Hello there Everybody

So its kind crazy to think about all of you reading this in your homes in Canada, the US and Mexico (and maybe some other places too that I don't know about) while we are here in Brazil. Yesterday I got to talk to my Mum for the first time since being down here, (and yes since I am the girl on this team -more on that later- I will admit that I almost cried when I heard her voice) but while we were talking it hit me that we are all so spread out in this world, living our lives for God, and even though we are so far apart we are still connected through our Father in Heaven. How wonderful it is to know that there are people so far away that are thinking of us and praying for us and that even if we can't see you we know that God can and that He is taking care of you just as He is taking care of us. So those are just thoughts from me. God is so Great and being apart of His family is such a great gift!

On our days off this week we were able to spend time with people from the church here and it was great to be able to rest and visit with them. We saw some more of the city and it is beautiful. We went to the Zoo and to a Fort/Lighthouse from the 1600's. We tried some Brazilian foods (Acaraje and Beiju - Those might not be spelled right...) We also ate some crab and these coconut cookie type things that were delicious. Oh and cheese that is roasted on a skewer with oregano - very tasty.

Yesterday we started our 4th week of reading sessions. As we get further into our studdies with our readers it is great to see the conversations deepening. This morning I read with a lady and our lesson was about when Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with the Apostles before His death. Our conversation was about the new agreement that Jesus brought with His own death and what that means for us. We talked about how important it is that Jesus would do this for us and for all people and how we need to remember this everyday. We looked at how the Apostles must have been feeling - hearing Jesus talk about dying and what Judus must have been thinking while Jesus was talking. It is so interesting to read these texts with the eyes of some one else - to try to understand it from their view point and to explain and question it so that the story comes alive. I think we sometimes forget this when we are reading for ourselves- that this is a true event that people were living and experiencing. Reading with someone else and watching them understand what the Word is saying and hearing the messages that are in it is so exciting.

Ok so bye for now. Love to all,
Sarah

P.S. back to something I said earlier about being the girl on this team... Alot of people keep checking to see if I am ok and if the boys are being nice to me and all that so I just thought that I would let you all know that they are :)