CHILDHOOD PETS

When you were growing up, did you have any animals? What were their names? Was it important to you to have a pet?

I did have pets throughout my youth. I had 3 dogs, one while in Rio and two while in Tupã. I do not remember the name of the dog in Rio nor the first one in Tupã. She did have many litters. From one of the litters, we kept a male. I named him Lobo (Wolf). As a pup, I had dropped him on his head. From then on, he was not right in his head, so to speak. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of any of them.

Although I am rather timid around dogs, I still would like to have one.

BALL GAMES

Did you go to ball games as a boy? What kind of food did you eat?

As a young child, the only sport that I could have see was football (soccer). However, it was not safe for us to attend. I think Dad went to at least a few in the early days.

Later in life, in Tupã, I did attend High School games such as Team Handball, Volleyball, Football, and Basketball. The Japaneses had a Baseball league. I remember going to one of their games.

Food was never a part of those games that I did attend. Drinking was; food was not.

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN

When did you become a Christian? How did your life change?

I was a 10 years old when I was baptized. I accepted Christ a couple of years before that. Since I was still a child in a rather conservative Baptist family, my life did not change at all. I am not one of those who have a very powerful testimony. I wish I could say that it had at least changed my concept of God, but not even that happened. I still believed in the magical god of my infancy.  In fact, I have had several "conversion" experiences over the years. 

FIRST BIBLE

Who gave you your first Bible and how old were you when you received it? How did it influence your life?

My mother gave me a Bible when I was about 5 years old. It was a full Bible and not just a kids Bible. For many years, the Bible was very important to me. As the child of missionaries and going to church at least 3 times a week, knowing the Bible was very important. As a seminary student and the pastor, it was crucial. In the past few years, reading it has become less of a discipline. Nevertheless, it still is the basis for my faith. I still have that Bible. Since we were in Brazil, the Bible is in Portuguese.