World Cup Soccer! The pride of Brazil is at stake. With the Games going, school was cancelled for 2 weeks (combo of winter break, a federal holiday, a Christian holiday, World Cup frenzie). Whenever we go into a store, all eyes are watching the TV monitor up in the corner, as other countries square off. There is sporadic celebrating before, during and after each game. Sunday evening (before last Monday’s game), the people in our neighborhood got together for a barbecue, L-O-U-D heavy rap music (like 2-3 cars with max output speakers) that went on for 2-3 hours, drinking, smoking (many cigarette butts by our front door), hanging out. It was verrry hard to study inside. Okay, we get it. They are celebrating their World Cup games. Now who’s going to clean up the cigarette butts?! On Game Day, excitement builds before the game starts. During games, it is...silent….everyone is watching….until they score. Explosions! Yelling! Cars honking! Blatting horns! Even the bells of the Catholic Church are ringing! Brazil won 4-1 on Monday. Brazil is at the top of the last 16 teams (USA is in the 16 also). Today is another Game Day; Brazil plays Chile. The Elders are instructed to stay in their apartment (P Day), unless they have appointments. We didn’t get the same instructions, so we can do whatever we need to do. This afternoon and evening, we'll work with a 6 yr. old Downs Syndrome boy (Paulo), teaching him signs and imitation skills; we'll go grocery shopping; then we'll teach two English (Inglais) lessons at 5:00 and 7:00. From the Elders' perspective in their apartment, it's hard. Not much missionary work can be done! Tomorrow, we will feed a big lunch to a family of 5 (The Rau's).
|