And the Songbirds Keep Singing…

…like they know the score…

5-17-2009 — When I first started my blog.

2-17-2012 — Today’s date.

1005 days — Since I wrote my first entry.

5927 views — Total views of my blog.

≈42 — Views per week.

Those are my blog stats. I don’t think it’s too bad, though I would of course like to get the number up! Even if everyone that I simply sent it to via email would take 5 minutes to read my blog updates, the number would go up! Ha…

Anywho…Tonight I am currently drinking hot chocolate, eating a peanut butter cookie and thinking about what I need to pack. Tomorrow I’m going to COMIC in Vianópolis. It’s basically a Christian conference for Jovens (the age group of 17/when you graduate highschool–marriage). Yes, I see so many things wrong with this large grouping, but hey, it’s how they do things here in Brazil. So, I’m going to the conference tomorrow and coming back Tuesday. I’m looking forward to it, and even more so that I didn’t have to pay for it. I was talking with the Pastor late last week and he told me that someone paid for my trip, just pack my bags and go! How awesome is that! Turns out that I ended up spending a little more than what the conference cost to help Tia Ivani pay for our washing machine repairs! Wow, God is so good.

I just wanted to give a quick update before I go out of town. Classes were good this week. Tuesday–the night of my New Testament class–it rained cats and dogs and only one student in my class ended up coming, so I didn’t teach it. But no worries, we’ll be hitting the books head-first as soon as class is back in session. This next week is CARNAVAL here in Brazil, so pretty much the whole country is on vacation for a week. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea…but I’m not complaining either. =)

I hope that you’re all doing well! I’ll post again next week with updates and pictures from COMIC.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT IN BRAZIL #22:

Human contact with monkeys. I’m pretty sure I didn’t tell ya’ll about this yet–I HAVE NO IDEA WHY!?!? BUUUTTTT…ok, so, basically… couple of weeks ago Drew, Deb and I went to a park and, yes, we got to play with monkeys. I use the term “play” loosely, because it’s not like we played catch with them or let them crawl on us or anything…we just got to be in extremely close proximity with them! We even found some avocados there and fed them! Here are a few pictures from the two days we went! (we went back a second time with Lucas & Preston):

Me, Drew & Deb

This monkey gave me a dang hi-five!!!! At first, it was a contest between me and Drew as to who could spot the first monkey (which he won), but then after this one touched my hand (twice!) it became the only goal on Drew’s mind…quite hilarious actually.

This was the beginning of Day 2: Deb, Drew, Me & Preston waiting at the bus station…

Here are the four of them goofing off on our walk to the park:

And here are a couple “Close Encounters”:

Anywho, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Peace and Love,

Dani

I’d Like To Be Under the Sea…

…in an octopus’s garden in the shade…

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!

Today classes officially start! Yesterday we had the orientation meeting & went over plans for the semester. It was only a day full of meetings, but I am so happy. Today, with classes starting, I’m even happier! I am FINALLY back to doing what I’ve come to do–teach. This semester I’m teaching two English classes (levels 2 & 3), a New Testament class (Romans-Revelation), beginner Piano lessons and my other English classes with the English Immersion school. It’s definitely going to keep my busy, and the lesson planning for the NT class is going to be ridiculous! For the past two weeks Drew and I have been planning our bible lessons together…and it takes all day just for one class! (Not including the translating into Portuguese!). I’m sure that after a couple months of teaching and lesson planning, I’ll be ready for Winter break (remember: the seasons are opposite here)…until that feeling appears, however, I’m SOOO excited!!!

These past couple of weeks have been relaxing, busy, slow, sad, full of joy…basically all over the map. Ha. It’s been hard trying to deal with my Grampa’s passing being so far away. Right now, it seems a little surreal to think that he’s actually gone. I’m still surrounded by his face in pictures, by his memories, his last words. I honestly don’t think that I will really start to accept it all, until I go back. Please continue to keep my Gramma in your prayers. Having the same person by your side pretty much everyday for the last 66 years of your life, only to have them join Jesus and not be by your side anymore…that takes a lot of adjusting. Please keep my family in your prayers as well. Not having the patriarch of our family around; the teacher of: Jesus, love, kindness, generosity; and the master of cheating at card games…it’s going to take some getting used to from everyone.

Like I said, the past few weeks have been a little crazy. I’ve been planning and preparing my New Testament class, which I am thoroughly excited about. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so excited about teaching a class before! Since I didn’t use Portuguese for about 5 months last year, and thus never really practiced it, I will be teaching in english and Drew will help me translate it. I’ve already translated the notes that I’ll be writing on the board, but the rest of the class will be translated by Drew–it’s just easier that way. =)

This past Sunday evening was, yes, Superbowl Sunday. We ended up having a group of people over to watch my Patriots unfortunately lose to the Giants…but we had tons of food and fun! Definitely going to do it again!..the food part that is, I’m not sure what we’ll make the occasion to be, but it will certainly be delicious! Here are some pictures:

I usually make a fancy-Superbowl cake for the parties at home, but since it involves many foods/items that can’t be found here, I simplified it a bit and used only cupcakes and colored icing!

We streamed the game & watched it on my computer…this is a picture of the set up, as well as a table full of food (chips, salsa, meatballs, pulled beef bbq sandwiches (Drew), Drew’s version of rice krispie treats, and cupcakes).

Here’s all of us (minus Tia Ivani):

Me, Deb, Preston, Lucas, Drew

WHAT’S DIFFERENT IN BRAZIL #21:
I now live in an apartment with Tia Ivani. She sold her house to the church to be used as additional classroom space, as well as, a bigger kitchen. Since the church purchased it, it has undergone some construction…here are some pictures:

This is a view from the back of the church looking at the side of our old house/into the kitchen

Here’s a look into the kitchen through the hole they cut in the wall

The kitchen

The living room/now classroom

Where the entertainment center/TV was

My old bedroom(s)…they tore down the wall that separated these two rooms to make a bigger classroom

My old bathroom…pretty much the same

The side room/second living room…now is a junk space

The back patio. We used to do our laundry out here, sometimes eat at the table that was there

The other part of our back patio…also filled with junk

Today’s website shout-out goes out to Pinterest. If you have not experienced this yet…you should. It’s full of recipes and crafts and clothes, etc, that you can both find & use, as well as “pin” onto your board to share for your family and friends. It’s pretty awesome. It’s full of ideas and lots of delicious stuff. =)

One last thing for today. The school is still facing a lot of opposition. Please pray for the school, Rafa, Drew and myself as we ignore the rumors people are spreading about us and that we keep on trucking with the school. This school is completely in God’s hands and we are still growing. The students love the classes and what we’re doing. We all love the school and are devoted to it. Please pray for spiritual maturity for those around us.

Peace and Love,

Dani