Our Last Day in Brazil...

This was our last day in Brazil and we took a tour of the highlights of the city in a three car caravan with Phil, Rita, Malu, Conde and Johnson (making it a 12 person mob with only 5 1/2 who can speak Portuguese). Considering the traffic in Recife and the Brazilian driving style, this was an adventure in itself.

Our first stop was the center of the original settlement of Recife, which was settled by Jews from Holland in 1630 after the Dutch captured Pernambuco. All Brazilian States have a central point from which everything in the State is measured. Here we have the Point Zero for the State of Pernambuco -- the 0 Km mark. The picture shows the plaque which says (in Portuguese of course) "Starting from this point all the lands of Pernambuco are measured" along with the longitude and latitude of the point. Just a couple blocks away is the site of the first Synagogue in all the Americas, established in 1641.

State of Pernambuco Point Zero.

The Dutch ceded Pernambuco back to the Portuguese in 1654 and the new Inquisition forced most of the Jews to leave the country. Most returned to Europe but 23 were captured by Spanish pirates and eventually ended up in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. It is this group who formed the nucleus of what would become the largest Jewish community in history, the congregation Shearith Israel in New York City.

Inside Kahal Zur Isreal Synagogue.

We then went up the hill to the north of Recife, a town called Olinda, to the main Catholic cathedral of Igreja da Se, which faces Rome (all other cathedrals in the area of Recife face this cathedral). The view was awesome. All during our time in Brazil the team has been amazed at how blue and clear the sky is (you can tell we are from Southern California, right?), and the beauty of the clouds by day and the stars by night. Since Pastor only trusts air he can see, I'm sure he wouldn't be happy here!

The mob minus two on the back patio of Igreja da Se.

Brazilian clouds - yes it rains everyday!

After a time of shopping, we headed across the city to the museum of Ricardo Brennand, which was filled with paintings, sculptures, a wax museum and an armory filled with swords, suits of armor, and ancient weapons of all sorts. However, before we could get there we ran into a traffic jam and the convoy cut across town on side streets ... which was most definitely the "E-Ticket" ride of Recife. Everyone cuts in front of you at the least whim and with just about zero clearance ... at whatever speed. It is amazing there aren't accidents on every block, but then again, Brazilians don't even slow down for a mere fender-bender. We missed lunch (first time since we arrived in Brazil) but made up for it at dinner (not that last night's dinner won't still be with us when we arrive in LA). We may be going home with 30% less luggage, but I'm sure the weight won't be any different.

Instituto Ricardo Brennand.

Phil told us that some teams come and don't really connect with the people, while ours parted with tears and hugs. He said it was a real blessing to have Americans connect so closely with the Brazilians of Caruaru and Serrote de Bois. We feel the blessing was all ours. I think that our opportunity to work on the Samaritan's Purse shoe boxes alongside the Brazilian volunteers made a big difference. When you work with someone, you can't help but get to know them. I am thankful to God that he timed the release of the container to coincide with our visit.

Tomorrow morning we head out to the airport for the long ride back home.

In Christ,
Jim

View of the Atlantic Ocean from our hotel.