I have adjusted back into HEB, the internet and being with my family again. I have yet to stay in one place for very long but will soon not be living out of my suitcase finally. I think haha.

 

 

 

I am thankful for how the Lord has allowed my time to be filled, it has helped the transition of being back-and with the initial sour taste about being home. I knew that a lot of unknowns were waiting and that I was exactly where God had said to be in Brazil- why would I leave that?! Because that is what He planned and I have to choose thankfulness.

 

A fear I have had as time has gone by is forgetting what the Lord spoke and allowed me to witness in Brazil. I am so thankful for the moments of conversation that I have had so far to share about Brazil and remember all that He did.

 

The Lord spoke to my heart clearly as we were in Brazil last year in a different area, yet among His creation and his people. I wanted to be back and knew he would make the way in confidence that I knew he had spoken.

 

There are ways that he created me that I do not understand and have never known that they could be used as ministry or useful for the Kingdom work, He made that clear while in Brazil. I was homeschooling yet that in it of itself was about 20% of what I spent my time doing. Our church body at Living Hope has prepared us well (when we are willing) to be a help. For us to go out and have no expectations other than loving God and loving others. The Lord takes that so creatively and grows something amazing. From teaching, to babysitting, to baking, crafts, flexibility and other crazy things- He used IT ALL. The needs that the family had, the work that God has blooming in Brazil, and my gifts and hobbies had a perfect connection and intertwined in such an affirmative way of his plan and goodness.

 

I was able to deeply walk along side two amazing and very different families and they willingly walked along side me as I was there. I witnessed families grow (literally) and marriages strengthened through challenges and the daily life of  the jungle. A/C was a treat, water was a miracle on some days and keeping the ants from the food was a victory. I watched the kids' imagination explode during homeschool, with their dolls and legos and outside when it wasn't pouring down rain. Cooking takes hours and the basic of the basics have to be made from scratch. I learned that the specific and constant power of prayer was the only way to survive. Do we ask our missionaries about the hard little parts of their days? PS not all of them can run to a closet, a coffee shop or their rooms to splurge on a Coke, Netflix and chocolate like we can :) Relying on the Lord for strength, energy and passion were ever on my mind as I watched these sweet families live life.

 

The kids are amazing, and understand the roles their parents play. One day when we were talking about Missionary kids, I asked the boys some questions. I asked what was something they don't like about being a MK and what is something they like? The middle answered, "I don't like that we have to move and leave our friends, but I like that mom and dad are here to share the good news of Jesus as missionaries." He get's it, and it was a beautiful thing to watch this one grow and commit his life to Jesus during my time there. The sacrifice is huge at times, they leave family, sweet grandparents, comforts of the States BUT they know why and they are so taken care of by the Lord.

 

There was a time when we were preparing to go to Malawi a few years ago and we were wrestling with the idea that ministry and being in God's will meant that you were always in hard situations and that what we want couldn't possibly be what God wants. In true Mark Henry fashion he set us straight so gently and clearly. There are times where (PRAISE THE LORD) our desires and God's will ARE THE SAME! We should rejoice, not doubt and reject his blessing. I am forever grateful for that moment and have to remind myself daily of that. We pray for our desires and the Lord's will to be the same, let us rejoice when they are!

 

I had the amazing joy to be exactly where the Lord wanted me, and I could not have asked for a better 4 months, yes being away from home had it's communication and relational issues but the Lord is faithful. We either believe he has a plan and a purpose or we don't. He provided for every need, and even the very real ones I didn't know I had. Isn't he wonderful? He makes a way so specifically for us in his will, that brings glory to him and guides each step.

 

In this next leg of the journey there are more questions than answers and more unknowns than I can handle alone. This is the great time of asking for prayer as I seek direction from the Lord and trust the Spirit that dwells within me. He brings great comfort in his faithfulness that I often look back on and cannot wait to rejoice in what he has next.

 

Thank you for coming along side me, I pray that the Lord has used this time for you and your growth in him as well. He is a good good Father

Home Sweet Home, or Something Like That...

 

 

Somehow I have already been away from Brazil for a week now!

The weather was amazing for my flight out of Brazil, after a little exit party with the guys at the airport we were finally on our way to Peru! The chaos of it all made hard goodbyes a little easier..
I made it to Peru and had a wonderful older couple waiting for me there to take me to the house where she had fried fish, cornbread and sweet tea waiting. Oh home was so close! ha.
I then stayed with another family for the night, we are both from Brenham (small world, big God) so we love to catch up! It was a sweet time of rest and then they got me to my next plane on Tuesday to head to Lima for debrief with our group of students.

 

Back in Brazil, I packed up my things the last week there and stayed with the family while the dads were on a trip. Last sleepovers, last walks, last bus rides, lasts are so hard!

 

The family had a close call the day before the men were to leave on the trip because of residency paperwork again. Tons of prayer, hard work and tears made for a long day but the Lord provided and he was able to go! They had an amazing trip full of great things and we are so thankful to have them back!

 

The boys and I just about finished up school before I left, they did the last couple of things after I flew out so they are officially free for the summer! ..Well so they think!

 

They will all be traveling in the next couple of weeks, one family to Manaus to do paperwork and the other will be in the States for a quick (one month) trip around home. We are praying they get over their current sicknesses, for their travel and for favor as they journey on!

 

I have learned the sacrifice of self from these families and have received great wisdom in what it REALLY looks like to live each day for Jesus and the lost.

 

I was able to say goodbye to Sara at my apartment, and a few of the other girls who I have come to love so dearly. The Lord is sweet to give us such a big family of believers :)

 

 

Once I made it to Lima, it was like none of us had left, and we picked right back up with laughs, yummy food and sweet encouragement.
We had meetings about re entry, what reverse culture shock will be like and what to do with it all! We have seen and learned so many things, now we get to bring those things home and hopefully help spur others on in this mission!

 

 

 

You all have been SUCH a blessing to know and hear from. Your words of encouragement and questions about my time away have been so sweet to my soul. I am thankful for your love and grace as I transition back into a very different life back home. The Lord has provided moments of rest and great times back with loved ones! In time, we will meet and share! I want to tell you so many things!

Please pray for this time, it is rough. I questioned why I was coming back the entire time..leaving the airport was so hard. The sweetest boyfriend ever extended grace grace and more grace as I couldn't find words to say or joy to share. The Lord is perfect in ALL of his ways and he has planned this season to be back here in Texas. I will save you a question, I have absolutely no idea what I am doing "next" and ask that you pray along with me as I rest in that lack of control! Day by day, moment by moment I have learned (eh still learning..) to lean on His understanding and will.

 

More stories and things to come as I am able to put more than one thought together at a time :)

Goodbyes

 

Even though I still have two weeks before I will be walking on Texas soil again, the "lasts" are starting. I cannot believe how time has flown here, and how there seems to still be SO much to do and see. The Lord has been ever present and faithful through these four months and getting to reflect on that as time is drawing to an end has been so special.

 

PRAYER & PRAISES!

 

We had a team of 3 men come from Georgia who were so wonderful and like family. They had an amazing trip with one of the dads here and all came back healthy and with lots of stories. Oh, and they brought Skittles and Tony's for us, true love from the Body right there.

 

We all survived back home, I was able to stay with the mom and girls during the evenings and early mornings (the fun times with a newborn and little ones!) before heading off to do homeschool with the other family. No broken bones, no house troubles and plenty of happy hearts when dad was back! We celebrated with our favorite pizza place to hear about the trip and have the biggest group of interesting English speaking people I think they have ever seen!



 

 

The family is well settled, as well as they can be, in the new house and have been getting GREAT water amounts this week. SUCH a praise!!. They have been able to have a few families over to try the place out and even have a cookout! So so great. They are excited and ready to get back into language learning outside of the house, so we are praying for opportunities with the parents as well as for the boys. They left some great friends back at the old neighborhood and that is hard for any kid! It is really special to get to see the boys fall in love with the life they have been raised into, they know hard times but they also know WHY they are living in Brazil and love that their parents do what they do for the Lord.

 

 

 

 

I have stayed at my current apartment since the other place is still not ready to be lived in. The bus has been an interesting twist and fun change to life here. The language tutor has been giving me rides when it works for both of us so that has been SUCH a blessing as well. I get a lot of prayer time in waiting for the bus, and praying that one comes :) I have learned a lot about trusting the Lord and allowing grace to be given and received ..so so good.

 

 

School is wrapping up, and we hope to be done right around the time I leave or a little after. The boys have been learning AND teaching..because we all know how great our kids can teach us! They will be leaving for the States in June so we are all getting ready for "Summer Vacation!"

 

They have decided to have another girl come to help next semester, God seemed to be perfectly placing her here and we are all excited to see why! We are praying that all things get worked out and planned well for her to be here and that her ministry can be as unique and amazing as this time has been for me here.

 

Mother's Day came in such a fun way this year! I have been COVERED in love and grace by some sweet mommas here and back home. It was a great day of getting to celebrate them, be around all of them, talk to the ones I am not with over the phone (my favorite Momma!) and get to be blessed by them. We even got to cross over to the state next to ours and hear one of the dad do a GREAT job at telling and teaching stories to a church there. Oh, and we had a mock Olive Garden lunch..AMAZING haha.

 

My time at my apartment has continued to be sweet, and sweet in way of yummy treats too! My neighbors love to cook and bake..and share! So I have started to get my baking itch in and get a little creative in how to do things here. They love through their actions and stomachs..the best ways. It will be different to not have them around and use Google translate and smiles to communicate BUT learning how to love in actions and not being afraid of
that has been such a great lesson that I hope
                                         to bring home.

 

Home! Oh where will it be? What will I be doing? How long will I be where? Yadayadayada. Pray for my heart to steadfastly seek the Lord and rest in HIS faithfulness as he sends me home, wherever that will be and how ever it will look like. When I say I have no plans, really, I have no plans. The best way to go I am finding, His ways are secure and good.

 

 

I was invited by my sweet friend to her home to have dinner with her family, it was one of the most amazing times, that I cried over even. The men dropped me off, then little girls took me down into the jungle, through some hills and up a steep cliffish area..through some dirt roads and to a small house. We sat and smiled..with a little conversation thanks to some sweet friends who could translate. I was able to meet her family and see how they live life. We ate community style on the ground with all the pots around us, prayed and dived in-hands first of course. It was amazing because language didn't matter.. spoons didn't matter..we just shared a meal together and laughed. I am excited to know that I will get to rejoice again with them one day in Heaven and we will get to understand one another!

 

This next week our dads here leave for a trip and will return after I leave, so we have another fun adventure week! Pray for the wives as their husbands will be gone, the kids as their dads will be gone and for their lives as they continue to do life with lots of flexibility! Pray for the men as they are out, deep into some amazing work that has been laid out by the Lord. Pray that work will be good, for safety and for the hearts of people they may meet that they will experience the love of the Father.

 

I will hopefully, depending on the rain, fly out of our area on the 25th and then arrive in Peru that afternoon on the jungle plane. The next day I have a flight to Lima where the others and I will meet back up again for our debrief and re entry time! Please pray for our travels and our time prayerfully preparing to enter back into our lives back home that have changed while we have been away and for our lives that have been changed while we have been away. We trust the Father and know that He is good and has purpose in all of His ways. We are all excited to be together again and hear of all the great things he has done in South America these past four months. I will then get on a plane late Thursday night and wake up in the TX on Friday. Please pray for that day, as we will all have lots of emotions and things going on, it will be great!

 

 

 

You all have helped make this time so special and worth every mosquito bite, ant infestation and long day. I have been able to rejoice in births, salvations, sun rises and sunsets, water arrivals, first steps, friendships and many many other things because of your faithfulness as friends and family. I will miss the amazing coffee, unique delicious foods and my special times with the families who have loved me more than I could ask for or deserve!  I am excited to get back to all of you, catch up and eat some Jason's Deli.

 

 

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2

Praying Boldly, Specifically and Expectantly

This past week has been SO full of change and good news, I wanted to share so that you could be rejoicing as the Father has so perfectly provided, as always!

It is a sweet time of getting to celebrate along side the families here, we see the hard, fun, crazy and gracious sides of life daily together and it is wonderful!

 

 

First off, if you have time to look over the up coming opportunities to serve overseas for various amounts of time doing various things ( because we ALL have gifts that the Lord desires to use.) you should.  See if your interests are sparked in any way. It never hurts to look, and see where they Lord takes you!

 

PRAYERS and PRAISES!

 

OUR FAMILY HAS A NEW HOUSE!! Yep, let's all just celebrate a moment or two.. This is HUGE and the place is so great. The Lord really has used this experience in so many different ways for each of us, we are excited that this is where he has them!

 

With any new house, comes a few different things to work on and change..they just happen to be going through those in the jungle, with little ones, with homeschool..in the jungle.. haha. So we are still adjusting and praying that the Lord continues to provide.


*Specifically that water would currently come and that they can better their supply when it does come.

 

"Routine" is such a silly word that we know all to well, and now laugh at it's mention. Though the family cannot wait for just a little of it again, the kids (and mom and dad) have been troopers and super flexible through this move and having me around. We are praising the Father for his love and grace!

 

*They currently live fartherrrrr out so our set up has to be changed a bit. Navigating errands and on how I get to their house. This is a small thing that affects multiple areas of our day. We are praying for a solution to that! There is a bus option and the possibility of a closer apartment. We are praying about how to best use our time, funds and resources this last month and for future students who may get to come!

 

Their language evaluations came back great, they are so excited for this and are ready to be back in a groove that will allow for more language learning!

 

We will be going soon to ask for a visa extension for me, I am allowed 90 days at a time and need about 2 weeks more before I leave for Peru and Texas- so we are praying for favor in that! No, it does not mean I would come home sooner, I would just go to Peru sooner if it does not happen :)

 

A TEAM IS COMING A TEAM IS COMING! Tomorrow a team will arrive to spend a week on the river. It is pretty fun being on the receiving end, and I can't wait to meet them! Please be praying for their time here and travels!

 

Also, for the family who will be with out a dad and husband as he leads the team! We know that the most unique things happen at home when dad is away..it is no different here! She will be getting a little help with the kids and house (and new baby remember!) during the days and I will be spending the nights and early mornings with them before heading to homeschool.

So please be praying for their family and their sacrifice of a great dad to lead this trip!

 

We all had a great Easter, it was a bit harder than I thought it would be, being away from traditions and family BUT I was surrounded by a sweet body of believers who have also been away from family for a while now. I have learned so many new areas of prayer for believers serving abroad! We had hamburgers, an egg hunt, church and sweets- basically a full day of Easter! It was a beautiful time celebrating!

P's sister came from the Woodlands with suitcases of goodies and a heart full of love for us all here, she was such a help and great excuse to go do fun things with! Family visits are a sweet treat around here!

 

 

That was also a special weekend BECAUSE our middle child became a believer! He couldn't wait to shout it as I got in the car for church that Easter morning. I am constantly in awe of the Father's love for us and his gift of salvation. Just another great moment in their lives that the Lord allowed me to be in on, I love it!

 

43 great days left, and I ask that you pray with me as this amazing time continues, that I would be faithful and consistent.

Love you all dearly and cannot wait to celebrate more as we see the Father do his work!


 

{ BABY }

And somehow the month of March has come and gone! We have been quite busy around here!

 

Praying and Praisinggg

The family I serve has still been on the hunt for a house and have until the 10th to find a place, so we are praying for the Lord to provide something quickly that is just right for them.

They just got back yesterday from a two week trip to Peru, and it went well! Lots of gathering old things from when they lived there, doctor visits and a homeschool conference that is put on for families of homeschooler's serving in the America's. Super helpful and interesting, we are excited to start school again tomorrow and try a few new things!

Our hope is to be finished with school for the year by the time they go to the States in June, so we are praying for that and great attitudes in all of us to finish well. The boys did great in their presentations!

 

They are still waiting for residency to be complete but they hear that it is moving along so we continue to pray for that to happen quickly so that they can serve in deeper ways here and really settle in!

 

BABY #3 is here! She came a few days before her scheduled C Section last week. She is precious and covered in love! While my family was in Peru I was able to spend time with this family and help with the girl's school/crafts/baby prep. We tried making plenty of small meals and snacks to have on hand for when baby #3 came.

Once she came, we were in full swing! Praising the Lord for an amazing quick C section and a super recovery for mom. #3 is already moving and grooving, she is simply beautiful.

The girls' aunt came the Tuesday mom and baby came home! She came from the States, and it was like Christmas Day- baby clothes, snacks, spices, Mexican food, the works. She is amazing! She has been so helpful with the cooking and baby care (she is a nurse) while P is recovering!

 

They have a team coming in a few weeks to take a trip with the dad, so we are praying for that and the people coming! So exciting to be on the receiving end of trips coming!

 

We all found out one way or another this weekend that Easter is THIS week, sounds silly BUT we had no idea it was so soon haha. So we have been busy crafting away and preparing with the kids what it all means for us as believers.

 

It has been a Spring Break of sorts these past two weeks for me! The first week before baby #3 week was full of catching up on emails, rest, exploring and even a little Netflix when the internet was working. Such a wonderful treat!

Santi and I were also able to communicate a lot more over this time so that has really been beneficial in this long distance thing! ha. Learning, laughing and growing!

We are always asking for prayer as we navigate our future and earnestly seek where the Lord will have us in all areas of our lives. Santi is hard at work building a great solid foundation for us.. Somehow the Lord is making all of this work so well (well does not mean flawless by any means.) and we haven't driven each other completely crazy yet. I am ever so thankful for his faithfulness to the Lord and his grace!

 

I was also able to catch up with my family a lot more, and that was SUPER sweet. It made this half way point so great.

 

My sweet sister and friend Katie are in full swing wedding planning! Katie's will be the Thursday after I get back home and my sisters' a few weeks after that! So crazy! and so exciting! We are praying over the details and how it looks so crazy to be far away yet we know God has specifically planned all of these things in advance.

 

The Lord has also decided in these weeks to bring specific deep rooted sin out into the light and deal with them, it has been super hard and super humbling that he loves us so much that he desires NO barrier between us and him. So thankful and praising him and other's for the grace they have given as these things have happened.

 

 

As we prepare for Easter and the last two months here I have been in deep prayer and thought- reflecting on the past months, seeing where I could do things differently now and what I desire to bring back to all of you from my time here. Not the great coffee..or coconuts BUT more of what living among believers outside of our church walls and deep into life abroad. I want to bring back insight and prayers of these people we support and love living a life not too different from in the States, but oh so different at the same time.. still doing lots of thinking and praying!

 

I have seen many things, and have been challenged by many things. How simple it really is to live out the gospel of Jesus if we would only pray and be willing to do the work. I am terrible at doing this but He is able.

 

So I am excited to see what these next months hold, and I pray for you all so so often, as time away will often do to you! I'd love to know more specifically how to be praying for you if you would be so kind :)

 

 

==M A R C H==

March is here! Week 5 starts tomorrow! Oh your prayers have been heard and are so appreciated. Really, life here cannot function without much prayer to the Lord. Some of the "exciting" new things have come and gone, yet every day seems to be new and exciting haha!

PRAYERS and PRAISES! Never short..ha!

The biggest news is that the family I am working with has been house hunting! Their rent house is no longer for rent.. ha. SO We pray daily for something to QUICKLY open up and for all their needs to be met in this next place. Deal breakers here are water supply, internet connections and if the doors are not complete see through glass. True story, a house had glass doors on every door..just think about that one. hahah. They would love to have something before their trip coming up to Peru- for that has much to take care of in itself!

Language learning has been going better for them! Much more time has been able to be spent out talking with other people, in their Friday Portuguese class and even a Bible Study on Friday nights. They have their BIG language evaluation this TUESDAY, so please pray for that to go well!

We have been to a few more churches, and there is one more they would like to visit so be in prayer that the Lord will show them where to best getting connected. The wife and I have been invited to a few get together's with other ladies so that has been fun so far! Lots of laughs :)

Homeschooling has been flowing so well! The boys and I are learning SO much, so exciting. They will have a while off from school coming up while they are at their home school conference, so we are getting ready for that. They also have a presentation type thing they each have as a part of it to show what they have been learning. One has picked clouds, as we have been tracking the types of clouds and weather each day. The other became fascinated with WWI and WWII and is telling the stories of those. So special to see them growing in knowledge and that they are excited about it! Prayers for them as they confidently share what they are passionate about!

My time with Sara, the little girl next door has been SO sweet and full of grace from the Lord! She comes over any time my door is open..which is any time I am home :) We sit and do crafts because those don't take much talking ha! She has become fascinated with my ipod shuffle and Jeff Johnson's music, hilarious.


The other night she came by to invite me to church. I was tired and really didn't want to honestly. I could not think of excuses..in Portuguese at least. So in our rough translations I got ready and waited as I prayed for the Lord to change my heart. Her mom came by to walk over with us and we went down the street to their church (her dad is the pastor of a small Baptist church here) I was greeted so sweetly and her mom was quick to share I knew NO Portuguese :) I sat and listened to Hillsong's Sill in Portuguese and watched their service. The Lord is so sweet to kick us. He reminded me of His love and desire for me to grow. I don't like different or uncomfortable when I have a choice about it. Oh, what a blessing it was! But isn't it always though, when we are in His presence and will? Love it.

Please pray for our time together, PRAISE God that the gospel is not limited to words, text, actions or anything else.. That he is so much bigger! Pray for our communication, however it happens and that I will joyfully love this sweet girl how the Lord has created me to.

An older girl with a sweet baby from next door came over one day to use my stove! Such a small thing, but the Lord opens doors! We were able to talk more using Google translate since she can type and spell (Sara is too young haha) sot that was exciting. Praying we can continue to "get to know each other" through Google..

I was able to go with the other family one night to hang out with friends from another ministry here and hear of the work they are doing. It is so exciting to see others lives here and how they are serving. I get a small GLIMPSE of what living missionally looks like, and I am so thankful.

A big trip is coming up soon after baby #3 is born, we are praying for the details of that, the others that will be arriving to go along and that the gospel will be received.

Baby #3 will be coming SOON! Continue to pray for the family, as the days are long and HOT here! I have been able to go over a few afternoons to help with the two other little girls. Such a sweet time, the Lord is so gracious to provide ways for me to serve that I love. Pray for the sweet baby girl growing-they have another appt tomorrow to hopefully get a few more details sorted out for the big day! The wife's mom will be coming down, so we are praying for the details of that and praising the Lord for the sweet gift of Mommas!

Speaking of mommas, mine got to take her first ride on a big ol' airplane! She went to California for work training/conference. Such a sweet blessing! I have been able to talk a little more with everyone from home and be encouraged immeasurably. Continue to pray for our connections to be fruitful.

Life here has been going! Things take a lot longer, but are treasured SO much more because of that!

The Lord has been gently showing me that these months away are like an extended Lent season. A time of separation and a time of filling up. As I continue on (and sometimes I am not sure how I will..Culture Shock came last week.) Please pray for the work the Lord is doing. In the lives of the people here, the people serving/living life here, people back in the States-the Lord is using and teaching everyone when our eyes and hearts are just open to him. So amazing.

I love you all and I am so thankful for your love! Praying for you throughout the week!

Three Week Update!

This is the email update that was sent out, more detailed stories to come! I've gotta go play Uno Attack with the kids!

​
Sunsets.
Sunsets have always made for sweet sweet times with the Lord, relaxing and reflecting, how sweet of a Father to continue that here in Brazil! Most nights I get to come home and sit in my big open window that looks out as the sun is just starting to really set. With all of the huge hills and valleys, I get to listen to so many sounds and be entertained!
Rainy season is in full swing here! I often wake up to what seems like a monsoon occurring yet everyday life here keeps going! The boys and I are tracking the rain in Science and anxiously await the new day to measure how much rain actually fell.

Well, life here seems to be in full swing! Tomorrow will start week four!

PRAISES & PRAYER REQUESTS!

The family has found out that their paperwork necessary for residency was sent to the place it needed to FINALLY and that means that it is out of the hands of the locals aka They can continue life as planned here- So Lord willing, the trip in March to Peru will still work out well!

They also have had two requests to go to the states for training/work related things and have their vacation to the states planned for June, so please be in prayer for the details of these things!

Homeschooling has been going SO well. The boys and I are learning each other and how to best use our time together. The oldest and I have started doing Tuesdays and Thursdays a little extra school during rest time (Yes, I have rest time as a part of my days, Praise the Lord!) to get school done, Lord willing, before they leave in June for the States. One of the many blessings I have seen with school and living overseas- amazing gifts and opportunity for flexibility! Pray that it all works well and that the oldest continues to be excited for our extra "hangout" time in the afternoons!

Both parents have been able to go out and practice talking with people in Portuguese while the big boys are doing school and baby boy is napping in the mornings. They are still seeking out more opportunities to practice, so please be in prayer for that. They have found a class that a local church/Bible school has early Friday mornings, so they went last week and it was pretty interesting!

The internet has been a sweet helper these past few weeks and has been alive and well! I can only have one tab open at a time, which I am starting to think is more of a blessing :) I splurged a little on Pinterest this week to celebrate the internet, true story. The family is still trying to figure out their permanent internet solution ( a normal wait on the phone is 2 hours we are told..) with that not being an option or possibility to sit and wait like that, we are eagerly awaiting another solution so that they can better do the things they need to do.

The other seven spread out among Latin America have all said that ministry is going well/beginning and that life is life in their countries!

 

Sara, one of the girls living next to me invited me to their church last week, because it was right then and I wasn't familiar with the church, I told her maybe another time. BUT how great of her and her family, the also brought me DINNER one night this week and it was AMAZING! So, so sweet. Slowly we are building life here! Please be in prayer as I navigate relationships outside of the family but along side our ministry here. Language is the HUGE barrier, but as a lot of us know- the Lord laughs at that statement ha. The family here is excited to help me in connecting with people so we are praying for opportunity and willingness to participate in the good work!

 

I have gotten to do one date night for the family, and hope to do many more. Most of you know the blessing of date nights, whether you have been taken on one or helped with making one possible. Most of you also have a church body to help with these things, it looks a little different out here and is a bit harder for the families to get out. Praising the Lord for how he has knit my desires for date nights to happen and their need for date nights. Such a sweet Valentines day!

They have welcomed me in SO well, I could not have asked or prayed for more. The Lord is so so good.

I have gotten to visit 2 different churches with the family, they are seeking out what will be best for their family and ministry. Be in prayer that they/we find a sweet community of believers to connect with. They were invited to a bible study this week so we are hoping that works out! It is a sweet treat to be entering in with this family on so many new things together. They haven't been here for every long so we are getting to do it together!

 

The other family working here is continuing to prepare for baby girl #3! We had a sweet sweet time last Saturday celebrating her and the family. Please continue to pray for that sweet (still no name just yet!) beautiful girl and her family as they prepare to bring her into the world here in Brazil! My family here will hopefully be in Peru, so I will be getting to help with things there- Pray for all that goes in to having a baby. Most of you know and have helped with births/ new families having babies- heck we even have a whole ministry dedicated to that. Here, not so much at all. Creativity and flexibility are big prayers here! We serve a good Father who provides for all that we need.

 

One of my dearest friends is getting MARRIED! Selfishly we would love for me to be there, and that is HARD! I could not be more excited for this day to celebrate all that the Lord has done. Please pray for my hear that I will continue to be excited, yet focused here.

The future and what life will look like when I get home has started to creep in, plans that I cannot possibly know or make happen so I NEED the Lord. He is a good Father that has it all completely planned, so perfectly for His glory and my good. Please pray that I seek Him and his righteousness all the day long.

Santiago and I are doing well. PLEASE continue to pray for our hearts and lives. That we would always honor the Lord and love one another well. Pray for wisdom on how to actively date well, yet not prepare for life as though we are engaged because we are not :) That man is so wonderful, patient and beyond forgiving. I am so overwhelmed by the picture the Lord is creating of His love and gospel.

This is prettttty long, I just don't know another way it seems :) I love for you all to know what life is looking like here and pray that you are seeing His goodness and faithfulness. I love you and thank you for your prayers!

 

Love you!