Around the World In Not So Many Days
On Wednesday just before lunch we pulled into our garage, both kids asleep, finalizing who-knows-how-many hours of travel back from Thailand. We spent close to a week in Khon Kaen, Thailand with our international Campus Outreach staff team. Outside of the United States, our teams are located in Kazahkstan, Thailand, Australia, South Africa and Brazil.
Although crazed at times by the travel and foreigness of everything, the conference proved refreshing for Amy and I and for the kids. They got to spend a week in "vacation Bible school" with the other overseas children. Probably the main highlight was meeting the staff from the other teams we didn't know, like the national staff in Australia, Thailand and Kazahkstan. And the other was the time we spent in worship and talking about what God has called us to. That was so renewing.
Thank you for praying for us during our time there. Now if we can just get our feet back up under us... both nights so far the kids have been waking up in the night thinking it's morning already.
A few points of interest
If you have the time, I've placed a video update on my site with some current footage and testimony from the staff.
Chico was our team photographer (at least our digital one) during the trip. Here are some pictures from our layover in Zurich. Hopefully, there will be more to come.
Thanks for all your messages about the new baby on the way. As soon as we have any news (boy or girl) we'll send it along.
Your friends,
Jeff, Amy, Braden and Simon
Friday, April 15, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
signing out
Talking Thai
In a little under 9 hours we've got to be out the door. With bags packed and kids in tow we start our 40 hour adventure to Thailand, with a short stopover in Zurich. How they figure Switzerland to be on the way to Thailand, I don't know.
We'll be travelling with our entire staff team, nationals included, for a week-long international staff conference. Teams from Kazahkstan, Thailand (of course), South Africa, and Australia will be attending as well as a few select staff from the States.
Please pray for our time there. Our hope is that God would use this time to renew us spiritually and to call us back to the vision of building laborers for the lost world. I pray for mutual encouragement with the other staff and for a deeper fellowship with the other teams across the globe.
VBS
During the trip the boys will be treated to a "vacation Bible school" of sorts. A church from the States was nice enough to be making the trip to entertain and instruct the kids. Pray that Braden and Simon would make a lot of friends and learn more about why we do what we do.
Pray also for me as I co-lead a seminar on evangelism on Monday (I think). I'm so looking forward to hearing from the other teams and learning from one another.
Barbie at the Dowdys?
Amy and I are expecting our third child in September! The reality still hasn't sunk in yet. The talk among our friends here has been about whether it will be a boy or girl. Some of the guys from campus have been saying they hope it's a girl, that I need a little girl. They are going to buy her Barbie toys and everything. I told them though that Barbie would never make it with Simon around.
Your friends,
The Brazilian Dowdys
In a little under 9 hours we've got to be out the door. With bags packed and kids in tow we start our 40 hour adventure to Thailand, with a short stopover in Zurich. How they figure Switzerland to be on the way to Thailand, I don't know.
We'll be travelling with our entire staff team, nationals included, for a week-long international staff conference. Teams from Kazahkstan, Thailand (of course), South Africa, and Australia will be attending as well as a few select staff from the States.
Please pray for our time there. Our hope is that God would use this time to renew us spiritually and to call us back to the vision of building laborers for the lost world. I pray for mutual encouragement with the other staff and for a deeper fellowship with the other teams across the globe.
VBS
During the trip the boys will be treated to a "vacation Bible school" of sorts. A church from the States was nice enough to be making the trip to entertain and instruct the kids. Pray that Braden and Simon would make a lot of friends and learn more about why we do what we do.
Pray also for me as I co-lead a seminar on evangelism on Monday (I think). I'm so looking forward to hearing from the other teams and learning from one another.
Barbie at the Dowdys?
Amy and I are expecting our third child in September! The reality still hasn't sunk in yet. The talk among our friends here has been about whether it will be a boy or girl. Some of the guys from campus have been saying they hope it's a girl, that I need a little girl. They are going to buy her Barbie toys and everything. I told them though that Barbie would never make it with Simon around.
Your friends,
The Brazilian Dowdys
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
"Carnaval"
Monday and Tuesday were two of the most important days of the year here in Brazil - the famous celebration of "Carnaval", where Brazilian flock to the streets for incredible displays of dance and pageantry for hours on end. But at the heart of the music and parades is a tradition that started long ago with a belief that it could be a time to feast on all that our hearts desire. Until Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, when candles are lit and a fast begins. But for most now, it's only the biggest party of the year and a major preoccupation about where to spend it.
Here in Belo we are far from the ruckus of Carnaval. Most prefer to travel to Rio or Salvador and if not then the smaller country towns are preferred to Belo Horizonte. What's most sad to me about the festivity is not the drinking and partying but the heart it reflects towards "religion". Carnaval reveals the feeling most have - my relationship with God is lived out through religion where I fulfill my duties and repentance is a must to appease God. It shows a lack of faith that only God satisfies and that his satisfaction is more than just in word but real.
On Monday we gathered with around 20 friends for a cookout. We had a great time and I was thrilled to see the students who were there. Jimmy and Maggie's parents, here visiting their new grandchild Grant, also spent the day with us. I can say of the 20 or so who were here with us, they are a group living by faith to encounter a richer satisfaction. And amazingly all by God's grace. It's not a group of monks but people touched through others to see God's favor towards us in Christ. I hope you can read through the clichés to see I'm talking about a faith-driven real relationship with God as we seek to understand our place as adopted children and his unconditional love towards us.
Here in Belo we are far from the ruckus of Carnaval. Most prefer to travel to Rio or Salvador and if not then the smaller country towns are preferred to Belo Horizonte. What's most sad to me about the festivity is not the drinking and partying but the heart it reflects towards "religion". Carnaval reveals the feeling most have - my relationship with God is lived out through religion where I fulfill my duties and repentance is a must to appease God. It shows a lack of faith that only God satisfies and that his satisfaction is more than just in word but real.
On Monday we gathered with around 20 friends for a cookout. We had a great time and I was thrilled to see the students who were there. Jimmy and Maggie's parents, here visiting their new grandchild Grant, also spent the day with us. I can say of the 20 or so who were here with us, they are a group living by faith to encounter a richer satisfaction. And amazingly all by God's grace. It's not a group of monks but people touched through others to see God's favor towards us in Christ. I hope you can read through the clichés to see I'm talking about a faith-driven real relationship with God as we seek to understand our place as adopted children and his unconditional love towards us.
Monday, January 03, 2005
on fire
I guess you could say that Amy and I ended the year "on fire" and "with a bang". Saturday morning I woke up with a fever and have been out of commission for the past few days and earlier in the week the garage door closed on Amy's arm. She has had to wear a sling since. Not exactly the best conditions to prepare for a three-week retreat.
It was crazy the way it happened with Amy's arm. I had taken the boys out for a walk down the street to see a bulldozer that was doing some road work. On the way back Amy came out to meet us. For the past few days our garage door has been acting up, closing on its own. Amy opened it up wide so that if it closed while she waited on us she'd have time to squeezed her arm in and push the button that makes it stop (she thought). So sure enough, it started to close and Amy being the "bendy" person that she is somehow managed to turn run backwards to the door and put her right arm in over her head. So when the door shut it got her right at her elbow and hit a nerve. There was nothing I could do but get my keys out and open another small door built into the garage door to get in and open it back up. It left quite a mark.
Today we will be traveling to Saquarema (close to Rio de Janeiro) for three weeks along with our staff team and 60 students from the ministry here in Belo. Our theme for the trip is THE GREATEST TREASURE. Please pray that we could "see and savor Jesus" (as Piper wrote about) as our one true treasure.
One interesting fact is that the beach we are going to is like Brazil's major surfing point. That's pretty cool, but it means that we are going to have to be extra careful when swimming. The waves are super big and the water gets deeper real quick.
Amy and I are feeling very depleted going into the trip and the project can be tiring. Please pray that we could soon get back to health and that Amy and the boys wouldn't catch whatever I had.
I'm feeling better today, maybe 80%. Just not having fever makes a huge difference. Before my body was aching all over and now it's just my throat which I can live with (and hopefully drive with). Today we'll be driving for around 8 hours, but somehow we always take longer. I think I just don't drive as fast as the Brazilians. That's my plan this time as well. It will be fun to see the countryside. Brazil has some of the prettiest mountains along the coast. Brazil puts to rest that age old question, mountains or beach.
We will most likely be without email over the next three weeks, so when you think of writing that could be a good reminder to pray.
I hope you have a good start to 2005!
Jeff, Amy, Braden and Simon
It was crazy the way it happened with Amy's arm. I had taken the boys out for a walk down the street to see a bulldozer that was doing some road work. On the way back Amy came out to meet us. For the past few days our garage door has been acting up, closing on its own. Amy opened it up wide so that if it closed while she waited on us she'd have time to squeezed her arm in and push the button that makes it stop (she thought). So sure enough, it started to close and Amy being the "bendy" person that she is somehow managed to turn run backwards to the door and put her right arm in over her head. So when the door shut it got her right at her elbow and hit a nerve. There was nothing I could do but get my keys out and open another small door built into the garage door to get in and open it back up. It left quite a mark.
Today we will be traveling to Saquarema (close to Rio de Janeiro) for three weeks along with our staff team and 60 students from the ministry here in Belo. Our theme for the trip is THE GREATEST TREASURE. Please pray that we could "see and savor Jesus" (as Piper wrote about) as our one true treasure.
One interesting fact is that the beach we are going to is like Brazil's major surfing point. That's pretty cool, but it means that we are going to have to be extra careful when swimming. The waves are super big and the water gets deeper real quick.
Amy and I are feeling very depleted going into the trip and the project can be tiring. Please pray that we could soon get back to health and that Amy and the boys wouldn't catch whatever I had.
I'm feeling better today, maybe 80%. Just not having fever makes a huge difference. Before my body was aching all over and now it's just my throat which I can live with (and hopefully drive with). Today we'll be driving for around 8 hours, but somehow we always take longer. I think I just don't drive as fast as the Brazilians. That's my plan this time as well. It will be fun to see the countryside. Brazil has some of the prettiest mountains along the coast. Brazil puts to rest that age old question, mountains or beach.
We will most likely be without email over the next three weeks, so when you think of writing that could be a good reminder to pray.
I hope you have a good start to 2005!
Jeff, Amy, Braden and Simon
Saturday, November 27, 2004
thanksgiving brazilian-style
We celebrated Thanksgiving with our staff family yesterday. We had most of all the trimmings: turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, etc... We watched football. It was a two-week old game recorded on a VHS tape, but still football. Mostly it was just nice to be with one another and to share the day together.
Maybe a new tradition started yesterday. We played Tiger Woods Golf. I guess when you don't get on the course in years and years, Tiger Woods can seem just as good as the "real thing". We had a good time. The game even lets you design a player to look like yourself (yet hopefully that doesn't play like yourself in my case).
I guess if I ever overdid it in the States on Thanksgiving, I overdo it here and then some. When you eat beans and rice everyday, and you arrive in that kitchen and stare down that long line of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, spinach casserole, dressing, etc... It's hard to say no.
Also in almost everything, if I'm excited about something I want everyone else to be excited with me. That's just not possible with the Brazilian staff here. They enjoy it. They love to see everybody, but they just don't "feel" it. They had to develop a taste for the strange plates we put out and they don't understand that sitting around on the couch and watching football is part of the ritual. It's hard for them to get it.
I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was nice wherever you are.
Maybe a new tradition started yesterday. We played Tiger Woods Golf. I guess when you don't get on the course in years and years, Tiger Woods can seem just as good as the "real thing". We had a good time. The game even lets you design a player to look like yourself (yet hopefully that doesn't play like yourself in my case).
I guess if I ever overdid it in the States on Thanksgiving, I overdo it here and then some. When you eat beans and rice everyday, and you arrive in that kitchen and stare down that long line of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, spinach casserole, dressing, etc... It's hard to say no.
Also in almost everything, if I'm excited about something I want everyone else to be excited with me. That's just not possible with the Brazilian staff here. They enjoy it. They love to see everybody, but they just don't "feel" it. They had to develop a taste for the strange plates we put out and they don't understand that sitting around on the couch and watching football is part of the ritual. It's hard for them to get it.
I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was nice wherever you are.
little treasures
Tomorrow (Saturday) we are having a leaders' training with our students. We are using our upcoming 20-day retreat at the beach (http://www.saquarema.rj.gov.br/) as an opportunity to develop our students. We have 20 something leaders that will live with and lead other students during the project but we are calling them to see the need for leadership now.
Tomorrow as I give the training I'll be talking about all the little things that find their way into our heart and seem to push Jesus aside. Following the trail of our participation in events and whatnot to our expectations, we can usually unveil what idols lie hidden in our hearts.
Our prayer is that we can see Jesus as the treasure of our hearts and ourselves as jars of clay. And in seeing Jesus that we can be broken and then influence as true spiritual leaders.
Tomorrow as I give the training I'll be talking about all the little things that find their way into our heart and seem to push Jesus aside. Following the trail of our participation in events and whatnot to our expectations, we can usually unveil what idols lie hidden in our hearts.
Our prayer is that we can see Jesus as the treasure of our hearts and ourselves as jars of clay. And in seeing Jesus that we can be broken and then influence as true spiritual leaders.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
al e lemão
Alberto and I have been studying the gospel of John since I returned from the States. And just today I got a message from him thanking me for the time we’ve spent together and telling me that he prayed today. Just praying is a big step for Alberto considering his struggled a lot with God’s existence.
It’s been funny because Lemão and I have been studying John as well. We study the day before Alberto and I and our conversations have been so similar. Lemão has been investigating a relationship with Christ since 2003 and has been a great spark within our community. Recently he’s also been coming to the church. Pray that we could seek to know Christ together.
It’s been funny because Lemão and I have been studying John as well. We study the day before Alberto and I and our conversations have been so similar. Lemão has been investigating a relationship with Christ since 2003 and has been a great spark within our community. Recently he’s also been coming to the church. Pray that we could seek to know Christ together.
potty training
Today was Simon’s first day in underwear. We started his potty training today. So far only one accident. Whenever he has success he comes running through the office saying, canny hots (candy hearts). He gets two after each time going to the potty. So he may be toothless within a few months, but he’ll be trained.
Simon is talking a lot. Since our trip to the States he’s been growing like a weed. I’ve peeked in on him a few times at night while he’s sleeping and it’s just amazing how big he’s gotten. He’s so funny. He sleeps out of the covers sprawled out on his back with his legs spread out.
He has enjoyed sharing a room with Braden (we put them together when we got back). So much so that he spent the other night under Braden’s bed!
Simon is talking a lot. Since our trip to the States he’s been growing like a weed. I’ve peeked in on him a few times at night while he’s sleeping and it’s just amazing how big he’s gotten. He’s so funny. He sleeps out of the covers sprawled out on his back with his legs spread out.
He has enjoyed sharing a room with Braden (we put them together when we got back). So much so that he spent the other night under Braden’s bed!
os tesoureiros
This past weekend we had our kick-off leaders’ training retreat. Our hope is to not only prepare the leaders for our 20-day beach project in January, but also to encourage them in their leadership within their families, our church and our campus community.
Two guys that I’m disciping are participating this year in the training. Rafael and Wandson. I met Rafael in June of 2003 and earlier this year we started studying the Bibleand praying together. This is going to be a big project for Rafael as he’ll get his first experience of helping others grow in their relationship with God.
Wandson and I have been meeting together since 2000. Wandson lived abroad this past year in Paris doing an internship with electrical engineering and just returned. One of the most interesting things about Wandson is that he lives with us. Pray that this experience could help these guys grow closer to Christ and gain a vision for helping others.
Two guys that I’m disciping are participating this year in the training. Rafael and Wandson. I met Rafael in June of 2003 and earlier this year we started studying the Bibleand praying together. This is going to be a big project for Rafael as he’ll get his first experience of helping others grow in their relationship with God.
Wandson and I have been meeting together since 2000. Wandson lived abroad this past year in Paris doing an internship with electrical engineering and just returned. One of the most interesting things about Wandson is that he lives with us. Pray that this experience could help these guys grow closer to Christ and gain a vision for helping others.
portuguese music
For the past several weeks I’ve been recording our night services at church. I know that few of you would be interested in the sermons… 45 minutes of Portuguese, but I think you’ll enjoy the music. At the site you can download the songs in an mp3 format. Here’s the address:
IPS
IPS
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