A year in another land

After our first year in Brazil ended ten days ago we reflected quite a bit on how much change we had gone through. How hard or actually how impossible it would be to go back now. We aren’t the same people. I’m not saying it makes us better people or that everyone should try it. Just that in our case it created a time of isolation, a time of concentrated growth. It has been like a green house, creating conditions inside our family that didn’t necessarily exist around us.

At times we had too much time on our hands at times we tried to be busy and create opportunity. It took us time to get patient and relax, to settle in and let God begin opening doors. I think maybe we are getting there. Settling in to our own, looking for opportunities but not pushing. Willing to take them but not desperate for something to do.

Now, we are continuing to work with kids from a hard neighborhood. We went by there the other night for a street party they were having. It is an annual festival, kind of a winter or harvest thing. Overall it was pretty cool but seeing the 13-15 year olds openly drinking in front of their parents was a bit hard. Also seeing some of them starting to reject us a bit as they realize we are missionaries, there to see them submit to Christ. This begins to demonstrate for us what Jesus went through leaving heaven to come to earth and be rejected. It is all worth it to hear Vitor yell Ben and get hit at 50 mph with a giant hug. Many of the girls are real sweet too. We are growing in our heart for the girls as we go there and see the girls Moriahs age ceasing to play and starting to look for more sexual attention.

What does this next year bring, we aren’t sure. I think it brings more growth, a beginning of understanding how a family of 6 ministers, more clarity in where God is calling us and many more things we can’t foresee. The bottom line is a family of 6 moves slow and seemingly inefficient. However with the kids in school, Melissa having different relationships, me going out to get things we need for the house and so on I am beginning to see how God can multiply our ministry through our numbers. We all have a place and we are our own ministry team. That is if we let God develop it naturally around what he wants to do with us.

Thank you all for your prayer and support. Here are some upcoming needs you can pray for and consider helping with.

• To finish our residency we need to see $1500-2000 dollars come in
• Our wash machine broke and we really need one, 6 people clothes by hand isn’t going to work $600
• We need some more storage furniture for the house. I am building a bed right now with drawers under it but we are under furnished. Items range $400-$800
• We may best minister by starting a part time business, giving jobs to people and making a little money to help with ministry expenses. We need wisdom for this. What kind, what days, selling American food, building furniture. There may be some license and other start up costs if we do this. $500-1000