Dr Derek’s Made it to Brazil
24 February 2009
The Bath parishioner leading the support for a Clifton Diocese priest who ministers in South America has arrived in Brazil and is making his way across the vast country to meet up with Father Leo Dolan.
Dr Derek Indoe of St John the Evangelist parish is leading a small - but growing number of parishioners - who are concerned about the violent threats and intimidation to which land settlers in Brazil known to Father Leo Dolan have been subjected.
Dr Derek’s been busy since he arrived in Brazil but managed to find a few moments to send cliftondiocese.com an update and some pictures.
Dr Derek’s first email contains his initial reaction having just landed in Sao Paulo. He said: “Well it is interesting to come back to Brazil. I am starting off in the big metropolis where we have an international shopping centre to rival any American mall.
“Big industrial Sao Paulo comes complete with three airports if not more and driving is like LA. There’s Sky TV and some 16 million people!
“But I’m only here for a day and I will move on to my friend from Northern Ireland tomorrow. His father came here as a missionary, and my friend stayed and married one of the professors at the University of Sao Paulo.
"After meeting up with my friend, I will then move on up into the interior and the dust with Father Leo. We have an appointment in Brazilian and they are expecting us. How the poor live, organise themselves and whether the Amazons will be saved is high on the world agenda according. As one of the fleas on the elephants back I am going the meet with Father Leo and see if we can join some other fleas to bring some peace to the elephant when he no longer needs to itch.”
"A couple of the days into the visit Dr Derek made contact again. He said: “I have now made contact with Father Leo and will be flying up to Ciuaba in the next few days - that’s in Mato Grosso and near Porto Velho.
“Everything stops for carnival which began last night. I am staying with some friends here in Campinas before moving north. It’s seven hour flight - just half the distance from England to Sao Paulo!
“The contrasts are enormous between here and where I am going. We visited three malls last night trying to get some lightweight trousers. The temperature here is 80 degrees - I’ve not yet checked it in Mato Grosso and Rondonia but I am going to sweat!
"The malls are as big as or bigger than those of California. Twelve people leap to serve you when you go in the shops - the plenty is everywhere and there seems to be an endless building programme and denial of the world economic downturn. The population of Campinas runs into millions and Campinas is just one city in the state of Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo city is some 16 million these days - bit bigger than Bristol - and Bath!”
We’re hoping to hear more from Dr Derek as his Brazil visit continues. The picture he sent can be seen in the image gallery on the right. Just click on the small images for the bigger picture.
The Bath parishioner leading the support for a Clifton Diocese priest who ministers in South America has arrived in Brazil and is making his way across the vast country to meet up with Father Leo Dolan.
Dr Derek Indoe of St John the Evangelist parish is leading a small - but growing number of parishioners - who are concerned about the violent threats and intimidation to which land settlers in Brazil known to Father Leo Dolan have been subjected.
Dr Derek’s been busy since he arrived in Brazil but managed to find a few moments to send cliftondiocese.com an update and some pictures.
Dr Derek’s first email contains his initial reaction having just landed in Sao Paulo. He said: “Well it is interesting to come back to Brazil. I am starting off in the big metropolis where we have an international shopping centre to rival any American mall.
“Big industrial Sao Paulo comes complete with three airports if not more and driving is like LA. There’s Sky TV and some 16 million people!
“But I’m only here for a day and I will move on to my friend from Northern Ireland tomorrow. His father came here as a missionary, and my friend stayed and married one of the professors at the University of Sao Paulo.
"After meeting up with my friend, I will then move on up into the interior and the dust with Father Leo. We have an appointment in Brazilian and they are expecting us. How the poor live, organise themselves and whether the Amazons will be saved is high on the world agenda according. As one of the fleas on the elephants back I am going the meet with Father Leo and see if we can join some other fleas to bring some peace to the elephant when he no longer needs to itch.”
"A couple of the days into the visit Dr Derek made contact again. He said: “I have now made contact with Father Leo and will be flying up to Ciuaba in the next few days - that’s in Mato Grosso and near Porto Velho.
“Everything stops for carnival which began last night. I am staying with some friends here in Campinas before moving north. It’s seven hour flight - just half the distance from England to Sao Paulo!
“The contrasts are enormous between here and where I am going. We visited three malls last night trying to get some lightweight trousers. The temperature here is 80 degrees - I’ve not yet checked it in Mato Grosso and Rondonia but I am going to sweat!
"The malls are as big as or bigger than those of California. Twelve people leap to serve you when you go in the shops - the plenty is everywhere and there seems to be an endless building programme and denial of the world economic downturn. The population of Campinas runs into millions and Campinas is just one city in the state of Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo city is some 16 million these days - bit bigger than Bristol - and Bath!”
We’re hoping to hear more from Dr Derek as his Brazil visit continues. The picture he sent can be seen in the image gallery on the right. Just click on the small images for the bigger picture.
Images
Your comments
© Clifton Diocese 2010 | Disclaimer
