I can't believe it! In two days I will be boarding a plane to the US for 7 months of furlough. These years have flown by fast. This time I return a graduated accountant and a year older. Lots happened in this last week. I will just have to wait until my return to Brazil in September to pick up the diploma and certified accountant card to prove the accountant part. I really miss being a part of the Teen Carnaval (Get away) Retreat and our Annual Church Family Camp at Easter. Instead I will be traveling with Juliane, my English student, around Northern CA and then spending time with family in MI. Special moments. Moments to treasure. Just hold on folks I'll be there soon! Just need to survive the whirlwind of the last two days first!

Happy New Year! Praise the Lord for His abundant mercies and grace during the past year. Can't wait for the adventures  of knowing Him more in the year to come. How about you guys?

Just a quick note to let you know that all is well. The semester at college is finished! Now it is time to just plan for graduation and the party at the end of January. Also we are in the midst of Christmas preparations. Sunday will be the presentation for Bible day and the 20th will be the presentation for our Christmas program! The week after will be a week of relaxation and just enjoying friends and church family and Christmas.

Also BIG news, the Lord has provided a house in Sapiranga for Kady and I to live. We are in the process of closing the contract now. I will be moving my things over on Wednesday the 16th, Lord willing. Praying for a sunny day.

Tomorrow, Thursday the 10th, I am really excited to be traveling with the Silva family to São Paulo for Jordana's graduation. She has been a special friend and sister to me and I am so looking forward to being able to be present on this special day of her graduation from Bible Institute! Next year she will be heading to Africa to serve as a missionary for a year. Well, I better finish packing my suitcase. Talking to you all again soon.

October was conference month. Beginning with our annual field BGFM field mission conference Sept. 30- Oct. 6. This was a great time of fellowship with fellow missionaries and encouragement in God's Word. This year we were challenged to "Raise you gaze" and focus on Jesus Christ our amazing Savior as seen in Revelations. I was thankful to be able to spend a few days before conference to visit friends in Fortaleza.

We then came back to Rio Grande do Sul to prepare for Children's Day on the 12th and the Prophecy Conference with Thomas Ice on Oct. 16-18. Monday we took our children to the program at the Word of Life Camp where there was plenty of excitement, but also a play challenging them (and the parents attending) with the importance of the family. For the Prophecy Conference the Campo Bom church hosted providing receptionist and organizing the children's program. Sunday we taught the children and were thankful for the other churches that also helped on Friday and Saturday nights.

Below are picture of some of my recent activities. Caring for the children at the Conference. Adventures at a special property where they raise unique birds and animals in Pacoti, CE during conference. Crazy games with the teens during youth group. Can you kick your shoe and make it land on the table? Not as easy as it looks. lol Our group at the Children's day program.

A moment to breathe... maybe

Life has hardly stopped to give me a moment to breathe. I am at some friends home in Fortaleza and thought I would just drop a note so you would all know that I did make it safely back home fro Rio. Two students received their visas. With the crazy up and down of the exchange rate a couple students have already dropped out of our trip to the US in February and two are suppose to give me a decision by next week, so we'll see how many of us end up wandering around beautiful, Northern CA together.

Since Rio I had a week to get things together and head off for our annual BGFM field conference. This past week has been a huge blessing full of fellowship, rest and encouragement in God's Word. Tomorrow morning I will be catching a plane back to Rio Grande do Sul and home. Pray for safe travels and the next three months which promise to be super busy with special programs at church and preparations for next year in the US.

Rio here we come!

Tomorrow we are off to Rio de Janeiro for three English students to interview for their American visas. I am going along for "moral support". lol Someone has to hold the bags outside while they go in for the interviews. (The security is very high at the consulate in Rio apparently.) I will get a good view of the outside! Pray for safety and that we would enjoy our time in this beautiful city. I will be there from Thursday until Sunday. Time for a little break and time with a friend I met at the airport in San Francisco, CA last year.

New Semester!

August is the beginning of the second semester here in Brazil. After two weeks of winter break in July everyone is getting back into the new schedule. Well... almost everyone. Many students are dealing with teacher and police strikes that are changing their school schedule. What does a police strike have to do with students. Those who attend High School at night from 6 PM to 10:15 PM are no longer safe when it is time to catch the city bus home. Due to assaults many are being released early from classes to make it safely home. But this will mean they will lose days of their summer break in December to make up the hours of classes.

For me this means my last three classes until graduation! So close! This semester I study Monday and Thursday nights and Saturday afternoon. I am studying Systems of Management Control, International Financing, and Actuarial Accounting.

Another especial event this month was Father's Day. The kids at church did a special program with songs and a short play and decorated cookies for their dads. It was a special night to remember the God given responsibility of father's in raising their children: protecting, loving, teaching faith in God and being a godly example. I will share more pictures about this in my email update that will be on it's way as soon as I download the pictures to my computer.