During their first year in Recife, Adrian wrote a number of short stories about things that happened to them while settling into life in Brazil. The idea was to try and capture what it was like adapting to a new culture where everything seems very strange and different. They sent the stories to some of their supporters back in the UK and got good reactions to them.

In late 2005 the Stewarts decided to collect the stories together to produce a small book which would become a fundraiser for the ongoing building work. They were able to have it printed at a very low cost in Brazil and the book is available to purchase with all the profits going to the project for more classrooms at their church.

Some of the stories are funny, some are sad, most explain how very different Brazil is from the UK. There are stories about getting stopped by a corrupt policeman, getting stuck in a bank queue, being misunderstood on the phone, almost going mad at a church camp, all the sorts of things missionaries don’t usually admit to experiencing – the frustration, the humiliation, the embarrassment of understanding nothing and not being understood.

Adrian hopes the stories give a bit of an insight into the reality of life in another culture but the picture they give is essentially a positive one. His motto is – you have to laugh, anyone who crosses cultures and takes himself or herself too seriously will never cope. He hopes people can laugh along with them. 

Copies of A View from the Reef are available at £4, with the proceeds going towards the church building project. Either click here to print an order form to send with your cheque or card details, or click the PayPal Buy Now button.