My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Well, I have set out on my long anticipated Brazilian adventure to the city where the Alvears live. It's been pretty interesting so far, and I'm not even out of the country yet!!!

My flight out of Memphis was supposed to be at 4:25 pm yesterday. I drove to the airport and got there by 2:30. My flight finally left at about 8:45 last night for Atlanta! Since my flight from Atlanta to Brasilia was leaving at 9:14 pm, I obviously did not make the connection. So......right now I'm stuck in Atlanta, since there is only one flight a day from Atlanta to Brasilia on Delta, which is where my free ticket was from.

At one point in Memphis, they told me that the earliest they could get me to Brazil was Friday!! FRIDAY!!!!! I almost passed out when she said that, but finally through a miracle they got me a seat tonight after telling me it was sold out. So I'm one day later getting to Brazil than I intended.
So instead of a long 27 hour layover in Brasilia, I will have 3 hours there and then catch my flight on TAM (also FREE!!) from there to Maceio tomorrow, hopefully. The problem is that I have no other clothes or toiletries, so by the time I see the Alvears they may not recognize me!

I met a gal from Southern Illinois in Memphis and she happened to be next to me on the flight, where we had both gotten upgraded to First Class (the only thing that went right yesterday). We talked off and on in Memphis and then the entire flight to Atlanta. By the time we arrived, she was my new BFF. Ha! When we went to try to get our luggage (which never came), she got a phone call that her dad had died while we were flying. Of course she fell apart, so I couldn't leave her. There wasn't much I could do except hug her, carry some of her stuff, and pray for her. She had to call Delta and immediately try to rebook a flight back to where she had just come from, all the while grieving and crying and calling relatives. It was very sad, but I feel like the Lord had me there for just that encounter.

Anyway, after we finally split about 1 AM, I went to wait for my shuttle to take me to the hotel that Delta had given me a free voucher for. They never came, so I called them and they told me that sorry, but they were full. It didn't matter if I had a voucher or not! I sort of panicked at this point; I was so tired. I hopped on the first shuttle I saw and thought I would just ride to the Sheraton and beg for a room. Alas, they were full and so was the Westin. I finally called the Hyatt Place number and even though they were technically "sold out", they somehow gave me a room. I will never understand these systems.

So I went back to the airport, got on the Hyatt shuttle and finally got here around 2:30 AM. I fell into my bed, only to be woke up a few hours later when the fire alarm started going off. I was so disoriented, I was trying to shut off the alarm clock, when I realized it was something much bigger and louder screaming at me. It turned out to be a false alarm, but it woke me up for sure!!

Now I am back in my same clothes from yesterday, no toiletries other than what Delta gave me in a little pack, and definitely NO MAKE UP! I am going to take a taxi to the mall and see if I can pick up a few things, like maybe a skirt! I didn't plan to show up at the Alvears in a pair of pants. Oh well......I'm sure she would forgive me. Maybe the no make up is a trade off for the pants. Ha!

I am just praying that my luggage makes it to Brasilia on the flight that I'm on. And I'm praying that my flight actually gets out of here on time, since I have to make that Tam connection in the morning.

God must be having big plans for this trip, is all I can say. It takes a lot to get to me, but last night I was almost ready to throw in the towel and take a bus home. I can't wait to see what He is going to do in Brazil. I just want to go encourage the Alvears and to love on their people. It's what I do best.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Oh my goodness...doubt is OP11 will believe your hard luck story! lol...Sherri we are saying a prayer for you and fixing to head out to the clinic we have tests...Hope things go better...
When the devil fights the hardest that is when HE knows God has something planned...gotta go...

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

I got stuck for a week in Atlanta, one night. :lol

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Made a taxi run to Target and Marshall's. I am once again armed with makeup and deodorant, so I am feeling somewhat more normal and recognizable. Lol!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Keep us posted Sherri! My Atlanta nightmare was a couple of years ago when I was connecting there for a flight to El Paso. I was so excited because for the first time in my life I was going to get to fly first class. I forgot about the time change and was sitting eating breakfast and reading a newspaper while my plane was loading and leaving! As big as the Atlanta airport is they only had one more flight going to El Paso that day and it was 12 hours later at 9 pm. Arghhhh!!! Oh, and of course the 9 pm flight had no first class seats so once again I had to ride coach. I am 52 years old and still have only flown coach.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

:bigbaby:bigbaby:bigbaby:laffatu:thumbsup

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Sherri was just upgraded to First Class for her 8.5 hr flight tonight!

Good for her!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

I am jealous. I NEVER get upgraded. I have been burning up the internet trying to find how to get our tickets from Rome next summer upgraded to at least business class. Does not look good.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

At the last minute as I was standing in line to get on the plane, they called my name over the intercom - only it sounded like COOPLES. So I went up there and she asked for my boarding pass and said, Merry Christmas! And she handed me seat 2A. I almost cried right there!! I told her I had been praying for an upgrade, but it didn´t look possible. She said that it rarely happens on an international flight, and especially on a free ticket! My seat reclined completely and I got a few hours sleep.

In the airport in Brasilia at baggage claim, I saw Kenneth Phillips, so I went over and talked to him for about 15-20 minutes. He was with a team from his church and was amazed that I was there all by myself. Ha! I did have some luggage trouble, and NO ONE there speaks English, so it was a little scary since I had to get my luggage and get checked in on another airline to get to Maceio. But my lost luggage did come finally and I flew on TAM airlines here and was picked up by the Alvears. We ate some good food here at the house and I took a nap and then washed all the filth off from the past two days.

We are leaving soon for their son Michael´s church. I´ve been there before, but not for a service. I will get to see my sweet little boys Gabe and Joel in a few minutes!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Sherri, this is an adventure you will not soon forget. Roll with it. Let's see what God has planned :thumbsup

In Jesus' Name

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

God is good, so compassionate. :)

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Today I slept really late- I didn´t realize how tired I still was, I guess. We had lunch at the home of a lady from their main church. Amazing cook!!! She fixed chicken, some beef dish, parmesan fish, rice, beans, salads, and the most awesome coconut dessert I have ever had in my life!

Then we went to Hiper (like Walmart), and to a street market. Now we are at the house resting a little and heading to another little village church tonight. I love these little churches - the people are so sweet!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Post some pics of Sis Alvear in her tee shirt and shorts she said she was going to wear!

(I may have misunderstood).

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Now come on...you KNOW I can not wear that type clothing in front of Sherri...

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Do you do those websites?

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

The ones in my signature? Yes.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Today, we are going to the beach and laying out in bikinis. Then we will stop by the local bar and throw back a few and do some Brazilian line dancing. Not sure what else..........these people are party animals.















J/K
I did see a bar last night named Êl Shadai. Very strange.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Sherri, is a joy to have in our home...she just fits in and whatever is fine with her. We do have a pretty full day...

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

We had the most amazing service at a little village church this afternoon. I think I cried almost the entire time. When I got up to say something, I was so choked up, I did not think I would be able to talk at all. These people are so poor materially, but such beautiful worship and singing came out of them! It touched my heart and I will never forget this little church. It reminded me of a place that we went last year in Africa. Everyone on our van cried all the way back to the hotel.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

We made soup today in the church kitchen. I peeled so many carrots and pumpkin that my hands are stained orange. Also some kind of slimy squash that left a permanent sticky residue on my hands that will NOT wash off. Lol!

We took the soup out to the little poor village at 4 pm in the pouring rain. We got soaked, but it was fun to see the young people serving the villagers. When we drove up, the kids on the van started yelling that we had SOUP HERE and people came from everywhere with containers. One guy was eating it right from his pan, out in the rain, and enjoying it thoroughly. The shacks that these people live in are unbelievable!

Tonight we were supposed to have church in a new church plant, but they called after we were all ready to go and said that the roads were impossible because of the rain all day long. The roads here are mud and huge ponds of water that you just have to go through and pray that your engine doesn´t stall. When they say RAINY SEASON, they mean it! So we stayed here tonight and just are having family night - eleven of us! It´s been fun and I think they need a night off anyway. They literally go to church every night somewhere! They have way more energy than me!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Sherri

Maybe the Lord made you lose your makeup to let you know that you could live without it.

Just sayin.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Too bad........I found a Target in Atlanta and found some more.:thumbsup

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Leadership meeting today and then Communion and Foot Washing tonight!!! I haven´t been to a footwashing service since I was about 12. Should be awesome!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

How much does tuna cost in Brazil? It costs like $2 a can here in Guatemala!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Can't wait to hear about the communion and footwashing! I just know it will be a phenomenal experience!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Service last night went for about 4-1/2 hours, but it didn´t seem like it. It was awesome worship, and included communion and foot washing, which was so sweet and humbling. I had not been to one of those services since I was a kid, I guess. They let me play some little Brazilian shaker instrument last night, so since I didn´t know any of the words, at least I felt like I was taking part. Lol!

I am sitting here this morning with very mixed emotions. I can smell the sweet church ladies in there cooking lunch for us and it smells amazing. The people here are so precious; it´s hard to think about leaving them. But I´m excited about going home too. My daughter and husband finally arrived from California - moving to Nashville. And my son is moving out on his own for the first time. So I need to be there.

Also, our church at home is in the midst of an explosive revival and I can hardly wait to get back to service and see what God is going to do next.

But that doesn´t make it easier to leave..........I´m torn.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Sigh...

We just wish that the Alvears could have converted you to more of a conservative holiness lifestyle.


LOL

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Oh but we did convert her...she does not use bright red anymore....a little at a time...

So much for kidding Sherri...we have had an awesome time in the mist of so much rain. We are honored to have her in our home and we are blessed to have such a sweet friend. Our people are amazed that she helped us make soup, went in the pouring rain in a very dangerous village to help us give out soup and tracts...even in difficult circumstances...

She ate after church what the young people cooked and then went with them and us to get some REAL FOOD...they are amazed at her humility and love.
She bought them tires for the church van and got the starter fixed and put a new tie rod in for them...
Thanks to her for her gift of love to our people. We are the blessed ones today.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

beisdes that I invited her to the Holmes church in North Little Rock...with their help we should make a little more progress....:highfive

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Sweet Margie...wish you could have been here with us...:thumbsup

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

oh oh she is a goner now drinking that Brazilian wine. Tell them to send Eddie a one way ticket and shut down her office.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

boy oh boy knew this froum would ruin her...

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

Beautiful.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

thanks, Cindy..

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

You're welcome. Did she give you a hug from me? If she forgot it's okay, I know she is just so excited to be there.

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

ME TOO!!! Someday! Someday!!!

When I come, Sherri needs to come too. Then we can take this same picture again only with the 3 of us. And we can be the "Holy-Only-By-The-Grace-of-God Trinity". LOL!!!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

That was all tongue-in-cheek. But in all seriousness - that is the most beautiful communion table I believe I have ever seen!! You all know how to do it right!! Love you!

Re: My Brazilian Adventure, So Far
 

:thumbsup