I love coffee!

Here's a cool pic I received from a friend...can you find the hidden man?

Alex from Brasil...

Wow...another whirlwind day! I got a call from Barron Geiger around 11am today telling me that Alex (a friend from Brasil) was at the Greyhound station in Des Moines. You see, Alex has been in Houston translating for the group of Brasilians at the Robotics Competition. (Their group came in second place.) I knew Alex had enough money to come to Des Moines and that he wanted to but it was quite a shock to hear he was here! While I knew it was a possibility two weeks ago, I had not heard anything since then so I just assumed it didn't work out. Until the phone call today. So...now he's here and it's very cool!! So, if you're reading this and you know Alex and you want to hang out with him next week give me a call!! He's here until Friday and we'll be at church Sunday morning for the late service.

Roller Skating

Last night I went roller skating. Yes, roller skating. Tyler's school had the rink from 7-8pm so I went along. Wow...I haven't been on roller skates in a lot of years! And although it was fun it was hard to dodge all the kids who didn't seem to want to go in the right direction. But maybe I was a little leary because they are closer to the ground that I am and don't have as far to fall! I noticed the floor was a different kind than when I used to skate. It was a "softer" floor that I'm sure is meant to cushion someone's fall. But I found myself wondering if the people who invented it really tried it out. Because I can tell you...it's not much different that falling on the OLD floor! You still hit the ground with the same force when your skates are knocked out from under you. And this softer, "faller-friendly" floor is not much help. But I only fell once. Thank you, Lord, for that! I was skating around minding my own business when I saw him. A kid who was gingerly making his way from the middle of the rink backwards towards the opening to get out. We were on a course to collide when our eyes met. In his I saw death and fear so I'm not sure he even saw the panic in my eyes! As I jerkily moved left to avoid him he jerkily moved right to avoid me and BAM! I tried to grab him and take him with me to keep us both up but by this time he is panicking and flailing and I end up going down. I look up and see him staring down at me (no, he didn't fall) and I ask "you okay, dude?". He just nodded and skated off...leaving me to nurse my pride. Of course this all had to happen at the end of the rink with the snack bar and the tables and the DJ. It couldn't have happened at the other deserted end of the rink. Oh well, hopefully someone (his mother maybe) saw me attempting to be heroic and not kill her son...but probably not.

O Happy Day!

What a whirlwind couple of days it has been!! My friend, Chellee, has been in Brasil since January helping our missionary friends there and her time is almost finished. Since she left I had been toying with the idea of going to Brasil at the end of her time and flying home with her. I remember what a huge blessing it was when Sandy and Lisa flew down to bring me home two years ago and I wanted to do the same for Chellee. I didn't give it much thought because whenever I checked tickets they were well over $1000. But then I got an email this week on Tuesday from a travel agent connection the missionary had given me who could get me a round-trip ticket from Des Moines for just under $1000...and Chellee and I would have the same flight home. And it suddenly became a reality! So now I am leaving for Brasil on Sunday night, April 29, at 6:30pm. About 3 weeks! And Chellee and I will arrive back in Des Moines on Friday, May 11, around 8:30am. I really can't believe how it all worked out. And I won't have to get a visa because mine is still good until June of this year.

This 5 year visa has been a great thing to have! I have traveled to Brasil every year using it and it has saved me hundreds of dollars!! But they don't issue 5 year visas for tourists anymore. So, no more last minute travel to Brasil! But that won't stop me from going.

So, if you are reading this and wish to send anything to anyone in Gravatái please get it to me in plenty of time so I can fit it in my suitcase!

Now I need to brush up on my Portuguese...

Easter Cartoon