Today marks nineteen days for our family in Brazil and I thought I would write a note and share with you how the Lord has cared for us in our new home. I think most of you received the first email we sent out which told of the amazing grace we received on the day we arrived here. To begin with ALL of our 26 boxes and our dog arrived with us in good shape. Next, to our amazement was the Christian customs agent who simply let us pass without checking any of our belongings. Then to be met by a full-sized (like a Greyhound) bus to carry our stuff to Campinas (1 1/2 hours). To say the least, we were OVERWHELMED!!!

Then we came to see our furnished apartment where we have everything we need. For the first time ever all our children have their own rooms and Hilary even has a half bath. (she is using the "maid's quarters") Our apartment is on the fourth floor of a ten story building and everyone here has been extremely pleasant and helpful. The only difficulty we have is in taking the dog out. The policy here is that you must carry your pet in and out of the building so their feet do not touch any "community property". Most people living in apartments have very small dogs, like poodles, but our dog, an Australian cattle dog is a little bigger AND heavier. Carrying her in and out was helping develop my arms but becoming very tiring, so we took a luggage carrier and strapped a box to it to make her a ""buggy" to ride in. The porters laughed at us and she was not happy about riding in there at first but now she grudgingly accepts this humiliation to go out. Another huge blessing is that there is a nice park only 1/2 block from our apartment where we can take her. Also on Tuesdays in the park there is a wonderful fruit and vegetable market. I understand it is one of the best in the city. On Saturdays and Sundays there is a "hippie fair" which is what we would call a craft fair where people bring the things they have made to sell. It is fun to go to these events and learn more about the people and culture.

Another great learning experience for me has been shopping at the Pao de Acucar (pown ghee a-sue-kerr), the grocery store which is right beside the park. It is a very nice store with lots of imported foods that I like to use, like brown sugar. Again, we are extremely blessed to be right next to such a wonderful grocery. Apparently people drive quite a distance to shop here. Everytime I go shopping I learn something new so I always enjoy going to the store. It is even better now that I have purchased a little cart to carry home our food.

Of course our most important learning experience now is language. No one can ever realize how important language is until you cannot speak the native tongue of where you are. All in all, our experiences have been very good. Even when we are out and don't know how or what to say people here are very gracious in trying to understand and help us with whatever we need. We have attended language school now for 7 days. When we first arrived here it was the beginning of Carnival, originally a Catholic holiday that was a time of eating a lot of food in preparation for Lent, but is now a very pagan "holiday" that lasts for five days. It is comparable to Mardi Gras but on a much larger scale. There is a lot of partying with huge parades in the streets of the major cities, like Rio. So, language school was closed the first week we were here which was a good time for us to get settled into our apartment and rest. Once language school began we have been very busy going to classes in the morning from 8:15-11:00am then we eat lunch and try to get some "regular" school work done in the afternoon. The language school we are attending is very good. The instructors can all speak some English and they have lots of experience working with Americans. They are very perceptive as to if you are understanding what is going on or not. Our family is divided into two classes with Jacob and Taylor with one teacher and David, Hilary and I with another couple who just came from Trinidad, also missionaries, and one instructor. We have one instructor for 1 1/2 hour, then a 15 minute break, and then a second class with a different instructor for another 1 1/2 hour. The small classes are great because we have a lot of opportunity to speak. By the end of class my head in hurting and I fill like it is so full it will burst! Whenever we are out and try to speak, the Brazilians always tell us our pronunciation is good so we must be learning the right way. We are thankful the Lord has placed us here to learn Portuguese.

Two days last week we had to go to the Federal Police Station in order to be "registered". Everyone here must register with the police and receive "documents" which you must carry with you all the time in case you are stopped by the police. Fortunately, the language school director's daughter offered to help us in getting the necessary paperwork together and taking us there so we could be registered. We found out that once we begin to drive, we can have our AAA international drivers license "stamped" by the Police and use it for one year and then we will have to apply for a Brazilian license. Being without a car is a new experience for us. The walking is great and as you have read, we are very close to the necessary things. The walk to language school is about a 15 minute walk which is great exercise. However, we are limited in being able to go out to do something fun or try new things. People are great to offer you a ride and help out, but for a family of five to get a ride with another family is difficult because most people have small cars. We have ridden the bus to the mall once and it was a good experience. The problem is getting on the right bus and recognizing where you should get off. (ha!) Please pray that the Lord would provide the funding necessary for us to be able to purchase a late model used car in His time.

Two of our Brazilian friends who live in other cities had recommended a church for us to attend here. Turns out the pastor lives just around the corner, literally. He speaks English fairly well as he and his family spent 5 months last year in Ft. Lauderdale at Knox Seminary studying. The church is very good for us right now because there are quite a few people there who speak some English. Our children have been able to make some friends there. Even though we don't understand the majority of what is said in the services we feel comfortable there. The music is good....we recognize many of the tunes and they print the words to all the hymns and praise songs in the bulletin so we can try and follow along. The worst part is the sermon.....I am sure what they are preaching is very good but they talk for 40 minutes and the Portuguese language has a rhythm to it.....kind of like singing....I do pretty well for the first 20 minutes or so, trying to pick up a phrase now and then, but then I get tired and with the sing-songing I become sleepy and have to fight going to sleep. Today I felt better when David showed me that the pastor's wife was asleep...ha!

I am sorry this note has turned into a book but I wanted so badly to share with you how bountifully the Lord is providing for our every need. Because of your prayers and God's grace we are all doing well. The children are still missing their friends in Johnson City but they are all making friends here and seeing how the Lord is caring for us here. Let me mention one other person who has come into our lives.....we met a young man, 17 years old, who works at the grocery. His name is Cae (Ki-eh). He is a very polite and he has become good friends with Jacob. He likes to skateboard when he has time.....he works 6 hours a day/6 days a week, goes to school 4 hours a day (he is a senior in high school) and also takes English classes. He is spending time with us everyday after work. He likes to practice his English and help us with Portuguese. I believe the Lord has sent him to us for a reason. He does not remember ever being in a church. His parents are divorced and he lives with his mother and younger sister here in a two room apartment. We are praying that the Lord will help us to communicate the love of Christ to Cae through deed and word and that he would come to know the Lord. Please pray with us for Cae and his family.

Can you believe how the Lord is caring for every detail of our lives? Should we ever doubt his love and care for us? I hope that by reading how the Lord is working in our lives you have been encouraged and you will remember God's love and care for you on a daily basis. Please write to us when you can and tell us what is happening in your lives and how we can pray for you. We covet your prayers for us as we continue to adjust and learn. In case you would like to send a letter, our address here is:

Rua Sao Paulo 328, Apto.44
Cambui, Campinas - SP 13025-350
BRASIL

If you have access to the web, you can look at our apartment and our neighborhood on our web page that is now set up for photos. It is: www.mtwla.org/people/datkisson-pl/2002pics.htm

To call from the USA dial: 011-55-19-3252-7261
(it might be cheaper to purchase a calling card for international use - check at a local Mexican restaurant or check the rates with your telephone company)

Much love in Christ,
Lynn

P.S. If you think that the Lord might be leading you to contribute to our car fund, please make your contribution out to Westminster Presbyterian Church and write Atkisson car fund on the subject line (lower left corner on your check). You can send it to : WPC P.O. Box 5487 Johnson City, TN 37602. Your contribution is tax-deductible.