A weekend in Santa Helena Part 1

There are lots of photos from our time in Santa Helena, so I thought I'd make this into two blog posts - Part 2 coming soon.

Right now we are in São Luis in northern, equatorial Brazil.

Last weekend we went  to Santa Helena,

five hours by ferry
(here Pat and I are pictured with Rafael, our interpreter and Miguel, our driver)

plus car from São Luis.

When we walked off the ferry we were offered crabs for sale (tied together in bunches so they don't walk away!)

and coconut water. We opted for the coconut water. Deliciously fresh straight from the shell.

 After the ferry ride we journeyed on past little settlements,

  

and homes

complete with electricity
 

and TV antennas, 

a school,

 a small country church

and places to buy snacks.

I think this guy might have been waiting a while. He doesn't have a lot to sell.
 

 

We were warmly welcomed in Santa Helena with lunch cooked by Francisco's mum. Thank you Maria for your gift to us of great food and friendship over the weekend.

Next blog post about our time with the church in Santa Helena.

Johnny's house

Yesterday we went to Johnny's house for lunch.

  I introduced you to Johnny when we were part of the Escola da Vida program a couple of weeks 

ago. He's the leader of YFC in São Luis

and he also pastors a small church in a poor area of  São Luis.

Johnny is married to Fernanda and they have two children - David and Maria Fernanda.

  Lunch was delicious with a torta de frango (chicken pie), beans (feijões), rice (arroz) and salada.

This appears to be a very 'together' family whose company I enjoy a lot.

David was home from school because he attends school in the mornings.

Lidia, Johnny's assistant who you met last week, was there with us as well, and Pat's and my hostesses - Tatiana and Flavya.

 And little Maria Fernanda wasn't keen to have her afternoon nap with all the company in their home.

 Before we left we talked to Johnny about his ministry and challenges in life and then prayed for him and his family. 

The photo isn't very clear, but they loved the koala tea towel and drawstring bag with Australian animals on it that we gave them before we left.

Thanks so much Johnny and Fernanda. It was a special time with you.

Panaquatira Day

I wasn't ready for the wonderful surprises in my great day out with Patricia and Alicia, when they invited me to go with them to the weekly meeting of the pastors of the Igreja (Church) Batista International.

I met these two gorgeous ladies (mother and daughter) last week, because they are from the church that partnered with YFC for Escola da Vida last week. 

  What a wonderful idea it is for the pastors of this movement to meet weekly 

for prayer, encouragement and refreshment 

in this very peaceful setting some distance from the city of  São Luis.

They spend the morning reading the Bible together, talking through any issues they are facing as a church and pray for each other.

I was asked to share about what I do as a Senior Servant.

It was also an opportunity to tell other pastors about the Escola da Vida program and how the local church can be a part of the ministry.

 While the 'business' was happening with the pastors, the ladies in the kitchen were cooking up

 some of the most delicious food I have eaten in Brazil. This was a beautiful fish dish

and the pastors were eager to line up for lunch.

We all had the opportunity to chat over lunch

 and enjoy each other's company

 

and spend more quality time together.

And after lunch, the Brazilian rest in the rede (hammock), for some, before we headed back to the city.

Thank you so much for including me, Patricia and Alicia. It was a special day out with you ladies.

A lovely day out

Lidia picked me up in time to go to lunch at her house.
Lidia is Johnny's assistant at YFC in São Luis.

We took photos of each other

while we were eating lunch. Lidia's suggestion. She loves to take photos.

We had a long lunch as we chatted about lots of things and then we had a nap - as is the custom here in Brazil.

I had my nap on her parents' bed while her mum had hers in the hammock - rede in Portuguese (pronounced hedgie) - in Lidia's room.

After our nap and shower, we headed off to the supermarket to buy some things for her mum.

 It wasn't very different from many supermarkets in Australia,

except for some of the things that can be bought there. Lots of these things in the bakery section are quite unlike anything we can buy in Australia - very traditionally Brazilian. Lidia bought some tapioca balls.

The people helping at the checkout were wearing T shirts that said in Portuguese 

"Can I help? It is a pleasure to serve you."

Nice touch.

 When we arrived home Lidia's dad was having his hap in the rede in the living room

and we had some afternoon tea. We ate the tapioca balls from the supermarket, cheese, avocado, some tiny and delicious bread rolls,

 some carrot, orange and honey yogurt,

and pimenta jam. 

Now that was a new experience for me, but I liked it and went back for more!

Lidia's mum joined us at the table for a chat. Lidia was our interpreter.

A bit later Lidia and I looked through some photos from Escola da Vida last week and chatted on her bed for a while. Such a relaxing time together sharing life.

Her mum and dad were relaxing in their redes

and watching the news on TV.
What a comfy option.
Brazilian houses here in the north have rede hooks in the wall at just the right height. A very well defined part of their culture.

Then we all had dinner together before Lidia took me home.
Such a lovely day together with a gorgeous young woman.

Thanks so much, Lidia. You blessed me.