Well, there is still an incredible amount to do as far as our move back to the States is concerned. We are planning to have a massive garage sell (which is not a typical thing in Brazil) on November 29th and will spend the month of December packing the rest of our stuff.
We still don't know what city will be our final destination. We do know that we will have a period of up to 6 months with our sponsoring congregation in Colorado Springs while I look for a job. Most likely, we will end up in Texas.
One important bit of information that we do know is our departure date. We will board a plane and leave Porto Alegre, Brazil on January 27, 2009. If ever there was a "bitter-sweet" this is it. We are happy to have the date, but leaving what we now know as home will be difficult.
We won't actually land on U.S. soil until February 4th. From January 27th until February 3rd we will be on a "transition/debrief" vacation. Continent of Great Cities and Mission Resource Network highly recommend a time for missionaries to go on a vacation before they get back into the American life. This will be a good time for our family to relax and reflect upon our time as missionaries to Brazil.
Like I said, we still have an incredible amount to do. We will do our best to keep you updated as things progress. Until then, tchau!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Kid's Day
Of all the places that I have been to in the world (including the United States), Brazil has got to be the most kid friendly. Brazilians have a love and respect for children that is really unique. I appreciate so much the way perfect strangers treat Elisa. It is not unusual for us to be in the grocery store or at the post office or any where really and have people kneel down to Elisa's level and speak to her with genuine interest. It is a really sweet thing.
I'm not sure when it began but among many, many Brazilian holidays we celebrate Kid's Day every October. The 2nd Sunday of the month is full of festivities for children to enjoy throughout the city. Going to the mall the Saturday before is exactly like going to the mall on the 24th of December in the U.S. - crazy! Most children receive multiple gifts as if it were Christmas.
This year we celebrated Kid's Day with the Salgado family at their house. We told Keity, Jenny, Lhaumar and Elisa that we love them and appreciate them. Then they all opened presents. I think they enjoyed themselves.
It is pretty neat to have a day for children just like we do for mothers and fathers. It makes them feel special and appreciated. We really should make more effort celebrating the innocence and joy that children bring us. After all, Jesus did say, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
I'm not sure when it began but among many, many Brazilian holidays we celebrate Kid's Day every October. The 2nd Sunday of the month is full of festivities for children to enjoy throughout the city. Going to the mall the Saturday before is exactly like going to the mall on the 24th of December in the U.S. - crazy! Most children receive multiple gifts as if it were Christmas.
This year we celebrated Kid's Day with the Salgado family at their house. We told Keity, Jenny, Lhaumar and Elisa that we love them and appreciate them. Then they all opened presents. I think they enjoyed themselves.
It is pretty neat to have a day for children just like we do for mothers and fathers. It makes them feel special and appreciated. We really should make more effort celebrating the innocence and joy that children bring us. After all, Jesus did say, "
Monday, October 06, 2008
A Hard Life
During our time in Brazil we have met a few folks who have their fair share of struggles. Some go through the most difficult of situations that I really can't describe on this website. Some seem like they were destined for a hard life. We probably all know the person that tries and tries, but can never seem to dig out of that enormous hole they are stuck in.
As I write this post I am thinking specifically about Diane. I wrote about this weary, young mother once before around 3 months ago. You can get caught up on her story here. A brief summary is: she is a young mother (I think she is 24) of 5 who has struggled to keep her children in a good environment. She has a job now, but comes to us once or twice a week and asks for bus tokens. We listen to her and try to provide some form of advice and comfort. There is usually some kind of extreme circumstance going on - sickness, lack of food, social services taking the kids because of poor living conditions, husband getting injured at work site, etc. The main thing the last several months has been the health of one of her twin girls, Pamela. She is sick with cancer. It is easy to perceive that Diane doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation, due to her lack of education, but she trying.
When I think about the brief summary above I think, "how could it possibly get any worse? This seems like a bad made-for-TV movie." But it is real. It is very real.
Now it is time to share the most recent hardship of Diane. About a week ago she came to our house. Normally, Jennifer speaks with her, but she wasn't home. So, I went out to visit with her. I could tell something was wrong. She told me that her 58 year old father had died. He had diabetes and pretty much drank himself to death. Although she is only 24 she is the oldest sibling, so she was in charge of the funeral arrangements (her mother had already passed away). Can you imagine being 24, the mother of 5, about to be the mother of all your younger siblings (ages 3 to 20 or so) and in charge of your father's funeral arrangements? I can't. I talked with Diane for a while and gave her some bus tokens so that she could go and take care of her family.
A few days later we saw her and she proceeded to tell us the following: she left her twin girls (they are 5 or 6 years old I think - remember, one has cancer) with their godmother for a couple of days while all this stuff is going on with her dad's funeral and trying to figure out what to do with all the siblings. She sent someone to pick up the twins, but the godmother wouldn't let them leave. This is a major inconvenience since they are poor and have to spend more bus tokens going back and forth, etc. When Diane went to get the girls, the godmother and the girls were gone. Just gone. Kidnapped. Apparently, the godmother took off with the girls with no intention of giving them back. So, Diane started trying to track them down. Somehow she found out that they went to a neighboring town. She went to the police who told her to wait 42 hours. She came to us asking for more bus passes so she could go to this town. We told her to let the police handle it and to try to stay calm. What else was there to do? I can't even imagine what she was going through. I kept telling myself "maybe it is all just a big, BIG mix up. Bad communication. Maybe the godmother messed up the days or... I don't know!"
We found out just today that Diane went to an old employer and asked for help making flyers with the girl's picture. Very smart. They posted the flyers all over the town where they thought the girls and the godmother were. Someone saw the flyer and recognized the girls. They called to notify Diane. Then someone else saw a flyer at a bus stop while the girls and the godmother were standing there waiting for a bus. They called Diane immediately. Diane, the ex-employer and the ex-employer's son (a lawyer) went to the bus stop. Luckily (thanks to God) they were still there. They were about to head to another state! Unbelievable! Diane probably just had a matter of minutes before her girls would have been on a bus leaving the city. Diane has her girls now and the godmother has been arrested.
Can you believe all this? It is so difficult for me to wrap my mind around this kind of turmoil. I have been stressed about our upcoming move, but frankly I confess that my biggest complaint lately has been the problems we are having with our high-speed internet and our phone. We have no problems! None!
I wrote this post because my heart goes out to Diane. I know the Lord's heart goes out to Diane too. He longs to save the lost, the down trodden, the broken. He has a heart for the suffering. She is the definition of suffering that only Jesus can heal. There are so many scriptures that could come to mind when I think of Diane's life, but only one really hits me right now.
Diane needs to trust in the Lord for the strength that only He can provide. I pray that He would give me and Jennifer the wisdom and discernment to know how to minister to this hurting soul and to allow His Spirit to work through us to bring her comfort and rest in Him.
As I write this post I am thinking specifically about Diane. I wrote about this weary, young mother once before around 3 months ago. You can get caught up on her story here. A brief summary is: she is a young mother (I think she is 24) of 5 who has struggled to keep her children in a good environment. She has a job now, but comes to us once or twice a week and asks for bus tokens. We listen to her and try to provide some form of advice and comfort. There is usually some kind of extreme circumstance going on - sickness, lack of food, social services taking the kids because of poor living conditions, husband getting injured at work site, etc. The main thing the last several months has been the health of one of her twin girls, Pamela. She is sick with cancer. It is easy to perceive that Diane doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation, due to her lack of education, but she trying.
When I think about the brief summary above I think, "how could it possibly get any worse? This seems like a bad made-for-TV movie." But it is real. It is very real.
Now it is time to share the most recent hardship of Diane. About a week ago she came to our house. Normally, Jennifer speaks with her, but she wasn't home. So, I went out to visit with her. I could tell something was wrong. She told me that her 58 year old father had died. He had diabetes and pretty much drank himself to death. Although she is only 24 she is the oldest sibling, so she was in charge of the funeral arrangements (her mother had already passed away). Can you imagine being 24, the mother of 5, about to be the mother of all your younger siblings (ages 3 to 20 or so) and in charge of your father's funeral arrangements? I can't. I talked with Diane for a while and gave her some bus tokens so that she could go and take care of her family.
A few days later we saw her and she proceeded to tell us the following: she left her twin girls (they are 5 or 6 years old I think - remember, one has cancer) with their godmother for a couple of days while all this stuff is going on with her dad's funeral and trying to figure out what to do with all the siblings. She sent someone to pick up the twins, but the godmother wouldn't let them leave. This is a major inconvenience since they are poor and have to spend more bus tokens going back and forth, etc. When Diane went to get the girls, the godmother and the girls were gone. Just gone. Kidnapped. Apparently, the godmother took off with the girls with no intention of giving them back. So, Diane started trying to track them down. Somehow she found out that they went to a neighboring town. She went to the police who told her to wait 42 hours. She came to us asking for more bus passes so she could go to this town. We told her to let the police handle it and to try to stay calm. What else was there to do? I can't even imagine what she was going through. I kept telling myself "maybe it is all just a big, BIG mix up. Bad communication. Maybe the godmother messed up the days or... I don't know!"
We found out just today that Diane went to an old employer and asked for help making flyers with the girl's picture. Very smart. They posted the flyers all over the town where they thought the girls and the godmother were. Someone saw the flyer and recognized the girls. They called to notify Diane. Then someone else saw a flyer at a bus stop while the girls and the godmother were standing there waiting for a bus. They called Diane immediately. Diane, the ex-employer and the ex-employer's son (a lawyer) went to the bus stop. Luckily (thanks to God) they were still there. They were about to head to another state! Unbelievable! Diane probably just had a matter of minutes before her girls would have been on a bus leaving the city. Diane has her girls now and the godmother has been arrested.
Can you believe all this? It is so difficult for me to wrap my mind around this kind of turmoil. I have been stressed about our upcoming move, but frankly I confess that my biggest complaint lately has been the problems we are having with our high-speed internet and our phone. We have no problems! None!
I wrote this post because my heart goes out to Diane. I know the Lord's heart goes out to Diane too. He longs to save the lost, the down trodden, the broken. He has a heart for the suffering. She is the definition of suffering that only Jesus can heal. There are so many scriptures that could come to mind when I think of Diane's life, but only one really hits me right now.
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Diane needs to trust in the Lord for the strength that only He can provide. I pray that He would give me and Jennifer the wisdom and discernment to know how to minister to this hurting soul and to allow His Spirit to work through us to bring her comfort and rest in Him.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
4 Months Left
It is hard to believe that we only have 4 months left before we head back to the US. What a crazy time to head back too! The financial crisis has us scratching our heads, but we trust the Lord and know that He will put us where we need to be. Over the last 4 years the strength of the dollar has dropped significantly, so we actually have some experience being in an on-going financial crisis of sorts.
Anyway, we have transitioned out of our responsibilities here (for the most part). I still meet with the other team guys once a week for prayer and updates on the work. I am grateful for that time. Prayer with my brothers is so vital for me. I also meet Paulo Renato and Cesar for lunch on Tuesdays. After our lunch, Cesar and I have a Bible study.
We are doing what we can right now to prepare for our life in the States. I am working on professional development to renew my teaching certificate and Jennifer is studying for the GRE. She will take it later this month. She is leaning heavily toward returning to school to get her Masters next fall.
As our time winds down we are trying to spend time with individuals and families that we are close to here. We really want to take it all in before it is too late. Through the good times and bad we are grateful for our time here in Brazil. We have learned a lot and have grown to be much more wise and mature. Our family is looking forward to taking our experiences here and using what we have learned to help bring more people to Christ wherever we may go in the future.
For now, we don't really know where that will be. But, we will keep you posted. Please continue to pray for our transition and for the church family in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Anyway, we have transitioned out of our responsibilities here (for the most part). I still meet with the other team guys once a week for prayer and updates on the work. I am grateful for that time. Prayer with my brothers is so vital for me. I also meet Paulo Renato and Cesar for lunch on Tuesdays. After our lunch, Cesar and I have a Bible study.
We are doing what we can right now to prepare for our life in the States. I am working on professional development to renew my teaching certificate and Jennifer is studying for the GRE. She will take it later this month. She is leaning heavily toward returning to school to get her Masters next fall.
As our time winds down we are trying to spend time with individuals and families that we are close to here. We really want to take it all in before it is too late. Through the good times and bad we are grateful for our time here in Brazil. We have learned a lot and have grown to be much more wise and mature. Our family is looking forward to taking our experiences here and using what we have learned to help bring more people to Christ wherever we may go in the future.
For now, we don't really know where that will be. But, we will keep you posted. Please continue to pray for our transition and for the church family in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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