Our arrival and the big Jesus

Well everyone, we arrived safely, after two very long days of travelling. I will say for myself that on our arrival, I was the most tired I have ever been, but it was a good trip. We spent time in six airports in 48 hours, but God was truly with us, helping us to get from one place to another with safely and even all our luggage!

Sunday we arrived in Rio de Janiero and Teca Greathouse, one of our Methodist missionaries here in Brazil, met us at the airport. After lunch, we drove to the big Jesus statue that is the trademark of Rio, Cristo Redentor. It was a cloudy, foggy, rainy day (the rain followed us EVERYWHERE we travelled). We parked at the mid point of the mountain, and then got on a tram that took us to the top, the highest point in Rio, where an enormous statues of Jesus overlooks the city. It truly was a breathtaking place. Our view was not the greatest, because of the weather, but as we stood there, shivering in the cold and wind, it began to clear up.

There is something very holy about being at the top of a mountain, overlooking such a majestic city, and waiting expectantly for what is to come. We had our devotion there, and read from Psalm 121, I lift my eyes up to the mountain, where will my help come from? My help comes from, maker of heaven and earth...and we talked about the Christ who does sit enthroned over all as the king and creator. BUT this is also the same Jesus who walks among us, who is present with the people, with the poor and the suffering, the Jesus of the favela. Yes, this is the day of the Lord.

We went later to Sugar Loaf mountain and took a cable car across the three different mountains. It was beginning to get dark, and so we saw a beautiful sun set over the city, and then saw all the bright lights as we descended. What a gift, this journey.

We then went back to the airport and borded a plan for Fortalzea. We arrived here and got to be around 3am, throughly exhausted. But I must say, we were greeted at the airport (at 2 am) by a group of people who were warm and waiting for us with excitement, including Pastor Emanuel, the District Superintendent (who also pastors the only 'church' in the district...more on this later), Pastor Pedro, the pastor of the 'congregation' where we are working, and his wife and two daughters. At 2am, they hugged us and welcomed us to Fortaleza.