Every day is an adventure. Have I mentioned that yet? More specifically, every task is an adventure. We've learned to celebrate the small victories- ordering at McDonalds without being handed the picture menu, communicating anything with the maid, making small talk with a cab driver. Travis and Alicia have their apartment keys. The last shall be first. The rest of us are a little more up in the air at the moment. We'll see how tomorrow goes. I feel really bad for the families with kids- I know they're dying to get out of the hotel. I'm just ready to live somewhere. Russ and I haven't had our own place in almost a year. ************************************** On Sunday night, Alicia and I were sitting on the couch when we heard loud noises outside our window. We jumped up and looked out the window, convinced someone was being shot. It turned out to be fireworks (very close ones!). When we looked around, discovered the source- a small group on the beach. In the middle was a woman in a big white dress- a baiana. We've seen them before, usually selling food on the street, but this was different. She was carrying something which she carefully placed in the waves. The people all did a rhythmic clap while it drifted out to sea. Another set of fireworks went off. After, we sat and reflected about it. For me, it was an interesting end to the day. It was Easter Sunday, and all week, we'd seen the Christian influence in the city. So much talk of Jesus. We'd had our first worship service as a team. A great day to focus on the Lord. But then, at the end of it, a reminder- this is not Christ's city yet. Satan has a stronghold and that is why we're here; why we put up with beaurocracy and people going back on our contracts and all the other uncomfortable things. So those people on the beach can be set free. So our Lord can reign. Be with us, Lord, as we share you with this city.

Our teams first Baptism!!!!

Well it has happened. Our team has had a baptism, and we were only on the field a week. I am happy to report that my son, Kelton, was baptized this past Sunday at church, or at least he got a good sprinkle. Oh the adventures we have already had in Brazil.

On our first Sunday, March 20, we were able to visit the main local church here in Salvador. They are a great church and about 200 members strong. They are so friendly and helpful and sometimes with a language barrier you can really get carried away especially if you aren't quite 2 foot tall yet.

As most places in Salvador are, the church building was very hot and did not have a great amount of air flow. Therefore, by the end of the service most of us were sweating if not dripping. This is something we had become accustom to during the week and so we were not too surprised at the result of spending all morning in a hot building. Towards the end of the service Jennifer, who was not feeling great to begin with, and Kelton were standing near the back door trying to cool off a little. At some point Georgia, one of the fabulous people from Continent helping us get settle into Salvador took Kelton to help Jennifer out. About this time one of the Brazilian ladies was Kelton sweating began to get concerned. She suggested that Kelton was too hot and that it would help is Georgia took off his clothes. So during the worship service Georgia and our new friend begin stripping Kelton of his clothes.

This did not seem to satisfy her though. She told Georgia that he was still too hot and needed a little water to cool him off. She then takes Kelton and Georgia upstairs and then begins to take off his diaper saying he really needs a shower. Before Georgia can object Kelton is under the shower becoming the first baptized child on our team. Our new friend then takes Kelton out and ask Georgia if we have had a towel or a new diaper, a new diaper yes in the car, but a towel? So Georgia did the only thing she could, she dried him off with her dress and put his old diaper back on him.

This is about the time if finally after asking several people learn where my child is. I come up to find Kelton dripping wet wearing nothing but a diaper. I guess this is what they call baptism by fire/water.

In end, everything was fine and Kelton did not seem to mind the adventure. There is no telling what we will learn next week.

Randy

Hurry up and wait. It applies to every aspect of life here. Today we're hanging out, doing nothing, waiting for this long weekend to end so we hit it again in the morning. We've spent three days now doing almost nothing because everything is closed for the Easter weekend. (We did go look at furniture yesterday, but haven't been able to get any further in the paperwork world which is our most pressing need!)

On a good note, we had our first worship service as a team here today. How appropriate that the first service of our team in the city of the Savior would be on Easter Sunday. A day we think about new beginnings and the wondrous gifts of God. It was great and we look forward to what's ahead.