Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 08:35:39
Subject: More of the same

Friends,
	Time marches on, another week comes and goes.  My language skills
are improving daily in small but sure steps.  It is encouraging to know
that I can speak better this week than I did the last.	Nothing especially
important has happened over the last few days although I was able to go to
the symphony on Thursday which was very enjoyable.
	I am becoming more comfortable in my house.  I now know what all
the odd sounds that I hear at night are.  I have done a few loads of
laundry.  I make sandwiches, eat cookies, wash dishes, and catch the
occasional soccer match in the evening.  Everything is pretty normal
except for the million things that are different but are too small to
remember.
	Something that happened on my route yesterday reminded me of a
funny, albeit short, story.  One of the girls that I visit with asked me
what my last name was.	When I told her, she jokingly said "e nao
Hoffman?" which means "it isn't Hoffman?" (as in Dustin Hoffman).  This
reminded me of the time I was at the camp that I wrote about in my
previous email.  Many of the people there called me "Hoffman".	They even
wrote "Justin Hoffman" on the door to my room.	I didn't feel like
explaining the difference between "Dustin" and "Justin", it would have
spoiled all the fun.
	Now I want to give you guys a little language lesson.  The phrase
"ser cara-de-pau" figuratively means "to have a lot of nerve", but
literally translated means "to have a face of wood."  The phrase "mao de
vaca" figuratively translated means "to be cheap" (as in tightwad), and
literally means "hand of cow."	If you recall, a cow has a hoof for a
"hand" and a hoof never opens (to let go of money), so thats where that
comes from.  There are plenty of other great examples like that, but those
are the two that I like the best.
	Continue to pray for:
		Language
		That God will be preparing a special few for me to
			disciple in Sao Paulo
		Language school won't wear me out

	I love you guys!

Justin