Happy New Year!

I somewhat ashamed to say that our whole family slept through all the festivities last night. Just a few blocks from our house is a country club like place that throws a huge party each year with fireworks for New Years and we didn't hear any of it. But even still we do want to wish each of you a happy new year!

We leave for beach project on Tuesday morning, bright and early. So today and tomorrow will be mostly dedicated to packing. We'll try and post again before we leave with prayer requests.

Christmas time

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I've got some pictures of our family and a party we did with our community online for anyone that wants to see...

Christmas pics

We leave in less than a week for the project. I will try to send updates when I can from the beach. We will surely need your prayers during this time not only for the 9-hour drive but for our time there especially. Pray that God would use the training and fellowship to speak to us about the transformation he desires in our lives. And that as we talk about transformation that we would remember that he is the goal and not our own personal change.

leaders training

Yesterday we met for the first time with the student leaders for the upcoming beach project. During the training we discussed two main points: our desire for transformation and our willingness to encourage others towards transformation. We will meet again for the first few days leading into the project. Pray that as a group they can join together with this purpose of being and encouraging transformation. And pray that we as a staff team can help them think practically about how to pursue it.

Christmas party

Friday night we had a Christmas party at our house for all the students and graduates involved in our community. It was a fun time to see everyone, and for the students to relax a little now that their finals are over. We had a great dinner... 3 french hens! Braden and Simon made extra sure that we picked the right gifts during the gift swap. They saw a few of them while the students were wrapping them and knew which ones had the chocolate!

back update

This past Friday I went to the hospital and received a bloqueio peridural (which is kind of like an epidural) to alleviate the pain. I talked with my dad and he said when he had something like this done it took about a week to really feel the effects. At first I was feeling pretty good but I may have overdone it because today I'm pretty sore. We had a training for the leaders yesterday and I just didn't get the needed amount of time flat on my back. Please be in prayer for a full recovery before beach project and that we can finalize the remaining plans. We hope to leave on the 2nd of January.

3 months old

On the 10th Lucy turned 3 months old! She was pretty tickled about the whole thing. Some of Lucy's favorite songs are Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Simon's likes to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep (Simon's version is Blah Blah Black Sheep... I think it sounds better too). Parabêns Lucy!

down again

Just a quick note to say that I found out this week that I have a herniated disk in my lower back. The doctor has asked me to stay flat all weekend and to take some medicine then we'll check next week to see if there's been any improvement. If not he said we may have to operate. As many of you know with our beach project quickly approaching this isn't the ideal time. Pray not only for my back but that I could be aware of how God is at work through this.

rained in

Yes, those are 7 boys in one room. Barely an inch in screen size for each boy. 7 boys ranging from 2 to 8!

We got rained in on Thanksgiving so we had to break out the videos. But the boys survived... we only had a few instances of sword fighting (Simon's favorite) and spilt drinks.

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was an adventure in "family" for us. We invited over all our team that is in Belo right now (a few are in the States). Totalling up everyone in attendance, we had about 20 adults and 14 kids (I lost count). Add in 5 or so caseroles and it was a happy and intimate time.

Kayla and Lucy were some of the few who stole a few moments for a nap, although I think I saw a few more eyes close while "the game" was on. We have no football to watch so we settled for a college basketball game that came on a few nights ago - Texas Tech vs. Syracuse. Syracuse was winning by 30 when we turned off the tape.

the brazilians

Just wanted to give you a little taste of what's going on with the two Brazilian brothers I work with here... Fernando and his wife Larissa recently spent some time in the States raising financial support and visiting friends. Here's what he had to say to the people he met:

Thank you for loving us and for your time and willingness to engage at a heart level. Thank you so much for your commitment to a life driven by faith and by the truth of the Gospel which allows us to indeed be a part of God’s kingdom, what a privilege! Thank you for fostering Kingdom dreams in our hearts.

Some of you cannot imagine the impact that you have had in our walk with Christ — just allowing us to see Christ in your hearts, as we prayed, cried, got on our knees, held hands, trusted God, saw the impossible become a reality, and listened: I am with you … doesn’t that sound like: “and behold, I am with you to the end of the ages”. This great challenge has given us a great opportunity to see in a clear way God’s commitment to the work he has called us! PRAISE HIM!!!

In Him, for Him and through Him, Fernando and Larissa Rodrigues

And Chico, whom as you know I've worked with for the past 3 years or so, recently celebrated his 27th birthday. Chico shared his thoughts on turning 27 and some pictures from his party. ...which was amazing. I sat there and which man after man enter the room that has been impacted by Chico's life. Imagine celebrating your birthday with a room full of about 20 men who've grown because of the light they see in you. Read about it and see the pictures here.