CARNEW IN BRAZIL: My First Visitors

Sean, Jim, myself and Paddy at the main waterfall in Iguaçu. It is called "Garganta do Diablo" {The Devil's Throat}. This picture is taken on the Argentina side of the river Iguaçu.

Having spent the most of January in São Paulo, I have returned to my "hideaway" here in the (former) jungle of Mato Grosso to a load of post and presents for Christmas. Many thanks to all, including Ann for the Christmas Pudding that arrived safe and sound. The only thing is that I left the “Birds Custard" behind me in São Paulo! But it is arriving by special messenger, which translates as the next person to make their way up here. That’s of course if the São Paulo lads don’t eat it all first.

“Papai Noel” {Santa Clause} was very good to me with goodies, such as Irish Chocolate and of course donations for the work here. It will take me a month to reply to all the post, and probably two months for them to get to their destination!

In São Paulo I worked on getting a brand new work-visa, which was granted for another year. I think I counted 35 pages of documents which I presented to the "Policia Federal", and I have to go through this process all over again next year. It doesn’t help that all documents have to be translated into Portuguese and officially notarised first. Despite going down before Christmas Day to meet the deadline, the translating took its time and I ended up being late and having to pay a large "Multa" {fine}, at least they didn’t ask me to leave the country.

I even had time to get a new Driving License.

While there, I also entertained my First Visitors. Paddy “Meu Irmão Mais Velha” {My "older" brother}, Jim Fegan, Adm., Wexford Town Parish, Sean Hyland, Miami Diocese and native of Paddy's new parish of "St. Senan's" Enniscorthy. They did not travel here to Mato Grosso {Big Wood}; I had to travel to meet them. The bishop here was not very impressed as he was looking forward to meeting my brother. I suppose I can't blame them as there is nothing here but rain and muck for the last month and it seems for the next two or three months as well.
At the moment much of the traffic is at a “stand-still”. “Stand-still” here is for a few days. I’m told it lasted 15 days last year with the bridge over “Rio Vermelho” {Red River} being closed to all traffic except foot traffic. Foot traffic by the way is human feet and horses hooves.

I was driving in the jeep yesterday in the muck and it was like doing the "Samba" Dance, with our back wheels trying to pass out the front wheels and sliding down the hills sideways.

Anyway, my visitors and I spent a few days in São Paulo, which sadly has little to offer the tourist. We then went to see the Waterfalls at Iguaçu, on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. They were magnificent!
Finally we went to Rio de Janeiro for a week of Sun, “as if I didn't have enough of sun here”. As it turned out the sun made a rare appearance through the rain clouds.

Here are a few pictures of my “brave” visitors:

Taken in Rio de Janeiro, at the "Cristo Redentor" on Corcovado mountain

When I get a chance and a computer with a good connection, I will post more pictures of our visits to Iguaçu & Rio de Janeiro.

Other News:
My computer and my link to the wider world is out of action at the moment and it cannot be fixed here, so my “blogs” and free telephone calls might be a little less frequent.

On the first weekend I returned, I had to drive to my old parish of Juruena to do duty for Paudie as he is stuck in São Paul, with “Major” work-visa problems. I just barely made it there and by a hairs breath I made it back over the bridge on the “Rio Vermelho”. After the trip I christened the “Parish Jeep” the “Parish Boat”.

As I write this our house here has been turned into a refugee home. With the rains of the last few days the bridges are either down or closed, including “Rio Vermelho”. We opened our doors to offer refuge to Joaquim, Ursula and Baby Andréa. Joaquim is a German Lutheran Pastor working in my previous parish of Juruena. Ursula is his South African wife and Andrea is just walking and pulling the place asunder {in a nice way}. All three were with me on the language course in Brasilia last March-June 2006.

At the moment the bus service is running towards “Rio Vermelho” & Juruena and the passengers alight and take off shoes and socks {if they have any} and cart themselves and their luggage across the flooded bridge and road to a bus waiting on the other side.

A belated Happy Birthday to my Pároco {Parish Priest} Derek. As they say here, “he is 21 again, well each leg is” and a bit of an arm, nearly all of it actually. The big “0” and the big party is next January.

A new “novice” has arrived to work with the Sisters here in the parish. Irmã {Sister} Renada. Bem Vinda {Welcome}. I think Renada is the first Religious Novice I have ever met! She was only a few days here and I had her preaching for me at Mass yesterday and she was excellent. She is, however, five years a member of the order. That makes four sisters and two priests working here at the moment. The parish of Castanheira is as large as the Diocese of Ferns is at home with its 90 plus priests and countless religious. Just to put it into perspective!

Part of my work for the next month is to answer all my posts. Thanks for the thoughts everybody.