We got a late start this morning again, arriving just in time for worship. People were waiting outside, and I've mentioned to Wilson that we've got to have more keys made. For now, I think only he, Otavio, and I have keys to the building.

Otavio had asked Jorge to preach today in his absence, second, maybe third time for him to do so. Did a good job, too, on the "Gospel of the Presence," from the resurrection story on the way to Emaus. Otavio will be back this week from accompanying Valeria to Paris.

Had 36 today, with 25 Christians present. Down from last week. One visitor, as I remember, Daniella, who's been coming some with her sister Eliana.

After a quick drive-thru at McDs, I conked out and slept for several hours. Then up to Taubate, where I led singing and preached on "Let's Start Preaching," from Matt. 4:12-17: (1) Movement (12-13); (2) Fulfillment (14-16); (3) Repentance (17). It all rhymes in Portuguese. :)

The Taubate church is sending R$500 to the children's home to help with the construction of their first cottage. Will allow them to help more kids.

On the way home we caught a bit of rain as on the way there, thanks to the cyclone, they say, that went ashore somewhere in Rio state. Looked really rough back toward the east.

We didn't stop for a sandwich at the Taubate mall, but headed straight home for leftovers.

I spent most of the morning working on the March issue of the magazine. Went home early to spend some time with Micah. Helped him pack some. He has to catch a bus tonight to Belo Horizonte in order to catch the plan tomorrow there and come back to Sao Paulo for the international flight. Said they wouldn't let him just catch it here.

Ana Paula (Anibal's wife) came by the house for a few minutes to see Micah. Was very nice of her.

After he got on the bus, a young man in an obviously altered mental state wanted to board. There was a lot of discussion between him and his brother (?) and the driver and helper. They finally let him on, but I won't be sorry to hear that the three policemen on board have put him off down the road.

Anyway, we're back to four in the (in-house) family again.

Our car was quiet on the way home.

After a strawberry almondshake Vicki left me at the office this morning and I continued my catch-up from the trip. I still need to send 30 hymnals to the church in Mococa. Sr. Nelio had emailed me a couple of weeks ago, and then called (11 p.m.!) a couple of nights ago.

I nearly finished my Cloudburst poem for tomorrow. Hope the remainder falls together.

Micah was doing some shopping and chores this morning, so Vicki called and asked if I wanted to eat lunch at home. Rice and beans! Along with zucchini and salad. My kind of eating.

We're talking about me taking the car in the mornings, going home for lunch, and leaving the car with Vicki in the afternoons. Being a one-car family is a challenge.

Leila had her flute class this afternoon, and swimming class this morning, so she's getting back in the routine. She likes her new teacher, since he calls her by her name instead of some cutsy term of endearment.

Since Micah is leaving tomorrow, we ate out tonight at the new burger place, Gordao. I had a light chicken sandwich, and it served me well. Plus apple juice.

I finally called Anibal's house to say we'd gotten back. I'd forgotten he's in Lorena teaching from Monday through Wednesday, but Vicki and I talked to Ana Paula for some 50 minutes. By that time it was after 11 p.m. and time to quit for the day.

I slept this morning until 9 a.m., but lay in bed until 9:30 when the phone began to ring. Vicki and I chatted with Micah at the table over paozinho, the small Brazilian bread baked fresh daily, and Earl Grey tea.

Gilda, of the music school with which my office shares an entrance from the street, called this morning to say the door handle had been broken off again, so I'd better take a pair of pliers to open the door. We're studying what to do about replacement.

At the office I answered emails, read the accumulated mail, and took care of other details. I finally got my weekly Forthright article done, somewhat different today than usual.

The owner of my office space, sr. Ricardo (and Gilda's father) dropped by to say the architects below me are willing to give me the space next to my office on the second floor. They access it by a circular stairway which will be closed off. I'll remove the wooden partition separating it from me. For that space I'll pay an extra R$100,00 (about US$40), not a bad deal. Sr. Ricardo also mentioned they're going to build a roof with transparent or translucent tiles over the landing between me and the music school. That'll keep the rain from collecting on the landing and infiltrating the architects' space below. The latter are drawing up the project. It'll be a nice addition.

Vicki and Micah were out shopping and offered to pick me up on the way home, so I quit early today (about 5 p.m.) and went home with them. The boys went to the work-out gym when they got back. Leila started back her swimming this afternoon, too.

They'd gone by the post office downtown, and Vicki handed me The Scripture Standard from the UK. My poem "Both Prayers and Pains" was published in the January edition. It's in its 71st year of publication. I was pleased to see it.

It was good to sing in Portuguese again this morning. Alfredo Silva preached for his first time today, on the Samaritan woman in John 4; took 20 minutes and did a good job. He's been a Christian for many years, but only now has he got to the point of preaching. Otavio Carvalho and I have been working more with the men here at SJCampos as of late, so we're seeing more of them teach and preach. Wilson Cardoso has been teaching the Bible class this quarter on Episodes from Exodus from material Otavio worked up from a book I lent him. Appears our attendance was normal.

25 Christians
12 children
03 visitors
40 TOTAL

Otavio and Valeria are in Paris, where she went for a meeting with her job. They will be back in two weeks. Several others were out for one reason or another, some from spiritual weakness.

I came home and crashed this afternoon; we've not had much time to rest since we got home. Slept for and hour and a half.

Then up again to the new congregation in Taubate in Clayton and Valeria Silva's home. Jorge and Paula were there as usual, and Clayton's cousin Flavio was visiting with his wife and son. So we had 15 present, including children. I adapted a sermon I used in the U.S. on our being the people of one book, using John 20:30-31 as base text, with three points:

We Are People of One Book

1. Because it is God's explanation (revelation, interpretation) of the events of redemption (Eph. 3:3-4).

2. Because it is God's application of divine principles to daily life (1 Cor. 4:6).

3. Because it is God's reminder to follow Jesus (2 Pet. 1:12; 3.1-2).

Flavio is an inactive Christian, so I chatted with him and encouraged him to return to Christ. His wife has not been baptized.

On the way home, we stopped at Taubate Shopping and got a quick bite at McDonald's. Our worship period (we don't have Bible class yet) lasts about an hour and a half, so by the time we visit and get away it's usually 8 p.m. (We have to leave our house by 5 p.m. to get there, so we eat afterwards.)

After we got home I called Carlos, a friend in another state who had called during my afternoon nap. He had a problem he needed some help on, so we spent an hour and a half on the phone working on that and other subjects. With that, it's 11 p.m., so I'm heading for bed.