settling in

Hey friends!

Our first days of the year have been full. We are still getting our house in order, so we've had visits from the plumber, pest control, the butcher shop, etc. Part of the adjustment, which won't always be the case, has been all the walking since we don't have a car yet. Fortunately, the bank, the bakery, a small grocery store, and the fruit and vegetable store are all within a half-mile of the house. Unfortunately, I'm out of shape and the hills are getting the best of me. 😰  

We've gotten to visit with many families and friends from the church. I know we were warned before that our capacity would be low, but this weekend it seemed like we were arriving home each night wiped out. Between the long treks across town by taxi, lots of Portuguese (especially for the kids who haven't started classes), and the heat, we are definitely still "adapting." But we are thankful that so many have opened their homes to us and invited us to be a part of the work God is doing in their lives, in the church, and in Belo Horizonte.

1. Lucy visiting with a friend's "hamster" (looks like a mouse to me!), 
2. Lucy, Mary Kelly, and Simon using the public workout equipment scattered across many of the parks, 
3. Braden and Everett with Santa(s) at the airport, 
4. Lucy and Simon picking acerola during a visit with some friends, 
5. Everett meets Angry Bunny (its name in English!), 
6. One of many, many Uber rides after getting caught in the rain, 
7. Amy at the park, look at that amazing tree!, 
8. The family waiting at the airport after Braden's initial flight was canceled (he made it fine eventually), 
9. and Everett in his room having "desk time." 

Not pictured: It's not all fun and games. There is plenty of stress and fear involved in the transition. We are actively trying to battle those fears with truth... the fear of not being enough or up to the task, the fear that the kids may not like it or adjust well or that they may not make friends, the fear today of the unknown as the city shuts down again partially due to COVID, the fear of seeing the scary images from the U.S. from the continuing pandemic and political turmoil and worrying how that may be affecting you all. There's plenty to cause us to be anxious. And we feel it. So, let's pray for one another. That we could renew our trust in our Father daily and that others would know us as Christ's disciples by our love for others, those near and far. 

We miss you all and would love to hear from you,

The Dowdys