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Hello everyone,
Some readers commented that they liked the "Fat free" list so once again it is at the end.
As I write this we are only a couple of days away from our return to Brazil. While inquiring about tickets for
a friend the airline said our wonderful cheap flight we wrote about in our last letter didn’t exist. They re-booked
us for a less desirable flight, but we’ll still get there, and the 24 hour layover will be used to re-visit friends.
The other day I walked by this . . .
We interrupt this letter to bring you a news flash. The Atha family has just been denied passage by the airline.
After dragging relatives 4 hours to the airport and checking the baggage, the attendant said that the official
Brazilian government travel documents don’t meet airline standards. When questioned the attendant replied "I
know a lot more about this than the Brazilian government does". The Athas have been re-booked 4 days later
to allow for a trip to the consulate in D.C. We now rejoin the regular, scheduled letter already in progress.
. . . smile when I remember it.
Summer was busy. In our last letter we mentioned being the temporary volunteer director of a US camp. It was an
interesting experience. A couple of days before camp started the cook had to quit. Miraculously, the Lord provided
the near perfect replacement. Please pray for the Simmons family as near the end of the season her husband suffered
a serious car accident and is still in a miraculous recovery.
The boys were campers one week and helped most of the others. One son even won the "model camper" award
- something his parents never came close to doing. In fact we...
NEWS FLASH: After a 4 hour drive back "home" last night, the Athas packed up and left for Baltimore
this morning to sleep with relatives and be at the consulate when it opens Monday. However the $300 car they used
during furlough blew the radiator in over-time. They are now in the parking lot of a D.C. car parts store waiting
for a Mexican who said he’d fix it. More news as it happens.
. . . Granny Atha also helped out and was a great example of how to work. Several people even commented how much
they enjoyed sitting on the porch and watching her work. She was probably my greatest contribution to the camp.
Our greatest payment was hearing over and again of decisions made.
NEWS FLASH: Señor Mañana never came, but a local teen offered to fix it - and for a lower price,
too (who says the American work force can’t be competetive?) As it’s too late to continue the trip, the Athas decided
to book a room in D.C. They are in a convienience store and have just discovered that asking how to "go to
Peterson Plaza" sounds a lot like ordering "peperoni pizza to go" to store clerks from India. It
was good pizza. Stay tuned for more.
. . . and we got a good scare, too, when growing red rings on one son turned out to be Lyme disease. Because
we caught it early, with rest and medicine he was soon well. Considering the meal, however, the tick probably wasn’t
so lucky. We even had a false Swine flu scare and I came down with a bad case Canine flu. I was dog tired.
THIS JUST IN: The Brazilian consulate is moving and as a result the papers will not be ready til next week. Though
the Athas have permanence, they must get a visitors visa to satisfy the airline. They were told to send an e-mail
requesting urgency and to return that afternoon. Wait, I have just been told that they were promised the visa,
first on Wed PM (the day of the flight) and then on Tue, tomorrow. It appears that all will work out. We are standing
by for any changes.
One of the workers from camp is trying to come down to visit. He has the tickets and other funds but is having
problems with the visa. We think he will be a help to us with the many projects as well as a challenge to missions
for him. Pray for John.
And speaking of coming to Brazil, there’s an opportunity for you this summer. One of our coworkers here is working
on the third Aventura Brasil. We are considering having a special English retreat - maybe in addition to the free
"street kids" retreat. Consider coming or sending some of your youth!
We interupt this letter one last time to close out the Atha travel saga. The Brazilian officials never looked
at the new visitor’s visa, being satified with the documentaion rejected by the airlines. There was some bartering
over needing to pay for excess baggage again, but the Athas are now in their car, driving off into the sunset towards
home. They just pulled out of a police roadblock located about 2 minutes past the point where Byron said "The
only thing left to go wrong is for the police to stop us and ask to see my expired driver’s liscence".
We are all glad to be home - safe and sound. There is one more important news item we need to share. For a number
of reasons that we won’t get into here, we have chosen to change missions. BWMOM (Baptist World Missionary Outreach
Ministry) is now assisting us - and you. Contact information is at the bottom of the page and on our website. If
you need to know why, contact me personally at the addresses above, or my pastor, Bob Trogdon (336) 635-4589.
Thank you for your prayers,
The Athas in Brazil
Prayer’s Digest
Pray:
William Simmons
John’s visa & trip
Aventura Brasil
Transition
Praise:
Opportunities and decisions at camp
Safe arrival in Brazil
Improvement in Wm. Simmons’ health
Recovery from Limes disease
The Athas in Brazil
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BWMOM / P.O. Box 3303 / Chattanooga , Tennessee 37404
www.bwmom.org / bwmom@bellsouth.net / (423) 624-8330
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