Família Asas

post by~Brin, hunter of mold

Our family has been with Asas de Socorro for just a year. And with any organization steeped with time and culture, getting to know them is a process. We made some big strides this week while we attended the annual Asas conference in Anápolis, Goias; an agricultural state  geographically located near the center of Brasil. With corn to the right of me and soybeans to the left of me, if I were to look down ruby slippers would not surprise me. Ah, but delightful reality hits when we peruse road-side stands to buy braids of fresh mozzarella and homemade doce de leite. 

We have not traveled much within Brazil so going anywhere outside of Amazonia always broadens our knowledge of this country with such contrasting cultures.  

Hearing testimonies of missionaries who have been with Asas for decades as well as the dreams of students soon to graduate from the aviation school and head to the mission field inspires us as well as grounds us with a profound sense of God's blessing as He has allowed us and all of our supporters to be a part of a huge story in bringing Christ to people groups who have not heard.  We left with new friends, a delectable head of broccoli and a fresh burst of motivation to strive forward where God has placed us.  

Mmmmmm broccoli....Does it seem like I am talking a lot about food?  I blame it on Ricardo, a fellow missionary from the far south of Brazil who, during a service, slipped us each 2 fresh cherries from his stash from his recent visit home. That spurred my tongue to hunt for the next cache. If I weren't so busy combating mold I would take the time to turn that last phrase into a poem. 

Cheese has never been so entertaining.

When in Rome.... of course all visitors have to enjoy the local treats which seemed to be heavily themed in corn. We enjoyed the pamonha, perhaps Gabriella a little too much as her pamonha revisted her at 1am.  Sorry, no pictures of that.

At the end of the conference we took two days to travel to a unique little corner of the world called Caldas Novas, which Wikipedia told me was "considered by many to be the largest hydro-thermal resort in the world" (however, citations are needed if anyone has any).  Good thing because, now fully Amazonians, a climate of 65 degrees was almost unbearable and I can hardly fathom how I survived a childhood in northern Minnesota. So we soaked and relaxed with Andres, Camila and baby Tiago  keeping us company.

For a few days we stayed at a Wycliffe guesthouse above the hangar. Each morning Josh could part the curtain and look out the window overlooking a gorgeous view; 10 airplanes all apprearing to be minatures poised in the hand of God.