We have made our last official church visit as of Sunday 7/24/2011! We are looking forward to spending most of August with family and friends saying our "goodbyes" and such. While we are excited to continue on this adventure, there is a natural strain on the heart as we pull away from our loved one's and what we've both called "home" for sometime now. It gives us relief and comfort to know we are being received by loving missionaries, friends, and family in Brazil!
There is not enough space to write the numerous ways we've seen God directing us and blessing us! We are amazed to report that we are about 65% supported and we are getting phone calls and emails daily of increases to our support! We have churches considering us and so we are excited to see what God will surely do in the next 30+ days! We are trusting the Lord that he will have us 100% supported on our departure date!
We want to thank you very much for praying for Chelsea Martin as she has been battling Leukemia since March. Some of you have asked about her lately as you have faithfully prayed. In June we were able to visit her and her husband in Cleveland, OH. Her spirits are high and her attitude is optimistic! She is progressing through treatment well and the doctors continue to be pleased with her endurance and recovery. We were greatly encouraged by our time spent with the Martin’s in June!
We have added many people to our newsletter list so if this is your first time receiving our letter and you would like to see past newsletters visit our website! Last week during ABWE's pre-AMP (short-term) conference we were able to attend the final evening of the larger Missionary Enrichment conference for all ABWE missionaries in Baltimore, MD. We were deeply encouraged and strengthened during our time spent among fellow sojourners in the faith. We witnessed nothing less than excellence and deep rooted faith in God alone. We heard testimonies from two missionary families. One husband lost his wife and mother of six to cancer. The other testified to God's power in bringing his wife and mother of two, out of a three month coma after a tragic car accident. Both families still eager to serve the Lord and believe in His sovereign plan for their lives. This is the family we are now a part of at ABWE and we are honored! Serving the Lord and being in the midst of His people and plans is awesome. We are finding relief in seeing the bigger picture. Life is but a breath. We will live this life we've been given to the fullest!
Finally, it is time to begin saying "until we meet again." We parted with our friends in Clarks Summit, PA in July as we made our last visit. We enjoyed our first two married years in Clarks Summit and more importantly we were happy to have the friends we did. God brings the right people into your life, at the right time, for the right reasons!
