Ahoy Mateys!

I can't decide if these are the villains are the heroes for my novel yet. Besides I can't give away the story before it's finished.

Current Word Count: 14,422

Things have picked up in pace here. This is the second week of classes and today was our first investigative study for some of the new students we met during the last two months. Today we talked about our great need for God. Please pray that many of the students will be willing to join in these discussions with us.

Amy's new outfit

Our friends Sam and Marcela were married last night. Amy had to special order her outfit to suit her and the baby. Only 5 or so weeks remain before we meet her! The wedding was lots of fun... lots of friends. And we are really happy for the new couple. I translated the service since it was international.

The pink scarf Amy had attached to the pants suit is from Thailand from our trip earlier this year. We are hoping she can use the outfit again for Paige Hardy's wedding on September 9th... only days before the due date. We'll see.

NaNoWriMo in August

I am writing a novel!

While in the States this year I bought a book (one of many I've bought on the subject over the years) called, No Plot? No Problem!, which walks you through the process of writing a book in 30 days.

The author basically shares two ideas: trash your internal editor and create a deadline for yourself. The writer was either the creator or part of the creation of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. The "competition" is kind of like running a literary marathon of sorts. You don't really enter to win but more to prove it to yourself that you can do it. The only problem is that the competition is in November which is just impossible for me because of our preparations for our beach project. So I'm declaring August my own personal NaNoWriMo.

Feel free to write a word of encouragement and to check in on me to see how everything is going. One great benefit is that we'll be TV-FREE this month, since that's one of the things I cut out to have time for writing. Amy's goal is one page of Creative Memories a night for Simon's baby album before the little girl arrives.

Today is Day 5 and my word count is 7,206 of 50,000.

guitar lesson

Two days ago I sat down with Braden and gave him his first guitar lesson. I was playing the mandolin I got for my birthday. It was the first instrument my grandfather (Toby Dowdy) learned to play and my dad was kind enough to have it put back into playing order. The "guitar" Braden is playing is actually a Brazilian instrument called a "cavaquinho" and isn't tuned exactly like the mandolin. We are working on that.

cement bobsled

Just a quick email to say that I arrived safely back in Brazil. The flight was uneventful yet full. I made it through to my connecting flights without any problems and all my bags were just as were packed. So... plenty to be thankful for.

The apartment is slowly taking shape. Amy had already done most everything before I arrived (a short-term team of 10 lived in our apartment while we were gone and thus, things were boxed, etc...). The boys seem close to getting their routine back.

Yesterday we went to a park here in town for the boys to run some energy off and to see some of the students involved in the ministry here. At the playground in the park there was what looked to be a cement slide. Braden and Simon saw some Brazilian kids sliding down it sitting on plastic two-liter bottles so they had to try it. They had a big time zooming down the bobsled as Amy and I called it. They were filthy by the time we left. I wished I had taken our camera.

God tremendously blessed our efforts to raise additional funds while back. We went hoping/trusting that $1000 monthly support would be pledged and $1085 was pledged! Thank you all who joined our support team and for those who increased their support and especially those who prayed for us during this time!

Thank you for your prayers!

Good Shepherd

I just got back from my visit to Good Shepherd down in Ocala, Florida, the church where my cousin Jason Shiver is the associate pastor.

I really enjoyed meeting everyone there and the service was great. I was disappointed that it didn't work out for Jason to be there on the same weekend. He was up in north Georgia rafting with some of the young people from the church. Maybe next time.

Part of my hopes with this blog is that the people like the ones I met today can meet me here and pray for us and the ministry in Brazil. I hope that there can be a real exchange, a real deepening of friendships, and a partnership in being ministers of the gospel here in the States and in Brazil.

I head back tomorrow and I still haven't done my final packing. It looks like we are going to partake of the grease tonight at the Huddle House before I come back and stuff everything I can in my suitcase. I also hope to see the final episode of Spielburg's Into the West, which I've enjoyed watching since back. I guess my next post will be in Brazil!

Rafael Maia talks about the CCP

It's incredible how God has worked in my life during this first semester (ended July 1). I'm so happy and encouraged by what has happened. Since the last beach project (3 week training program at the beginning of the year), I see how God has opened my eyes and has shown me that "I am more sinful than I can imagine" and how "God is greater than I can imagine", which oftentimes can sound cliché but is the greatest truth.

It's clear that understanding this has affected my life in every way. I can see how my view of the Christian community has grown and how this has led me to build deeper and real relationships. That's been so important for my walk with Christ. Also I can see how my view of discipleship and evangelism have grown and how my prayer life is changing.

Also I'm really encouraged with the growth that is happening in our community of believers. I've seen how people are experiencing more of God... how they've built deeper relationships and how they're willing to serve. For me that was so evident during the time the CCP was here (Cross Cultural Project - students involved with Campus Outreach spend 2 months ministering with us on the campus during their summer break). From what I could see, everyone was desirous to have a deep relationship with them, seeing in them an opportunity to know God more and to partner with them on the campus, meeting new students and sharing their faith.

back to where it started

This morning I was talking with my cousin, Jason Shiver, on the phone and a lot of timelines seemed to cross. Since last year I've been talking with Jason about speaking at the church where he is currently an associate pastor. Interestingly enough the pastor is the uncle (I think, relative for sure) of Vince Strawbridge who attended Samford University with me and was my big brother in the Sigma Chi fraternity. That's the first timeline overlap, I guess you could say.

Well, Jason calls me today and says that maybe this weekend would work out. Then he kind of laughs and proceeds to tell me that Paul Boyd was also asked to come in and speak this weekend. Paul (next timeline) went to West Georgia with Jason and I and was involved in Campus Outreach with us. Paul and I were on a beach project together for two summers and lived in the same dormitory for a couple of weeks.

So, this weekend I think (not confirmed yet) I'll be driving down to Ocala, Florida and I'll see Paul for the first time in years and years. Vince even said that he might show up. I haven't seen Vince since he visited Amy and me in Bainbridge during our first year of marriage. Small world? Coincidence? Something bigger? We'll see.

leaving home (again)

As many of you know, Amy and I made a special trip back to the States this year to raise some additional financial support. Our goal was to raise as much of it as we could in Bainbridge and my parents were hospitable enough to host us for the 2 months.

They got more than they bargained for though... after everything was said and done, my brother and his family stayed as well for several weeks. So we ended up with all three families under one roof! Good thing my folks have added on an extra room and a new larger kitchen. I don't think we'll attempt it again soon though.

We had a great trip back. We enjoyed seeing so many of you. Not only did God provide for our financial needs, He amazed us by doing it quickly and through many encouraging contacts (new and old). The way people responded to the need and the speed at which the money came in confirmed once again that God is doing something big in Brazil! Thanks to all of you who are a part of this.

coming and going

Tomorrow morning we get on a plane for the States, the day before our short term team arrives. Ten students are coming down from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri to minister alongside our team on the campus for the next 2 months. They will actually be living in our house while we are in the States!

Having the team move into our house has been an adventure in preparation. Wednesday night we normally met with the students and staff involved in our ministry for Bible study or prayer, but this Wednesday we did something a little different. We had them take apart beds and put up dishes. It was amazing how much we got done in such a short amount of time. I think it was good for the students as well. It helped make them feel more a part of what is going on.

The family and I are headed back to recruit more monthly financial donors. With the baby on the way in September, the exchange rate going down, and considering our plans to prepare for the next phase here in Brazil, we hope to strengthen our financial and prayer backing. God has blessed us tremendously through many of you keeping us solid on the field. But looking ahead at new family responsibilities (there are 5 of us instead of 2 now), and new ministry responsibilities, we knew it was time to come back.

Last year was a true success for our national staff. Chico is doing well with his monthly support and will be leading the short term team in their ministry on the campus, as well as directing our community here.

I hope to talk to many of you while I am back. Please be in prayer for us. The boys have been sick this weekend (maybe some kind of virus) and we hope that mom and dad do not get it on the plane. Pray that they can feel better tomorrow.

Simon has seemed fine today after a day of not being able to keep much down. He has still been weak but no throwing up at least. Braden came back from church this morning saying he did not feel good. At first I thought he was just jealous because Simon stayed home and got to watch a movie. I thought maybe he hoped I would stay home with him tonight. But then after lunch (he did not have much of an appetite), he started throwing up as well. He has been all day now.

We leave tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. and then have a long layover in São Paulo. It will be miserable if we are still sick on the plane. I hope we can all be right in the stomach, if you know what I mean.