Sorry it has been so long since we lasted updated all of you on our status here in Brazil. December passed by quickly with all the activities associated with Christmas and New Year's.
To start off the kids got out of school for the summer in December. My job has been to work with the boys ages six on up with the farm cleanup. The farm has been overgrown with weeds and there was a lot of wood behind the barn that has needed to be chopped up for firewood. I have been working with Kevin, Sam and Steve (two short-term missionaries) and the boys to get all the wood chopped and cleaned up. We have also been rearranging and organizing the barn. It is a big job because this hasn't been done for five years. It has been hard to try to get the boys working. Many times they have sin issues with their attitude towards work. Unfortunately, when some of the boys are already 15 years old, there isn't much time to address the issue before they are outside of CLM and having to work in the to support themselves.
Katie has been taking care of Joseph which is a full time job in itself. When she has free time she tries to watch the three youngest kids in the mornings. Sometimes she will help with art lessons, or let some of the girls help her out with things around our house. Caring for Joseph is a full time job that has its challenges and rewards. Joseph isn't an easy and content baby, he is fussy and particular wants only mommy all the time. God has been using Joseph to continue to refine Katie and I.
The Christmas season came and left in a hurry. We ended up celebrating Christmas parties with the missionaries, the CLM kids, and then the Judge held a Christmas party for the kids. This all lead up to Christmas Day when the kids received gifts from the Nazarene Church in Sao Paulo. That day the missionaries cooked the meal and the kids swam all afternoon. Then New Year's Eve, Katie, Joseph, and I drove to Curitiba to pick up my parents.
My Parents were happy to see us at the airport. Joseph wasn't happy at first but now he is warming up to them. This past week we have been showing my parents around CLM, the colonies and Guarapuava.
January 5th, we left for Foz do Iguassu. The trip was going well until the car broke down outside of Causcavel. We waited at a truck stop for two hours until a tow truck came for the car, and another two hours until we were on our way for Foz do Iguassu by taxi. By God's grace our car broke down at a gas station, within 4 miles of a city that had a Peugeot dealership. We arrived at our hotel around six at night. We were exhausted but relieved to be at our destination.
The next day we awoke to find that Joseph was teething and I was sick with a fever. By God's grace our hotel did guided tours of the waterfalls so my parents were able to visit the Argentinian side of the waterfalls while Katie, Joseph and I stayed at the hotel. That night my fever broke so Friday we were able to visit the Brazilian side of the waterfalls with Joseph and my parents as well as the Itaipu dam. Our car was ready to pick up Saturday and we made it home safely Saturday afternoon.
Right now we are going through a tough time in our term. We had so many expectations about being here that didn't match reality. This has been very hard on both Katie and I. We don't know when we are coming back home for furlough but honestly we are ready to quit. It is only by relying on God's grace that we make it through each day. So please be praying with us as we are trying to seek God's will and follow him.
This struggle is also part of the reason why we haven't written since November. It is hard to write when I have been struggling with bitterness and frustration. I am sorry I am not one of the perfect missionaries that have “arrived and have it together”. I don't have it together, I am still a sinner and need to rely on our savior's grace. I have been failing as a spiritual leader to my family. I have been so busy with activities related to the ministry that I have been neglecting my intimate time with God and my spouse. I am tired and weary. Going to Church is a chore and a drudgery when I have to sit through an hour of worship songs not understanding what I am singing about, then maybe understanding the first 4 minutes of the sermon before my mind can't follow along because of the language.
I am trying to wait until December to take our furlough but I am tired and ready to quit now. I could write another four pages of my struggles here but it isn't beneficial to any one. Please be praying for us. We appreciate your prayer support during this time.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November Update
It's hard to imagine all of you digging out your coats and sweaters, bumping up the thermostat and preparing for thanksgiving as the leaves turn and the frost coats the ground. Here at CLM, the kids have started swimming on the weekends and looking forward to summer vacation which is just around the corner. Even though we are enjoying the balmy 80 degree days here, Andy and I miss the fall weather and especially thanksgiving which is our favorite holiday. Andy has convinced me to make him a pumpkin pie with whipped topping when the third Thursday of November arrives.
October was a rough month for us. Andy and I have been struggling with the adjustment to life and work at CLM, but we expected that our first month here would be difficult. For Andy, the biggest struggle has been embracing a new definition of work. He has been used to putting in his eight hours with a very defined goal and objectives to accomplish each day. CLM is all about a lifestyle of relationships and discipleship which is hard to measure. My struggle has been more with feeling isolated and alone. Andy hasn't had the chance to teach me how to drive yet, so I'm dependent on others to take me everywhere. The colony is close enough to walk to, but not close enough to walk to with Joseph. Joseph also makes it hard for me to be too involved in CLM at this point so some days I feel like I spend most of the day alone with him. We also realize that Satan is doing all he can to discourage us and so it is important to put on the whole armor of God, everyday, so we can stand against his schemes.
Last week we accompanied Emma to Sao Paulo on her way home and also made a trip to the U.S. Consulate there to register Joseph as a U.S. citizen. I wish I could say that it was a relaxing few days away, but as all you fellow mothers can probably attest to, traveling with an infant isn't always very relaxing!
For those of you who are wondering how the trip went, it involved no less than 5 diaper blowouts (two on the bus, one on the plane and everywhere in between), lots of waiting in the Sao Paulo airport, some very late nights (er, early mornings), and culminated in an ambulance ride with as supposedly “sick” Joseph who woke up smiling and laughing in the waiting room at the hospital, obviously recovered from his serious illness, but only after we missed our flight home! Nevertheless, we did make it back to CLM and are happy to be back into our routine.
We will miss Emma's help, I got used to here coming in for breakfast every morning and being able to sneak out for a walk on my own. She enjoyed her experience with us here (at least that's what she tells us...) and would like to come back for a visit (eventually). Andy's parents will be our next visitors at the end of December, which isn't too far off.
Here are some prayer requests for this month:
-Andy: Adjustment to the different lifestyle at CLM, contentment in all circumstances. Continued language learning and cultural adjustment.
-Katie: Wisdom in teaching Joseph in all the “little moments” I have with him, wisdom in encouraging Andy and that the Lord will continue to show me the idols I worship in place of Him.
-Joseph: Protection and safety.
Thank your for your prayers and happy Thanksgiving!
October was a rough month for us. Andy and I have been struggling with the adjustment to life and work at CLM, but we expected that our first month here would be difficult. For Andy, the biggest struggle has been embracing a new definition of work. He has been used to putting in his eight hours with a very defined goal and objectives to accomplish each day. CLM is all about a lifestyle of relationships and discipleship which is hard to measure. My struggle has been more with feeling isolated and alone. Andy hasn't had the chance to teach me how to drive yet, so I'm dependent on others to take me everywhere. The colony is close enough to walk to, but not close enough to walk to with Joseph. Joseph also makes it hard for me to be too involved in CLM at this point so some days I feel like I spend most of the day alone with him. We also realize that Satan is doing all he can to discourage us and so it is important to put on the whole armor of God, everyday, so we can stand against his schemes.
Last week we accompanied Emma to Sao Paulo on her way home and also made a trip to the U.S. Consulate there to register Joseph as a U.S. citizen. I wish I could say that it was a relaxing few days away, but as all you fellow mothers can probably attest to, traveling with an infant isn't always very relaxing!
For those of you who are wondering how the trip went, it involved no less than 5 diaper blowouts (two on the bus, one on the plane and everywhere in between), lots of waiting in the Sao Paulo airport, some very late nights (er, early mornings), and culminated in an ambulance ride with as supposedly “sick” Joseph who woke up smiling and laughing in the waiting room at the hospital, obviously recovered from his serious illness, but only after we missed our flight home! Nevertheless, we did make it back to CLM and are happy to be back into our routine.
We will miss Emma's help, I got used to here coming in for breakfast every morning and being able to sneak out for a walk on my own. She enjoyed her experience with us here (at least that's what she tells us...) and would like to come back for a visit (eventually). Andy's parents will be our next visitors at the end of December, which isn't too far off.
Here are some prayer requests for this month:
-Andy: Adjustment to the different lifestyle at CLM, contentment in all circumstances. Continued language learning and cultural adjustment.
-Katie: Wisdom in teaching Joseph in all the “little moments” I have with him, wisdom in encouraging Andy and that the Lord will continue to show me the idols I worship in place of Him.
-Joseph: Protection and safety.
Thank your for your prayers and happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
October update
Well, it has been a while since we last wrote. Here is an update of what has happened in the last month. We moved out of our apartment in Guarapuava to CLM Entre Rios. We are on our second week of officially starting our ministry here. Here are some details of what life has been like for this last month.
Before moving into our house at CLM we had to do a little work. We had a dream list of what would be nice to do before moving into the house and before we started our ministry. The list included taking out a cement wall and a wood stove, laying tile, making a baseboard, changing out some light fixtures, painting, installing a sink, installing washing machine hookups, and putting up a new ceiling. Unfortunately, this is Brazil. We only had five days to work on our house before moving in because it was still occupied. I focused on tearing down the wall, and laying the tile. The first day I tore down the wall and took out the sink that was rotting and moved out the wood stove. It was a great day for progress and I was feeling confident. The second day went even better. Mike and I laid a room full of tile and I went home feeling less stressed over the work that we had to do. Unfortunately, as we were working, some of the kids were in the room walking on the tiles while they were setting up. The next day I found 30 tiles that needed to be replaced. So I finished cutting the outer tiles to lay that day while I pondered what to do. The 4th day I replaced all those tiles with Emma's help and laid the outer tiles that I had cut the day before. The fifth Mike and I installed the sink and the washing machine hookup and Emma grouted half of the floor. Then the next day we moved in.
The following week I had to paint the apartment in the city that we lived in because it was in the contract. So I spent two days painting it and then cleaning it. When we went to turn in the keys I found out the color I chose was a shade off (apparently I can't tell the difference between “pale” and “white” without Katie's help). We could either paint it again or pay them to paint it. Also the realtor automatically charges to have the apartment cleaned after us. We would have been better off not doing any thing and paid the fees then spending two long days of my time painting and cleaning, not to mention the cost of paint ($100). Katie and I started laughing the crazy “I think I'm going insane” type of laugh because we didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Then I looked at her and said, “TIB” (this is Brazil.)
I then replaced the light fixtures and Katie and Emma finished grouting the floor. After that we were burnt out and haven't done anything to the house. I don't know what I want to do next for the house, plus it is hard to find time in this type of ministry. I think I will wait until January when my parents come down and put them to work. The important thing is it isn't raining in the house...and the door locks. I guess I can't complain too much of the housing conditions here, some of the other missionaries that we met in Colorado in training were going to countries that were unfriendly to Christians or where they had to rough it in mosquito nets to protect them from malaria. Our biggest danger is being burnt in the sun, surviving car trips with dangerous traffic, or wondering if the kid sitting next to us washed their hands after going to the bathroom while we are all holding hands praying over lunch. Back to the house, it does get cold at night inside.
On October 4th I started a full time schedule here. I don't have many responsibilities yet with the farm but I am learning what goes on during the day with child care. One thing that I am trying to do is organize work for the boys to do in the afternoon. That is one area that has been lacking here because of lack missionaries. The boys we have here don't have a strong work ethic, and because of their grades, the chances of them going to college are slim. If they are to do well outside of CLM we need to teach them how to work, but also there is a wealth of opportunities with the farm to teach them skills that they wouldn't learn otherwise. Plus through working along side with the boys relationships develop and that is when discipleship happens.
One thing I am learning real quickly is the kids have issues with authority. I asked one of the kids to clean their room last week. He said no. He is 15 years old and doesn't like to listen to authority and it caught me by surprise. I didn't know what to do because he understood my Portuguese to clean his room, but he didn't want to. I thought maybe he needs to cool off a little so I picked him up to give him a swirly in their bathroom. Unfortunately because I couldn't hold him and pull the rope at the same time, and I didn't want to bang his head up against the porcelain I first flushed his foot, then his hand, then when it came time for his head, he had changed and became willing to clean his room. Even though I had won and he cleaned his room, I didn't address the heart issue. Monday when I went to ask them to clean their room, I spent a half an hour writing out in portuguese what to say to lead them to seeing what was in their hearts and why they have issues with authority. Unfortunately they cleaned their rooms without putting up a stink and had a good attitude about it. So I think I will keep that speech ready for another time when they won't obey authority.
Our friends from Tremont came in September. Some of you know Kevin, Elaine, Amanda, and Darren King. We are excited to see them here. It is funny that Entre Rios has the highest Tremont ratio outside of the United States.
Spiritually I am going through a refining time. I would be lying if I said that all is well here and I am adjusting well. I am struggling because I enjoyed driving equipment day to day for a job and what is familiar. We miss our families and friends. I miss going to church and understanding what is being said. Day to day I go through to enjoying being here to ready to leave. It is good having Kevin here because he has gone through this cultural adjusting process at Nepo. He has been reminding me to see things in God's perspective and been encouraging me through God's truth. Plus he is threating to break my legs if we threaten to leave. This is going to be one of the hardest things that we will do but at the same time God is refining us through it and drawing us closer to him. Please keep us in your prayers as the idols of my heart are being stripped away.
Well that is all I have for now. My son just pooped so I am going to give him a bath. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.
Trusting in Christ
Andy for Katie and Joseph
Before moving into our house at CLM we had to do a little work. We had a dream list of what would be nice to do before moving into the house and before we started our ministry. The list included taking out a cement wall and a wood stove, laying tile, making a baseboard, changing out some light fixtures, painting, installing a sink, installing washing machine hookups, and putting up a new ceiling. Unfortunately, this is Brazil. We only had five days to work on our house before moving in because it was still occupied. I focused on tearing down the wall, and laying the tile. The first day I tore down the wall and took out the sink that was rotting and moved out the wood stove. It was a great day for progress and I was feeling confident. The second day went even better. Mike and I laid a room full of tile and I went home feeling less stressed over the work that we had to do. Unfortunately, as we were working, some of the kids were in the room walking on the tiles while they were setting up. The next day I found 30 tiles that needed to be replaced. So I finished cutting the outer tiles to lay that day while I pondered what to do. The 4th day I replaced all those tiles with Emma's help and laid the outer tiles that I had cut the day before. The fifth Mike and I installed the sink and the washing machine hookup and Emma grouted half of the floor. Then the next day we moved in.
The following week I had to paint the apartment in the city that we lived in because it was in the contract. So I spent two days painting it and then cleaning it. When we went to turn in the keys I found out the color I chose was a shade off (apparently I can't tell the difference between “pale” and “white” without Katie's help). We could either paint it again or pay them to paint it. Also the realtor automatically charges to have the apartment cleaned after us. We would have been better off not doing any thing and paid the fees then spending two long days of my time painting and cleaning, not to mention the cost of paint ($100). Katie and I started laughing the crazy “I think I'm going insane” type of laugh because we didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Then I looked at her and said, “TIB” (this is Brazil.)
I then replaced the light fixtures and Katie and Emma finished grouting the floor. After that we were burnt out and haven't done anything to the house. I don't know what I want to do next for the house, plus it is hard to find time in this type of ministry. I think I will wait until January when my parents come down and put them to work. The important thing is it isn't raining in the house...and the door locks. I guess I can't complain too much of the housing conditions here, some of the other missionaries that we met in Colorado in training were going to countries that were unfriendly to Christians or where they had to rough it in mosquito nets to protect them from malaria. Our biggest danger is being burnt in the sun, surviving car trips with dangerous traffic, or wondering if the kid sitting next to us washed their hands after going to the bathroom while we are all holding hands praying over lunch. Back to the house, it does get cold at night inside.
On October 4th I started a full time schedule here. I don't have many responsibilities yet with the farm but I am learning what goes on during the day with child care. One thing that I am trying to do is organize work for the boys to do in the afternoon. That is one area that has been lacking here because of lack missionaries. The boys we have here don't have a strong work ethic, and because of their grades, the chances of them going to college are slim. If they are to do well outside of CLM we need to teach them how to work, but also there is a wealth of opportunities with the farm to teach them skills that they wouldn't learn otherwise. Plus through working along side with the boys relationships develop and that is when discipleship happens.
One thing I am learning real quickly is the kids have issues with authority. I asked one of the kids to clean their room last week. He said no. He is 15 years old and doesn't like to listen to authority and it caught me by surprise. I didn't know what to do because he understood my Portuguese to clean his room, but he didn't want to. I thought maybe he needs to cool off a little so I picked him up to give him a swirly in their bathroom. Unfortunately because I couldn't hold him and pull the rope at the same time, and I didn't want to bang his head up against the porcelain I first flushed his foot, then his hand, then when it came time for his head, he had changed and became willing to clean his room. Even though I had won and he cleaned his room, I didn't address the heart issue. Monday when I went to ask them to clean their room, I spent a half an hour writing out in portuguese what to say to lead them to seeing what was in their hearts and why they have issues with authority. Unfortunately they cleaned their rooms without putting up a stink and had a good attitude about it. So I think I will keep that speech ready for another time when they won't obey authority.
Our friends from Tremont came in September. Some of you know Kevin, Elaine, Amanda, and Darren King. We are excited to see them here. It is funny that Entre Rios has the highest Tremont ratio outside of the United States.
Spiritually I am going through a refining time. I would be lying if I said that all is well here and I am adjusting well. I am struggling because I enjoyed driving equipment day to day for a job and what is familiar. We miss our families and friends. I miss going to church and understanding what is being said. Day to day I go through to enjoying being here to ready to leave. It is good having Kevin here because he has gone through this cultural adjusting process at Nepo. He has been reminding me to see things in God's perspective and been encouraging me through God's truth. Plus he is threating to break my legs if we threaten to leave. This is going to be one of the hardest things that we will do but at the same time God is refining us through it and drawing us closer to him. Please keep us in your prayers as the idols of my heart are being stripped away.
Well that is all I have for now. My son just pooped so I am going to give him a bath. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.
Trusting in Christ
Andy for Katie and Joseph
Saturday, September 18, 2010
september update
Dear Friends and Family,
Somehow having a two-month old makes emailing a little more of a challenge. Little Joseph is down for a nap right now, so I'll give it my best shot. (Never mind, he just started screaming but fortunately Aunt Emma is here to help!).
My mom and sister arrived for a visit in mid-August. We decided to make the venture to Curitiba to pick them up at the airport. Flavio and Odilene generously offered us their car for the trip so we wouldn't have to take the bus. Things were going well until we got just outside of Curitiba and missed our exit (the signage isn't quite up to par with the U.S. interstate system). All of sudden we were in downtown Curitiba, Joseph screaming to nurse and filling his diaper and Andy praying loudly, “Lord, I don't know where to go, please help us get to the airport.”
Somehow (most likely by God's grace), between two people giving us directions we made it two the airport and hour late. We began looking around for Mom and Emma but didn't see them. I was just about to text my Dad to make sure they had made it on the plane when we finally saw them arrive. Turns out that Mom and Emma had missed their flight to Curitiba because of weather delays and had to take a flight an hour later. God is good, all of us made it to the airport right on time!
Mom stayed with us for three weeks and Emma will be here with us until early November. My mom loved the time she had with Joseph and getting to know Guarapuava. Emma has already been making lots of friends and getting to know Brazilian culture. We have really appreciated their help.
Andy finished up with his formal language lessons in early August and has been going to CLM by bus to help out during the week. On Saturday afternoon, he was going home on the bus when a passenger got off the bus at a stop, went to cross the street in front of the bus and was hit by a car passing the stopped bus. The man was killed on impact.
The incident was a profound experience for Andy, he had never seen anyone die before. One minute the man was a passenger on Andy's bus and the next the man was in eternity. The incident was especially poignant because Andy has been struggling with the sins of worry and fear regarding the difficulties of the work at CLM. He shared with me that it was a powerful reminder why Jesus commands us not to worry. God has only given us today.
Well, Joseph is still screaming so I had better go see if I can comfort him. Thank you for your prayers and support, we love and miss you all.
In Christ,
Katie (for Andy and Joseph)
Somehow having a two-month old makes emailing a little more of a challenge. Little Joseph is down for a nap right now, so I'll give it my best shot. (Never mind, he just started screaming but fortunately Aunt Emma is here to help!).
My mom and sister arrived for a visit in mid-August. We decided to make the venture to Curitiba to pick them up at the airport. Flavio and Odilene generously offered us their car for the trip so we wouldn't have to take the bus. Things were going well until we got just outside of Curitiba and missed our exit (the signage isn't quite up to par with the U.S. interstate system). All of sudden we were in downtown Curitiba, Joseph screaming to nurse and filling his diaper and Andy praying loudly, “Lord, I don't know where to go, please help us get to the airport.”
Somehow (most likely by God's grace), between two people giving us directions we made it two the airport and hour late. We began looking around for Mom and Emma but didn't see them. I was just about to text my Dad to make sure they had made it on the plane when we finally saw them arrive. Turns out that Mom and Emma had missed their flight to Curitiba because of weather delays and had to take a flight an hour later. God is good, all of us made it to the airport right on time!
Mom stayed with us for three weeks and Emma will be here with us until early November. My mom loved the time she had with Joseph and getting to know Guarapuava. Emma has already been making lots of friends and getting to know Brazilian culture. We have really appreciated their help.
Andy finished up with his formal language lessons in early August and has been going to CLM by bus to help out during the week. On Saturday afternoon, he was going home on the bus when a passenger got off the bus at a stop, went to cross the street in front of the bus and was hit by a car passing the stopped bus. The man was killed on impact.
The incident was a profound experience for Andy, he had never seen anyone die before. One minute the man was a passenger on Andy's bus and the next the man was in eternity. The incident was especially poignant because Andy has been struggling with the sins of worry and fear regarding the difficulties of the work at CLM. He shared with me that it was a powerful reminder why Jesus commands us not to worry. God has only given us today.
Well, Joseph is still screaming so I had better go see if I can comfort him. Thank you for your prayers and support, we love and miss you all.
In Christ,
Katie (for Andy and Joseph)
Friday, July 30, 2010
July 2010
Dear Supporters,
Sorry it has been a while since I last wrote. To get you up to speed on June 21st Joseph Andrew Roth was born. He arrived at around 5 pounds 14 ounces and measured around 181/2 inches. Since then he has gained about 3 pounds as of his last doctor appointment. We are still getting adjusted to him, the lack of whole sleep, and the crying. We know this will pass as he gets older.
Joseph is very healthy. He likes to stare at lights for entertainment. He has already started smiling at Katie but he is very reluctant to smile at me. We look forward to raising him and discipling him to know Christ, that is if we can maintain our sanity during this early stage. Christ is using Joseph to refine us.
Katie has finished her language studies at Wizard. She is very proficient at Portuguese. She was able to start at level 2 when we started and then was able to finish four days before Joseph came. God's timing is good. I still am working my way through level three. It is a constant struggle as it is very difficult for me to learn another language. Please keep me in your prayers in this area. Lord willing I will finish in two weeks which would be the first part of August. Then I will start taking the bus to CLM to start working on building up relationships with the kids. We will move there the weekend of August 21st.
We still don't know which house at CLM we will move into. There is a little bit of a crunch with the housing. We have to move out by August 25th, there is a house available but Kevin and Elaine could be coming down in that time frame, we don't know yet. Juan and Bethany are behind schedule on their house construction so they might not move out until the beginning of September. Worst case scenario we move to one place for three weeks or so then move to another. Moving is something that we have gotten use to.
Well recently Christ has been pricking our hearts in different ways. In Katie's life he has been show her how much she is enslaved to the fear of man. She is learning how that is an idol in her heart instead of trying to please God to glorify him. She is learning that instead of using people to get praise, she needs to love them and speak up about God's truth.
In my life, I have been struggling with learning the language. Some days after class I am very discouraged and want to quit. I am continually reminded that Christ called us here first an foremost to refine us more in his image. Regardless what I want I need to constantly remind myself that we are not met to go after the idols in our hearts, but to go after Christ's will for our lives. As I read God's word I am reminded the depravity of my sinful life and how much I am still in need of a savior.
We are thankful for this time in the city to get use to the culture, the language, and also being parents. We are excited to start ministering at CLM and building up relationships with the kids at the same time we are sad to move away from the friends we have made in Guarapuava. We are also anticipating Kathy and Emma (Katie's mom and sister) coming and meeting Joseph and helping take care of him during the transition. They arrive the 16th of August. Thank you for praying for us and supporting us in serving the Lord here in Brazil.
Trusting in Christ,
Andy Katie and Joseph
Sorry it has been a while since I last wrote. To get you up to speed on June 21st Joseph Andrew Roth was born. He arrived at around 5 pounds 14 ounces and measured around 181/2 inches. Since then he has gained about 3 pounds as of his last doctor appointment. We are still getting adjusted to him, the lack of whole sleep, and the crying. We know this will pass as he gets older.
Joseph is very healthy. He likes to stare at lights for entertainment. He has already started smiling at Katie but he is very reluctant to smile at me. We look forward to raising him and discipling him to know Christ, that is if we can maintain our sanity during this early stage. Christ is using Joseph to refine us.
Katie has finished her language studies at Wizard. She is very proficient at Portuguese. She was able to start at level 2 when we started and then was able to finish four days before Joseph came. God's timing is good. I still am working my way through level three. It is a constant struggle as it is very difficult for me to learn another language. Please keep me in your prayers in this area. Lord willing I will finish in two weeks which would be the first part of August. Then I will start taking the bus to CLM to start working on building up relationships with the kids. We will move there the weekend of August 21st.
We still don't know which house at CLM we will move into. There is a little bit of a crunch with the housing. We have to move out by August 25th, there is a house available but Kevin and Elaine could be coming down in that time frame, we don't know yet. Juan and Bethany are behind schedule on their house construction so they might not move out until the beginning of September. Worst case scenario we move to one place for three weeks or so then move to another. Moving is something that we have gotten use to.
Well recently Christ has been pricking our hearts in different ways. In Katie's life he has been show her how much she is enslaved to the fear of man. She is learning how that is an idol in her heart instead of trying to please God to glorify him. She is learning that instead of using people to get praise, she needs to love them and speak up about God's truth.
In my life, I have been struggling with learning the language. Some days after class I am very discouraged and want to quit. I am continually reminded that Christ called us here first an foremost to refine us more in his image. Regardless what I want I need to constantly remind myself that we are not met to go after the idols in our hearts, but to go after Christ's will for our lives. As I read God's word I am reminded the depravity of my sinful life and how much I am still in need of a savior.
We are thankful for this time in the city to get use to the culture, the language, and also being parents. We are excited to start ministering at CLM and building up relationships with the kids at the same time we are sad to move away from the friends we have made in Guarapuava. We are also anticipating Kathy and Emma (Katie's mom and sister) coming and meeting Joseph and helping take care of him during the transition. They arrive the 16th of August. Thank you for praying for us and supporting us in serving the Lord here in Brazil.
Trusting in Christ,
Andy Katie and Joseph
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 28, 2010
May 28, 2010
We can hardly believe it is almost June of 2010. Our time in Guarapuava is half-way finished and Baby will arrive in the next 2-4 weeks. Yesterday we finished getting Baby's things organized and put away so we're ready (although I don't think we'll ever be completely “ready” for how this little one will change our family!)
We have been humbled by the support and encouragement we've received from the Methodist church in Guarapuava as we anticipate the arrival of our baby. A few weeks ago, our Bible Study group surprised us with a baby shower. It was a humbling and joyful surprise and we I received many of the last-minute items I was needing.
As we've continued to build friendships here, we are reminded of how materially blessed we are in the United States. I'll share some examples of how being in Brazil has revealed how Andy and I take our things for granted.
We have been planning to buy a car since we arrived here but because of a higher cost of living in Guarapuava, we have decided to delay that purchase until we move to CLM. When we first realized that we would have to wait for a car, both Andy and I were feeling deprived and frustrated. Andy shared his frustration with a Brazilian friend and his friend sympathetically told him that it must be hard for Andy to got through this because when Andy wanted something like a car in the U.S., he could just work a little harder and save for a few months, and viola, he could have what he wanted. After the conversation Andy said it hit him that he must sound like a spoiled brat complaining about not having a car when many people in Brazil never own one. While we still see a need for a car when we are at CLM, not having one for now has made us more aware of idols of our hearts that we have set up.
In addition to the whole car situation, we forget how financially blessed we are as well. Even though we don't have a large budget by U.S. standards, we are still receiving more per month than many Brazilians couples earn from two full-time salaries. We don't have to choose between paying for my doctor appointment and buying any necessary clothing, we can do both. In fact, we take for granted doing both. One of our friends shared how she accidently broke her daughter's glasses but how she couldn't afford to replace them until the next month. We don't get any sense of complaining from our friends, they share these things as a matter-of-fact.
Yesterday again, both Andy and I were aware of our “pride of possessions” as we spent the afternoon with a Brazilian family who are friends of ours. When discussing jobs, Andy asked the husband what his dream job was. The husband responded, “Just something with regular hours and when I can have the weekend off.” Right now this man works at a gas station full time for about $3 and hour U.S. while trying to complete his degree in mathematics. Andy was humbled by his response because since we have been in Brazil, Andy has been struggling with missing his job, dreaming about what jobs he could do sometime again in the future. He admitted that for him a regular job is an idol he thinks will make him happy.
I was humbled as well yesterday when one of the ladies from church took me aside and gave me some encouraging words and then proceeded to give me R$50 and tell me that she wanted to support us this way each month. Proportionally, that is a lot of money for a Brazilian, and I was humbled by this gesture. I tried to tell her it wasn't necessary but she told me not refuse her the blessing of giving. Lord, teach us!
We share these things with you not to beat up on the U.S. culture or elevate Brazilian culture or condemn the owning of nice things, but to share how our time few months away have made us aware of what we do have materially in the U.S. and how we are learning to, as Paul puts it, “to be content in every situation.” God is using this time to show us what we are truly worshipping, and so far it hasn't been pretty!
Please continue to pray that God will teach us to be content in all situations, and that He will teach us to “keep ourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Praise God that He is using our time in Guarapuava to conform us into the image of His precious Son and our Savior Jesus Christ!
Love in Jesus,
Katie
We can hardly believe it is almost June of 2010. Our time in Guarapuava is half-way finished and Baby will arrive in the next 2-4 weeks. Yesterday we finished getting Baby's things organized and put away so we're ready (although I don't think we'll ever be completely “ready” for how this little one will change our family!)
We have been humbled by the support and encouragement we've received from the Methodist church in Guarapuava as we anticipate the arrival of our baby. A few weeks ago, our Bible Study group surprised us with a baby shower. It was a humbling and joyful surprise and we I received many of the last-minute items I was needing.
As we've continued to build friendships here, we are reminded of how materially blessed we are in the United States. I'll share some examples of how being in Brazil has revealed how Andy and I take our things for granted.
We have been planning to buy a car since we arrived here but because of a higher cost of living in Guarapuava, we have decided to delay that purchase until we move to CLM. When we first realized that we would have to wait for a car, both Andy and I were feeling deprived and frustrated. Andy shared his frustration with a Brazilian friend and his friend sympathetically told him that it must be hard for Andy to got through this because when Andy wanted something like a car in the U.S., he could just work a little harder and save for a few months, and viola, he could have what he wanted. After the conversation Andy said it hit him that he must sound like a spoiled brat complaining about not having a car when many people in Brazil never own one. While we still see a need for a car when we are at CLM, not having one for now has made us more aware of idols of our hearts that we have set up.
In addition to the whole car situation, we forget how financially blessed we are as well. Even though we don't have a large budget by U.S. standards, we are still receiving more per month than many Brazilians couples earn from two full-time salaries. We don't have to choose between paying for my doctor appointment and buying any necessary clothing, we can do both. In fact, we take for granted doing both. One of our friends shared how she accidently broke her daughter's glasses but how she couldn't afford to replace them until the next month. We don't get any sense of complaining from our friends, they share these things as a matter-of-fact.
Yesterday again, both Andy and I were aware of our “pride of possessions” as we spent the afternoon with a Brazilian family who are friends of ours. When discussing jobs, Andy asked the husband what his dream job was. The husband responded, “Just something with regular hours and when I can have the weekend off.” Right now this man works at a gas station full time for about $3 and hour U.S. while trying to complete his degree in mathematics. Andy was humbled by his response because since we have been in Brazil, Andy has been struggling with missing his job, dreaming about what jobs he could do sometime again in the future. He admitted that for him a regular job is an idol he thinks will make him happy.
I was humbled as well yesterday when one of the ladies from church took me aside and gave me some encouraging words and then proceeded to give me R$50 and tell me that she wanted to support us this way each month. Proportionally, that is a lot of money for a Brazilian, and I was humbled by this gesture. I tried to tell her it wasn't necessary but she told me not refuse her the blessing of giving. Lord, teach us!
We share these things with you not to beat up on the U.S. culture or elevate Brazilian culture or condemn the owning of nice things, but to share how our time few months away have made us aware of what we do have materially in the U.S. and how we are learning to, as Paul puts it, “to be content in every situation.” God is using this time to show us what we are truly worshipping, and so far it hasn't been pretty!
Please continue to pray that God will teach us to be content in all situations, and that He will teach us to “keep ourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Praise God that He is using our time in Guarapuava to conform us into the image of His precious Son and our Savior Jesus Christ!
Love in Jesus,
Katie
Thursday, May 6, 2010
My web log
Hello people who read our blog. It has been awhile since I last posted something so I thought I would write today. First and foremost, Katie is doing well with her pregnancy. She is healthy, and the baby is healthy. We had our first and only ultrasound done and I could see the baby's face. It brought to mind Psalm 139 :14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it well.” I still don't know if our baby is a boy or girl but I already love that child, even though it is still born a sinner like his or her parents.
Well the last post I wrote was more light-hearted but this one is more serious. I would appreciate your prayer support. First of all I am a sinner and still struggle with issues of worry, discontentment, and spiritual idolatry. These are all sins in God's eyes that are just as bad as murder, gossip, lying, and adultery.
To start off I have been struggling with discontentment here in Brazil. I am not able to live the same lifestyle that I had in the U.S. I can't talk well so it is hard to have any deep conversations with other guys here. More importantly I am struggling with not being able to buy stuff freely. We lived comfortably in the U.S. I had a good job at F.S. that I enjoyed. In my heart I want to turn back and head home where it is easy and comfortable. I have to remind myself and hide this scripture in my heart and meditate on it. Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” I am reminding myself of this truth that even though we went from one culture to another, it is still not as humiliating as Christ coming from heaven and living on this earth as a human. He even died the most humiliating deaths. He is not asking us to do anything that he hasn't done.
This also applies to my discontentment. I think that if my situation was different than I would be happy. I am not content with where God has placed me. I am also having to hide Philippians 4 :11-13 in my heart. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Paul wrote that and he was ship wrecked, imprisoned, beaten, stoned and left for dead, and that he battled a thorn in his flesh. If Christ can make him content in every situation than he can do the same for me.
I am also struggling with spiritual idolatry. I think that God isn't enough. Only changing my situation to live more at ease can make me happy. I am worshiping the god of pleasure and ease which isn't any better than the Israelites worshiping other gods instead of worshiping the one true God. Isaiah 44:9 “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.” Isaiah 44:20 “He [the one who worships idols] feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has lead him astray, and he can not deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
To top it off I also am sinning by worrying about our family at CLM. I am worry about how to protect my relationship with my wife. I also want to raise our baby to know God and glorify Him. I don't want to neglect my wife and children to minister to neglected children. I know if I have to choose between ministry and my family, I have to choose my family according to God's word. 1 Timothy 3:1-13. This could send us off the mission field if I can't spiritually lead my family effectively. I am having to hide Philippians 4: 6-7 in my heart, and continue to give this over to the Lord.
I know this is real heavy stuff but please remember us in your prayers. It is neat how Jesus can redeem sinners like us, and use us while we still are sinners. Better yet, he continues to refine us to grow and become more like Him. Thank you Jesus!
Trusting in Christ
Andy and Katie
Well the last post I wrote was more light-hearted but this one is more serious. I would appreciate your prayer support. First of all I am a sinner and still struggle with issues of worry, discontentment, and spiritual idolatry. These are all sins in God's eyes that are just as bad as murder, gossip, lying, and adultery.
To start off I have been struggling with discontentment here in Brazil. I am not able to live the same lifestyle that I had in the U.S. I can't talk well so it is hard to have any deep conversations with other guys here. More importantly I am struggling with not being able to buy stuff freely. We lived comfortably in the U.S. I had a good job at F.S. that I enjoyed. In my heart I want to turn back and head home where it is easy and comfortable. I have to remind myself and hide this scripture in my heart and meditate on it. Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” I am reminding myself of this truth that even though we went from one culture to another, it is still not as humiliating as Christ coming from heaven and living on this earth as a human. He even died the most humiliating deaths. He is not asking us to do anything that he hasn't done.
This also applies to my discontentment. I think that if my situation was different than I would be happy. I am not content with where God has placed me. I am also having to hide Philippians 4 :11-13 in my heart. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Paul wrote that and he was ship wrecked, imprisoned, beaten, stoned and left for dead, and that he battled a thorn in his flesh. If Christ can make him content in every situation than he can do the same for me.
I am also struggling with spiritual idolatry. I think that God isn't enough. Only changing my situation to live more at ease can make me happy. I am worshiping the god of pleasure and ease which isn't any better than the Israelites worshiping other gods instead of worshiping the one true God. Isaiah 44:9 “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.” Isaiah 44:20 “He [the one who worships idols] feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has lead him astray, and he can not deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
To top it off I also am sinning by worrying about our family at CLM. I am worry about how to protect my relationship with my wife. I also want to raise our baby to know God and glorify Him. I don't want to neglect my wife and children to minister to neglected children. I know if I have to choose between ministry and my family, I have to choose my family according to God's word. 1 Timothy 3:1-13. This could send us off the mission field if I can't spiritually lead my family effectively. I am having to hide Philippians 4: 6-7 in my heart, and continue to give this over to the Lord.
I know this is real heavy stuff but please remember us in your prayers. It is neat how Jesus can redeem sinners like us, and use us while we still are sinners. Better yet, he continues to refine us to grow and become more like Him. Thank you Jesus!
Trusting in Christ
Andy and Katie
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