Much needed rest

It is amazing how the Lord orchestrates plans we make for exactly what we need. When we planned this time in KC we were looking at the convenience factor. What I am finding is that our family was very tired after nine months of extreme business. I am thankful the Lord has had this time for us to rest and have little responsibility for a week. Especially considering the emotion and exhaustion of packing and leaving. Thanks for your prayers, we leave Thursday and arrive in Brazil Friday. We will be very busy finding an apartment and getting our legal papers. Finding Melissa a doctor and looking into schooling for the kids, all while learning a new language. God really has orchestrated things.

Selling our van yesterday was another hard step. We really have committed now. A couple more days of rest and we get started.

Painful goodbyes and a long road trip

Sorry it’s taken a few days to write a post. Its been an emotional week or our family. Saying goodbye to friends and family in Oregon was harder than I thought it was going to be. It truly is hard to leave but reading Matthew 19;29 '”And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life”. My favorite part is Everlasting life. Thinking on these words reminds me not only will I be in heaven forever with Christ but with my family and friends I’m leaving behind. And going on to share this Great news, Jesus Christ with others who will also be with me forever in heaven:)

So we packed our van Tuesday with everything we own and headed out. We arrived in Yellowstone for a mini vacation  with Ben’s sister Jody. We arrived Wednesday and it was very cold so camping was out of the question. It ended up snowing, so we got a hotel room. Think you Lord for providing the money for our room. God’s beauty is all over Yellowstone From the animals to the mountains and waterfalls. We had a great time but I was very anxious to get to Kansas. We left that night and headed to Kansas. We had a very nice long drive thru Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and then eventually Kansas City. We are here visiting my family. My sister is pregnant and due any day now. Then we fly out to Brazil on the first of July. I’m excited To see what God’s plan is for our family in Brazil. Thank you for praying and supporting us. As long as we have internet we will post.

 

My Lords compassion

I truly have the best kids in the world. We have been so busy these last few weeks preparing to leave, from selling stuff to saying goodbyes.Tonight as I was putting the kids to bed emotion swept over me. These children have given up so much I thought. Juliah her dog, Moriah her best friend, Daniel his boyhood from climbing trees in Oregon to getting lost in the massive crowds in Sao Paulo. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. I wanted to hold them close and be a protective mother. Instead I prayed for strength and tucked them in offering them words of encouragement and one last prayer. I turned off there lights and I fell on my  bed" Lord" I prayed "Why is this so hard? Is this right?". God's wonderful peace swept over me as I prayed for strength again. I found myself reading Mathew 14. the story goes  Jesus was with a huge crowd of people and the disciple's wanted to turn them away to get food and leave them alone. But Jesus filled with compassion for all these hurting and sick and hungry people said "They need not go away, Feed them". I then kept finding more and more verses with Jesus having compassion. So much compassion for the hurting and lost that he set aside all his needs just to be with them a little longer. My heart sank "Lord I prayed give me this heart of yours" to love the lost and hurting so much more than my comfort. Help me to trust my kids into your hands father, you love them more then I could ever even imagine to......I know this is gonna be hard I may not show it but I feel it.  After all Christ gave up so much for us just to be with us.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxaUYjRtkc

How He Loves lyrics by David Crowder Band

Getting closer

We are so close to leaving. About 9 days. Thank you all so much for your prayer and support. We need to see a little more commitments. We could use another $600 a month. That is twelve families at $50 per month. Pray as we try and close our time here well.