December 14, 2005
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yes. i know this is December 14th. 11 more shopping days…but since i am dealing with international affairs (ohhh, that sounded good), i thought i´d better be safe and send this early. my official prayer/report/christmas letter. for you…to hopefully read:).
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I have a lot to share. Not only is this my Christmas letter, but also my report on my trip to Brasil, and my letter about returning to Brasil for another six months in 2006. Let’s just say that it’s a God thing.
Last January I sat next to a creek and asked God that if this was my last year on earth, was what I was planning (six months working at the youth center and going to school and then six months in Brasil) pleasing to Him and living life to the fullest. He said yes.
Amid a spring semester of going to three colleges (a community college, state college, and Bible college) having an internship at a preschool, and working at the youth center with my kids, I enjoyed finding time to chat with God. Whether walking five extra blocks in the rain because IUPUI never has parking spots, reading a story to preschoolers, or driving a van that has no horn, the moment became something beautiful when I shared it with my Father. My quote was “Wherever you are, be all there.”
I was enjoying life so much sometimes I questioned my sanity in leaving it all. My family, my job, my car, my friends…my income, my independence, my ability to communicate—to spent six months of my life in Brasil. Sure I loved Brasil—but was it worth the cost?
I continued on in the peace that God had given me in the beginning of the year.
I knew I would miss being able to share my life, my dreams, and my love with others and to see them grow, but I knew that even if just to spend time with God and know Him better, my time in Brasil would be worthwhile.
God took me, my fears, and my insecurities and spun miracles into life. Everything I left, God provided more: God gave me the incredible close friendship and fellowship with Karine, and later, with others who would also become “my kids” as wherever in the world I seem to be, I adopt family members. He also gave me a new ministry…teaching English. And as I mastered the bus system, I felt the joys of independence, even if I did still miss my car. God showed me that I could have a powerful ministry to those back home through prayer, and most of all, I heard His voice and saw His direction for my life. Oh, and I learned some Portuguese along the way as well.
August 12, 2005 I received my calling to Brasil…err, actually it was in the fall of ‘99, but it took me until then to be ready to understand and commit to it. yikes. I had known that I loved Brasil and wanted to be a part of it, but my fear of the unknown and knowing my limitations and inadequacies had held me back from making any definite decisions.
I still feel unworthy of the great calling of being a “missionary”, and shy away from using the term that puts me in the category of Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, and Hudson Taylor. “God does not call the equipped, but equips the called.” For me it is simply continuing on with the journey and adventure of living life with God—I just happen to live an hour away from the beach now. *grin*
So as 2005 passes, I lay my head down on my pillow and smile in the darkness. God is good. So have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Life’s a trip.
*****About this trip:
I don’t know how God does it. He just works in ways you’d never imagine and after He is done you shake your head and go, “Oh. So it could work out. Never would have thought of that. All that worrying for nothing.” I thought that a lot.
My first month in Brasil we had a medical clinic and English camp with the help of some awesome fellow North Americans (these trips are, by the way, open to YOU. You should go. Yeah. Come see my world.)
After that life settled down and I lived at the seminary, learning Portuguese and learning that yeah, God was calling me to Brasil. Full time. For life. Or until He says otherwise. The seminary is full of incredibly devoted people who inspire me. I loved living there and am excited to live there next trip (as it is also where the International School will be—a gorgeous hotel complete with futebol field and pool)
In September I was shipped off to Timbuktu (err….Timbauba…a city 45 minutes away) to live with a Brasilian family and finally conquer some of those Portuguese verb conjugations. Living with the pastor of the church there I quickly found lots of love, a church family, and adopted brothers who filled my life with bruises, thumb war and “futebol.“ Every week I took a trip on the bus (oh the POWER of it all!) and taught English at the seminary and in Timbauba to whoever happened to show up.
I would then spend the night with the Moraes family, catching up on speaking English, and wondering if there was anyone else in the world so lucky as I was to have so many people love me and let me sleep in their houses, consuming their food. Wow.
*****About next trip:
So what is up with this? Yep, I am headed back again. Right now I only have a tourist visa that allows me to be in Brasil for 180 days a year. In February, The International Academy is starting, and they need teachers. And I need to learn more Portuguese (will I ever be satisfied?) while I work out if I can receive a student or work visa to stay in Brasil for a full missionary term.
I already have many invitations (and expectations) to teach more English, and this will be my last chance to spend time in Brasil as an intern before I return to the US begin all the official missionary things. Above all other reasons, I feel God’s peace and joy in this plan and want to follow His leading wholeheartedly.
I am going to need $350 a month plus a plane ticket (can you believe I have to pay social security? What the heck?) and I am also working on taking (and paying for) some classes over the internet in the spring. The goal is to finish my teaching degree this year (seven more classes) and raise support to return to Brasil ASAP (2007) as an official missionary. So yes, please pray. This is mind-boggling to me.
The church planting ministry of Alcance Brasil is a work of God. The ten (and counting) churches are growing and beginning new ministries, whether it be the seminary, to train new leaders; the Living Stones, to reach out to needy children; or the International Academy, reaching the middle and upper class children.
When I see the love and dedication of Tele and his family, the pastors, and my brothers and sisters in Christ…I know this is something I want to be a part of and want to give my life for. And this is the next step.
*****just your friendly reminder:
God is good. oh, and Merry Christmas
