And.... we're off!

It has been over a year now that I posted that the "cloud above us was moving us on"... that we were going to be making a major move to JAPAN! Since that time, we have been taking steps to finish well what God has given us to do here in Brazil, including developing a ministry strategy that can continue even after we are no longer here. And we have been waiting on the Lord to put together all the pieces to this "puzzle" and show us when the right time was. Which He has been faithful to do. No space to share all the details now, but the news is that we are on our way!

The Last Three Months Have Been a BLUR!

So, what have we been up to lately? Well, as is often the case, we have had too much going on to take the time to document it. But here are a few snapshots of our last few months, as a picture speaks a thousand words. 

Season of Encouragement!

This past weekend we did a seminar about an hour from here, and we came away from it so encouraged! One reason is that even though we had never been to this church before, we had ministered to quite a few of the people over the past 2 years or so at some of this denomination's national conventions, and so we were SOOO encouraged to hear some testimonies of how the Lord has used our ministry in their lives! We don't always have the privilege of seeing fruit, so this was really encouraging. Like this lady, who was literally trembling with emotion when she came to give me a TIGHT hug! She said that the baby she was holding would not exist if it weren't for a conversation we had nearly two years ago at a convention we spoke at! 

Quick Family and Ministry Update

So it’s summer now! At this point it may be hard for you to picture the boys going shirtless and going to the beach. But as nearly every activity “freezes” during this season, we have been able to enjoy the season, of course, but get some important work done.

This World is Not My Home, Part EIGHT

This is Part Eight of a blog series. This post is a stand-alone announcement of our future plans, but if you like, you can click here to start reading at the beginning: Part One.

"Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped... When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord's order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out....They obeyed the Lord's order."  Numbers 9:15-23

 Just yesterday, the Lord spoke to us so powerfully through the above passage. Dear friends, we believe that the "cloud" over Brazil is moving, and we are preparing to obey His command to move as well. We believe that the Lord has been moving circumstances and moving us along in them to come to the time of fulfilling a long-time promise of God over our lives... to return to Japan! This may come as a shock to some of you, but it has been a major focus of prayer since about the time of Annaliese's birth over a year ago. 

This World is Not My Home, Part Seven

PART SEVEN

This is Part Seven of a blog series. You can read the previous parts by clicking below:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three 

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

We returned to Brazil for our “next season” in August of 2012. And guess what? Those first years that we spent mostly in “sowing in tears” really did turn into a season of “reaping with joy”! (See Psalm 126:5-6) Not that it was without difficulties, especially being kicked out of the house we were renting right after we had renewed the lease and fixed it up! But as I always said, when we were doing well in our marriage and family life was good, we could face anything together. And this time, we had learned an important lesson about unity and we were growing. Blessed trials that force us to grow!

This World is not My Home, Part Six

PART SIX

This is Part Six of a blog series. You can read the previous parts by clicking below:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three 

Part Four

Part Five

So for the next year, I kept struggling to stay focused on my heavenly home... a struggle that I felt like I was losing most of the time. Which made me really discouraged with myself for being so carnal. The situation we were living went from bad, to worse, to WORST as well. All of the complications I mentioned in the previous part continued, and especially the interpersonal struggles that I hinted at, became acute. All of this affected our marriage as well. And that is the worst! I have always said that as long as WE were good, we could face anything that came our way. But when WE were not good, all of life was rotten. So, basically, all of life was rotten.
(This picture is of us between a rock and a hard place. Couldn't have a better pictorial reference to our emotional state of affairs!)