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.

SCHOOL DISTANCES

How far did you have to travel to attend elementary, junior high and high school, and how did your get there?

Because I moved often, the answer for each is different.

In the first (and third) school, in Rio, the school was just over a block away so I walked. Even in kindergarten, I do not remember anyone walking with me.

In the second school, in the USA, the school was a little further but I still walked. I was probably in the 1st grade at that time.

At the fourth school, in Tupã, the school was a little over 2 blocks. Nevertheless, I still walked. I was in the 3rd and 4th grade there.

The 5th school I attended, also in Tupã, the school was many blocks away... at least a mile. Because the brazilian school system is different, it is hard to say whether it was junior high or high school; it was called Genasio. By that time, I had a bike so I either rode it or walked.

The 6th school I attended was in the USA. It was a middle (junior) high... 9th grade. I lived about 10 miles from the school and therefore had to ride the school bus. I walked the half mile to the bus stop or was driven there by one of my parents... usually my mother.

The 7th school i attended was back in Brazil where I attended the same school I did before. I was there for 2 more years... including repeating half of the 9th grade. I have come to realize that when I returned to the USA for college, I had barely the 10th grade education.

MEMORABLE VALENTINE

Describe the most memorable Valentine you ever received. Who sent it to you?

I never received a memorable Valentine. In Brazil, there was not the custom of sending cards even though they did commemorate Valentine's Day. It was something celebrated between actually people in a serious relationship: dating, engaged, married, living together.... Since I was in neither, I did not have a reason to participate. While in the USA, I did receive the little cards given out at school but then none of those was memorable. Valentine's Day just does not play that prominent a role in my life either then or now.

SPECIAL CALLING

Did you ever feel that God had a special calling on your life?

Yes, I did. When I was 13 years old, I "heard" God calling me to be a doctor. Becoming a doctor was the focus of my life for many years. I purchased a monthly issue of a medical magazine, studying chemistry outside of the classroom, and talked to doctors... all in order to be ready for college and medical school. I did not make it. My education in Brazil was just not good enough for me to make the grades in college. Foolishly, I believed that since God wanted me to be a doctor, "he" would overcome any problems. Since then, I have had many other "calls", all of which have failed. I no longer believe that God "calls" anyone.