-
cnf_chegada_jan08.jpg
Dear Friends and Family:
As we were preparing for breakfast and getting ready to go to church on Sunday morning, Asa turned to us and said “We really are home again!” Indeed, that is the feeling all three of us have expressed several times in the last three days. We are grateful for the 6 months we just completed in the US and the chance to be with family and many of you.
We are still shaking our heads in wonder at how God blessed our time far beyond what we had imagined. Living in our home town near our parents for the first time in over 30 years helped us all to re-connect in new ways, and Asa got to know his grandparents much better. We had a chance to connect with the American Baptist Church in our home town (Manette Community Church, where Ron Anderson is pastor), and found a warm and welcoming church family there. With all of our traveling (to nine states) we also got to enjoy re-connecting with many of you!
Last night, one of our friends here asked Asa where he feels at home. His reply: “wherever we are as a family.” And that’s true — we are so grateful to be back home among friends, colleagues, and our “family” here in Brazil. We left the Seattle area last Wednesday Jan. 30th, arriving in Belo Horizonte with all of our suitcases, but more importantly, with our furry little “filha” [daughter] Ouro (our black Labrador). Our friends from our home church here (Igreja Batista Reviver) met us on arrival Thursday afternoon, and even kept us company for awhile during our first evening back in our apartment.
It was wonderful to see our church family again on Sunday and bring them greetings from you. Today and tomorrow are part of the national holiday for “Carnaval” - a fascinating yet often disturbing Brazilian pre-Lenten festival (Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the US equivalent). We are using the time to finish unpacking our boxes and stocking our pantry.
On Wednesday, we along with the entire country will “get back to work”. We will begin preparing for the arrival of JAMI’s new class of missionary candidates this weekend and will lead them in orientation workshops next week. Asa needs to take mammoth exams this week in order to qualify for “primeiro ano” [first year high school, or 9th grade] at his school, Colégio Batista Mineiro. Please be in prayer for him, as the Brazilian educational system — especially in the high school years — is very demanding.
Thank you for your many prayers and good wishes on our behalf during this last week of transition. God has answered them all — and then some! In the coming weeks, please continue to pray for:
* Asa as he takes some tough entrance exams and (assuming he passes) starts 1st year high school (again, since he already did this in the US last September!)
* The new missionary candidates that will soon be traveling to JAMI from all over Brazil. They are in the final stages of saying good-bye to friends and family, and preparing for a new life at JAMI for the next seven months. They will need to establish new friendships and a new family among themselves, and they will face many challenges in the months ahead. They will need a special measure of courage, resolve, wisdom and strength to handle all this.
* Pastor Ronald and Cecília, the directors of JAMI and its missionary training program CETRAMI. Cecília’s father recently passed away, and this has put a tremendous stress on her, Ronald, and their family at JAMI’s busiest time of year. Pray for comfort for them, and strength and wisdom to continue to lead JAMI. Pray for the other members of the JAMI home office team as we support them and prepare for a new academic year.
* The volunteers from ABC churches in the US who are preparing to come help us this year. Thomas will arrive from Connecticut in two weeks, and the “três amigos” (Larissa, Gabriel, and Rachael) will be here in mid-March. Several more are finalizing plans for later in the year.
* Us as we prepare to lead the critical first week of orientation starting 11 Feb. This sets the tone for a lot of the next seven months, and we will need all our language skills, wisdom, and discernment to do it right. We will lead the Intensive English for Mission module the whole month of March, and need your prayers for that as well.