Drawing up plans for a water system, to filter rain water for drinking and pump river water for washing.
Cutting PVC for gutters.
Helping custom order solar freezer, not only for us but for other missionaries here in country. A business man has agreed to make some modifications for us, such as thicker insulation so that they can be turned off all night while there is no sun.
Buying materials for mosquito nets for our beds.
Learning about volcanoes.
And place value.
Getting to know the littlest members of our team.
Making them laugh (Tio Jevon is good at that).
Learning to play nicely with them (at least working on it).
Trying to climb the açai trees,
which is hard, because they are very smooth and it is very easy to slide back down.
Learning to cook with new foods (like green cooking bananas).
And learning to eat new foods (like lots of macaxeira).
(Only to clear my conscience I have to be honest and let you know that the cheesy grin is just because he loves the camera. He actually pouted when he saw me put it on his plate.)
But little by little…we’re getting used to the things that are new in our life.
And all the while holding on to the things that are the SAME in our life.
Isaiah’s comforting SAME thing = bear
A comforting SAME thing that is for all of us = Who God is
I’ve been reading through Matthew these days, in Portuguese this time. And even though the language is different it is the SAME powerful truth coming through to me – the authority of Jesus Christ over all things. He is the supreme, sovereign Lord and Savior. He has all things under control. Everything obeys His commands – even stormy waters. Even sickness. Even demons. Everything moves forward according to His plan. Even the crucifixion.
Taking a Saturday off to all squish in a car and go visit some friends of our coworkers at their sítio (farm/place out in the country)…
…and feed the chickens…
…and check if the ingá was ripe. (It mostly wasn’t).
But it sure is a fascinating fruit.
Taking a nap when necessary.
Praying and learning to depend on the Lord more consciously and intentionally and in a more unified way.
Worshiping together with the other team that is here, and encouraging each other in the Lord.
The theme song of our time here has turned out to be “No horário de Deus”. We laugh as we sing it but the words really do hit the spot.
No horário de Deus, (In God’s timing)
Na maneira de Deus (In God’s way)
A montanha de lá (The mountain from over there)
transportada será (Will be moved)
ao mais fundo do mar. (To the depths of the sea)
No horário de Deus,(In God’s timing)
Na maneira de Deus,(In God’s way)
Tudo certo dará, (Everything will work out right)
Deus por cima está (God is above)
Basta só confiar. (You only need to trust)
No horário de Deus,(In God’s timing)
Na maneira de Deus, (In God’s way)
Ele tudo fará, (He will do everything)
Pois escrito está, (For it is written)
Deus não pode falhar. (God can not fail.)
Packing for the guys to go ahead on foot.
Choosing carefully what few things will go with and how to package them.
And weighing every bit of it.
Saying goodbye to the guys.
Taking time for important things, like suddenly running to buy popsicles for the kiddos right before the boat leaves.
Taking off.
Saying goodbye can be hard, even if it is only for a short time and for an exciting purpose. I think Everaldo’s little girl, Ester, will have it the hardest.
Karina cried, too. But who wouldn’t miss such great papa bears as these kids have?
Cheering up the kids…with laundry basins and kiddie pools on a hot day…
and a favorite meal… (everybody in this house loves a good fish!)
(fish, rice, mashed macaxeira, farofa with tiny little beans in it, salad, and vinagrette)
…served in a fun way. (outdoors, together with friends).
Since the dads are gone, Cali got her wish and had the head all to herself…
…which was fine, because the rest of us would prefer the ribs.
More please?
——-
So… suddenly I feel a little sheepish because it seems like a lot of our blogs end with food. Maybe we are trying to make you hungry so you’ll want to come to Brazil. 🙂
But what we hope you REALLY are getting hungry for, is to see God in action changing people’s lives.
That is worth any plane ticket, or boat ride, or hike…or any number of changes of plans…or any number of months in any number of guest houses.
Let’s keep praying and in God’s timing we will see a harvest.
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