Derek w/a SMALL anaconda

It is a memory that most surely every missionary family has of returning to the mildewed tropics of a country like Brazil. Upon opening our suitcases, the fresh fragrance diffused throughout our room– “Ah! It smells like the States!” That pleasant scent stands in stark contrast to the otherwise mustiness of stale clothing, towels, and bed sheets – and so we had to stop and smell the fresh clothes, just for a little bit. After all, that sensation would soon dissipate into the moldy air.

Now, almost 7 weeks since our return to Brazil on August 1 – yes, the Stateside fragrance has vanished – we are in our sixth full week of school at PQQ where we have this distinct pleasure to serve the Lord in MK care and education.

Angie and I are active with teaching classes – Angie primarily in the first grade and I in grades 7-12. Other responsibilities outside of our family also occupy our time: Angie as the hospitality coordinator, I as the school administrator, and together as advisors to the senior class.

Our new refrigerator WORKS!! (unlike our old one)

We are grateful for our co-workers who have also readily assumed their functions to make this school year get off to a great start!

Our students are an absolute blessing to us – what a wonder to see them desirous of walking with the Lord. Our own children are no exception, a delight to our hearts. Aaron is in the 10^th grade, Aleah in 8^th, Dayton in 7^th, and Derek in 5^th.

We have a few prayer requests that we’d ask you to remember:

1. We are preparing for a spiritual emphasis time for our students during the first full week of October. Pray that those scheduled to participate from our home church in California will be able to prepare fully.
2. We continue in our efforts – by His strength – to resolve the registration/licensing of our Mission boat. Pray that the officials who handle that process look with favor on our situation. Having the boat available to use, especially for school functions, would indeed be a blessing.
3. We need more teachers and cafeteria cooks! If you sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit to commit to a semester or more of joining our team at PQQ, please let us know. We need teachers in the following areas: elementary (grades 1&2, 3&4), science (grades 7-12), history (grades 9-12), and math (grades 9-12). As mentioned previously, we also could use 1 or 2 more cafeteria cooks.

Angie, helping the senior class w/a fund-raiser: making tortillas

We reserve mention of YOU for the end of this post. Thank YOU for praying for us and for giving in so many ways – your involvement is vital to this work, and we are indebted to you. Be encouraged in the Lord – remember, He is the Master of the work, and we have the honor of diffusing His fragrance of the Gospel of Life.

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:14, ESV)

Aleah, receiving pre-launch instructions on the 4-wheeler

What goes west must go east, too–right? Okay, maybe that doesn’t really make sense, but in our case it does. After our trip from Florida to California (by the way, not in just a straight line), we started on our drive back to Florida. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Our time in California with my (David’s) Uncle Bob & Aunt Ruth and some of their family was very special. We were also able to see other very dear people in the Turlock area, including our home/sending church (Monte Vista Chapel) where we had the privilege of giving a brief ministry update in the Sunday morning services and speaking in the 1st-5th-grades Sunday-school class. Our time was so short that we were not able to see others of you in California–we would very much like to do so when we come through CA again next summer/fall.

Washing Aunt Ruth's car in Turlock

Our trip back to Florida took us through Missouri again, Mississippi (great seeing ya’ll from the Biggers family), and then to Florida. Our last day to Florida was actually Angie’s and my anniversary–sixteen years ago, July 29! We even stopped at a restaurant in Alabama where I asked one of the employees if they sing the “Happy Anniversary” song to those who eat there. The one lady said she would and then came by our table and sang to us–how sweet!

Well, after seeing Angie’s parents again–and other family and friends in Florida–we flew out from Orlando Monday morning, August 1, on Copa Airlines (from Panama). As we were checking our luggage in, they asked us which pieces were priority to us. What a question! I said, “Well, they’re all priority to us!” Long story short, we were only permitted to designate 6 suitcases as “priority.” Obviously, we’re reading the big “hint” that we would not find all our luggage at the luggage claim area in Manaus, Brazil, at the end of our trip–it would come in on a later flight. Well, surprise of all surprises–thank you, Lord!–all our luggage made it to Brazil on our flights: Orlando–Panama City–Manaus!

Getting goofy in the van on one of those long days

Almir (our NTM West Brazil field director) met us at the airport and took us to the Vila where our friend Valcinei met us with his boat and then dropped us off at the school–at 10:30-ish well after dark.

We are so grateful that the Lord gave us an awesome 7 weeks in the US and that He brought us back safely to continue our ministry here at PQQ! Thank you for praying for us, and we ask that you especially remember us as we prepare for the beginning of school (Aug. 10). May the Lord continue to bless each of you!

Aaron on his steed--actually, Uncle Marv's steed

Continuing with the David’n’Angie Kern whirlwind road trip around the US—Part B—after a very enjoyable time with family and friends (including 2 churches) in Missouri, we headed to Iowa to see other ministry partners at First Baptist Church in Spencer.

What a tremendous privilege to speak during the Sunday July 10 morning message and then in the afternoon to have two sessions with the junior high and senior high youth groups!

Dirtbike Dayton @ Brian & Tami's farm

We were very encouraged and blessed by the Church Body at First Baptist. Thank you, Matt, Jacob, and Brian & Tami—among others—for your love and kindness.

After a brief visit in Idaho with my (David’s) dorm parents Larry & Charlotte Miller from when I was in high school at PQQ, we headed out to Washington to visit Angie’s brother’s family. What a wonderful time we had with Gene & Rose and their 4 kids! From hiking around Whistle Lake—and then getting “lost” but forging ahead anyway through the dense forest and undergrowth until we actually found a trail—to boating at Clear Lake to enjoying a picnic and afternoon at Deception Pass State Park,

w/Angie's brother Gene & family at Deception Pass

we certainly made many lasting memories. We even had the unexpected blessing of sharing our ministry in 3 Sunday school classes at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon where Gene & Rose fellowship.

Our time in Washington ended all too soon; nevertheless, we had to hit the road again—destination: Turlock, California.

That will come in our next post! Thank you so much for your prayers for us. And please remember to pray the Lord of the harvest for more laborers to reach the tribes of Brazil with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Aerial view of PQQ

Since 1958, NTM’s boarding school for missionary children in the Amazon has been providing a sound academic education in a school and dorm environment that allows and actively encourages spiritual, physical, social, and emotional development so that each student can be prepared for a life of service motivated by love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Each year, we have needs for teachers, and the 2011-2012 school year (and beyond) is no exception. Currently, we are in need of…

• a junior high/senior high science teacher
• a junior high/senior high math teacher
• a senior high history teacher
• By the start of the 2012-2013 school year, we will need an elementary teacher (grades 3-4).
  

PQQ 2011 Graduating Class

If YOU would like to help meet this need (or you know of SOMEONE who is interested), please let us know this good news.

NTM has application processes adapted for each term of service that you might be interested in, whether it be up to 6 months, up to 4 years, or full-time service.

We look forward to helping you embark on one of the most meaningful experiences in your life as together we assist in reaching the lost for Christ.

First stop was Susquehanna, PA, where we stayed with Lyle & Nelda Leonard and had the privilege of sharing at the First Baptist Church of Susquehanna. Thank you, Pastor Gary and First Baptist Church family, for blessing our family during our time with you.

Aaron & Aleah jet-skiing

Early in that same week, we visited with Angie’s mother’s side of the family in Liberty, PA–those were fun days, including some picnics with 4-wheeling and target-shooting. (Of course, our boys thoroughly enjoyed that.)

Next stop was Ohio where we saw friends from PQQ and more family. We headed to Missouri where the highlight of our time was 7 days of a Kern family reunion. We saw 5 nieces and nephews whom we had never seen before.

Dayton brushing down the horse

We’re grateful for having been able to see my younger brother Stefan and his family before they head off in a few months to Mozambique with NTM. Jonathan and his family continue working in Dallas, TX, with The Seed Company, an affiliate of Wycliffe Bible Translators. My (David’s) parents are generally in Germany, where they continue to work on the translation of the New Testament into the Wari language of Brazil. Of course, they were also at the Kern family reunion enjoying their 13 grandchildren.

Ride 'em Cowboy Derek

Again, in addition to all the fun and seeing many friends and ministry partners, we were blessed to share in 2 churches while in Missouri: New Hope Baptist Church and Emmanuel Chapel Bible Church. Thank you for having us.

We’re grateful for all those whom God has given us the privilege to know, and we pray His continued blessing on you!

We’ll let this do for now. Part B will come in a few days. Until then, bye!