The ties that bind, the waves that break...

Ever been without a car? Struggled with the mundane chores of life? Faced a paperwork battle with a government entity for a piece of property, a financial mishap, or a legal situation?

These are the circumstances of life which bring us to our knees before God, where we meet some of you in the same place. Our greatest moments we recall as we go to bed at night always bring us back to the people we've met that have brought us reassurance, hope, laughter, or simply understanding as we travel this life. Knowing that some of you pray for us as often as we pray for ourselves gives us a sense of closeness that we need in a place and phase of life where it's easy to feel forgotten and out of touch.

Today is a day where we put final touches on our visa application paperwork for Maicol's hopeful return in April/May for graduation. Some verses we stumbled upon and now cling to in regard to this, are James 1:5-7. We're asking for wisdom with how to present our case to the consulate. We need to think of any paperwork we can show that will prove our return to Brazil after Maicol's trip to the states. Many of these applications get denied. We must ask and believe, because doubting will bring us nothing from God. Such a huge step of faith. So we are not doubting that he will give us the wisdom we need. If that means giving us the visa and strengthening our faith after 10 months of prayer, so be it. And if we do not receive the visa and our wisdom is gained by heavy consequence or possibly a trial of strength and perseverance, great. Either way, we have to trust God has our best in mind and that we will grow in wisdom, regardless of the outcome.

We love the waves of the sea on a breezy, sunny day. However, we don't want to throw oursleves in to be tossed uncontrollably and possibly detrimentally.

because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

Did you say RAIN? And clouds?!

We have never loved rainy days. Especially living in Clarks Summit, rain came all too often and usually it was bitterly cold. But here in "Forno" Alegre (forno meaning stove).. rain if it lasts long enough, is a reason for excitement! The clouds help too! Rain with sun is an even bigger mess. So today we felt the wind back in our sails as we stepped out to run errands and didn't feel our shirts stuck to our backs. The heat just zaps your strength and eventually motivation to do life :)

Praise God for 81F weather! It makes going to the bank for the third time and hearing the account still is not ready more manageable. Our bills are due next week, and this is cutting it down to the wire! Praying we can get it worked out.

Maicol is in and out between meetings and Mandy enjoying a break from Language school. We are preparing to be in Israel is a short couple of weeks!

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” Dan 2:21,22

Thankful that our Sovereign God knows what we need and when we need it. Thankful that in his time and manner he sets up leaders and removes them, all in an effort to lead his very own. There are trials to strengthen us, and blessings to delight our souls, and in between, moments we feel the final blow right before we think we could break. But our God, our very present help, knows what lies in darkness and guides us by his side in the light. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace to us.

High: 81F
Low: 73F/Bank issues

She has arrived...

Mandy rode the train all by herself today to Sao Leopoldo to study Esther 5 with the teenage girls. This week she also started riding the bus by herself as well. So. grown. up.

She has arrived (in every sense of the phrase)! It's a big accomplishment to have the courage for all this so we are celebrating her independence and freedom from "Please Maicol, please don't make me go alone! What if...?"

Today we enjoyed a great time of fellowship with friends an co-workers in the faith. We are very excited for what God is doing here in Porto Alegre and just starting to get a glimpse of how we might feel lead to be involved.

Let us not forget to mention Carnaval is taking place today all over Brazil which gave us a holiday and empty streets! This is a final time for vacation and summer so Brazilian families are on vacation at the beach or perhaps crowding the major attraction sites for Carnaval!

In the beginning, there were the cabinets....

The kitchen has begun! Maicol's brothers Pablo and Ramon are installing the backs of the cabinets today and hopefully Friday the project will be complete. It's exciting to think very soon we will get everything off the floor and finish the move process!

Today was a relief! High:95F/Kitchen Cabinets

Courageous

We enjoyed a day to relax today. We watched a movie "Courageous" that had us bawling for most of the two hours. A church in the area is showing it next Sunday night so we figured we would check it out in English first. Great film, and also very convicting for all of us. Don't waste time and get caught up in today! You are not promised any length of time on this earth!

New record this month: 102F

Everything's Just Peachy..

The only way to end this day. Peach pie. Maicol is working on an upcoming sermon and finishing reading for his projects. He is preaching on a Psalm of Ascent, it's neat what we learn as he studies.

Mandy is preparing for kitchen cabinets on Monday (yes!) and cooking some things up ahead of time as the kitchen will be tied up with the installation. On the menu for this Carnaval weekend: Yakisoba broccoli/beef, Mexican crockpot chili, homemade pizza, Peach cobbler, homemade Almond Joy ice cream and for dinner tonight: toasted tomato and bacon sanwiches.

Don't knock it til you try it! Our dear friends the Hunter's introduced us to these classic sandwiches in August - such a great summer food!

High:99F/Peach pie

It's like preparing for a hurricane...

Sidewalks are crowded, traffic is piled up, and everyone in Porto Alegre seems to be in the grocery store. Glad we walked across the street so we don't have to do the parking lot confusion. Carnaval is days away and everyone is preparing for basically a city shut down as the party blares it's music and parades the streets. We are sitting this one out so we are stocking up food for the next few days and anything else we think we'll need as most places will close their doors for the final vacation time of summer. Mandy struggled through her final today but it's over! Maicol is trying to tie up lose end on his internship, 9 weeks to go! The heat is lingering so we took a dip in the pool to cool off. Thank you Lord for Fridays. We are ready for some rest.

Hottest day so far: 97F/weekend yea!

These are the hard days...

Today was the type of day that seems typical for the missionaries we know who are out of language school, in the zone, and doing the daily grind of ministry.

Car: Mandy drives girls 45min to their homes and then returns 45min for language school. No A/C, trying to beat traffic, just a LITTLE stressed :)School - 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Final exams tomorrow and plenty of homework, a dip in the pool before studies? Nope... 3:45pm get an unexpected text that Maicol needs a ride to ministry because the bus will be too late...

Bus/Train: Maicol is without the car because he obviously navigates public transportation with more ease. Realizes his phone never charged so he is without the cell today. Leaves home 8am for meetings an hour away. We have not been able to open a bank account for a month because of red tape so he has to talk to a bank in this other city to fix the problems, again. Ministry meeting with a mentor until lunch. Takes the bus to another meeting for internship. Leaves on a bus and then train to get to basketball ministry which starts back in our city at 5pm. Arrives in Porto Alegre at 4pm to catch a ride with Mandy to basketball ministry...

And the heat just makes this day seem more busy and exhausting than it already is! This is the daily grind for us, glad we are seeing the finish line! Mandy has just a couple months of school left and Maicol is graduating in May!

Low:79F (yea, not so low)/ tiring, busy day and still plenty of studying and paperwork to do!

Sleepover!

Tonight Mandy's bible study girls are spending the night! To our disappointment the pool was closed until 7pm for work so we enjoyed the 97F day inside playing games and sitting in front of the fan. And Maicol was kicked out of the bedroom for some time so the girls could lay in the A/C too. These girls love to cook so each time they spend the night we plan a menu and come hungry! We enjoyed white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, chicken lasagna in a white, basil sauce (delicious!) and the Venter's last package of Hershey's triple chunk brownie mix from the States... in the morning we had breakfast casserole and chocolate flavored coffee. Spoiled? Yes. This week was neat because Mandy listened and the girls taught. Their assignemnt was to use commentaries and their brains to answer three questions and in turn, teach Esther 4. What are the facts? How does this affect the characters in the bible? How does this affect your/my life?

They did a wonderful job and we are all loving this study of Esther! Bottom line: There is no such thing as 'coincidence'.

High: 97F/ Great bible study and sleepover