Back in the Saddle

Our love affair with Brazil continues, and here we are, in Recife for six days already.  Who would have thought it would be over a year until we came back.  I don't know where to start regarding how we came to this point, or even how we are doing since we got here, so I will try to keep it somewhat basic.

In January we decided we'd try again with our visa process, as Shaun is still interested in the opportunity here for a coco peat business.  I won't go into all the details regarding that process, however it took long enough that we arrived here once again on tourist visas, which last for three months and can be extended for an additional three.  We are optimistic that in that time, Lord willing, we will be able to apply for a different type of visa than we expected.... an infant visa.  We are expecting a baby and pray if all goes well to welcome the newest member of our family to the great wide world in October.  In Brazil, as guardians of a Brazilian citizen (which our baby will be), you can apply to receive a visa here to care for your child.   Although none of that was part of our plan when we began this process, it seems to be to our advantage in more ways than having a new baby to enjoy! Also in newer developments, Shaun will be helping out part-time with organizations that support different mission projects in Brazil, so that will also be helpful to our family.

So that is the background in a nutshell.

We are staying in Recife currently, at a home of friends who are currently in Canada for a couple of months.  This works out well in terms of housing and being close to a hospital and being close to the projects Shaun needs to look at.  Then the plan is to move down the coast two hours, to the little town we were in before, which is more where the opportunity for the coco peat business exists.

We arrived last week Wednesday, after only 20 hours in transit.  Our friend Ken picked us up and we had too many bags for the minivan, so we ran to the nearest hardware store and picked up some ropes and bungy cords.  Yes... those are our Canadian hockey bags on the roof!

I can't believe we somehow packed everyone in.  For Brazil you are allowed to have 2 bags of 70 lbs each per person, plus a carry-on and a personal item per person.  And your carry-on can be 50 lbs!  Yes we were those annoying people on the plane trying to shove luggage everywhere, and dragging on as much as we could carry.  Already in Vancouver they let us check two more carry-on bags all the way to Recife, so that was great to not have to worry about at the 2 airports where we had stopovers.  In fact, except for a one hour delay out of Miami, our whole trip was as little amount of pain as it could be.

Ken's wife Tamara so kindly met us at our new "home" with a stocked fridge, and their kids to welcome our kids.  By this time it was noonish, so we all cleaned up and rested and fed and then even were invited to go to their house for dinner.  What a relief to have someone take care of us after that flight.  It felt like we finally took a breath.  Thanks for your hospitality, Ken and Tamara!

The next two days were unpacking and sorting.  The kids have been in general so good, although we all have had our moments.  We attended the local reformed church here on Sunday and it re-affirmed my need to start studying Portuguese again... but we'll get there, right?  It has been really cool here, usually mid to high twenties, although the humidity is sapping my energy.  It is the end of rainy season and going into spring, the most beautiful time of the year.  I am thankful to be pregnant now and not through the summer.

So we are in a different city, however Brazil has a familiar feel to it, at least here in the northeast.  We are excited to be here and continue on this crazy adventure.  We can't wait to see more of our old friends and make some new ones in the next few months.  And maybe learn a little more Portuguese while we're at it...

All our love to family and friends near and far!