Out with Cops!

Fridays I meet with two other guys for some accountability and time together. This last Fri, as I was on my way driving on the empty streets of downtown, because it's a day off, I stopped at a red light and waited for the green to go. I saw a policeman sitting on the corner of the street, stand up and come on my way. As I saw the timer for the light, it still had 23 seconds to be green, I could not go. Because of corruption here, when a cop approaches, check your pocket or run... but I couldn't!

So the guy tap on my window and asked for my Drivers License. Being a Brazilian here I have some advantages around. I gave him my copy laminated expired license from Brazil and it wasn't enough, he wanted my passport too. He made me pull over to the curb and got inside the car with me (!). In my head I just wanted to tell him that he wasn't welcomed in my car... (for the culture here, not acceptable). He wants my passport and because I didn't have it with me he wanted 30 SDG.(+/- 15 bucks). I told him I didn't have it and he got a little upset. He wrote on his hand 60. I started thinking that he was raising the fine. So, he told me to drive somewhere, I told him, "No-wait, the light is red", and he kept telling me to go! So, I just said (in a mix of Arabic/English), "no, no sir, it is red and put your seat belt on!!!

After the light turned green I drove for a block or two and then, fed up, pulled over and I told him that I wasn't going in that direction. I needed to turn around, and kept telling him to put the belt on. (He didn't anyway...) He asked me, "where is your Arabic?" I told him, (in Arabic) I'm from Brazil and we speak Portuguese, Arabic is too hard... The situation was getting kind of hot inside the little "Ferrari" and he was so disappointed!!! I told him that I would keep a copy of my passport inside the car form now on, I was just afraid of loosing the passport... He made me turn around and drop him off at the same stop light. He was pissed that I didn't buy him breakfast... and I went on my way happy for another Friday morning meeting.

We are at the 10th week of pregnancy. This week the little peanut can put his little arms around the tiny heart/chest and his nails are coming on his fingers and toes.

The hot season is here, this last week was around 105-108F during the day, praise God for energy and swamp coolers.

Blessings!!

Photos: A day at a Nile beach (up river a bit) with our friends who have access to a boat! Our homemade sun shelter, a king sheet, courtesy of our friends in MN!... Eddy and Mike playing frisbee in the Nile... Eddy coaching the NVA crocs in their final game- and a win!!