Arrival in Brazil!

HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING!
Many of you, my friends in the Lord, live busy lives with full schedules. We have places, activities, and people that fill our days and our moments. When we go through transitions in life however; it seems there is not simply enough time in our day to complete all that needs to be done! I feel as if I have been in “transition mode” for the past three months as I was finishing meetings, preparing to come back to Brazil, and now settling back into life and ministry in Brazil!

IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE LONGER
You have to mentally switch gears when you switch countries/culture. I felt it when I went home last Christmas—my best description being—“everything is so….American. “ If you have ever left the US for any length of time, perhaps you can understand that culture shock description! Coming back to Brazil, I know that it is different and I just embrace the totality of the culture. Whether that involves document processing that takes longer to complete or sitting with one of the church ladies for “afternoon coffee,” all of each everyday activity is an opportunity to be a light to those who observe your life and behavior.

CUSTOMS
I was hugely blessed to have my mom and dad with me for ten days. They flew down with me and helped bring extra things since we had their baggage to work with. Among the luggage were two full sized keyboards and a guitar. One keyboard was for me to use in traveling to different outreaches/ministries and the other was for the church in Ponta Grossa that had saved money to purchase it. [The same keyboard would cost more than twice as much in Brazil.] Some of you were praying for no trouble at customs—thank you for praying. I think you learn something with each major trip you make—and I learned that without an original receipt (I had a receipt that the store printed for me when I realized that I had misplaced the original) you can’t expect to not pay a tax. The LORD was good and gracious though. The price I paid when I purchased the keyboard was $450. Not having the correct receipt, the man at customs went online and looked up the keyboard and he found it valued for at least $700. For the keyboard to pass, I was asked to change the amount on the customs paper to the higher amount and pay $100. My praise is that he did not charge the tax he had the authority to charge—half of the value of the object!

CAR UPDATE
Part of the reason my parents came down was to help with looking, searching, and hopefully purchasing a car! We were surely blessed to have friends here who were able to take us to car lots and car lots….and more care lots. To make quite a long story short, we found a great car only to realize from a team of mechanics that it wasn’t so great at all! The sellers had agreed to meet me at the mechanic and the team there found numerous problems that had not been exposed by the sellers. Seeing the information compiled on paper, my sellers excused themselves and made the fastest get-away!

The car I was looking at was a 2001 automatic Citroen, Xsara. In researching and talking with many people about different makes and models, this particular make is considered very good though parts will run higher because it isn’t a national car. My mechanic friends, as well as other Brazilian friends, have strongly encouraged me to look for a national car……..and learn to drive stick shift.

My experience at the mechanic gave me the last, needed nudge to just go to the auto-school and like the majority of all Brazilians, learn to drive stick shift. I think the biggest intimidation factor are hills; I am hoping though, that I won’t have any stories to share. :) I have two lessons scheduled thus far—November 12 and November 16. By learning to drive stick, I “win” in: finding a newer car, receiving better gas mileage, being able to find cheaper prices for any needed part and on occasion when needed, drive the seminary van to take groups to different outreaches. However, if the Lord were to provide an automatic, I won't say no!

I am also looking forward to receiving my Brazilian driver’s license, Lord-willing, in six months. That process is a story in itself! Some things just take a little longer. :)

IMMEDIATE PLANS/ PRAYER REQUESTS
*I will be starting music lessons next week. *Please pray for the continuing car search/ stick shift lessons.
*I will be visiting a school near Ponta Grossa to offer volunteer help once a week to students who are struggling in school or to assist teachers. Please pray for this; it is something I believe the Lord would have me to do—and simply leave the rest to Him; perhaps even opening other doors.
*I am spending individual time with our ladies asking the Lord to show what area of Bible study would encourage and minister to them either individually or collectively

THANK YOU!
IN CHRIST,
TATI CORDEIRO