I'm Here

Hey Everybody,
We made it in yesterday morning with no problems at the airports or in customs. The apartment we are staying in is on a seminary campus in the Tijuca neighborhood. It's nice, but it doesn't have internet and it is on the other side of the mountain and 45 minutes from our missionary's house and most of the work we will do. On a side note, I can't really call the shower a shower, a drip or trickle would be more appropiate. Our missionary, Pastor Eric Reese has been great, he has been very accomodating. He is very passionate about his work and he is pretty funny. He tells about 3 stories at a time.

We had our first clinic this morning and it went pretty well. I took blood pressures all day and began the process of learning portuguese The nationals we work with do a very good job and they organize everything. We are working in the favelas and the clinics are a way to reach these neighborhoods. Most of the favelas are controlled by drug lords or a paramilitary group. Its almost like the mob, the drug lords and paramilitary leaders provide protection and consequently, keep everyone else out. The clinics are one way to get into these communites.

The President of Southwestern Seminary is coming in tonight, which means we luck out. We will get to here someone preach in english tomorrow and go to a really good Brazillian steakhouse for lunch. We might also get to the Christ statue with him.

I will probably be able to check my email almost everyday. So you can give me a holler.
Pray that we don't get sick and we are able to serve to the best of our abilities. Thanks everybody and I will start posting pictures later.

Tchau,
Mark