Obrigada! (Thank you! :)

I am home safe and sound! I first made it back into the States around 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening. When I went through customs, the attendant handed me back my passport and said "Welcome home." She almost made me cry! And then I went out into the airport and didn't feel "at home" at all. First of all, there were people speaking Spanish, which didn't make me feel like I was in "America". But I realized that even having people speaking English all around me did not seem "normal". After spending three months in Brazil, I found that I had grown accustomed to hearing Portuguese all the time. Surprisingly, I felt out of my comfort zone still, and even kept my ring turned around....

One the way home, I was able to talk with a Morman woman sitting beside me. (yes, when I first found out she was Morman, I was a little intimidated...but God is good - He provided the words to say!) We discussed the differences between our faith and why we believe what we believe. During some turbulence, she turned to me and commented on how scary it was. I said that I was totally at peace because I knew that 1) God was holding me in His hand, 2) He had a perfect plan for my life and I did not need to worry 3) I knew where I would go if we were to crash. Her expression changed as she began to think about that. We were then able to talk about the peace that comes from knowing that God will take care of us. Please pray for Lindsey and that she continues to think about what we talked about!

And FINALLY, after a fairly uneventful trip, I arrived in Columbus at 11:30 p.m. and was greeted by my family, grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin, as well as one of my best friends, JENAYE, and her family! Wow! What a greeting! Then, when pulled into the driveway of my house, I saw that another best friend, ALICIA, was waiting with Krispy Kream doughnuts!! (and her bedtime is at 9:30, so coming to my house at 12:00 with doughnuts was quite the surprise!) It is wonderful to see my family and friends again! My youngest sister is glad to have me home again so that she isn't so lonely being the only girl. There are many people I have yet to see, and I am anxiously awaiting a time to visit! I am still counting down the days to see my fiance...

Although the trees are beautiful, the air is a little colder than I would have liked. :) I am adjusting though... slowly but surely... I am finishing up my portfolio and then will be a REAL TEACHER! Yes, that does make me feel old...

I am now serving as the freshman cheerleading coach and hoping to get a substitute position. I am praying that God will open and close doors as He reveals His plan for the next few months!

Yes, I am also back into the wedding planning! Just a little over eight months to go!!!!!

Thank you so very much for your faithful prayers and thoughtful notes over the past three months. It meant so much to know that people were taking the time out of their day to read my blog, and it was so encouraging to know that people were praying for me! I truly appreciate it more than I could ever express!

I am looking forward to seeing those whom I have not yet seen! Thank you again for your prayers!

Serving HIM in OHIO and wherever He takes me,

*Brittany

Alicia "welcomes me back to America" with Krispy Kream doughnuts!

Teaching "Who is the King of the Jungle" in chapel

Me and my cooperating teacher outside our classroom

A fellow student-teacher who will be taking over my classroom

My precious students giving me the cards that they made

Precious first graders: Lucas and Stacy

El Fim

My time in Brazil has come to an end. I have less than 8 hours left and felt that I couldn't spend it in bed... so here I am at 1:45 typing another post....

This week has flown by. Actually, this whole experience has flown by! I cannot believe that tomorrow I will be flying back to the States... It won't hit me until I am on the plane I suppose. I have yet to cry but I know the tears will come tomorrow.

There are so many things that I am going to miss:

Tastes:

• fresh fruit (mainly pineapple and mangos)
• rice, beans and farafa (yes, for real)
• Jeanne's dinners
• Karin's desserts
• Judy's popcorn in the teacher's room

Feelings:

• the hot Brazilian sun beating down on me

Smells: mmm... can't say that there are any....

Sounds:

• the rooster that so faithfully wakes me up at 4:00, and 4:15, and 4:30, and 5:00, and...
• Dr. Underwoods jokes
• Judy's songs
• the laughter of my first and second graders
• Stacy saying "I love you, Miss Herbst"

Sights:

• watching the sunrise while eating breakfast
• people playing soccer at every chance
• 12 precious students working hard or listening to my every word

Others (that I didn't feel fit under any category):

• working with such a patient, flexible and gracious cooperating teacher
• Andres and his inability to stay in his chair
• Laura and her bouquets of "fresh flowers" aka grass
• Maria and her beautiful pictures
• Lucas and his precious smile without his two front teeth
• Ruth and her growing knowledge of English
• Stacy and her hugs
• Jeffrey and his daily improvement that is so exciting to watch
• Hannah and her helpfulness
• Mateus and his long answers
• Beatriz and her sweet spirit
• Arthur and his hilarious comments and love for reading the Bible
• Pedro and his inquisitive mind

The students threw me a "surprise party" today, except that yesterday they told me, "Miss Herbst, we have a surprise for you but you won't know until tomorrow." I love kids! They each gave me a picture and note that they had written. I had to ask a few of them to read their notes, because I couldn't understand their invented spelling. They were so sweet! I was close to tears, but laughing at the same time, which kept the tears away. I wonder if this is how it will feel at the end of every year. You get so attached to students and are sad to see them go.

All this week, the students were asking me,
"Miss Herbst, but why do you have to go to the United States?"

"When are you coming back?"

"When you come back, will you teach 3rd and 4th grade?"

"When will you know if you can come back?"

"Do you have MSN? Do you have a camera? YAY! Then we can talk to each other!"

And precious Stacy: "Miss Herbst, can I go with you to the United States?"

Me: "Can you fit in my bag?"

Stacy: "I'm small. I can fit in your bag!"

Me: "I'm sorry Stacy - I already talked to my noivo [fiance] and he said I couldn't bring any kids back."

Stacy: "Oh."

Me: "But come and visit me!"

If kids could go wherever they wanted whenever they chose, I think I would have 10 kids coming to my house tomorrow. It really made me feel pretty good to know that I was loved! (I think Stacy told me 10 times this morning in chapel.... :)

Right before we had our cake, Miss Storms asked someone to pray. Pedro, who has had a hard time getting along with me, volunteered. I was pretty excited. He said, "Dear God, Thank you for Miss Herbst and all that she learned us..."

I failed!! Ha - I don't think I heard anything else after that because I was trying not to laugh. It was so precious.

Then I had to stop and ask myself about my reason for being there:

Did they see Christ through me?

Will they remember the life-lessons learned and not just those in math and science?

Were able to learn from my example?

"And they praised God because of me." Galatians 1:24 *Are they praising God because of me? Did I point them closer to Him?* I hope so!

Yes, part of my heart wil be here in Brazil. How cool would it be for my students to come and visit me someday? I would love to visit them again!

I have learned so much through this experience, but that post will have to wait until another time. Yes, D, I can sleep when I'm dead, but I can't type when I'm asleep....

Sorry for no pictures tonight - it is too late to load them all. Hopefully I can show you some in person very soon!

I am looking forward to seeing you soon, telling you more about my amazing experience and hearing what you have been up to!

Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for your continued prayers during my time in Brazil. I truly appreciate them! I would appreciate your prayers tomorrow as I travel back to Columbus.

And for the last time from Brazilian soil....

Serving HIM in BRAZIL,

Brittany *Miss Herbst*

Wait, WHAT?!

I had to - I just did.... But the title does actually fit...

Wait, What?! You have moved into your third room after living there for three months?! Yes.

Wait, What?! the students ask, "What do you mean you aren't staying until Christmas?!"

Wait, What?! You went to jail?! Yes, but I will explain...

Wait, What?! You only have one week left? Yes, it's true. Sad, but true. This is what I have been up to during my final days here.
Wait, What?! The temperature is HOW cold in Ohio?

I had a great weekend! It began with "Fun Night" - a night full of games for all the students. The high schoolers each plan a game and have a booth set up in or around the gym. The middle school and elementary students then buy tickets in order to play games. The money earned is used for the high school retreat. It reminded me of "Fun Day" that WC put on years ago. I remember the most popular stand being the Goldfish Game.... anyways...

The most popular "game" of the night (the one the students were talking about the whole week leading up to "Fun Night" and the one that is the most popular every year...) was the Jail. After paying 2 tickets, you can have someone put in "jail" for 2 minutes. If you pay 10 tickets, they will be put in for 10 minutes, etc., etc.... One of my students, Pedro, told me Friday morning that he was going to put me in jail at Fun Night. He seemed very excited about it. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. It didn't take me long to find out.

After not even being there for 15 minutes, a high school boy who was one of the "guards" grabbed my arm and escorted me to the "jail". (Wait, WHAT?!) It was a tiny little room (I have no idea what it is used for) that actually has bars on the windows. This actually was actually not surprising, for most of the windows here have bars over them. I enjoyed having Caleb keep me company as my cell mate for the few moments I was there. It was actually over rather quickly - I didn't even have time to enjoy it. :) I was informed that Hannah and her father had so thoughtfully paid for my time in prison.


I went through a maze in the dark with Stacy, chatted with students and parents, cheered students on as they played games, and enjoyed some snacks at the snack bar. Before long, a highschool teacher came up to me and asked what my last name was. When I replied "Herbst" she laughed and said "I thought so". Immediately, a guard came up and once again escorted me to the "jail". They told me that another first grader put me in jail. While sitting at the window of the jail, awaiting my time to expire, Pedro spotted me. He laughed and said, "Miss Herbst! How did you get in there?!" I told him that Andres had paid two tickets to put me in. He excitedly ran off.... When I got out of jail, I attempted to walk away quickly, knowing that Pedro would have paid guards to come after me once again.... Well, I used to think I was a fast walker.... but the Pedro caught up with me before I was far enough away... He grabbed my arm and triumphantly said, "YES! Miss Herbst, you're going to jail!" He proudly escorted me back to the jail once again. While sitting there, Pedro told me through the bars, "See, Miss Herbst? I did not lie when I told you this morning!" Too much, too much....

The jail was such a hit that Laura, one of my first graders, asked her friends to put her in. When no one volunteered, she paid to have herself put in! She didn't want to feel left out. haha! I love kids! The 5th and 6th grade girls were complaining that the jailers (highschool boys) were not doing a good job (to chase those who were supposed to be put in jail). The reality is.... and I'm sure you can all guess... that they somewhat enjoyed being chased by boys. Ha! Oh, the good ol' days... :) I will say, though, that I am done with being chased. I am more than content with the one whom I have allowed to finally capture my heart.

On Sunday, I went with my Brazilian friends, Kamila and Eliseo, to the Bosque. This a large square in the middle of the city stands as the remainder of the natural rainforest. This is a great place to admire God's creativity in creation! There are amazing plants to see as well as a few rainforest animals. We then to to the "Hippie Fair" so I could enjoy a little more "Brazilian culture". :) We ate lunch there and I had manissoba, a very cultural dish that I would not have chosen if only deciding by appearance. However, it was rather tasty. This green sauce (made out of some kind of leaves that are cooked for 7 days straight) is served over rice. I liked it better when accompanied by farofa - a yellow, sawdust-looking powder that Brazilians put on everything and I have learned to do the same (and actually enjoy it too :)

Random comment: I love when Brazilians ask, "What is insert any word in English?" Ha!

I then attended my final English service. I was amazed at how many people came up to say goodbye! This was one of my favorite things here and I will miss participating in this ministry a lot! Thanks, Kamila and Eliseo, once again for a WONDERFUL day, for your thoughtfulness and friendship!

I am enjoying my final week here and attempting to finish strong!

Thanks for your continued prayers as I continue to minister these last few days! I am looking forward to seeing you soon!

Serving HIM in Brazil,
*Brittany

The B-I-B-L-E

A few weeks ago, there was a special Bible dedication in one of the interior villages of Brazil. One of our teachers went and said it was quite the experience. (I was not given the option to go, otherwise I would have jumped on it!)

The tribe receiving Bibles has had the New Testament but just received a complete Bible - New and Old - on the day of the ceremony. Imagine never having a complete Bible in your own language! Hearing about this event was a good reminder that I can often take the Word of God for granted. Do I truly appreciate having a Bible in English? Am I truly excited to read it everyday? I have two Bibles of my own that I often take for granted, and these people were CELEBRATING over receiving a complete Bible in their own language! Wow! What a good reminder and challenge!

During my time here, I have had the privilege of coming in contact with Bible translators - whoa. I have heard of people who work on translating Bibles in other countries, but for some reason I thought that this happened long ago - not so much today. Well, I had the privilege of meeting people who have dedicated their lives to translating the Bible so that others may read the Good News. Wow! What an awesome calling!

What is God calling me to do? I would LOVE to know! Being here has confirmed some things while making other things even more unclear. You would think that after being here for 3 months, I would know why God has brought me here. While I am not exactly sure, there are many things that I have learned along the way. My prayer is that I do not allow these lessons to be forgotten when I return home, but that I am able to keep them always on my mind. It may be a few more weeks until I know for sure why God brought me here. It could also be 25 years. Then again, I may never truly understand until I meet Him face to face. Whatever the reason, I am glad to know that I am being used by Him where I am!

Thanks for your continued prayers!

Serving HIM in Brazil,
Brittany

"I love technology..."

Well, Kip loved it... but I'm not so sure... After being without internet for nearly two weeks, I have become less dependent on it. (and I was a bit dependent...) Let's just say that when I was a Cedarville, the first thing I did in the morning after getting out of bed was check my e-mail... and the last thing I did before going to bed was... yep, you guessed it... check my e-mail... So God has been teaching me that HE is all I need! :)


As you can imagine, LOTS of things have happened since the last post... I will do my best to fill you in on the important parts....



1. We went on a field trip to Mangal das Gracas. This had a butterfly exhibit, an aviary, and beautiful flowers. Beacause we had recently studied butterflies, this fit in well. I had been there once before with AUNT KATHY and enjoyed it. However, I wasn't sure if it was "kid friendly". The students ended up enjoying it a lot. I don't know how much they listened to the guide, but they had fun. Unfortunately, however, the highlight of their day may have been eating lunch at McDonald's.... :)

2. I got my nails done! Ha! I'm sure you're thinking, "Wow, thanks for sharing..." It was a little something special I did after a stressful day of teaching. This is the exciting part: it was only 17 reals! That means it was only about $9-$10! I got a manicure AND pedicure... you couldn't do either for $10 in the States! What a treat! :)

3. Field Day was another highlight. This is an annual event in which all of the students, K-12, are split into two teams for various competitions. Each team, led by two seniors, comes up with a team name, creates a cheer, and makes a flag. They then compete in various races and activities. A track is drawn around the soccer field for running events. All of the students participate in hurdles, a dash of some length (50, 100, or 200 m) and at least one relay. They then compete against their age group in a frisbee toss, long jump, jump rope, and "shot put" (with tennis balls for young students). The high schoolers also do a basketball shoot-out, golf, and javelin. (the picture at the left shows my first and second grade girls ready for the 50 meter dash! Laura even has her "game face" on :)

It is quite the day! Parents are encouraged to come and cheer on their students. After each event, the students receive a colored ribbon depending on how they finish. Here, the first and second grade boys show off their ribbons (which they pin on after each event :)

Before the high school girls' 100 m dash, I noticed a father giving his daughter some last minute tips. It took me back to high school when my dad would give me last minute tips before my races! I actually had to fight back some tears... I MISS YOU, DAD!

It was a fun day in the sun!

4. Right when the day was wrapping up, another teacher and I left for the BEACH. At the end of the quarter, they have two days off for an extended weekend. We took advantage of the opportunity! On my way out of the school property, I had at least 6 kids come up and frantically ask, "Miss Herbst! Miss Herbst! Are you going back to the UNITED STATES?!!" It was so precious! I guess the bag that I was pulling made them fear of my departure... After I reassured them that I would be back on Monday, they allowed me to go. Whew! :)

After a long bus trip (which was quite interesting in itself...) we arrived at our hotel which was located RIGHT ON THE BEACH! We could see it from our window! SWEET! The interesting thing about the beach in Brazil is that people drive their cars right onto the sand. As this picture attempts to show, people park their cars and sit at tables. No one sits on a towel - they either stand by their cars or swim in the ocean. Quite a sight. Corinne and I felt slightly awkward being the only ones on towels... and we even felt a bit in danger of being run over by a speeding car... quite the experience.

On a walk down the beach one afternoon, we found some sand dunes. While climbing up them, I couldn't help but think of the last time I had been on some dunes... probably the best day of my life up to this point! :) (for those of you who are completely confused, Dan proposed on sand dunes in Michigan! :)

Life on the equator is nice, let me tell you. I actaully even spent time in the shade! Imagine that! I returned back to school looking a little more Brazilian. Well, my skin that is.... my hair was even more blond than before... :) Thanks to the ladies at ProVest for providing the reading material: a recent issue of The Knot Ohio! :) I truly enjoyed it. :) (and Mom, I'm ready to get back to the planning!)

I will be teaching the remainder of this week and observing all next week. It is so hard to believe my time is coming to a close!

Thanks for your continued prayers! Right now, you can specifically pray that I stay focused and finish strong!

Serving HIM in the Brazilian Sun,

Brittany

Jehovah Jireh - My Provider

I've been gone for 8 weeks. It's hard to believe! My time left in Brazil is becoming shorter and shorter! I am having a WONDERFUL time, but after 8 weeks, I am realizing that there are some things that I am missing:

1. pizza
2. real cheeseburgers (who would have thought I would have put those two foods down?!)
3. homemade cookies (mainly chocolate chip, but any kind would do)
4. seedless grapes (grapes here are no fun at all!)
5. dinners with my family
6. dinners with friends at Cedarville (yes, even at Chuck's)
7. picking up my cell phone to call Alicia just to tell her that it's 10:49 (ha!)
8. driving (Cass you may need to reteach me!)
9. feeling safe on the road... I actually forget what it's like...
10. going out without turning my ring around and praying that no one notices my blond hair
11. scanning my room for any unwelcomed guests every time I enter
12. talking with friends or family without waiting until 7:00 and praying that they are on Skype and that I have internet and that Skype is working, etc.
13. Cedarville intramural games (DRATER & Frolickers!)
14. going out with friends - people my age
15. talking with a sister or roommate right before bed
16. a certain guy out in D.C.

While I have days when it is hard to be excited to be here in Brazil, God has been faithful in showing Himself, continuing to give me peace, giving me strength, and giving me encouragement through joyful situations. Here are some good stories:

Last week during a Bible lesson, I had written some words on the board that the students had given in response to a question I had asked. After we had a complete list, I asked them which word would answer the question in our book. Some of the students immediately began translating for the first grade girl who speaks no English. I looked at the words and realized that I knew many of them in Portuguese/Spanish. I began to translate as well. When they realized what I was doing, the students stopped talking. After I finished, they were silent. My Portuguese speaking ability left them speechless! :) (Porque eu no fala Portuguese....I don't speak Portuguese!) Pedro immediately stood up and applauded me, genuinely saying, "Good job, Miss Herbst!" I was very pleased with myself! :)

Random quote from my favorite director/principal:

In Belem, it rains on the just and the unjust. However, it rains more on the just because the unjust have taken away my umbrella. - Dr. Underwood

Today in Bible, we were talking about Daniel. We reviewed what we talked about yesterday - Daniel in the lions' den. This is how it went:

Miss Herbst: So, the king told the people that they could only pray to him and not God. Daniel said, "Okay."

Students: NO! He prayed only to God!

Miss Herbst: Oh! And so Daniel prayed only to God. The king said, "That's okay."

Students: NO! He was mad! He threw him in with the lions!

Miss Herbst: Oh! So Daniel was thrown into the lions' den and the lions ate him all up, right?

Students: NO! God shut the lions' mouths!

Miss Herbst: Wow! God kept him safe!

Arthur: Is Daniel alive today?

Stacy: (jumps up) Yes! He's alive in heaven with God!

Miss Herbst: Yes! And someday we will see him and we can ask him what it was like to be in a den with the lions!

Stacy: And Noah will be there!

Miss Herbst: Yes! And we can ask him what it was like to live on an ark with all those stinky animals!

Students all begin shouting out Bible characters whom they will see in heaven.

Miss Herbst: Yes, we will see all of those people in heaven and will hear all of their stories!

Stacy: Yay! I can't wait! We can sit and listen to stories all day!

Wow! It was so cool to be a part of this discussion this morning! I remember being somewhat afraid of heaven when I was young. The thought of living eternally was somewhat of a frightening thought. It was so neat to see all of the students excited to go to heaven! I was then able to share how you are able to get to heaven! While most of the kids are in Christian homes, there are some that are not. I was able to share the Gospel message in my class today! How cool!

And now my favorite story from the past week:

During the opening in the morning (when we talk about the calendar, count money, talk about how many days we've been in school, pracitce the Bible verse, sing a song, etc.), precious Stacy (who else :) called me and motioned me to come over. Although I was in the middle of talking, I couldn't resist. I walked over to her desk and leaned down to her level. She leaned close and whispered, "Miss Herbst, I love you." Aaaahhhh!! My heart melted! Now can you understand why it's so hard not to have favorites?

God is good! He is bringing little situations and precious children into my life to fill me with joy and help me through the hard days!

Thanks so much for your continued prayers!

Serving a good God in Brazil,

*Brittany

-Sorry, D - the picture wouldn't post...

Over half-way!

Last Saturday, I realized that I was half-way into my experience. I was sad at thinking that I was already half-way done! I thought about my time here, what I have accomplished, and how God has been working in my life, and thought about what I still needed to do before I left. It is so amazing to see how God has been working in my life during my time here, and I am excited to see how He will use these experiences to prepare me for the future!

This past week, I realized that I am kinda getting in a rut. In case you are interested, this is my schedule for each day:

5:45 - get up with the rooster

6:30 - arrive at school to do some last minute preps

7:00 - teacher prayer meeting

7:30 - school starts

10:00 - "meranda" - snack/recess for students AND teachers :)

11:55 - lunch (most students go home to eat with their families

12:45 - back to school

2:45 - students leave

3:00 - 5:45-ish - lesson planning/grading/clean classroom

6:00 - dinner

7:15 - devotions, then to the library to check e-mail, update blog, chat on skype, etc...

10:00-ish - (on a good night when my fiance doesn't keep me up talking.... :) back to my cozy little room for bed

It's getting harder and harder to motivate myself to come up with creative lesson plans and activities. I still have 5 weeks left and know that I need to finish strong, all the way through!

Last Friday, I had quite the day. It began by meeting AUNT KATHY at the airport at 4:30 in the morning! Then, I came back for the beginning of the school day. I had the privilege of speaking in the high school/junior high chapel. I talked about planning for the future, and things I have learned so far. I talked about coming to Brazil, surrender, listening to God, and trusting and obeying Him. I think it went well (I hope they thought so too!) From chapel, I went back and taught a math lesson during which I was observed by my supervisor. Right after school, I had parent-teacher conferences. Most of them were in Portuguese, which made it interesting. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I understood! It definitely helps, though, if you know the context and understand a bit of Spanish. I mostly spoke through my teacher. It will be interesting to actually do these conferences on my own someday! My teacher said I did well, which was encouraging. I was so nervous! Wow! What a day! I was glad when the stress was behind me and I could relax. Through all of the events of the day, God truly blessed me with the "peace that passes all understanding." Praise HIM!

As I mentioned before, last week I had the privilege of hosting a guest! AUNT KATHY was willing to come down and visit for a few days! We had a wonderful time!

She arrived on Friday morning (4:20 am), and I let her sleep until lunch. After school, we went to the mall with some of the other teachers. She brought lots of things from my parents, including PIZZA SAUCE for me to add to my pizza. :) Thanks, MOM AND DAD!! :)

On Saturday, we had breakfast at a nice hotel and then went on a private tour of the city. It began at the Museo (or zoo), where I have been before. Our guide was a biologist who knew all of the plants and animals. He was even able to talk to the animals and call them to come closer to us. It was the craziest thing! We then went to the Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Nazare (Our Lady of Nazareth) Catholic church. Every October, they hold a large festival here. A small statue of Mary is paraded through the streets, and ends its journey at this church. I have heard it is quite the event. I am hoping to see part of the parade while I am here. We then traveled over to
Ver-o-Peso, an outdoor market, where every fruit and vegetable grown in Brazil is sold. They also have special "remedies" for the most random things. One in particular could be put in someone's food or perfume/cologne to help calm them down. Interesting....

[from our boat - the city of Belem] Next, we continued our tour on the Amazon (which actually wasn't the Amazon at all, but another rive that meets up with the Amazon.... slightly disappointing, but I wouldn't have known if they didn't tell me.... I was in a boat in Brazil! It was still cool!). We took a boat to an island where we had lunch, then went on a hike through the jungle. So, here I am in my flip-flops, hiking through the jungle.... it was quite the experience. We stopped at a small local home where the owners were making acai, my favorite drink. :)

[making acai shown at right]

They brought out their parrot and let us hold it. Then they put some bananas on the bottom limbs of trees which convinced the monkeys to climb down for pictures! One of the owners cut up a Brazil nut for us to try. The whole time I was praying that God would keep us safe. Not only were we in the jungle, but we were eating food that had not been washed with a 30 year old knife that has probably been used on everything and most likely hasn't been washed either.... Praise HIM for His protection! [from our boat - the restaurant where we ate and the jungle where we hiked]

*cutting up a Brazil nut. The chickens (there were probably 30) were fighting for pieces too..... this didn't make me feel very good.... but I haven't gotten sick yet! :)

At the end of the our adventure, we convinced our guide to drop us off at the Docas, some nice restaurants on the river. These were once docks used to export rubber, but have since been converted into places to eat. At night it somewhat reminds me of Easton for some reason. (however it's not really similar...) Our guide not only helped us get there, but helped us order as well! It was a great ending to a great day full of adventures!
[a common river home]

Mimi? Baboon? Matika? Cromwell!!

I felt like I was at Lipo-Lipo..... (AEC!!! :) Oh, we had even gone into a fish market earlier that day, and I laughed out loud. I couldn't take a picutre because it wasn't safe to have my camera out, but I was thinking of you girls! :)

Thanks for all of your continued prayers and frequent notes of encouragement or updates! Let me know how you are doing!

Praising HIM in Brazil,

Brittany

Cockroaches, Tarantulas and Ants! Oh my!

I have made it nearly 6 weaks without seeing bugs other than mosquitoes in my room. I have yet to get a bite from a fire ant and I have yet to see a tarantula. I am okay with the first. Surprisingly, I wouldn't mind seeing a tarantula. At least I thought so...

A few nights ago, two women staying in the guest house arrived in their room to find a tarantula on the ceiling. I was not pleased to hear this - not at all. I can handle looking at creepy-crawly things at the zoo. However, when they are in the room right next to mine... I just don't have a peace about that. I changed my mind about seeing a tarantula....

In my very first post, I wrote about killing two cockroaches. Believe it or not, I had not seen one since.... until this evening. I was walking down the hallway to my room after dinner. There was a large object on the floor in the middle of the hallway. By now, I just assume they are critters rather than hoping that they are leaves or something. For two seconds, I actually even hoped that it was a tarantula! Ha! However, I was met with something that was totally repulsive: a MASSIVE COCKROACH! I tried to step around it to get to my room. No, I was not about to step on it. With my previous experience of having to squish it multiple times (and this one being 4 times as large) and realizing that I had my favorite flip-flops on (and absolutely hate feeling the crunching under my foot), I decided to pass by it this time. (yes, you can laugh at me now...) In the process of stepping around it, I scared it (surprise! I'm 1000 times bigger than it!). It scampered away.... under the door to the bedroom beside me... whoops... I don't think anyone is staying there tonight... I hope no one is staying there tonight...

Someone sent me an e-mail last week about flying cockroaches. SICK! I have been praying about that ever since. I can handle things on the floor. However, when they are able to go around any way they please, my feelings change.... *HERBSTS and MAGEES - I get hot sweats, cold sweats, fingernail sensitivity, numb lips.... you name it, Bob. *

I thought I would spare you and not post a pictures of one of these lovely creatures. No, I have not taken a picture of one... And I am not exactly planning on it... :)

The student teacher hasn't been feeling super the past few days. I'm sure he would appreciate your prayers! I was reminded that I should be thanking God for the health that He has blessed me with during my 5 1/2 weeks here! Food has not bothered me (I have had very few things I do not like), the climate has not affected me, and I have yet to find something I'm allergic to. PRAISE HIM! How miserable it would be if I was feeling yucky. (D-that was for you :) He is also to be praised for His continual blessing of safety. Being a blond, white girl in a foreign country can oftentimes not been the greatest thing. The driving here is also a little crazier than I would prefer. However, He is holding me in His hand! I am blessed indeed!

Praising HIM in Brazil,
*Brittany

One Month!

I apologize for the lack of posts the past week! Hopefully this will make up for it. :)

Last Saturday was my "one month anniversary"! :) It is so hard to believe that it has already been that long! Time flies when you're having fun! :)



Last Saturday, the "young teachers" went out to dinner at a nice restaurant right on the Amazon. (this included Trevor and Janelle - a young couple who have been here a year; Corinne - a teacher from Switzerland; and Dan - a student teacher from Liberty) We had some good Brazilian food and some good ice cream as well! It was nice to get off campus for a little bit and enjoy each other's company.




I have survived two weeks of full-time teaching! Monday's are a little tiring, but the rest of the week seems to go well. I'm getting closer and closer to being a real teacher! I love the kids more and more each day, and am realizing how hard it will be to leave them. Last Friday, Hannah wrote me this note on the chalkboard:

This week we studied teeth in science. We had a parent come in and talk about what their job as a dentist is all about. The kids loved it! They brought their toothbrushes in for some more hands-on learning. Here are some pictures to show just how much fun they had! I had the privilege of monitoring the boys' bathroom... They are hilarious and sometimes I forget that I'm supposed to be a teacher and correct them when they go a little too far... but there are times that I just can't help it! They crack me up! Each one is a trip-and-a-half... :) Someone keeps telling me that all this time around boys is God's way of preparing me for the future.... we'll just have to wait and see!



These kids did their best to impress our guest.















While they did get a bit silly when I pulled out the camera, they were working hard at making their pearly whites sparkle! *above, Andres, Pedro and Lucas * right, Pedro *





This is the "thank-you" card we gave to our special guest! It said "Muito Obrigado" (moitoo oh-bree-gah-doo = many thanks) on the inside where the students signed their names. They thought it was sweet! :)




After the dentist visit, they had art class. Another teacher comes each Wednesday. The kids love it, but can get easily out of hand....











Mateus shows that he can pay attention when doing something he enjoys. :)













Beatriz does her artwork while wearing the glove from the dentist :)












Last week, a missionary family from Grace Brethren in Columbus took me to Pizza Hut and bowling. I have been craving pizza for a little while now, and was really excited to accept their invitation! When they found out that I was marrying someone from Michigan, I was asked, "Don't you know the Bible says not to be unequally yoked?" I laughed and said I that they weren't the first to tell me... They were gracious and took me out anyway. :) I was disappointed to find, however, that the Pizza Hut here is not like the Pizza Hut I am familiar with. They still use very little sauce (sad day). The crust was not a greasy, which was nice, but it just wasn't the same. Nonetheless I was able to enjoy it. :) It was very thoughtful of them to ask me to join their family! It was nice to talk with people who are familiar with Columbus. I got a little taste of home. :)


I was not able to enjoy a day off last Monday as many of you were. However, our principal informed us that because we were doing such a good job, we could get Friday off! Well, Friday was a National holiday in Brazil - their Independence Day. :) I was hoping to take advantage of this time on the equator by enjoying a day at the pool. Did you know that it's possible to live on the equator yet become paler than when you first arrived? It's true. Sad, but true. (*D- Es cierto. Es la verdad.) However, I was dismayed to find that it was cloudy all day... I have been here for 5 weeks and have yet to see it cloudy for longer than 15 minutes... Today, I was blessed with some sunshine and was able to get a little bit of color. (don't worry, Aunt Lisa - I lathered up in lotion before I went out! :)

The other student teacher, Dan, and I taught an English conversation class on Saturday morning. After some last minute planning (like 10 minutes before class!), we talked about houses, homes, the difference, what they think is necessary to have in a house, and how they are different from those in the States. It went well! The students in this class are fluent for the most part, but are working on expanding their vocabulary and perfecting usage. Working with this level is great for me, for I don't have to know Portuguese... all I need is a dictionary for words they aren't able to explain! :)

This week we have parent-teacher conferences. I'm not exactly sure how that will work just yet. I would appreciate your prayers as I plan those and interact with the parents! Thanks!

Well, I'm off to get ready for bed. I hope all is well in the States!

Serving Him in Brazil,

*Brittany

Be a Missionary Everyday!

Be a missionary every day [clap clap clap clap]

Tell the world that Jesus is the way [clap clap clap clap]

In the town or city, or busy avenue,

Africa or Asia, the task is up to YOU so

Be a missionary

Gods own emissary

Be a missionary today-ay-ay!

Be a missionary every day [clap clap clap clap]

Tell the world that Jesus is the way [clap clap clap clap]

The Lord is soon returning

There is no time to lose

So...Be a missionary

Gods own emissary

Be a missionary today-ay-ay!

This is a favorite of the kids in my class. Although I have heard it before, I have never known all of the words... until now.... :) If you mention the word "missionary" in my classroom (ooohhhh! I just said "my classroom! :), you won't be able to get their attention until after they sing it at the top of their lungs... Thank you, Pedro, for leading the pack!

I know that some of you have been anxiously awaiting a picture of my precious little ones. Here is one of two of my favorites. Yes, I know teachers aren't supposed to have favorites... I don't show it in the classroom. But if they happen to be available for a quick photo shoot, I might just take advantage of it.... :) Jeffrey, is in my second grade class. The precious little girl with him is no other than the "excuse me" girl - first grader, Stacy. They happen to be cousins. They are the best of friends but can fight like brother and sister. :)

As silly as it sounds, I would appreciate your prayers concerning my computer. It has decided not to turn on lately. I have had numerous people look at it, and they have been able to fix it temporarily. Perhaps God is teaching me not to be so dependent on it. :) Last night, I found this screen: the Blue Screen of Death... I was not excited to see the phrase "beginning of physical dump", nor was I comforted when I heard of what it was called..... I am hoping to download everything onto CD's or even an external hard drive. If you could pray that it stays on until then, I would appreciate it!

I heard something the other day that I thought was rather humorous. Hopefully you will think so too!

What a missionary does when a bug is in their cup:

Year 1: Dump out the cup and get a new drink

Year 2: Use a spoon to get the bug out. Finish the drink.

Year 3: Drink around the bug.

Year 4: Ask, "Where is the bug?" when one is not seen in the cup.

Thanks for your notes and prayers!

Serving HIM in Brazil,

Brittany

Portuguese, Purchases and Princesses :)

Yesterday, a few teachers and I went to the "Hippie Fair" to do some shopping. Every Sunday, many vendors set up stands in one of the largetst squares in Belem and sell various Brazilian artifacts (most of which make great souvenirs!). It is quite the event! You can find everything from jewelry and clothes to coconuts and even clothes for your dogs.... (yes, it was rather rediculous...)

I'm not sure if you can see, but the ladies in the picture are dressing a Miniature Doberman...

I learned a new Portuguese phrase: cuanto e? It means "How much is this?" It's very important to know when shopping. I was also able to practice my numbers a lot as well!

At the English Church Service, I had a lesson on colors. Most are very similar to Spanish, which is very helpful. However, I am not able to make one of the sounds in the word red (vermelho). My Brazilian friends were trying not to laugh... but then they can't tell the difference among these words: three, tree, and free. We tried to help each other pronounce these sounds, and had a good time doing it! :)

Perhaps the highlight of the shopping trip was when I met the Disney Princesses! Ariel, Belle, Snow White and a brunette Cinderella were kind enough to take a moment out of their busy day to take a picture with a fan. I was slightly embarrassed that the others getting pictures taken were younger than the students in my class.... but then I realized:

1. I will never see these people again

2. It will make a great memory

3. The people with me did not give me a choice...

4. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! :)

5. Who has ever seen a brunette Cinderella? (only in Brazil! :)

After our adventure, one of the teachers invited me and another student teacher over for lunch with her family. It was nice to be in a home! (although it was weird being called "Miss Herbst" outside of the classroom! I'm getting old!!) I was able to go to their home for lunch a few weeks ago. They introduced me to two Brazilian drinks: coconut milk and acai. Although acai looks like a blueberry, it does not even close to tasting like one. It is a very deep purple in color, and extremely thick. After you drink it, your teeth will turn black. In this picture, I am deciding if I am going to pretend to like it or if I am going to be honest and say how I really feel.... I was not a fan of it... so they added some sugar.... then some tapioca.... I still wasn't convinced. Yesterday, we had it in ice cream. I decided I could handle it. I'd still choose black rasberry chocolate chunk or cookies and cream any day. :) In their back yard, they have a coconut tree. They chopped off the top of a coconut, stuck in a straw, and handed it to me. How fun! This drink I enjoyed.

Thanks, Mr. & Mrs. Cooley for lunch and the "treats", and thanks, Mrs. Cooley, for taking the pictures! (thanks, too, to Nathaniel, Elisabeth, Caleb and Hannah for being good hosts! :)

This week, I am now teaching full-time! I would appreciate your prayers as it is rather overwhelming and extra tiring at first. Thanks so much!

Hope all is well in the States!

Serving HIM in Brazil,

Brittany

Laundry Day!

After 23 days of being in Brazil, I decided it was time to do some washing.... So I took my clothes down to the Amazon and.... no, just kidding.... One of the teachers offered her washer and line. Yes, line - not dryer.... It was quite the adventure. :) (*MOM: I remember helping you hang up clothes on Westborne! :)* It's cheaper than using a dryer. I just might do it myself. However, the weather in Ohio isn't always as predictable... I'll have to see about that. Although it might be a good option for poor newlyweds... ;)

I learned a new life principle today: If you're not in the shower, you should have repellent on... Unlike in the States, they eat all day long, not just in the evening.... Somewhat annoying...

That's about all the exciting news I have for now! Hope all is well where you are!

Serving HIM in Brazil,

*Brittany

A Broken Light and a Steve Green Song...

Friday's are automatically good days because they end at lunchtime. The students don't have time to get crazy, and they don't have to sit through science, which makes them happy too.

Today, I decided to have math at the reading carpet. We were talking about addition problems using a picnic scenario. We each brought a sandwich to eat, but we had some uninvited guests -ants - who wanted some too. We each told a story problem about how many ants were on our plate, and how many came to join them. The students enjoyed being somewhere other than their desks and not using a pencil to complete their math. Before we went over to the carpet, I warned them that in order to participate in the activity, they had to be good listeners and cooperate. They knew that if they did not listen, we would have to go back to the table like usual. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they behaved!

Toward the end of our "picnic", however, something unexpected happened: the light above the back table exploded. The class froze, and a few students screamed. I immediately realized that had we been at the table as usual, the students would have been badly cut if not more badly injured. My teacher and I calmed the students and then prayed, thanking God for keeping us safe. My cooperating teacher left the room to get someone to clean it up. The students were not to move until she came back. In order to keep them occupied, I suggested we sing a song. One of the students immediately started singing, "When I am afraid I will trust in You. I will trust in You. I will trust in You. When I am afraid I will trust in You, in God, whose Word I praise." And all the rest joined in...

After school, the first and second graders were running up to all of the other students telling them this story:

"The light fell and crashed all over the floor! But God told Miss Herbst to have math at the carpet and not the back table. God kept us safe!"

How neat it was to hear 6, 7 and 8 year olds praising God for His safe hand of protection rather than simply spreading news about the light crashing! What a privilege to work with kids and be able to be a part of their growing relationship with Christ! It is both encouraging and challenging!

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4

Praising Him for His protection!
*Brittany

Weather and Such

Many of you have asked about the weather. "Just how hot is it?" Well, it's hot, but not scorching. The humidity is what is bothersome. However, the heat has not bothered me yet. I haven't even used the air conditioner in my room yet! (which I have to pay for by the hour!!) I'm sure it will be hard to come back to Ohio in October though... Unlike when I'm at home and school, I don't look at weather.com or my thermometer the first thing out of bed. I don't worry about what to wear because I can always count on it being hot and humid with a chance of rain. It's kinda nice having the weather be predictable like that. Yes, I know it takes out the excitement that Ohio has when it snows in May, but I'm okay with it. :) If you want to know just how hot it is, feel free to check the AVA website. You'll find the temperature on the right side.


http://www.avabrazil.org/site/


We are in the "dry season" right now, but it has rained nearly everyday since I have been here. Today it poured hard enough for a soccer game to be postponed! Imagine that!

I have realized something in the past few days: I'm not on vacation. This has a few implications. The main one that I have been thinking about is food. You know when you go on vacation or visit a new place and you want to try all the new foods? Well, I am doing that.... and I am enjoying it.... too much... I may gain the freshman 15+ afterall.... :)

Tomorrow begins week three of school. I will be adding a few more subjects to my lesson planning and will now be teaching: math, phonics, reading, spelling, and Bible. Although I only have 6 second graders, I feel like I have a full class!


However, Stacy, the precious first grade girl who I talked about before, has different thoughts about me teaching. On Friday, I asked the students to go to their desks so that we could begin. Stacy looked at me and said, "You're just the second grade teacher. Miss Storms is the first grade teacher. I don't have to listen to you." I explained that I was her teacher too, just like Miss Storms. She crawled to her desk...


I am learning to be more strict. It is something that all my advisors have told me to work on when they observed me in previous classrooms. Last week I wrote names on the board (which is not a good thing - it means they stay in during recess - and can lead to further consequences) and even had a student stay after school to finsih some work! I could not believe myself! I don't know if I should be proud of myself for not giving into the students, or feel ashamed for doing so.... I guess it's good practice for the future.... or least for dealing with my own kids...


Well, I'm off to bed. I have to get up with the rooster at the crack of dawn (*CASSIDY AND ALICIA*). And unfortunately, I'm not joking.....



Thank you all for your prayers and for the comments and e-mails!


From the heat of BRAZIL,
*Brittany

A Tour of the City

August 15 is a holiday celebrated in the state of Para to recognize the day that it became part of the Union (I believe that is why we got off of school! :) It was strange to have a break after only being in school for seven days.

Two people who attend the English church service on Sunday afternoons offered to take me on a tour of the city. The teachers gave their approval, and I took advantage of spending some time with people closer to my age. :) We met at the school and took the bus to the Museo, which is basically like a zoo. I had a great time! They speak English fairly well, but wanted me to correct their slight mistakes. They had fun trying to teach me Portuguese. At the end of the day, they said I was practically Brazilian! I'm not sure that knowing how to say 6 words/phrases qualifies me to be Brazilian, but I didn't argue with them. There were many birds, monkeys, turtles, otters, crocodiles, snakes, manatees, and other animals. My "tour guides" would tell me the name in Portuguese and I would help them pronounce the English names. It was a fun little game. :) I'm afraid that had there been a test at the end, they would have passed with flying colors and I.... would not have done so well.... :)

I was able to get lots of exercise as we walked around the city. We decided not to take the bus so that I would be able to see more (and it was free! :) My legs are feeling it today.... I love flip-flops, but they are probably not the best touring shoes....

While the zoo itself was similar to ones I have visited in the States, the trees and bushes were much different. It was so cool to see! This is a large tree that we had to take a picture with. (the guy that was with us love taking pictures.....*CASSIDY AND ERIN: not quite as much as you... :)*

After walking around the city all morning, we stopped to get pizza for lunch. Now, pizza here, as you would expect, is much different than pizza in the States. First of all, it has little to no sauce. Instead, Brazilians often put ketchsup or.... are you sitting down?....mayonnaise... on top. Then come the toppings. They begin with what we may consider "normal" : ham, olives, and tomatoes. Then..... they add eggs and peas.... (*AUNT LISA: I wouldn't recommend the pizza to you! :) I wish I had taken a picture to show you! I will admit that as I was serving myself, I "struggled" with getting the pizza to my plate. In the process, I lost an olive and a good amount of eggs and peas. I wasn't able to put ketchup or mayonnaise on top of my pizza. But I did enjoy what remained of my piece. :)

My tour guides took me to multiple squares, one of which is known for a "Hippie Fair". I did not buy anything, but scoped out the stands for next time. It was quite the place!

This picture reminds me of "Mulan" for some reason.... :) (and then I think of *Megan Nish*!! :)

After walking around in the heat, we went to the mall for ice cream. Once again, I forget what I had. However, I know it was a Brazilian fruit flavor with Brazilian nut and chocolate pieces. I would recommend it! We decided that we deserved some rest time, so we went to a movie. Now, I am sure that many of you are thinking, "A movie? How could YOU see a movie in BRAZIL?!" Let me explain: in Brazil, they watch American movies in English with Portuguese subtitles. It reminded me of watching movies in Spanish class with English subtitles. I surely wouldn't like it! However, yesterday, it was fine with me! :)

ZAC: Remember that book that we read that had the giant lillypads in it? Well I saw some at the zoo! No, I didn't stand on them - I don't think they were that big. But look how big they were! I could easily have sat on them in Indian-style (or criss-cross-applesauce, to be politically correct...)

What a great day!

Thanks, Kamila and Eliseu, for being wonderful tour guides!! I had a lot of fun!

Yay for kids!

I have survived the first week of school! My teacher and I have 6 first graders and 6 second graders. We definitely have our hands full! Although we only have 12 students in the room, it feels like we have a full class of 25. I have learned that parenting is not very important in Brazil. This is definitely seen in the classroom!

While they are "fluent" in English, the students still struggle with certain words every once in a while. This can be frustrating for both them and for me. There are some words that they cannot say in English, but only know in Portuguese. I know no Portuguese, so I try to have them explain the word to me using different words. They usually do not like this method very much... We are working on it! I am definitely getting opportunities to practice patience. After the challenges in this class, I will be ready for any class!! :)

We use American textbooks, which can make things more challenging. The stories that they read may contain experiences or topics that are familiar to any child in the US, but are not familiar to a Brazilian student. They are still building their vocabulary, so many things have to be explained in greater detail than if I was teaching the same lesson in the States. For example, today they read a story about going to a Bugs Bunny cartoon at the movie theatre. They do have movie theatres, but they did not know what the word "cartoon" meant, nor had they heard of "Bugs Bunny". Therefore, they had difficulty reading the story, making meaning of it, and answering comprehenison questions. Sometimes I wonder if they should use a different curriculum for reading, but I guess the parents want them to have an "American education". So.... I'll teach it!

This experience is helping me learn how to communicate better as I tell the students things in multiple ways. I am constantly thinking of better ways to explain myself or a new term that they are learning. I am being challenged, learning right along with them, and having fun in the process! The majority of the parents do not speak English either. This makes communicating with the parents about what is going on in the classroom more of a challenge. I also cannot expect parents to support English learning while at home, for they do not know enough themselves to practice with their children. Therefore, homework policies must be altered if not eliminated (which I am totally fine with).

Today I helped my teacher begin a rewards/motivation/incentive program in order to encourage the students to behave better. There are three main rules that they must obey in order to receive a sticker at the end of the day. After receiving 5 stickers, they can get some candy. It was a rough start, but I think that they understand it a little more (some did not get stickers today) and are ready to try again tomorrow!

On Saturday, I was able to go out with some people who live on the school property. A young couple (who have been here just a year and teach at the school), a guy who teaches ESL classes, and I went out to eat and to a bowling ally. It was a lot of fun! It was a change of pace from spending time with the older single teachers that I have spent most of my time with up until then. I was able to ride a bus as well, which was a good experience! I feel like I am settling in more and more each day, which is a wonderful feeling!

On Sunday, I went to church with some of the teachers. It was all in Portuguese, which made it a little difficult. One of the teachers is fluent and would summarize from time to time. The pastor used lots of scripture, which was put on the PowerPoint. This was very helpful! I was able to determine the reference and find it in my Bible. This helped me to understand the basic point he was talking about. I was also able to compare the English with the Portuguese on the screen. Hopefully next week I will be able to recognize some of the words! It is so neat to think of how believers can worship no matter what the language! What a cool experienc it is to worship with others who speak another language!

There is an English church service on the school property every Sunday afternoon. It is promoted with "come and learn English" rather than "come to a church service". However, the Bible is then used in order to help them practice their English. What a sweet ministry! Many poeple have gotten saved as a result of coming. There are numerous people who have been attending the service for years! How cool! We sing praise songs (slowly :) then hear a short message. The people then split up into different discussion groups determined by their English speaking ability. Before the service, someone came up to me and asked, "May I talk to you?" They just wanted to practice their English on a native speaker! We compared life in Brazil to life in America, and I got some tips on what to eat. (except I don't know if I remember the names... ) I wish my students were as anxious to learn addition and long vowels as these people are anxious to learn English! :)

I will end with a story that I think is both precious and hilarious (hopefully you will too!):

I was helping Stacy, a first grader, tie her shoe. She is probably the most adorable little girl I have ever seen. She is one who pushes the limits, though, which can drive me crazy (ex. she is one who touches their eraser after you say "Please don't touch your pencil."). Yet she is so precious you can't help but love her! So, I was tying her shoe and she informed me that Andres, one of the first grade boys, burps all the time.

"It's soooo disgusting," she said.

I told her, "Yes, it is not very nice to burp. He needs to say 'Excuse me.'"

"'Excuse me'?"

"Yes, he needs to say 'Excuse me'."

"No, not 'Excuse me.' That's what you say like when people do something you don't like. You say, "Excuuuuse me?!'" (with attitude in her voice)

Haha! And she said it just like me! Ha! I was crouched down tying her shoe and almost fell over because I was laughing. She is a trip and a half.... I love kids!! :)

A Futebol Game!!

After being here for less than a week, I have already had the opportunity to go to a "futebol" game! We watched Remo (pronounced hay-moe.... r's are pronounced like an "h") score two goals for a victory. One of the high school teachers asked me if I was interested in going (don't worry, D- he's married). He said he had to check to see if it was safe enough to take me, but to plan on it. (I asked my parents before I left the U.S. if I should dye my hair, but we decided against it...) We ended up going with a group, which is much safer anyway. As I said before, I feel like it is the law to wear soccer jerseys - and this was no exception. I felt a little out of the loop, since I do not own one... yet. :) When I find a cute one for a good deal, I will get it! (Okay, I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a "cute" soccer jersey, but I'm determined to find it! :) (Yes, D, I know... but at least I didn't add a "y" to the end of any word in that sentence....)

(Sorry this was ended abruptly... a storm was coming and I had to run for cover....)

A piece of advice: Don't step in the puddles around the arena. They are not places where people have spilled pop....

While at the game, I also learned that it is rude to eat and walk at the same time. That's just like Westerville, where you can't eat a bagel while walking on the sidewalk...

There were armed guards, complete with shields and heavy-duty helmets, who escorted the referees to and from the field. It was intense!

When we were walking into the stadium, there were many men yelling "hah-dee-oh, hah-dee-oh, hah-dee-oh" over and over and over super fast.... I asked someone what they were saying and was informed that they were selling radios. In Brazil, the letter "r" is pronounced with an /h/ sound. In Spanish, radio is spelled the same but pronounced with a rolled "r". It is interesting to see how lanuguages are related!

People would buy these hand-held radios to listen to the comentary of the game. There is no sound system in the stadium, and I realized it was not necessary. Each "gang" (aka, serious "fan clubs") brings their own drums and followers who sing and chant during the entire game. Everyone knows all the words or sounds and exactly when to say/sing them. It was quite entertaining! They really get into "futebol"!

I realized how serious they are about soccer during recess duty last week. The second and third graders were playing during lunch recess. One of my second graders came up crying. It seemed very serious. Through the tears and sobs, I made out, "They gave me a yellow and then a red!" I could not believe it - second graders giving each other red cards and making their friends sit out of the game!! I wasn't trained for dealing with these kinds of situations.... I haven't learned enough about soccer yet!! :)

Hello from BRAZIL!!

Hello from BRAZIL! So much has happened within the past few days and I have been anxiously awaiting having some free time (and internet access!) to tell you about it! First of all, God is SO GOOD! I have yet to question my decision to come here, but been totally at peace knowing that this is where God wants me for this time.

*Please note: this post is rather lengthy and may need to be read in 2-3 sittings... just an FYI :)*

Last Wednesday was a long day as I left my house at 5:30 and spent 9 hours in Miami as I awaited my next flight. I had never flown alone, but all went well. On my first flight, there were two adorable little boys who were thrilled about going to Disney World. They kept me distracted and smiling as I left good ol' Columbus, Ohio. During the flight from Miami to Manaus, Brazil, we experienced quite a bit of turbulence. While others on the plane were truly scared for their lives, I had a total peace knowing that God had me in His hands. Never have I before felt so surrounded by prayers, felt so at peace in God's hand, and been so calm in such a situation! Thanks so much for your prayers! I knew that it was God's will that I be here, and I knew that He would get me here safely. "'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!"

I finally arrived in Belem at 4:30 am on Thursday morning after a long flight from Miami (where I had a 9 hour layover... and was greeted by four American teachers who were truly exciting to see me! What a welcome! A huge praise is that I arrived with ALL OF MY LUGGAGE! In the spring, I heard of a student teacher who did not get her luggage the whole time she was overseas. That was a huge fear and something that I prayed about from the time I heard the story until the time I saw my bags in Belem! PRAISE HIM! After finally getting to the school and catching up on some sleep, I was thrown right into the teaching role! I helped my cooperating teacher prepare the classroom for the 12 first and second grade students we were expecting. We cleaned, organized, replaced old bulletin boards, prepared books and set up desks.

Above: the meal I was served on the plane. I'm not sure what it was.... I ate the chocolate part... :)

"Before" and "After" shots of the classroom

"Before" and "After" of a bulletin board I created!

And another....

Yes, it is hot and humid here. How hot? I'm not exactly sure. All I know is that the only time I have sweat so much was during a cross-country practice. Air conditioning is rarely used. I am charged by the hour if I use it in my room! The two fans they provided have been doing their job so far! :) Being in the rain forest, we do get lots of rain, even in the "dry season". It is always wise to take an umbrella with you, even if the sky is bluer than blue can be. (and the skys are beautiful here!) It is not unusual for it to start raining out of the blue! (no pun intended... :) It's actually kinda fun.

My first meal here was a traditional Portuguese dish (I wish I could remember the name!) and I enjoyed it very much! The teachers have also taken me out for Brazilian ice cream and to a Brazilian buffet. The buffets here are not like in the States - food is limited. After filling your plate, it is weighed. You then pay according to how much your food weighs! Eating salad and little meat is the way to go! :) Nothing has upset my stomach so far! :) While I have been here, I have also had hamburgers, spaghetti, and chicken and mashed potatoes... I think I'll be fine living here for three months! :)

They had my picture on the bulletin board in the teachers' lounge so they would all recognize me! (when they met me in the airport, they said, "We knew it was you because of your curly hair!" If they only knew! :)

My teacher is a very sweet single lady who has been teaching here for 18 years. *FAMILY: she somewhat reminds me of Mrs. Price* :) I think we will get along just fine. The director and principal of the school (who reminds me of Papa :) is a wonderful guy who is always asking me if there is anything I need or anything he can do to make me more comfortable. Don't worry - I am being taken care of! He likes to tell jokes (kinda like Papa :) and is always the first to laugh (Cassidy! :). I thought I'd share a few:

* "What reason did Adam give to his children for why they lived outside of the garden?
-Your mother ate us out of house and home.

* "Who was the wealthiest man in the Bible?
- Noah - while his stocks were rising, everyone else was liquidizing.

Before I came, my sisters asked me, "What if Brazilians eat really fast? You should probably practice." Some of you may be shocked to hear that there is a teacher here who eats more slowly than I do! After every meal, she says, "Brittany, I'm so glad you're here!" I'm just glad that I'm not the only one too!

After being here for a few days, I have determined that it must be a law to wear soccer jerseys. I could probably count on one hand how many people I have seen that did not have them on!

And just FYI: I killed my first cockroach! (no, it wasn't in my room, praise the LORD!) I was doing my devotions on the couch in the main room and something caught my eye. I smashed it but didn't have the guts to pick it up... and it was interupting my time with God so I sat back down. A minute later, something else caught my eye: the very same cockroach!! FAMILY and DAN: I was like, "Wait, WHAT??!!!" I got up and stomped on it a few times, just to make sure it wouldn't interrupt again. A few minutes later, one had the nerve to crawl down the couch where I was sitting. Of course, I couldn't have that! After I smashed it pretty well, I decided that I should probably get rid of them so someone else didn't find them. I was mostly nervous that they would come back alive in my hands! "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" ....even kill and throw out cockroaches!! :)

As I continue on this adventure (and what an adventure it is!), I would appreciate your prayers! Specifically, you can pray:

*that I would continue to be a peace where I am
*that I would stay focused on what I am here to do and not be distracted by what is going on at home, at Cedarville, or in Washington D.C. (where a special someone will be shortly :)
*that I would rely on God for strength, encouragement and comfort each day
*that I would be a light for Him in everything I do and say
*that I would take advantage of every opportunity that I have here (it's especially hard when I'm already out of my comfort zone!)
*that I would learn and grow not only in the area of teaching but emotionally and spiritually as well
*that the internet would stay strong so that I can stay in contact with those at home and that when it is down, that I would not get discouraged! (as silly as it sounds!)

I'm sorry this is so long! Future posts should not be this lengthy - I have just not had a chance to get online yet! I still have much more to say, but I will save it for another day! :) Feel free to e-mail me and keep me posted on what is going on in your lives as well!

Thanks so much for your prayers!

Praising HIM all the way in Brazil,
*Brittany