Brasil!

We landed at night, and I was in the center of the airplane, so I didn't get to see the city. But I remembered the airport as soon as I stepped off the plane. There were six of us who overstayed our visas last time, so we had to go through an extra process at immigration and pay a fee. Thankfully, the lines weren't as long as they could have been. The wait wasn't too long, maybe half an hour. Then we got our luggage and were off. I was reminded of our Dawson family furloughs...when I was six, pushing a cart full of luggage up that ramp in LAX and Mom wasn't allowed to come back to help me! Flashbacks of long trips through international airports made me nostalgic. God has given me another family for this season.

Our bus arrived pretty shortly. All I can say is: posh. We went up a short stairwell to our seats after loading our massive amounts of luggage. Across the street the motorcycles were all lined up :) Yes, this is a land of motorcycles as well. The seats were big and spacious...they have semi-recliner leg support and leaned back to something like a 20 degree angle, without hampering the person behind you. It was wonderful. My only complaint was that it was rather cold. I was grateful that I had brought my TAM airline blanket on board. In the morning, we in the back found out there were blankets and pillows up front. :( Oh well.

In the back it was stocked with water and guarana :) My new roommate Adonis got her first taste of it. It was a winner! She lives in Tustin, and has worked at Disneyland for some 15 years. I figured out I probably saw her in the Lion King Parade in 96, AND she knows exactly where the Tustin Salvation Army Branch is. We figured we should have met long ago.

The bus ride was 10 hours, but I slept for most of it...waking up every couple of hours because I was cold, but other than that it was so comfortable! We arrived here at Campo this morning around 9:00 or 10:00. So far it has been so good to see the grounds again! This past semester I have been reviewing my Patmos experience, but it has been incomplete until now. It was good to see the staff here, they are so excited to see us!! We ate breakfast and then moved into our rooms--our names were on the doors! We live in two hallways that branch off the main building, making the structure look like a cross from the air. The girls are on the right and the boys on the left. It's a bit like living in a dorm again ;) But better of course. We have our own bathrooms, and we are all like family. I unpacked and showered, and now I have a few minutes before lunch. After lunch we get straight to work.

I love the family environment here... and the giant living room that we all share. It feels like a large house. Right now I am upstairs in the coffee shop section that overlooks the center living room. I think I will spend a lot of time here :D Well, gotta go! I love you all!!