have invaded sports.  No longer am I able to sit and watch sports without hearing things praised that have nothing to do with the sport.  At this point I am not going to go cold turkey (but I am close) on sports but there will definitely be significantly less time allotted and mental focus on sports.  I don’t know that I will ever be able to get completely away from sports but if the trajectory continues sports will become something that I will no longer do or watch for fun but only something that I will participate in if there is a gospel component.  For example watching football so that I can have conversations with friends during the game.

Sítio da Esperança Wood Projects (Part 6)

A big part of doing these wood projects is to prep them to get stained.  One week I spent the entire week sanding and preparing the tables to be stained.

Sanded end table

As I was working through the sanding it was more difficult than I thought it would be.  There was lots of bark and loose wood that needed to be removed to get to the solid wood.  As I was going through the process I found many places where the wood had almost rotted away. There was also some damage from termites.

Sanded coffee table

The final cleaned up pieces of wood are beautiful.  I can’t wait to see the final form of these coffee and end tables.  I definitely have to say that I am a fan of live edge and natural looking furniture with all of the imperfections and character.

Sanded parts for two end tables

As Big as a… (Part 3)

If you want to see the first two As big as a ….  posts please click on these two links.  As we have been working through these past weeks.  I am always enjoying the weekly pictures that I get to take of the growing baby bump and our child inside of Tati.

Week 19: As big as a mango

Each week when the fruit or vegetable gets bigger I am constantly thinking of what it would be like to carry the baby.  The next thing that I am thinking about is how amazing it is that God is forming our child in the stomach of Tati.

Week 16: As big as an Avocado

Each week Tati talks about how she is feeling our child moving more and more inside of her.  I am very excited every time Tati explains something new about what she is feeling inside of her.  I am also continually in wonder at her growing baby bump.  I enjoy placing my hand over her belly and trying to feel our child moving.

Week 12: As big as a passion fruit

Why are the dates different?

I have noticed that there are some holiday differences between Brazil and the United States. It has been a little puzzling to me.  Before I left for Brazil I thought that there were international holidays that were universal, Christmas, Valentines Day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the like.  I also knew that there were some holidays that would be different like the national independence day or days to celebrate heroes or national events.  I was partially right. There are many universal holidays and there are different holidays.  However, there are two that stand out to me: Valentines Day and Father’s Day.

Valentines Day Party 2019

Valentines Day vs. Dia dos Namorados:  In the US Valentines Day is on February 14th and in Brazil it is on June 12th.  I can’t for the life of me figure out why these dates are different but it creates a little problem for me as we now have two days for celebrating valentines day.  Valentines day is a very special day here in Brazil and for those in America you can think of it in the same way.  It is a very special where every restaurant prepares a special meal and raises it’s prices.

Father’s Day vs. Dia dos Pais: In the US Father’s Day is on June 20th and in Brazil it is on the second Sunday in August every year.  In the US Father’s day is lots different than Mother’s day.  Father’s get a nice card and maybe a good meal or small gift for their day.  Also in the US the Father’s day sermon is many times a sermon not on how great a responsibility fatherhood is but from what I remember it is normally a sermon on how Father’s have failed and need to improve.  Here in Brazil Father’s day is different.  It is a time to get together with your family and celebrate your Father.  There is normally a special gift and a thank you during the church service here in Brazil.

Sítio da Esperança Wood Projects (Part 5)

One of the projects that I was very excited to do was to make was a round coffee table from some logs that had been left in the yard.  As we were looking at the logs in the yard my original thought was to make legs from some 2×4’s.  Dave saw a nice wood piece and said that it would make a great stand.  I completely agreed with his assessment. 

Pieces for a coffee table

After we cut the log base to size we realized that the wood was a beautiful red hue.  We had two pieces of wood left from the base.  With these two pieces we decided to make 3 end tables.  You can see one of the end tables below. 

Rough End Table

The roughed round coffee table is beautiful and waiting for a epoxy resin core that we are going to pour and then to stain it all with a beautiful natural stain. 

Roughly Cut Coffee table

Having Friends Over

We were very excited to have another missionary couple over to our house this past Friday night. We were operating under some constraints like gluten free, shellfish free and no coconut.

Gluten Free Products

I have never cooked gluten free before. It was interesting to read and look up recipes that I could make. The couple brought over the absolute best cake and muffins that were gluten free I have ever had. They were not cardboard and if I didn’t know they were gluten free I would never have guessed it.

Gluten Free Dessert

For our meal I made sesame rice, sesame chicken, and steamed vegetables. It turned out excellent. I will make this more often.

Gluten Free Dinner

Ultrasound pictures

Over the past two weeks we have had our 20 week ultrasound. It took two weeks because our child was not cooperating the first week.

Face Profile

Our baby kept on moving. The first week it seemed link the baby was constantly putting one or two hands in front of the face.

Big Feet

The heartbeat is nice and strong. I was very happy to be able to listen to the heart beat because Tati is on bed rest and I had to wheel her into the room.

Nice Strong Heart

As they looked and measured the baby bones I was amazed that they were formed so well.

Look at that bone

The second week our baby constantly had it’s hands up like a boxer. I will say that our child is a real fighter.

Best Face shot

Sítio da Esperança Wood Projects (Part 4)

One of the things that I have enjoyed most is my conversations with another missionary who is helping build the various products.

Preparing for building a coffee table

This project is using some of the wood that was given to create a coffee table that will fit between some benches that were already constructed for game and small group space.

Rough completed coffee table

As we look at the way God created the wood we are able think of what would best display the natural beauty and what would combine with what is needed. Coffee table in need of sanding