If there is any doubt in anyone's mind as to whether or not Olivia gets enough attention, being the fifth born and all, let these pictures I have snapped of our daily life dispel any fear! She is one well loved little girl! Not only does she have parents who are so extremely grateful for the GIFT she is from God, but she has four doting older siblings that share the joy with us! Thank you, Jesus, for love that just keeps multiplying.
Saturday, December 01, 2012
One Well Loved Little Girl!
If there is any doubt in anyone's mind as to whether or not Olivia gets enough attention, being the fifth born and all, let these pictures I have snapped of our daily life dispel any fear! She is one well loved little girl! Not only does she have parents who are so extremely grateful for the GIFT she is from God, but she has four doting older siblings that share the joy with us! Thank you, Jesus, for love that just keeps multiplying.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Safely Back in Brazil
Thank you to all who have prayed for us! We have arrived safely and are finally able to update. And post some pictures, of course. :) (There are more on facebook! You can add us as friends if you haven't already.)Monday, August 13, 2012
Jesus Paid It All!
Well, as you can imagine, my hospital fiasco after Olivia's birth incurred quite the bill. We do not have any kind of insurance, so we were encouraged to apply for Medicaid to cover the cost. We went through all of the red tape and jumped through all their hoops, waited, called, waited some more and called again.Thursday, June 07, 2012
Olivia Glorianna and the Glorious Revelation
Olivia Glorianna and the Glorious RevelationMany of you followed, heard about, prayed for, or participated directly or indirectly in Olivia's birth process and know how everything was turned upside down during that time.
Sometimes we need a "everything turned upside down" moment in our lives so the Lord, who is in control of all things, can wake us up to something we may not be seeing.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ." Ph 1:6
Monday, April 09, 2012
The Adventure of Olivia Glorianna's Birth
The Adventure of Olivia Glorianna's BirthWednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Oh, the Glorious Sun
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Exciting New Discipleship Opportunity
Exciting New Discipleship Opportunity
We just found out about a new discipleship opportunity that we believe God wants us to be involved in!
We think it really is the most effective method of discipleship, because the "disciple" actually has to live with us, so we can talk about the things of the Lord, "when we sit in our house, and when we walk by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise"* - over a period of about twenty years! What could be more effective than that??
Our new disciple is due to arrive around April 5th, 2012. :-)
*text from Deut 6
Uma Nova Oportunidade de Discipulado MUITO Legal
Acabamos de descobrir uma nova oportunidade de discipulado, e cremos que seja a vontade de Deus que nós nos involvemos.
Achamos que realmente é o método mais efectivo de discipulado, porque o "discípulo" precisa morar em nossa casa, para que possamos falar sobre as coisas do Senhor "sentado em nossa casa e andando pelo caminho, ao deitar-se e ao levantar-se"* - durante um período de mais ou menos vinte anos! O que poderia ser mais efectivo do que isso??
O nosso novo discípulo está para chegar mais ou menos no 5 de Abril, 2012. :-)
*texto de Deut 6
We just found out about a new discipleship opportunity that we believe God wants us to be involved in!
We think it really is the most effective method of discipleship, because the "disciple" actually has to live with us, so we can talk about the things of the Lord, "when we sit in our house, and when we walk by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise"* - over a period of about twenty years! What could be more effective than that??
Our new disciple is due to arrive around April 5th, 2012. :-)
*text from Deut 6
Uma Nova Oportunidade de Discipulado MUITO Legal
Acabamos de descobrir uma nova oportunidade de discipulado, e cremos que seja a vontade de Deus que nós nos involvemos.
Achamos que realmente é o método mais efectivo de discipulado, porque o "discípulo" precisa morar em nossa casa, para que possamos falar sobre as coisas do Senhor "sentado em nossa casa e andando pelo caminho, ao deitar-se e ao levantar-se"* - durante um período de mais ou menos vinte anos! O que poderia ser mais efectivo do que isso??
O nosso novo discípulo está para chegar mais ou menos no 5 de Abril, 2012. :-)
*texto de Deut 6
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Opportunities Abound...
Our Identity in ChristOne thing that Fabio and I are constantly reminded of is that our calling as missionaries is not a "job". It is not "what we do"... it is who we are. And we believe this should be true of all those who have called Jesus their Lord! Opportunities abound; the harvest fields are white. May we all have open ears and eyes to see those who are hurting and in need all around us, to share God's love and His Word with them.
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season..." 2 Timothy 4:2
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Missions visit - Surprised by God
The Missions Visit - Surprised by God
Right after the teams left we got very sick, but praise the Lord we are all well now.
Indeed we saw the hand of the Lord in all that happened during the two weeks the teams were here. Your partnership and prayer was definitely vital for the success of the trip!
In the last post we talked about the doors God was opening and the confirmations that were needed...
Right after the teams left we got very sick, but praise the Lord we are all well now.
Indeed we saw the hand of the Lord in all that happened during the two weeks the teams were here. Your partnership and prayer was definitely vital for the success of the trip!
In the last post we talked about the doors God was opening and the confirmations that were needed...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Exciting Plans for the Coming Mission Team!!!
Hi family!
Exciting things are to come!
We definitely see God’s hand and favor going before us! When we first came to Camboriu we had a vision of impacting society although we didn’t know how that was going to come to pass. Well, things started to happen quick and here we are.
We are seeing such a mighty move of God opening important doors for us. After much prayer, we’ve gone to talk to local schools principals, Chief of Sports of the city, etc. and have found a lot of favor from God with them. Everytime we went and sat down at someone’s office, there was no need to try to convince them of the work we’d like to do, but rather they offered the schools for us to use as we wish, even on the weekends! One principal that I went to talk to even offered her home for lodging people!
As for now, we are almost finished with all the confirmations we need to get so we can go with the teams from America to impact three public schools, do a basketball game with the local team which is number six in the State (hoping to gather some audience), American football games and workshops, work at a drug rehab center, and various other things.
A lot of these things have to go through approval from a bunch of different people but so far everything is looking real good. By the beginning of this week we’ll have all the final confirmations.
And we believe this is not our vision, but God’s vision that was being imparted to each one of us, including each one of you as He placed in your hearts the burden to support this ministry in various ways -- even coming down here to be part of it all in pioneering what may become a huge landmark of the effectiveness of churches in transforming society.
Please pray for His continuous favor as the teams come and that He would bless each step of the way as we all work together to make Him known. Also that the churches would be able to catch the vision to work together to continue to impact society, invading the schools with the message of hope, before those doors shut (as we all have seen happen in the US).
Thank you for all your love, support and encouragement toward our family. We love you all!
Exciting things are to come!
We definitely see God’s hand and favor going before us! When we first came to Camboriu we had a vision of impacting society although we didn’t know how that was going to come to pass. Well, things started to happen quick and here we are.
We are seeing such a mighty move of God opening important doors for us. After much prayer, we’ve gone to talk to local schools principals, Chief of Sports of the city, etc. and have found a lot of favor from God with them. Everytime we went and sat down at someone’s office, there was no need to try to convince them of the work we’d like to do, but rather they offered the schools for us to use as we wish, even on the weekends! One principal that I went to talk to even offered her home for lodging people!
As for now, we are almost finished with all the confirmations we need to get so we can go with the teams from America to impact three public schools, do a basketball game with the local team which is number six in the State (hoping to gather some audience), American football games and workshops, work at a drug rehab center, and various other things.
A lot of these things have to go through approval from a bunch of different people but so far everything is looking real good. By the beginning of this week we’ll have all the final confirmations.
And we believe this is not our vision, but God’s vision that was being imparted to each one of us, including each one of you as He placed in your hearts the burden to support this ministry in various ways -- even coming down here to be part of it all in pioneering what may become a huge landmark of the effectiveness of churches in transforming society.
Please pray for His continuous favor as the teams come and that He would bless each step of the way as we all work together to make Him known. Also that the churches would be able to catch the vision to work together to continue to impact society, invading the schools with the message of hope, before those doors shut (as we all have seen happen in the US).
Thank you for all your love, support and encouragement toward our family. We love you all!
Friday, February 18, 2011
All My Systems Out of Whack
All My Systems Out of Whack
I realized a couple of months ago why our first year in Brazil was so taxing in so many ways when I re-read a couple of articles I had written a year or so before we left America about organizing your life. In my articles, I was advocating having a system for everything, so that it doesn't take so much time or mental energy to get stuff done. When you have a system for your daily duties, it becomes automatic and far less stressful. You become more productive, using less time, and have more brain energy left over for doing other things you enjoy, like spending time with your husband and children. My motto was “A system for everything, and everything in its system” - for cooking, doing laudry, cleaning, putting things away, homeschooling, shopping, etc.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Smattering of January in Pictures
I haven't been taking my camera out and about with us much, so this post is mostly just from around the house. :)
I am ever trying to get the kids in contact with nature, to learn about God's great big world and observe all we can, as up close as possible. :) Joshua was able to catch a pretty big bullfrog the other day. We had never seen one before, around here, but we hear them loud and clear all night long. I like it! :)
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Refridgerator Saga
When we first moved into our own home last July, there were many things we needed - basic household goods, appliances and furniture. Things like a refrigerator. We couldn't possibly go out and buy it all at once. The church loaned us this refrigerator, a spare used only for events, until further notice.Thursday, February 10, 2011
Living Life on Purpose
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about living life on purpose. It has been 14 months since Fabio and I left the States, and nearly a year since we first arrived in Camboriú, here in southern Brazil.
We know we won't be here for long. This is a season in our lives. For another year? Or two? Or five? We aren't sure. However, it is SO good that the Lord has told us that it is not a permanent arrangement.
Why? Because we want to leave, when that day comes, with no regrets. If our time here is short, we want to make it worthwhile to have been here. We want to fulfill all of the purposes for which the Lord brought us here. We want to touch as many people as we can with God's love and the message of Jesus!
Since this is the case, we have this always in the forefront of our minds. Every trip to the bread shop is an opportunity to meet someone. When we go to the grocery store, we try to be purposeful. If we had a nice conversation with a cashier once, we go back to her aisle on purpose, even if the line is longer, to follow up. We want to make sure ALL of our neighbors have heard, know we are here, and where they can go if they need to talk, need prayer, or want to find out more about our Jesus. When we "just happen" to run into someone we talked to once before, we make sure to make the most of that opportunity. We try to turn every conversation to eternal matters. We are here with a purpose!
However, are we not ALL in that same category? Maybe you still live in the same town you were born in, and maybe you will die there in that same place. But even still, we all have very little time on this earth, and we ALL have a purpose to fulfill in this short time that the Lord has granted us here. So, wherever we happen to find ourselves, let's live our lives on purpose... for the glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom!!
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.... Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:1,15-16
We know we won't be here for long. This is a season in our lives. For another year? Or two? Or five? We aren't sure. However, it is SO good that the Lord has told us that it is not a permanent arrangement.
Why? Because we want to leave, when that day comes, with no regrets. If our time here is short, we want to make it worthwhile to have been here. We want to fulfill all of the purposes for which the Lord brought us here. We want to touch as many people as we can with God's love and the message of Jesus!
Since this is the case, we have this always in the forefront of our minds. Every trip to the bread shop is an opportunity to meet someone. When we go to the grocery store, we try to be purposeful. If we had a nice conversation with a cashier once, we go back to her aisle on purpose, even if the line is longer, to follow up. We want to make sure ALL of our neighbors have heard, know we are here, and where they can go if they need to talk, need prayer, or want to find out more about our Jesus. When we "just happen" to run into someone we talked to once before, we make sure to make the most of that opportunity. We try to turn every conversation to eternal matters. We are here with a purpose!
However, are we not ALL in that same category? Maybe you still live in the same town you were born in, and maybe you will die there in that same place. But even still, we all have very little time on this earth, and we ALL have a purpose to fulfill in this short time that the Lord has granted us here. So, wherever we happen to find ourselves, let's live our lives on purpose... for the glory of God and the expansion of His Kingdom!!
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.... Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:1,15-16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)