August 16th. 2011

August 16th, 2011

Day one of going solo! No more Americans for comfort and easy conversation. All I have now is Tom and Penny as fellow English speakers! I didn't come down here for comfort and a vacation. I got up today at 8:20 and had my first opportunity spend a large amount of time emailing family and friends. I got a surprise instant message date with my girlfriend for about an hour too :) It's such a treat to talk to her. Even if it's on a computer. I came downstairs at about 10 am and found a big jar of peanut putter and waffles on the tables. Random fact: Brazil does not sell peanut butter or ranch dressing! America runs on that stuff! Brazilians don't even like it! Crazy. It is abnormally warm for this time of the winter in Brazil. It got up to 85 degrees today. Everyone is in shock. Tom says Al Gore could sell a lot of books here. Hehe. Looks like I'll have an extension to my summer instead of a shortened summer. Went to wrestling practice again today and had 22 kids show up. With just Tom and I running this thing, it was a lot. And I avoiding wrestling like it was the plague my entire life so I'm no help with teaching. I just make a good demonstation dummy! I hope God brings these kids to himself. They all seem so lost. Tom has so much patience with them. After practice I
had my first opportunity for a good run in Brazil. I only had time for four miles but man did it feel good. I plan on running every day from now on. Tom said he would get me in to a few races while I'm here. I am so excited for that! I'm starting to ask questions to Tom about his heart. I'm finding he's an old time navy-type guy who pretty set on his ways and if I don't conform to him I don't think we'll get along. He's not doing any changing it seems! That's just the way it is. Please pray for my heart to stay humble, patient and resting in God.

Erik getting smushed during a wrestling move demonstration.

Brazil gas stations still have workers fill your tank up. This van takes propane!