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!