Food glorious food

Those of you who know us well will know that food is very important to us. Fatima, who cooked for the teen camp last week, has offered to cook for us for the rest of our time here and also to wash some of our clothes (apart from our smalls). She caters for all our idiosyncracies and even baked a cake for Stephen's birthday on Sunday.

Beans and rice are a staple in Brazil and we have had more than our fair share. Fruit is also in abundance, most days starting with fresh pineapple and water melon. Egg mixed with cous cous was a delicacy that we were introduced to last week but this morning we enjoyed a Brazilian fry up - forget cinammon scones ladies, cinammon fried bananas are the way forward. We love getting fresh fruit juice every morning of various flavours and the coffee is strong and sweet. Our teeth are under serious pressure.

Lesson 4: Never forget to bring your toothbrush but don't leave it lying around at cleaning time.

Fatima's husband Paulinho (aka David Bailie in shorts) works hard to keep the seminary in good shape so that it can be used by all the Step teams that come, for the Bible teaching classes that happen in the evenings, and for the local kids that come along to the project. He has a special nighttime routine of locking us in (for own safety of course!) but it has meant that we have had to break into the canteen to have our tea (lanche). This involves poking a special stick through a gap at the top of the door and pushing the lock out. The Simpson boys will be pros at the end of our time here.

Lesson 5: Don't drop the stick through the door before you've managed to unlock it. Thanks Jonny.

As with everything Brazilian time is flexible. We generally start the day with breakfast (cafe-de-manha) at 8am, and lunch (almoço) can be anytime from 12 - 2 but is the main meal of the day. Tea generally... happens.

Lesson 6: Always keep an emergency packet of crisps handy.