Getting Use To The Food

One thing that I miss is the spicy foods of back home. Here in the southern part of Brazil you won't find dishes that are spicy. You would think that all of South America would have hot chilies as part of their culinary culture.  But here in southern Brazil they do not.  That is not to say they don't use peppers.  But it's not there usual food in their culinary preperation.  If you want to spice up your foods, you can still use Tabasco sauce when available.  There are other kinds of sauces that are like Louisiana Hot sauce but are very mild in nature.  You can find jalapeño and other chilies in certain grocey stores.  In the upper part of Brazil you can find spicy foods, but alas, we are in a part of southern America that does not.

Another cuisine I miss tremendously is Thai food.  Pad Thai to be exact.  Especially from Houston's best Thai restaurant, "Nit Noi"!  I believe that they have the best Thai food in Texas!  And their spring rolls are to die for!  These spring rolls are not the spring rolls that most are use too. They are the size of regular egg rolls and very flavorful.  They're filled with minced meat, sherred cabbage and carrots, and spices found in the best foods of Thailand. Nit Noi is a Thai place that is as close as your going to get to authentic Thai cuisine.  I did see somewhere that there is a restaurant called ASIA.  But I'm not sure it's Thai.

Also, believe it or not, I really miss tacos from Stripes convieniant stores.  You can find a Stripes store all over the Rio Grande Valley and parts of the Costal Bend. The Q taco is the best.  It's a flour tortilla first spread with refried beans, then filled with egg, potatoe, and cheese.  I like it best with a strip of bacon!  Boy, I can go for one right now!  The name "Q" was given to the taco after a radio host working for a local RGV radio station, would go and request it to be prepared from the store.  The name "Q Taco" stuck.  A "Q" and a cup of coffee in the morning, and your ready to go.

There are other restaurants that I miss a lot like "OK Pancho" and "Los Nortenos".  Both in my opinion had the best Tex-Mex food in the Valley.  The "Chicharron con Salsa" from OK Pancho is very, very good, while the "Caldo de Res" from "Los Nortenos" is also exquisite.  Both have the best tasting coffee.  But the best thing that I liked about the them was the PRICE!  You could get a taco and coffee or tea for $3!  Food is very cheap in the valley.  And the portions are big.

But here in Joinville, we are finding places that have replaced our food from home.  Places where the food is wonderful! I mean really great and flavorful! Mutio Bom!!!  For more on that your going to have to return to the blog later.  I will write on all the places that we found to be the best food and greatest of people who own them.  

So, come back and follow us on this great adventure that God has put us to spread the Gospel.  I will also write on the people that we have met and witnessed too and how God is preparing this ground for his Kindom.

Until next time. Be Blessed in the name of Jesus!

JCHC,

Pastor Ray Felan

Living in Brazil!

What an adventure it has been! We landed in Joinville on the Friday the 13th! Trying to push all our luggage was a nightmare. JK!

But it was something else watching us move 27 pieces of luggage around! Aiden and Seth were real troopers.  But there were people who saw us struggling and were happy to lend a hand.

People of Brazil are very friendly. Especially in Joinville.  We've made contact with people who English and Spanish.  

People in Brazil really want to learn English.  There are schools in Joinville who only teach English.  One school even offered us a job teaching English.  That's how eager they are.

The name of the school is TopWay.  We met two young people, whom I hope to get to church.  I forget their names but pray that they come to our Bible study and church once we open.

We are currently looking for an apartment or house to rent. Pray that we get a place that will meet our needs. 

It is so expensive in Brazil.  I mean, real expensive.  Just so you get an idea of how expensive it is, a monopoly game that costs in the states around $12, $6 during Christmas, cost $40!  That's right 40 AMERICAN DOLLARS!  Barbie dolls cost $35 also.  In dividule Hot Wells cars cost $3. Bey Blade tops cot 30 bucks.

It really is expensive. Everything is. A McDonalds Big Mac cost $3.50 alone. You get a combo and your going to spend around $7.50.

So you know what that means. Please give to missionary work. Especially this one! Lol!

But seriously, please if you haven't already been giving, give to world evangelism.  Giving to world evanglism has never meant so much to me until actually being in a country struggling to survive.  Physically, mentally, politically and especially SPIRITUALLY!

Please give and pray for us! We covet your prayers.

Brazil for Jesus,

-Pastor Ray Felan-

Made it to San Antonio

The move to San Antonio wasn't to bad, though we did have to leave a few things behind.  It was hard to leave the wonderful people whom we pastored for four and a half years.  Ruby called me on the phone crying when she left.  I ask her if she was okay. I thought she got into an accident or maybe was stop by DPS. She was actually sad to leave Harlingen and it's wonderful church.

Me and Jared left about 2 hours later.  We were getting the car transport for the Avolon, loading up small things in the trunk and leaving a little momento for the Rosembaums before we left to S.A.

Chick-fil-A had a promotional contest for the two highschools, the Hawks and the Cardinals.  The highschool with the most votes for the best decor would win the top cash schalorship award.

After the competition, the decoration were taken down.  But I kept some of the Hawks paraphernalia.

Some hawks heads and pompoms.  This was ideal to decorate their driveway.  So before we left Jared and I went to the Rosenbaums and left a Hawkish momentum. 

We made it well in S.A. and we are going to stay with family for awhile.  So pray for us. We covet all your prays.

Until next time.

J.C.H.C.

Ray 

Joinville,Santa Catarina, Brazil

Here are some pictures I found of Joinville.  Joinville is pronounced: zho - een - vee - lee. It's a French word. 

Joinville is a city in Santa Catarina State, in the Southern Region of Brazil. Joinville is the third largest municipality in the southern region of Brazil, after the much larger state capitals of Curitiba and Porto Alegre.

Area: 437 sq miles (1,131 km²)

Weather: 58°F (14°C), Wind N at 2 mph (3 km/h), 99% Humidity

Population: 486,803

Here is the city of Joinville.

It's a pretty big city.













This is an ancient bridge in joinville.

GOING TO BRAZIL!

What an amazing conference we had in San Antonio, TX.  There were so many people that Wednesday night felt like Friday.

And I'm thrilled and humbled that at this conference my wife and I and our boys, Aiden and Seth, are going to pioneer new work in Joinville, Brazil!

Jesus is such a wonderful Savior!

There were actually two other countries we were looking at which were Honduras and China.  But God directed us to Brazil.  The two cities that caught our attention were Salvador and Fortaleza.

So we started doing our research.  But then ended up looking south to a smaller city called Joinville. How we came to chose that city to pioneer is for another time to tell.

Please pray for us and the people in Joinville.  I'm praying for a mighty revival in that city.

I will be writing more about our adventure into this harvest field as we get ready to leave.

Please stay in touch.

JCHC
Joinville for Jesus.
Pastor Ray Felan