Floripa and Curitiba

Okay, this is seriously the most random way to start this post -

but remember (from my posts on facebook)

that I kept forgetting to carry the camera once we got to Floripa (Florinopolis).

I missed some really great shots.

I didn't get one of the Caze family (duh, Sheri!)

nor any of the church that Claudio pastors.

I am extremely disappointed with myself so please

don't continue with the discouragement by reprimanding me!!!!

On the Sunday that we were in Floripa we attended

Calvary Floripa (the Calvary in the lake area) for services in the morning.

The previous day we had attended the surfing ministry (of which I forgot the camera)

where we met the pastor and his wife (Nate and Dani)

from the other Calvary on the island.

They invited us and the Cazes to join them for a BBQ after church the next day.

Nate is the man with the broom....

(this picture was actually taken the day we went back to help

with tile but this is the same place we attended the BBQ-

remember I didn't have my camera with me....

We then attended that church in the evening. Both churches are full of warm, loving people.

We heard there was a project going on at Nate's church on Thurs.

so we borrowed Claudio's car and headed up to help for the afternoon.

They were laying tile in the Sanctuary.

Notice that they also have a upper story building project going on

and would love a team to come and help!

We were the grouters!

Warren asked for the float to install the grout and the guy he asked

proceeded to take off his flip flop, tear it in half and hand it back to Warren.

He said he'd rather spend the money on new flip flops

than to buy a tool he'd hardly ever use!

and by the way - it worked great!!!


The flip flop

Mixing the cement - by hand.

Warren and I didn't even get half way done with the grout project

but there wasn't an opportunity to go back.

Working together did make for sweet fellowship

and a good night sleep.

It also made for a few sore muscles the next day!

This was the lake that we had right out our "guest house"window.

I know - we were spoiled.

On Claudio's day off we took a boat taxi

to a part of the island that you can only get to by boat.

It was a really wonderful trip other than the fact

that we couldn't have lunch there as planned because the storm on the previous

day had taken out the electricity. Bummer. We did get to hike to this waterfall though.

That is Jess and Warren in the picture.

It was beautiful.

Don't let the word "hike"fool you. It was more realistically a difficult "walk".

This, however, was a hike!

What you are looking at is the road from the Caze's house to the main road up above. This is the first stretch. Warren and Zeph are walking up because we couldn't make it up the hill with all of us and our luggage in the car....truthfully!

This is the second part, after rounding the corner. And yes, it is that steep, maybe more so.

There are stairs on the side because you can barely walk on the road it is so steep.

Jess just ahead of me. I went last because I wanted to get the pictures

and because I didn't want them

to hear me panting.

We had a sweet time in Florinopolis

getting to know people from the two churches

and also the families of the pastors.

We then headed to Curitiba where the Hwangs live.

John picked us up at the bus station and we were immediately on our way

to a birthday party for 2 year old Daniel!

The food was wonderful, the company great

(it was at Flavia's mothers house with her whole family)

and the actions of the little birthday boy priceless!

And we got to meet little Anna. Beautiful like her mother.

We were only able to spend three days there this time

but the time was rich with the church and the Hwangs.

Again, I didn't get pictures of the church. (go ahead and beat me with a wet noodle).

We found ourselves, again (like we did in every place we visited)

thinking we could make ourselves at home there.

We left feeling blessed.






And headed to Campo Mourao on the sleeper bus.

We left at 11:00 and pulled into Campo just before 6.

The sleeper buses are our favorite way to travel.

It is not roughing it, believe me, and yet costs alot less than flying.

Don't be fooled by this picture, Warren is not sleeping.

When it was time to go down for the night

the seats completely turned into a bed.

Real comfort.

And now we are in Campo - but that will have to wait for another day.

And-

I have been taking pictures!!!!


And to all you Americans: Happy Thanksgiving!