tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56060888292392011512024-03-14T03:57:49.096-04:00Shade and SunshineAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-26879920468453868482015-01-01T11:22:00.000-05:002015-01-01T11:22:03.922-05:002015 - All Things New<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last few years have each held a theme for me, something that I've tried to focus on during the year, a specific area where I need to grow and allow the Lord to work in me. You can check out the last few <a href="http://sunshinekristi.blogspot.com/search/label/Happy%20New%20Year" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year is going to be quite the year in my life. It's going to be a year full of beginnings and adventures and a lot of firsts. And those are things I know are coming down the pipeline. Who can guess what else the Lord has in store that I don't know about yet! In light of all the beginnings on the horizon, this year is <i>new</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2015 - All Things New</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are lots of very tangible new things happening in my life this year. Probably the biggest and most significant is that I'm getting married in nine weeks. This is the biggest new adventure I've ever undertaken, and I can't wait to take it on with my fiancé! It still seems a bit surreal a lot of the time, but I am blown away by the Lord's blessings on our lives and the gift he has given to each of us in each other. We're very excited about our new life together, but we're certain it won't come without challenges. New things present new hardships that we don't always get to see coming. I've never been a wife before, so I'll have to navigate lots of new waters over the coming months and years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Along with the new adventure of marriage, a lot of other changes will follow suit. I'll be moving to a new place to live. I've been at <a href="http://sunshinekristi.blogspot.com/search/label/ChezMK" target="_blank">ChezMK</a> for over six and a half years now - longer than I've ever lived anywhere before, so going somewhere else is going to be a big change! We're still picking out a place to live, so it's fun to dream about what the new place will be like. I'll get to rearrange furniture! (One of my favorite things to do!) I'll get to have a dining room table! Lots of little <i>newnesses </i>will come along with having a new home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Along with a new home will come a new roommate (my soon-to-be husband, of course). But I've shared my home with my current wonderful roommate for so long! Miranda has been a huge blessing to me and one of the biggest reasons I've enjoyed my post-college years so much. Her friendship has been (and surely will continue to be) invaluable, but there will be a new chapter of our post-roommate relationship beginning in a few weeks. We won't get to have the same lazy Saturday mornings where I roll out of bed and put baked oatmeal in the oven for our breakfast or make sweet tea runs to Chickfila together (as often). We won't share a Christmas tree or host <a href="http://sunshinekristi.blogspot.com/2014/08/mnd.html" target="_blank">MND</a> together. But we'll still get to join each other for morning runs and have lunch dates and throw themed parties together! Our friendship will take on a new pace and feel, and hopefully it will be no less of a source of sweetness in our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are just a couple specific <i>new</i>s that are happening in my life this year. There will certainly be others, but the idea is the same. Lots of changes are coming down the pipeline. I love variety and change and new adventures, but they can be a bit scary and overwhelming at times, too. These are the words of scripture I have been playing over and over in my mind as I've thought about <i>All Things New</i> and the changes coming in my life this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The new beginnings of this year remind me of the newness we have in Christ. When he draws us to himself, he gives new life. He has wonderful plans for us. We get to leave the past behind and run forward into the fullness of life the Lord desires for us. This requires us to embrace forgiveness and trust the Lord's best for us. I sometimes struggle with forgiving myself, so I tend to hold on to guilt and shame which keeps me from the best of the new, full life the Lord offers. So sometimes really living in the newness of Christ is hard for me. I want to get better at that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year, as I face so many new beginnings, I also want to fully embrace the new life Christ offers, trusting him at his word that he forgives and forgets has an abundance of joy to offer me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will 2015 be a year of <i>new</i> for you, too?</span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-6435868363991326922014-11-14T15:42:00.000-05:002014-11-14T15:42:17.776-05:00One Year<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently came across this on Pinterest.</span><br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/6b/7e/bc/6b7ebc639612a4be33be94e6dd62da78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/6b/7e/bc/6b7ebc639612a4be33be94e6dd62da78.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Could this be any more true in my life?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A year ago today, a chapter ended that I didn't want to end. I didn't see how there was going to be a happy ending if that chapter was over. I knew it could happen, but I just didn't see how just yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so thankful for time. For perspective. For healing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fast forward from that day one year ago to today. I am immeasurably thankful that chapter is over. Because I didn't know it then, but there was a much more amazing story to be written in my life, and last year's chapter had to end so this one could begin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Days like today are such a good reminder to me that the Lord is ultimately in control and truly does have a bigger and better plan than we can see. Even now I'm sure I don't know what seeds are being planted today in order that they might blossom beautifully in the days to come. Either way, I can trust the heartbreaks, joys, disappointments, and celebrations in life to the God of both individual moments and the whole picture. He has a plan for the highest highs and the lowest lows and is weaving them together in our lives for his glory. How I respond to them is the only part I can control, and how I choose to face each day can bring even more glory to him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV) says this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a great reminder that the Lord is always at work, fulfilling his plan for me that he will be glorified!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So how was this time last year different for you? Can you see how the Lord was writing a beautiful story in your life? Are you choosing to glorify the Lord in the midst of whatever it is you're facing today, looking forward to being able to see the bigger picture as time goes on and perspective changes?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-88785244687629947362014-09-10T11:17:00.001-04:002014-09-10T11:17:55.467-04:00Falling into Sweater Weather<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Though a few days this week are still topping out above the 80 degree mark, September is here and with it is coming cool nights and not-so-hot days. I adore fall and the crispness in the air, pumpkin everything (Despite its rampant trendiness that usually makes me stop liking something, I'm still a fan. Even the PSL. Though I've only had one and will probably not have any more because after tax the grande I got topped $5. Unacceptable.), layering up with sweaters and boots, all the amazing candle scents that came out months ago but are only appropriate to start burning now, and the reminiscence that always seems to come with the season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But as much as I love autumn (#autumnbliss is a favorite hashtag), I'm still mourning the end of summer. Summer was full of fun and traveling and sunshine and tan lines (that only stay visible for a couple weeks max when you're as pale as I am) and smiles and memories, and I'm not sure I'm ready to let that go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's nothing like a last hoorah to finish out a great summer though. And this year it was a beach trip/family visit combo. Not only did I get to spend a handful of sunny days in the Outer Banks with some great friends, but I got to make a marathon of a road trip (read: one fifteen-hour-drive day and two eight-hour-drive days for the return with only two days in between) to meet my brand new, oh-so-lovely, week-old niece. Playing in the waves and lounging by the pool can only be improved by snuggling a sweet new little one a couple days later. It was maybe the best week of events ever. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Y8ahWbgE7IaFo1C6sdGww4hEqLTS3gfl0wFTwc7FD6NnnMOzF_qi03IjqXJ7fDj7kXI2pIYFSgrQDuWPmV0p1tcDDwleSk0iUJf70lCPQNLEacGzNnULBomxpLjip8J9HqOBmgmsnGeF/s1600/IMG_6185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Y8ahWbgE7IaFo1C6sdGww4hEqLTS3gfl0wFTwc7FD6NnnMOzF_qi03IjqXJ7fDj7kXI2pIYFSgrQDuWPmV0p1tcDDwleSk0iUJf70lCPQNLEacGzNnULBomxpLjip8J9HqOBmgmsnGeF/s1600/IMG_6185.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beach days with my crew!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes I feel like I spend my life in a car or a plane or somewhere besides my own house, but I love the craziness of traveling from place to place. This next month is going to be no exception since trips to Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Florida are peppering my calendar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amid the hectic travel schedule, this fall is bringing new opportunities to learn and grow. Last night marked the beginning of a new Bible study my ladies group is doing for the next several weeks that promises to be a challenge in all the best ways. There are books to be read, people to learn to love better, places to visit, and obstacles to embrace. Last week I was reading in the book of Philippians, and found these words to be encouraging and a good reminder as I look forward to the busyness of the days set before me:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No matter how crazy things get or how much I might feel like I'm not making any progress, I can have assurance that my Lord is not done with me yet. I can hope in expectant confidence that every day is one day closer to the day I will be complete in Christ. I'm so much looking forward to that day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So here's to the sun setting on a beautiful summer and the start of a delightful autumn. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdai8dWbc8d-ASqiA5w1u6s6Ve3tEnneXl5EHX2gwG5bNbIWe3QBcY9VFuKiVw34JJOlB1MSaZsL_zQs8RcBDemH2QHWtbun_LhfjA6wXlOdqr5AKy7nTJDwHy0mr1vVoyKghe23SYiZG1/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdai8dWbc8d-ASqiA5w1u6s6Ve3tEnneXl5EHX2gwG5bNbIWe3QBcY9VFuKiVw34JJOlB1MSaZsL_zQs8RcBDemH2QHWtbun_LhfjA6wXlOdqr5AKy7nTJDwHy0mr1vVoyKghe23SYiZG1/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing beats a sunset over the water.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-19999061504595761802014-08-25T11:34:00.001-04:002014-08-25T11:34:46.839-04:00MND<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's Monday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Honestly, Mondays are one of my favorite days. There are lots of reasons I typically enjoy Mondays, but one of the best is Monday Night Dinner (MND). MND is a long-standing tradition at ChezMK where Miranda and I host 10-15 of our closest friends for an evening of dinner and fun. I think we've been doing it for something like four years, just about every Monday night with very few exceptions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love traditions like this because it's one of the reasons our group of friends feels more like a family. We watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and see how many questions we can get right. We try a bunch of different kinds of food but have a few favorites that we keep coming back to. The evening activities vary...trivia night, a TV show, Monday Night Football, games, just chatting and hanging out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We've seen wonderful friends join the MND crew, and sadly, we've seen some move away. I think we've even had up to 18 people on a Monday night. And if you've ever seen ChezMK, it is certainly should not be able to fit that many people, but we make a way, and we make it fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love all the memories ChezMK holds, but the ones made at MND are some of my favorites. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love. my. friends. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9KyKIVCLfWxiYKYqG5O4-tF_EecLyyyqnc_d8r0k31lUlHoSSLMoF-G7AJb_IHgwg7Bpre6lQq5Ci1vhaHC6dihSSnsF6JtZBbvuwviNY6S9TJ4I175VxjiqGQjT-YHnFdpHb4u9Fxqg/s1600/BirthdayDinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9KyKIVCLfWxiYKYqG5O4-tF_EecLyyyqnc_d8r0k31lUlHoSSLMoF-G7AJb_IHgwg7Bpre6lQq5Ci1vhaHC6dihSSnsF6JtZBbvuwviNY6S9TJ4I175VxjiqGQjT-YHnFdpHb4u9Fxqg/s1600/BirthdayDinner.jpg" height="267" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was a special, birthday edition of MND a couple years ago when we went out instead of eating at home, but it's still most of the crew and some of my most favorite people.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-43488948571614817192014-07-22T15:16:00.001-04:002014-07-22T15:16:29.969-04:00Two Years at LBM!A couple months ago, I sat down with <a href="https://twitter.com/MissionsRadio" target="_blank">Patricia Spangler</a> from <a href="http://www.missionsradio.com/" target="_blank">Missions Radio</a> to share about my work with Living Bread. It was a privilege to tell her about how I transitioned into this position and how it's been a blessing to me to serve with this ministry! You can listen to this brief interview <a href="http://www.missionsradio.com/Audio/Kriss_Finch.mp3" target="_blank">here</a>! I didn't realize it's timeliness right away, it was released within a day or two of my two year anniversary at Living Bread!<div>
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As this anniversary passed (as did the four-year anniversary of my first trip to Brazil), I remain amazed at how the Lord has brought me to this place and how he continues to remind me that he is sovereign over every aspect of my life! Despite whatever challenges may come my way, he is in control and has a plan. He cares about the details. He wants me to trust him with even the smallest things that I allow to fill my mind with worry and stress. </div>
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At the moment, I'm in the middle of a painstakingly long and discouraging process of car selling/buying. I have finally been able to sell the car I had and am now in the process of trying to find another vehicle. If my tone doesn't communicate well in writing, let me just tell you that car issues are among my least favorite kind of trouble in the whole world. Despite my distain for these things, I am constantly being reminded that God has a plan, even for my troublesome car situation. He will provide just the right vehicle that will meet my needs and in just the right timing. I just have to be faithful and trust him throughout this process. I don't know how it will be resolved, but I am looking forward to finding out! </div>
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Such is the truth I am learning to apply to this scenario and everything else in my life and ministry: trusting him for financial provision, relational wisdom and guidance, discernment for day-to-day decision-making. If I had all the answers, I'm sure I would be convinced that I don't need the Lord's guidance. Au contraire. I am not even close to having everything figured out, and I am abundantly thankful that I don't have to. </div>
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So, two years later, I'm still trusting the Lord that this is where he wants me to be and trusting him to provide all I need for each day and thankful for the opportunities he has given me to be part of his kingdom work!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEQ2naDCwdqVVzvSDytSSIsKdJVSeO_ZAXH0_QFTlii0vSglIJcr_Sc4zSS8e5g-0GTNkTTpORms7sR-jq9WxLN6y5_Hf19CA7mfU9pERK_fk4Zk11FSxN7uCJEYEbCTtCmmou6j4FJHf/s1600/38838_416322644629_6250321_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEQ2naDCwdqVVzvSDytSSIsKdJVSeO_ZAXH0_QFTlii0vSglIJcr_Sc4zSS8e5g-0GTNkTTpORms7sR-jq9WxLN6y5_Hf19CA7mfU9pERK_fk4Zk11FSxN7uCJEYEbCTtCmmou6j4FJHf/s1600/38838_416322644629_6250321_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From my first trip to Brazil in July 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetf1CTyiRF2CriV_XmwX2gK0S9jM7h9qoWcUWdo2klhHmA91zUwVCEOaNAysEPzPUEa7dQYOKP_h-CrWEF8zF1yVnLUCbJXj2paPJ5Kc6A7sjFXbAVBcIXmbXn2gzuVfeDr__Sd9Y2SGT/s1600/261577_10150246733944630_2423613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetf1CTyiRF2CriV_XmwX2gK0S9jM7h9qoWcUWdo2klhHmA91zUwVCEOaNAysEPzPUEa7dQYOKP_h-CrWEF8zF1yVnLUCbJXj2paPJ5Kc6A7sjFXbAVBcIXmbXn2gzuVfeDr__Sd9Y2SGT/s1600/261577_10150246733944630_2423613_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From my 2011 trip - This little girl's family isn't at our church any more, and I miss her sweet face!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyO2QZWq_Avgbs19qLvGC8ostyLIX4TYOHm_p35NJpof8X8B6ajy5-Edg2RuT_TNw-dmrKsOKB-8CYg2aobEi440q6sWCEZ0XJNY-2VcfXZa6VJBQDx3FjWP4b6hCZtuV7lv4GfSLX3T1w/s1600/431915_10151022430279630_1164224430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyO2QZWq_Avgbs19qLvGC8ostyLIX4TYOHm_p35NJpof8X8B6ajy5-Edg2RuT_TNw-dmrKsOKB-8CYg2aobEi440q6sWCEZ0XJNY-2VcfXZa6VJBQDx3FjWP4b6hCZtuV7lv4GfSLX3T1w/s1600/431915_10151022430279630_1164224430_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From our 2012 trip - Tracy is one of our pastor's daughter and is such a precious child! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNGBgo8F3IDv5RKCkDHE3VctVHVDQZkSaiS1YLHoA8VE5opi_b8h5XQAZSdSSI6NfiWuUUVn-UEjE9H2kcZhN_NKAy4ugpisKSdwg7g9btj8dFYUv0ObuY8XIsJvavSKXqmpFbb1Ck-5g/s1600/1925272_298850853600703_1786532863_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNGBgo8F3IDv5RKCkDHE3VctVHVDQZkSaiS1YLHoA8VE5opi_b8h5XQAZSdSSI6NfiWuUUVn-UEjE9H2kcZhN_NKAy4ugpisKSdwg7g9btj8dFYUv0ObuY8XIsJvavSKXqmpFbb1Ck-5g/s1600/1925272_298850853600703_1786532863_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from our most recent trip in March 2014. Getting to love on kids when we visit is great, but knowing that they are being consistently cared for because there is a church right in their neighborhood is even better.</td></tr>
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</div>
</div>
<i>In other ministry news... </i>It continues to be an exciting year for <a href="http://www.livingbread.org/" target="_blank">Living Bread</a>, our 10th anniversary year! Right now our founders, <a href="http://gpatrickhubbard.com/" target="_blank">Patrick</a> and <a href="http://barbarahubbard.com/" target="_blank">Bárbara</a> Hubbard, are in Thailand working with our leadership there to serve the poor and finalize our plan of ministry. Later this week, Patrick will travel to Kenya to make some initial contacts with potential leadership team members. Please keep them in your prayers as he travels to Kenya and their whole family returns home next week!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-77765329208200271952014-07-02T22:49:00.001-04:002014-07-02T22:49:38.185-04:00Keep WalkingI have a wonderful friend who I meet every week to talk together, encourage each other, and challenge each other. We usually try to add a little structure to our weekly meetings by reading through a book together. We've gone through all kinds of reads together, and right now we're tackling <i>Believing God </i>by Beth Moore. One of the chapters I read for our meeting today really resonated with me, so I thought I'd share a little about it here. Maybe it will have an impact on you, too.<div>
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<div>
The chapter is called "Believing God When Routine Follows Revelation." Sometimes we have big moments with God. But usually we don't. Most of our lives are made up with the "normal" times in between the A HA! moments. Most of the time we just have to keep going with what we know we should do without any major indicators we're on the right track, just trusting that we are being faithful and that it will ultimately be rewarded. While talking about Joshua leading God's people in their fight against Jericho by walking (seemingly for no reason) over and over around the city walls, Beth says:</div>
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Sometimes God requires us to follow a fair amount of repetition for a considerable amount of time until He deems a season complete. Then all of the sudden He seems to do something profound or miraculous, and we can't figure out what changed.</blockquote>
We may not see any value in the repetitive walking around the wall, but there is value in it because God told them to do it. The great thing about this specific example from Joshua is that God told the Israelites the outcome. He gave them a seven-day plan to follow with the guarantee that if they followed the plan, they would win the battle and overtake the city. Unfortunately, however, we don't usually get such a prescriptive outline from the Lord about the battles we face. We don't get the timeline for when we'll have this need met or that longing fulfilled. We just have to trust that we need to do what the Lord has called us to do right here, right now, and he will take care of knocking down the wall that is in the way. To this Beth says:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
God often directs us to keep walking around that Jericho day after day, repeating the same fundamental steps while nothing seems to happen. Oh, it will. We must never stop believing it will. But in the meantime, we've got to keep walking and keep circling no matter how many times we've done it before and no matter how many times we're yet to do it.</blockquote>
She goes on to discuss that regularity and repetition are not bad things but are important fundamentals of our faith. Nor do they require that creativity and passion are set aside. She explains:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
God likes order. He likes repetition. A God of fundamentals, He brings up the sun every morning and the moon every evening, but His creativity within that order is gorgeously displayed in the changing sunsets and sunrises surrounding them. The same is true for us. Faithfulness in our Christian walk requires order, some black-and-white fundamentals, but within that order is glorious room for color and creativity.</blockquote>
Being faithful can seem mundane or tiresome at times, but it is always worth it. The reward may be just around the next corner or may not be revealed on this side of eternity, but it will be rewarded. Remember these words from Galatians 6:9 (ESV)<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.</blockquote>
I needed this truth today.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-53979356255899595232014-07-01T11:31:00.001-04:002014-07-01T11:31:21.357-04:00The Days of June<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I woke up this morning, and it was July! June slipped away from me but for all the best reasons. I spent my June days away doing the usual with a few wonderful additions to the schedule. We celebrated birthdays and beginnings and summertime and soccer. There were a couple surprise parties, a pirate party, group breakfast outings, group dinner outings, chocolate tastings, visits to the pool and the lake and the river. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The biggest adventures of June were the parts where I had a couple extra tagalongs. For a week and a half in the middle of the month, I kept my friends' two kiddos while they were traveling and working. It has become a little bit of a summer tradition (and I hope it stays that way!), and we simply had the best time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's a little taste of my time with Scout and Jude. So lovely in so many ways! Check out some of our shenanigans! (There are more on <a href="http://instagram.com/finchworthy" target="_blank">my Instagram</a>...search #scoutandjude) These two are so, so special to me. Can't wait for our next adventures together!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVaQioDfeUqH8-1_-5F9wOGZ39gXE_UA_giSxzuOe7Cg__oIcqy0s6fhnt9NcHcq9197g9pC0g_dbuRaZNYDuRrc040VPDRWz3lRwFiSKTT_wpy__aV1WhO_Re3OIt_2KrepgyYEOnJyl/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVaQioDfeUqH8-1_-5F9wOGZ39gXE_UA_giSxzuOe7Cg__oIcqy0s6fhnt9NcHcq9197g9pC0g_dbuRaZNYDuRrc040VPDRWz3lRwFiSKTT_wpy__aV1WhO_Re3OIt_2KrepgyYEOnJyl/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the 7+ hour trip from their house to mine, they were still smiling! (For the most part, anyway!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQC4UhU4Fx6CkmgxnBdkjyiJAscomuqSEU7BtEo0aKDJ5k9uNUGMiZ0fR14nVoFZnboqKalwagUkFbcXPpF9WsfIpREMo5z2-CSPE0-4TUZ7e6nrD-vBhcm2nhggEmSl-SWiSy7AIuDrN/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQC4UhU4Fx6CkmgxnBdkjyiJAscomuqSEU7BtEo0aKDJ5k9uNUGMiZ0fR14nVoFZnboqKalwagUkFbcXPpF9WsfIpREMo5z2-CSPE0-4TUZ7e6nrD-vBhcm2nhggEmSl-SWiSy7AIuDrN/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The splash park was a big favorite!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9JqeHGRFBcow6zonGw38lsRVsL-pAcPGvGayavD1ulFB4kL3iqnc96IgwWh3hwVdpHe9Th7rssmERHgEfegzLhiBXVdxvn3BpnaK7mBGLAusSJdqpvZHyoQOwztt3PW1sALXN10drU6J/s1600/IMG_5118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9JqeHGRFBcow6zonGw38lsRVsL-pAcPGvGayavD1ulFB4kL3iqnc96IgwWh3hwVdpHe9Th7rssmERHgEfegzLhiBXVdxvn3BpnaK7mBGLAusSJdqpvZHyoQOwztt3PW1sALXN10drU6J/s1600/IMG_5118.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Breakfast time was one of my favorites...though I wasn't used to waking up to a little smiling face ready to tackle the day long before I had even found my slippers yet.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVXS8oOWeBxYCzLgi0GahULpOTWHyJCHo5uLpfD3qSn9Vi22TllQJXKPoGoDrnEKLDm1uunNlwbhxMqPDlzXF-EM5BKaO0LTxQj2fQbqOekfnc7sO3vZf6VSRMRLvDHihN16ubykNUBq5/s1600/IMG_5120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVXS8oOWeBxYCzLgi0GahULpOTWHyJCHo5uLpfD3qSn9Vi22TllQJXKPoGoDrnEKLDm1uunNlwbhxMqPDlzXF-EM5BKaO0LTxQj2fQbqOekfnc7sO3vZf6VSRMRLvDHihN16ubykNUBq5/s1600/IMG_5120.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I miss all those Godzilla attacks! (Please excuse the part where we were jumping on the bed...)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjMRRUR8_cvGBiMqUC4Kb7msAvMJ1wLetHIsPbc5Mfl13AXL-3Iaa06j8YCJFgpR3nB5rUqfJ84cTduQcPK6rEq_5a-vOpR8ykm5OsW4dheJ7FTUP0lHvneVoz0XY2OEtx4Ki5QT7fTn0/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjMRRUR8_cvGBiMqUC4Kb7msAvMJ1wLetHIsPbc5Mfl13AXL-3Iaa06j8YCJFgpR3nB5rUqfJ84cTduQcPK6rEq_5a-vOpR8ykm5OsW4dheJ7FTUP0lHvneVoz0XY2OEtx4Ki5QT7fTn0/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A little outdoor fun! Girlfriend loved gathering pinecones and pine needles and building things out of them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LD5AXwSWsHL8pjAmqJ1htStBw11smnhWNfYlC_Ei0RqWYFzzViPR57awsgc3xtYCNgOD-jktFkJ5g7ziu8pyXVPtPxO94aCr0O32HW0D3EuYlKXTFA4SxFnSS27Rh9xqwHYPhBngi712/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LD5AXwSWsHL8pjAmqJ1htStBw11smnhWNfYlC_Ei0RqWYFzzViPR57awsgc3xtYCNgOD-jktFkJ5g7ziu8pyXVPtPxO94aCr0O32HW0D3EuYlKXTFA4SxFnSS27Rh9xqwHYPhBngi712/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Do you like my mustache?"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMOuUeu0hhfcHxJkpgulAHPVmyoMCP-ZAZBZAHQo7bcIGOINu82VeMsQShftLshzTxw9OGyhmhWSE7IInKJcpQPjbwdA_r4j4TNrBd8__buAbbIicDqaWa66HOvILUnwmM7mB-Ko52_h3/s1600/IMG_5204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMOuUeu0hhfcHxJkpgulAHPVmyoMCP-ZAZBZAHQo7bcIGOINu82VeMsQShftLshzTxw9OGyhmhWSE7IInKJcpQPjbwdA_r4j4TNrBd8__buAbbIicDqaWa66HOvILUnwmM7mB-Ko52_h3/s1600/IMG_5204.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baking and frosting cookies! So proud of their creations!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuaELWM8GksJlmx2QSO7hhu8q3JjPUJ5ID7TCLN1bmAwWegBH_uZr6iqLH_3o39ABD97OfYobCOeiTpZgBZN6gSOjIMXbXYzsrUdo1ETaOMJq6ODeWo5-ALRIELI5HM_OX8FK5_nDw5Qf/s1600/IMG_5254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuaELWM8GksJlmx2QSO7hhu8q3JjPUJ5ID7TCLN1bmAwWegBH_uZr6iqLH_3o39ABD97OfYobCOeiTpZgBZN6gSOjIMXbXYzsrUdo1ETaOMJq6ODeWo5-ALRIELI5HM_OX8FK5_nDw5Qf/s1600/IMG_5254.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Slip and slide with fun friends! Loved getting to hang out with so many people!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CM9P5pT8hg3HUUlrzBR7DwuanHfxK8Gjqc3r9dCj7vgsVBOR6VQPMp0IqxND6t1WtEVeLjNgTJB_hZXV1L7fMmy20TKTrSvNjo8UIQ2Tnv78krBpyxL08m9tscNuFEp9ba8Q7d1_Nu5Y/s1600/IMG_5311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CM9P5pT8hg3HUUlrzBR7DwuanHfxK8Gjqc3r9dCj7vgsVBOR6VQPMp0IqxND6t1WtEVeLjNgTJB_hZXV1L7fMmy20TKTrSvNjo8UIQ2Tnv78krBpyxL08m9tscNuFEp9ba8Q7d1_Nu5Y/s1600/IMG_5311.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Miss Sassypants was a well-deserved nickname. Love. this. girl.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-78777666809124547932014-05-27T13:50:00.000-04:002014-05-29T11:24:40.696-04:00How I Got Here<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently, I was asked if I had a ministry bio/testimony. I didn't really have anything already written up, so I took some time over the past few days to put this together. Here's a bit of my background and how I came to be where I am today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My story is anything but normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t think I would have it any other
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was born to a missionary family in Lipa City,
Philippines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents were in language
school at the time, studying Tagalog in order to serve Filipinos at a mission
hospital where my dad would serve as a practitioner and an administrator. (Oh
the stories we shared around our dinner table of the adventures of practicing
medicine in a third world country!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had two older brothers, Stephen and Peter, who were four and two when I was
born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My little brother Paul would be
born on our next furlough in the States when I was three.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My earliest memories are in the Philippines, and I had (and
still have) a very positive perception of our family’s experience there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember running around and playing with my
brothers and other playmates until Mom rang the bell for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember pilling into our truck and driving
across the island to a church where my dad would preach on the weekends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember all kinds of run-ins with local
wildlife like monkeys and cobras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember going to school in our one room schoolhouse where all four of us were
taught together by either my mom or one of the short-term teachers who came
from the States.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpOnwg9SY7BpPBx4WpeIdhF0JHoRlBhp8QRfWkZVIy-YLrtfeCoCU38GptNkoKR-8kcGcdSOH4BkrSO2hCR50HX40HJLKB8Pbs8nP6vKRkCc-iSLmwg24r5IScvVdEW_hBsbRgBJar0q2/s1600/PICT0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpOnwg9SY7BpPBx4WpeIdhF0JHoRlBhp8QRfWkZVIy-YLrtfeCoCU38GptNkoKR-8kcGcdSOH4BkrSO2hCR50HX40HJLKB8Pbs8nP6vKRkCc-iSLmwg24r5IScvVdEW_hBsbRgBJar0q2/s1600/PICT0027.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our family on furlough in 1990, shortly before my little brother was born.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>From the very beginning, I saw my parents living by
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t really understand what
that meant and couldn’t have verbalized it if you’d asked me because it was
just our way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we had a need,
we trusted that the Lord would meet it in one way or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we saw God come through for us over and
over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we traveled to our
supporting churches on our furloughs, the song that played behind my parents’
slide show was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was their theme song, and now I understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted the Lord and saw his great
faithfulness in their lives more times than we can count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, it was this trust in the Lord and
total commitment to his work that lead me to give my heart to Christ and
continue to live a life dedicated to God’s plan for me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In the summer of 1991 on our trip back to the Philippines
from our furlough in Rochester, New York, we stayed in Manila at a missionary
guesthouse for a few days before making the rest of the trek home to the island
of Palawan where we lived in Roxas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
distinctly remember playing with my older brother Peter at the house; we were
standing on opposite ends of a stairway (He was at the top, and I was at the
bottom.), tossing a ball back and forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seemingly out of the blue, he asked me if I would go to heaven when I
died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t have the slightest idea
and didn’t know what he was talking about, so he proceeded to share with me how
God sacrificed his Son to die on the cross for my sins so that I could spend
eternity with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accepted Christ
into my heart that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even
come close to understanding completely the ramifications of that decision, but
that day marks the beginning of my journey with the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Our family stayed in the Philippines for a four-year term
and a one-year term (with a one-year furlough between) after that stopover in
Manila.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We returned to the States
permanently in 1997 when I was 10 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because my dad decided to go back to school for a master’s degree in
rural health care, we moved to a small town in West Virginia (a requirement for
his degree program).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was there, in
Welch, West Virginia, where we first attended public school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in sixth grade and distinctly remember
thinking the day we learned about exponents in math class, “Wow! This is the
only thing we’ve ‘learned’ this year that I didn’t already know!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, that year was more of a
growing opportunity socially than academically.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The completion of Dad’s degree brought new job opportunity
and place to live for our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
ended up in the western Pennsylvania town of Clarion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d visited Clarion several times growing up
because my great aunt and uncle lived there, so it was neat to move to a
quasi-familiar place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house where we
lived there was the first my parents had ever bought, after almost 20 years of
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were moving there to settle
for the first time in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this
point, my brothers were going into 12<sup>th</sup>, 10<sup>th</sup>, and 4<sup>th</sup>
grades, and I was headed into 8<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Our time in Pennsylvania was a huge growing chapter for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the first place where I
went to the same school for two sequential years (I actually went to Clarion
Area Junior Senior High School from 8<sup>th</sup> grade until high school
graduation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbelievable!) and had the
opportunity to put down any sort of roots in to friendships or a physical
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was also a place where I
grew into my faith more than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was here that I had to make the decision of whether I was truly going
to follow Christ myself or if I was going to give up on my parents’ views as I
became capable of making my own way in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, Dad and Mom’s Jesus became my
Jesus as I built intentional relationships with friends and mentors, got
involved in ministry at my church, and learned more and more about what it
means to follow Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that future
years wouldn’t present challenges and opportunities growth, but these years
held such significant foundation-challenging and –reinforcing situations and
decisions that I will always maintain them as the years my faith became my own
and my walk with Christ diverted from just following my parents’ footsteps.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My college years took me to Liberty University in Lynchburg,
Virginia where I continued to grow through the challenges of school, my family
moving away from our Pennsylvania home I loved so dearly, a break-up with my
college boyfriend, and learning how to be a grown-up and living on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also during the college years, I had to start
making and acting on decisions about what I wanted to do with my life vocationally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having grown up around ministry and have been
involved in different kinds of ministry throughout high school and college, I
decided that’s what I would want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, my parents, being experienced with ministry, encouraged me not
to get a ministry-related degree because you can do ministry no matter what
degree is listed on your diploma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
instead of getting a ministry degree, I worked toward the more marketable
education degree. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>After completing my degree in Elementary Education, I didn’t
really want to enter the field of education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An opportunity opened up for me to work at the University, so I accepted
the position and stayed in Lynchburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
wasn’t my original plan of going to school, finishing, and moving away to start
a new adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But clearly, the Lord
had a plan for me to stay here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
know what that plan was for a while, but within a couple years, I learned a
little bit more of why I stayed in Lynchburg instead of moving away.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I didn’t know it at the time, but the Lord used that
position to help me ultimately end up in the ministry position where I find
myself now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was there as I worked in
an academic department where I was encouraged to pursue my master’s degree in Human
Services (tuition fees being one of the benefits of my employment at the
university) and teach online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
provided a means for me to pay off my student loans more quickly than I would
have otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord was laying the
groundwork for me to be able to transition into ministry in the years to come.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In May of 2010 I finished my master’s degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if this would be a good time to
transition into a ministry role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
loved my job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been promoted to an
academic coordinator position and thoroughly enjoyed what I did and the people
with whom I worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prayed that if the
Lord wanted me to transition to something else that he would provide the right
opportunity and change my attachment to my job and release me from my current
position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little did I know, he was
doing just that.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>That summer, I traveled with Living Bread Ministries on a
short-term mission trip to Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wasn’t extremely familiar with Living Bread, so while we were on our trip, I
observed different aspects of the ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also spent time getting to know the founders of the ministry, Patrick
and Bárbara Hubbard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after the
trip, the Hubbards approached me about coming on staff with the ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea sounded wonderful, but there seemed
to be a few obstacles in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still loved my job and couldn’t see myself just quitting a job that I enjoyed
so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, Living Bread is
completely support-based, so my position would require me to raise
support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I still had student
loan debt, I didn’t feel comfortable asking people to support my ministry and
help me pay off my education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
continued to pray that if the Lord wanted me to transition into a ministry
role, he would put all the pieces in place for that to happen.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Over the next two years, all those pieces fell into
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to completely pay off
my student loans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some things changed in
my job situation that landed me in a different position at the university.
Though I still enjoyed my role very much, I didn’t have the same level of
attachment to what I was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when
the time came for me to leave, I didn’t have nearly as much hesitation to
putting in my notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>June 30, 2012 was my last day on staff at Liberty
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began working full-time as
Administrative Coordinator for Living Bread Ministries in July. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Over the last two years, I have continued to love my role
with Living Bread and the opportunities it has provided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I am still working to raise full-time
support so I am not as dependent on supplemental income, the Lord has always
provided and met my needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My transition to Living Bread was not without challenges and
adjustments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought my biggest
challenge would be going from working in a busy office environment with lots of
people all day to a home office environment where some days I work by myself
during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This did take some
getting used to, but my biggest challenge was the newfound flexibility I had in
my schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t married to an
eight to five, Monday through Friday workweek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, I could plan my days differently and use my flexibility to meet
others’ needs.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Despite the ups and downs of transitions and new beginnings,
the Lord has been faithful to me through all the adventures he has brought my
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never thought I would be in
Lynchburg 10 years, but I have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
never thought I would be able to enjoy working with a missions organization
right here in my home town and still have the opportunity to travel overseas,
but I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never thought the Lord would
take me so far from what I thought my life would look like and still be so
content with his provision and his timing, but I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-58073071410246525212014-05-09T14:48:00.000-04:002014-05-09T14:50:53.465-04:0010 Years of Living Bread!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ministry where I work is celebrating its 10 year anniversary! Here's a video about its mission, history, and vision. I'm so thankful to be a part of this work and look forward to how the Lord will bless its next 10 years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/93739937" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/93739937">Planting Churches Among the Global Poor</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/livingbread">Living Bread Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-84623452274632829622014-04-19T23:02:00.000-04:002014-04-19T23:05:04.750-04:00Taking the Plunge<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember how I recently got my <a href="http://sunshinekristi.blogspot.com/2014/01/scubie-dubie-duba.html" target="_blank">Open Water Diving Certification</a>? Well, I just got to use it for the first time! It was bit of an impromptu (and quick) trip, but it felt great to put my certification to use! Here's a a play-by-play of my Key West diving adventure!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I met up with a couple friends on the way to the Keys, but before hitting the road, we stopped to make some new friends in the Everglades. This one is named Jackson.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s7Dzmxwcs8/U1Mw3JgxTqI/AAAAAAAACWg/uJENnhHoJUY/s1600/IMG_4702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s7Dzmxwcs8/U1Mw3JgxTqI/AAAAAAAACWg/uJENnhHoJUY/s1600/IMG_4702.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">A well-timed dinner stop in Key Largo along with outdoor seating made for a beautiful welcome to our brief visit to the islands.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JnLQm7MsIKs/U1M1bV8SfeI/AAAAAAAACcs/YMcpE0ZjNhQ/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JnLQm7MsIKs/U1M1bV8SfeI/AAAAAAAACcs/YMcpE0ZjNhQ/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">We got up at 3am to walk down to the beach to watch the lunar eclipse, aka the Blood Moon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Our first day there we spent hanging around the island, enjoying some beach time and soaking in the sun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">We rented scooters to ride around the island for the day. I may have nearly killed myself learning how to drive it, but once I got the hang of it, it was a good time.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIa_BIsoMyM/U1Mw3Ase_XI/AAAAAAAACWg/-iXAUwTaphU/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIa_BIsoMyM/U1Mw3Ase_XI/AAAAAAAACWg/-iXAUwTaphU/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Another sunset dinner, this time on the pier. Can't go wrong with views like this one.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8pkFhyPRMw/U1Mw3LOF7UI/AAAAAAAACWg/sYQuFKk_NQE/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8pkFhyPRMw/U1Mw3LOF7UI/AAAAAAAACWg/sYQuFKk_NQE/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">A little Key Lime pie for dessert. We may have tried as many different Key Lime pies as possible. I believe my total was 6.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">We were up bright and early the next day for our diving adventure, only after a delicious cuban breakfast and coffee.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_rCi9DaICc/U1BEKY4HSCI/AAAAAAAACVY/ns2Vh25gsGI/s1600/14+-+4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_rCi9DaICc/U1BEKY4HSCI/AAAAAAAACVY/ns2Vh25gsGI/s1600/14+-+4" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">It's time to go! After a 40 minute boat ride, we were out at the reef ready to jump in.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K86WKs3G_Qs/U1Mw3D-t7oI/AAAAAAAACWg/Fa6tQRbotF0/s1600/IMG_4728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K86WKs3G_Qs/U1Mw3D-t7oI/AAAAAAAACWg/Fa6tQRbotF0/s1600/IMG_4728.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Getting in and out of a wet suit may be the hardest part of diving.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXf6gaoAy4Y/U1BEKUuu8WI/AAAAAAAACU0/TxUuMN18xs8/s1600/14+-+3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXf6gaoAy4Y/U1BEKUuu8WI/AAAAAAAACU0/TxUuMN18xs8/s1600/14+-+3" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I was a little excited. Also, flippers are favorite.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cK5MF88p8lQ/U1BEKTqOYrI/AAAAAAAACWw/xorYVzSVKHw/s1600/14+-+7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cK5MF88p8lQ/U1BEKTqOYrI/AAAAAAAACWw/xorYVzSVKHw/s1600/14+-+7" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">And so our diving fun began!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exk2h5lUrB4/U1Mw25kNfOI/AAAAAAAACW8/nzgdy07jmfk/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exk2h5lUrB4/U1Mw25kNfOI/AAAAAAAACW8/nzgdy07jmfk/s1600/14+-+1" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Flag = divers in the water! Apparently, there is also a reef shark that lives in those waters. I didn't see her, and I can't quite decide if I'm glad about that or a little disappointed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jjcuz_SRyh4/U1BEKepNgKI/AAAAAAAACYY/C7ah_IrpLtg/s1600/14+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jjcuz_SRyh4/U1BEKepNgKI/AAAAAAAACYY/C7ah_IrpLtg/s1600/14+-+2" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">After diving, we enjoyed a little more pool time before it was time to pack up and go home.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dear Key West, thanks for a fun, quick trip and my first ocean dive!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So instead of birthday blues, my day turned into a not-so-blue day because of all the people who made me feel special. And what's most special is that the people who made me feel special yesterday on my special day are the same people who make me feel special everyday. Good things aren't only stored up for birthdays; I get them all year long!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, I may be older now. But I think it was worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And did I mention there was cake??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-56646560919249524162014-04-01T10:13:00.002-04:002014-04-30T11:46:03.404-04:00April Showers<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy April!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't do April Fool's Day, so sorry to disappoint. Nothing funny or clever here this morning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's hard to believe 2014 is already a quarter over, but I am looking forward to this month for several reasons including but not limited to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's my birthday month.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm going to become a legit aunt this month.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's getting warm and that means spring.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">April showers bring May flowers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like flowers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've decided to read the whole New Testament this month.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I realize it's not such a huge feat, but I'm really looking forward to it. My Bible reading has been lacking focus for the past couple months, so I decided to do something to kick start me into a better routine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are 260 chapters in the New Testament, so I'm reading 9 chapters each day except Sundays when I'll read 7. That will leave me with only 7 chapters on the last day of April, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today's chapters (Matthew 1-9) were full of rich teaching (This section includes the sermon on the mount), and this was one of the verses that stood out most to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd love to hear about how you like to read the Bible and if you have some kind of plan that you use. Would you share your ideas with me? I have a kind of short attention span; I like to try different things, so I'd love your suggestions!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bring on the April showers in anticipation of May's flowers!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-18832332827124360562014-03-17T10:22:00.002-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.915-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Day 8<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning is bittersweet as we are packing up and getting ready to hit the road to head home. Our last day in town was a wonderful time spent with friends we have made this week. The Sunday morning service at Vila Nova is always a blessing, and yesterday was no exception. The pastors from the other local church plants came to see us one more time before we left. Ubiratan sang a special song in English for us, and each church presented us with thank you gifts. We always feel so spoiled because we come here to be an encouragement, but we end up being blessed by the love and generosity of these people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday afternoon was spent enjoying a special lunch with Bárbara's family who live here in town. They also spoiled us with authentic Brazilian cuisine and the best desserts (pudim and chocolate mousse, anyone??).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The evening service at Vila Nova was also a blessing! Fabiane shared about her son Yan who was diagnosed with cancer and miraculously healed before his treatments and how the Lord used that time in her life to teach her and grow her faith. The youth band again blessed us with their worship music, and Pastor Zigomar shared a message. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Though we will certainly miss our friends here, we are looking forward to being home again though I'm sure home will feel a little different after the experiences we've had this week. Each time I visit Living Bread's work here, my own lifestyle is challenged in all the best ways. I pray that I will be sensitive to what the Lord has to teach me as I go back home and serve him in a different context there. I hope that those of you who have followed along with our journey this week have also been challenged in unique ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the ministry of <a href="http://www.livingbread.org/" target="_blank">Living Bread</a> or how you can get involved!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD49uqN5UoKkGVcgtdzjFzWG5-1sxLDBzP0oN3R31eA9B7W_5r3hexJd1bjorzVxvgS5ncpSeXSu_BoIdPI83BmB8TjRIPJ-ashsa6hVsG4BeHrRH2Sc4MOKIwTSv9z4p_m71-Jdt-wYW/s1600/DSCN9840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD49uqN5UoKkGVcgtdzjFzWG5-1sxLDBzP0oN3R31eA9B7W_5r3hexJd1bjorzVxvgS5ncpSeXSu_BoIdPI83BmB8TjRIPJ-ashsa6hVsG4BeHrRH2Sc4MOKIwTSv9z4p_m71-Jdt-wYW/s1600/DSCN9840.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the youth who lead worship</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7jxwnF6wEIemLZG1ena30PYA0NenIRML8URRcV5awLPHKUKT1wAGa4kQiHHPimfF9VvfXreiJAAn-8la5Ell6UX924mJsZS7ov6v88hJ8yGYWyG5QFtu64DsQrRjPUCqFZS8la09jYrW/s1600/DSCN9845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7jxwnF6wEIemLZG1ena30PYA0NenIRML8URRcV5awLPHKUKT1wAGa4kQiHHPimfF9VvfXreiJAAn-8la5Ell6UX924mJsZS7ov6v88hJ8yGYWyG5QFtu64DsQrRjPUCqFZS8la09jYrW/s1600/DSCN9845.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ubiratan singing for us!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnFqsvl3EHWBebf8Y6lMSOWogfDnuLwAKUibNdGP213EeHO2MdhZ1hRjDPWFLbbbEIpKJs0sDbnSCFRxi-yIqmnSByHK95Nnxlp7bJ8_h4wbhEr3LBOaqAUC3WZ5gc89n3aMTl7ukOc2/s1600/DSCN9849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RnFqsvl3EHWBebf8Y6lMSOWogfDnuLwAKUibNdGP213EeHO2MdhZ1hRjDPWFLbbbEIpKJs0sDbnSCFRxi-yIqmnSByHK95Nnxlp7bJ8_h4wbhEr3LBOaqAUC3WZ5gc89n3aMTl7ukOc2/s1600/DSCN9849.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor Zigomar, the new pastor at Igreja Batista Viva</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFMqCl2FHXwksqCjZAxYau94W4QXaWcnO4nVMOMgELglsG5ifaEz_DkdoxOkNU4k24UGvJd5o50nlwfb-_pVz7umgHBKVR_jwBg8-aGDfCz4F7aANXd31G4cnnyT2rJ-7IpQCcNuiwJsE/s1600/DSCN9852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFMqCl2FHXwksqCjZAxYau94W4QXaWcnO4nVMOMgELglsG5ifaEz_DkdoxOkNU4k24UGvJd5o50nlwfb-_pVz7umgHBKVR_jwBg8-aGDfCz4F7aANXd31G4cnnyT2rJ-7IpQCcNuiwJsE/s1600/DSCN9852.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My sweet friend, Daisy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpr2NRQkT_ouapVMO6SuO9IhFhkIF2MCIaB-Yn-G_ZxG7oYGT-0o8JntmD03TvjBkStjcwGhL5Tavxb_khEvsf8UhmHneQGsnBRpR8XFghFnC5cZ4QYj0N1RLv1blO006aThG7hnENkpB/s1600/DSCN9869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpr2NRQkT_ouapVMO6SuO9IhFhkIF2MCIaB-Yn-G_ZxG7oYGT-0o8JntmD03TvjBkStjcwGhL5Tavxb_khEvsf8UhmHneQGsnBRpR8XFghFnC5cZ4QYj0N1RLv1blO006aThG7hnENkpB/s1600/DSCN9869.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bárbara with her mom and sister at our lunch</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T22McXinXgOKb9WfNHtG81urHvfGRygInantwQFBBHTGBveIs-mWBVGWsnQYQHIQZCRE2ckZVG1yCtx5aaaFXuI0BeJdPatV27Cwbnau9lCD_PKElOmL_yDA1uRKPa9aHuItT9UJUbG9/s1600/DSCN9894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T22McXinXgOKb9WfNHtG81urHvfGRygInantwQFBBHTGBveIs-mWBVGWsnQYQHIQZCRE2ckZVG1yCtx5aaaFXuI0BeJdPatV27Cwbnau9lCD_PKElOmL_yDA1uRKPa9aHuItT9UJUbG9/s1600/DSCN9894.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The team with the kitchen volunteers at IBV. They work endlessly preparing meals and refreshments for different events including Sunday school breakfast and the monthly feeding service.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-71907368630743017342014-03-15T23:03:00.001-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.933-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Days 6 & 7<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday was our last day of visiting the communities where Living Bread is at work. We walked with Pastor Alexsandro around Vila Safira where he serves the community. This church body is excited to have a new building, and we are anticipating the ministry expansion that will come from having a place to call their own. The store front where the church had been meeting after the leaving the extra room built on to one parishioner's home is now a small consignment shop where Christian materials are sold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we walked through Vila Safira, we could see how the government is stepping into the community and working to improve the infrastructure by establishing roads and rebuilding faulty structures. However, this presents some unique challenges to the needy in this community. The local officials come in and give residents a very short notice that their home is going to be leveled because it doesn't meet their qualifications. Alexsandro shared his concern with us that the government is making these improvements in order to use the area for something else, displacing the poor who live there. His hope is that the local government is going to create more intentional lots and property line and give the current residents official deeds to the land where they live. This would help establish the community and give them a place to officially call their own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday afternoon we spent time with Pastor Magioli and his family. He presented the current projects of Ministério Pão Vivo and shared his vision for the next year of the ministry. We dreamed together about the lives and communities that can be changed with the impact Christ can have on their lives. Our evening was filled with fellowship with the Magiolis and saying our goodbyes to their family since they are traveling this weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today we were able to enjoy a little sight seeing. Our day trip took us to Gramado and Canela, towns in the mountains a couple hours from Porto Alegre. We got to have a little change in scenery and got to see a different part of the state! Our adventures took us shoe shopping (a big industry in this area), to chocolate stores (also one of the highlights), to visit a 700 year old tree (just as exciting as it sounds), and on a sky tram ride to see a beautiful, mountain waterfall. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With one more day of ministry at Igreja Batista Viva ahead of us, we are so thankful for all this week has held. We've been spent emotionally and physically with all we have seen and done. Though we have been exposed to extreme poverty and dire circumstances these last several days, the truth is we are surrounded with the same hopelessness without Christ everyday in our own communities. But at home that hopelessness is shrouded in suits and ties, 401(K)s, nice cars and houses, social status, or whatever people use to try to fill the void in their hearts that leave lives just as empty as those living in the slums we've seen this week. It's a blessing to be a small part of a ministry that is making such a big difference in the lives of the people in these communities. As Pastor Magioli often says, "We can't do everything, but we do everything we can."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SKLI13AyMGt2RmzdvPGK1wd1jGHNp1zkyF12OUqKkxCJwggVkooY9LXf9H_WqeWQEhg2rr3_-Fq7Osavge_0q9v4_4i7F7HPiqnrMBGBQXUdO-dY3tXkxr6Ul8vF6wzjYJATw4W0kHo/s1600/DSCN9512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-SKLI13AyMGt2RmzdvPGK1wd1jGHNp1zkyF12OUqKkxCJwggVkooY9LXf9H_WqeWQEhg2rr3_-Fq7Osavge_0q9v4_4i7F7HPiqnrMBGBQXUdO-dY3tXkxr6Ul8vF6wzjYJATw4W0kHo/s1600/DSCN9512.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A home in the Vila Safira neighborhood. Notice the little red house in the front yard. This is a Macumba (spiritist) house where they believe the spirits live. They offer sacrifices to the spirits here and live in fear of the spirits cursing their home.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXXBX1A_yJIukFgZNG5SCYet5Hvg4aiwzK4scxboObKHCrBlM4mKhlknPjl9eHcznL8v8KORGN8KwETnQODAHcdF42qJ6TLThSe0uXGWEQcLK5BSMGK2wwHD1jUeIE6mh2T3GELSrkKSc/s1600/DSCN9538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXXBX1A_yJIukFgZNG5SCYet5Hvg4aiwzK4scxboObKHCrBlM4mKhlknPjl9eHcznL8v8KORGN8KwETnQODAHcdF42qJ6TLThSe0uXGWEQcLK5BSMGK2wwHD1jUeIE6mh2T3GELSrkKSc/s1600/DSCN9538.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walking through the community with Pastor Alexsandro</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nyZ006GLphJFsSXSL-kJ8BO8KFnUiQENJTPs-yArsAl2McZuIGmJkpwOWYg2Ih-7jr4tve7LhhLA2-HLb2V9g6iQIuHQLrfU7wQK3VLNkSQpJE4Ay5Yk_XYp5X9exfPQ4xfuaiU6H-Xu/s1600/DSCN9564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nyZ006GLphJFsSXSL-kJ8BO8KFnUiQENJTPs-yArsAl2McZuIGmJkpwOWYg2Ih-7jr4tve7LhhLA2-HLb2V9g6iQIuHQLrfU7wQK3VLNkSQpJE4Ay5Yk_XYp5X9exfPQ4xfuaiU6H-Xu/s1600/DSCN9564.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alexsandro and Bárbara with Septembrino, a resident whose home was demolished by the city.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaB0gAF85CsaB9shvMoxBVLCxKUreeNLFPZ8iShVkSK6_7cXv0elI0mNkhxFFQjCNEMPBKei1GiyurNBuqDAUIe-GLQ7n4SD3ppPtZ-53vONaxRO_6JY8C0FWniWKmj-HkBJZZJm1Rcyb/s1600/DSCN9569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaB0gAF85CsaB9shvMoxBVLCxKUreeNLFPZ8iShVkSK6_7cXv0elI0mNkhxFFQjCNEMPBKei1GiyurNBuqDAUIe-GLQ7n4SD3ppPtZ-53vONaxRO_6JY8C0FWniWKmj-HkBJZZJm1Rcyb/s1600/DSCN9569.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We made some new friends with the kiddos in the area!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K0nJ6EarcM0hiGD_ZYZJz3PVfrXPH1O5nHqrsB2fgrtRkDJfMxabK-rY-tGEB1_oU47Gaz5FmWUck2Y8oGm74NqF63SFWasGZ1b4JdUPfp3bZUR2IG2KROPjwXoFQqBq04itwDItdybM/s1600/DSCN9604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K0nJ6EarcM0hiGD_ZYZJz3PVfrXPH1O5nHqrsB2fgrtRkDJfMxabK-rY-tGEB1_oU47Gaz5FmWUck2Y8oGm74NqF63SFWasGZ1b4JdUPfp3bZUR2IG2KROPjwXoFQqBq04itwDItdybM/s1600/DSCN9604.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alexsandro and his wife Luciane</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NmjW8X4kMaT5DY9ASJh3Doz4QPfeRQnEECQjnW9CLKkHJnxE8uMm-Y8w7ZNod053YOHMMDgR9Y_tJpPm3vDFCCuZpnY7uV5fAOmjMJl60Dx1eHgybC4ZLvMOb0KOtamvCFCWj_oZ45Ym/s1600/DSCN9627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NmjW8X4kMaT5DY9ASJh3Doz4QPfeRQnEECQjnW9CLKkHJnxE8uMm-Y8w7ZNod053YOHMMDgR9Y_tJpPm3vDFCCuZpnY7uV5fAOmjMJl60Dx1eHgybC4ZLvMOb0KOtamvCFCWj_oZ45Ym/s1600/DSCN9627.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're so excited for the new building for this church in Vila Safira!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dsPzEJVAmNv72fJ474ryB6vrnGboM0aNRFPlZn1RF6kLeWC4hz-oWV-RjFw-15i3-cmZlU68Js6fOTP8sRBCmKCtAqYvcMAMBXh-npivJd1rB8Bo6znyyAmanNgyb-gx76DaCDhJWxg2/s1600/DSCN9632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dsPzEJVAmNv72fJ474ryB6vrnGboM0aNRFPlZn1RF6kLeWC4hz-oWV-RjFw-15i3-cmZlU68Js6fOTP8sRBCmKCtAqYvcMAMBXh-npivJd1rB8Bo6znyyAmanNgyb-gx76DaCDhJWxg2/s1600/DSCN9632.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our time of sharing with the Magiolis and our new pastor for the church at Vila Nova and his family.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgouJe9YCU1IO0Auq09LIHpO2HSTLTA-ROuBjjSRwH5NUmedPKebysZs73wUGrGv8498a_tXZ4kw114A2Woj41Lxp8jW1v9IMXRaDpzYJo49rgcXbx4LLC4W9qvJfr6sqOaDqgNOCoK08W/s1600/DSCN9651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgouJe9YCU1IO0Auq09LIHpO2HSTLTA-ROuBjjSRwH5NUmedPKebysZs73wUGrGv8498a_tXZ4kw114A2Woj41Lxp8jW1v9IMXRaDpzYJo49rgcXbx4LLC4W9qvJfr6sqOaDqgNOCoK08W/s1600/DSCN9651.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Playing tourist today!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHd8_Z2s4J_k1lDlWc8lCdaKltyvihslWslTrvJ4-g0rGEqA48UFqiqbG9s0lkT8c7EDrySoAquY57fZQvAnrm2wWkOiH6o1ZrxAsYAPqbf6or2ZlCBuX3XsD9Ay9wt0_atD06MlqO9Ku/s1600/DSCN9778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHd8_Z2s4J_k1lDlWc8lCdaKltyvihslWslTrvJ4-g0rGEqA48UFqiqbG9s0lkT8c7EDrySoAquY57fZQvAnrm2wWkOiH6o1ZrxAsYAPqbf6or2ZlCBuX3XsD9Ay9wt0_atD06MlqO9Ku/s1600/DSCN9778.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Canela's natural beauty</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESGwlRBzrTcUJWc2wLrNU6dqH8S3wE1Fuc7-gMlhrN5LFUnDMawMA1_zcGG2fFVLwsDS3vkSp8n5i3jIVaEhV-hRsl0sQ-9Wd1uPqfMZ-YmREDnaawpM1dPQ8r4rI7AFVFuG4F2I5ZNvO/s1600/DSCN9812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESGwlRBzrTcUJWc2wLrNU6dqH8S3wE1Fuc7-gMlhrN5LFUnDMawMA1_zcGG2fFVLwsDS3vkSp8n5i3jIVaEhV-hRsl0sQ-9Wd1uPqfMZ-YmREDnaawpM1dPQ8r4rI7AFVFuG4F2I5ZNvO/s1600/DSCN9812.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gremado's downtown area, heavily influenced by the German heritage in this area</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-32060800224559083402014-03-13T23:09:00.001-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.926-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Day 5<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We started our day with a few stops around town. Our first destination was the Christian bookstore downtown. Here we have access to resources for our pastors and an opportunity to see what is available to the local Christian community. Next up, we hit the flea market to pick up a few Brasil souvenirs. (Dad, I got yours here today!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After lunch, we got to visit the local Baptist school that teaches preschool through 12th grade. The principal gave us a tour of the school and shared with us some of the challenges she faces in her role. Though the curriculum is governed by the state's accreditation standards, she wants to ensure that Christian principles are being integrated in the classroom. She also came into her position with the school in debt and declining. Since she has been there (as a volunteer), enrollment has been increasing, and they are working themselves out of their deficit. We had the opportunity to pray with her, for the school, and its witness in the city!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We then walked across the street to her husband's office where he is the director of the state's Baptist convention. He welcomed us to their headquarters and shared with us how he is supportive of Living Bread's work here and why he is on board with our mission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After visiting these folks and encouraging their work and ministries, we made our way to Planalto, another community where Living Bread has a church plant. Our pastor there Ubiratan and his wife Cleide faithfully serve their church family, made up mostly of children and teenagers. We walked through a slum in this area where one of the young girls lives. Vitória is the only one in this specific area that attends the church, and she is a beautiful witness for the Lord! We laughed and played with her neighbors and prayed with her for the community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The evening held a midweek service at Planalto's church. The youth led the worship as they are learning to fill the different roles of the church. Pastor Magioli surprised me by asking me to share with the group tonight! (Enjoy the play by play of Kristi's facial expression while speaking!) This church serves a community in need of role models and a godly example. There are few (if any) adult men who are part of this church other than Pastor Ubiratan. The boys and youth look to him for so much, and we are glad to have this ministry in place!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is a little heavy on the pictures, but there were too many good ones to pass up! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLVmFKVcYJRf70ssOeGkoWnKqVVt9UgKskLNqcAuBnoZk93gWmX2GMdNDWex4jtuwhiLoaeFozmPV0nbxevwN12wggNTxnrwHnNtcKS6mqhAcUUAV5_VZzJmA0QjO9PVd_3jJKWMF0GzO/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLVmFKVcYJRf70ssOeGkoWnKqVVt9UgKskLNqcAuBnoZk93gWmX2GMdNDWex4jtuwhiLoaeFozmPV0nbxevwN12wggNTxnrwHnNtcKS6mqhAcUUAV5_VZzJmA0QjO9PVd_3jJKWMF0GzO/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gotta get some Brasil soccer gear!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiIOA8v3RWVYVltIt3opwtXpCiTSgzpdGcA-hk3XKNzpmh-anJ609ZmFhbYTh28qFf2uocR1b8fxcpzCNOWDKomNOu3osJQXkB9fEB_NQwMPCL1fgvzxLlss3BcKeYoYTbh1c3djfnawz/s1600/IMG_4366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiIOA8v3RWVYVltIt3opwtXpCiTSgzpdGcA-hk3XKNzpmh-anJ609ZmFhbYTh28qFf2uocR1b8fxcpzCNOWDKomNOu3osJQXkB9fEB_NQwMPCL1fgvzxLlss3BcKeYoYTbh1c3djfnawz/s1600/IMG_4366.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Touring the school</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSeDdQm1i3w2XQLfPw-EkeufpcoqBjkJG3rjp52Cy8I4v8gF1BCWBMQS1r2q3xv7IXEw4UmcYRdieunDLlzNtNaevJhAbZTCsYon3r3TE4_H9MZKjZ8ws2WdyFwBhH162NvVU_FY1oaI-/s1600/IMG_4380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSeDdQm1i3w2XQLfPw-EkeufpcoqBjkJG3rjp52Cy8I4v8gF1BCWBMQS1r2q3xv7IXEw4UmcYRdieunDLlzNtNaevJhAbZTCsYon3r3TE4_H9MZKjZ8ws2WdyFwBhH162NvVU_FY1oaI-/s1600/IMG_4380.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Visiting the Baptist convention office</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbT71SvcTzTXA43Hv9tfo2VK8ps2XSO-Wyn4VysulmHdYazc5zKJAZYw3q4YyZujLnWWGg37QylsSpiXSh_EkQCVPlJ7jjwQlcIS6pim8_f7dBHHEnf-xbM148jrpgrNDfbAK5Ocxbe5U/s1600/DSCN9351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbT71SvcTzTXA43Hv9tfo2VK8ps2XSO-Wyn4VysulmHdYazc5zKJAZYw3q4YyZujLnWWGg37QylsSpiXSh_EkQCVPlJ7jjwQlcIS6pim8_f7dBHHEnf-xbM148jrpgrNDfbAK5Ocxbe5U/s1600/DSCN9351.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The building where our church in Planalto is currently meeting</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtLN1GgzCOcLE5DQxvz6r1NbN6Njy6RFnQPoQV9kck-KP1mcG9oeW9SiSL7TO3y0mF4e46WWySOwxBQG-LimuQUxjwI6CZP1gZk4MuVvtnHRd2jMq8XBX8HwFw3wIJA_QQFDeX5-dRP78/s1600/DSCN9371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtLN1GgzCOcLE5DQxvz6r1NbN6Njy6RFnQPoQV9kck-KP1mcG9oeW9SiSL7TO3y0mF4e46WWySOwxBQG-LimuQUxjwI6CZP1gZk4MuVvtnHRd2jMq8XBX8HwFw3wIJA_QQFDeX5-dRP78/s1600/DSCN9371.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The slum where one of the girls from the church Vitória lives</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDITf9sYETumn2_iP_Mvm6IunNIuTrj48FdQWT8hTwbuDGOqnEa3VZg296SS_puEibQRPhosuwDEgBFQ9WWzEgzXBNcyTLLn-akKMyVxNZ9Rzh0wvNuIvH5nJyu4zqNbWc3ijL9kNJ9np/s1600/DSCN9382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDITf9sYETumn2_iP_Mvm6IunNIuTrj48FdQWT8hTwbuDGOqnEa3VZg296SS_puEibQRPhosuwDEgBFQ9WWzEgzXBNcyTLLn-akKMyVxNZ9Rzh0wvNuIvH5nJyu4zqNbWc3ijL9kNJ9np/s1600/DSCN9382.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The children in these places are simply beautiful.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj469fILCYwfKzYirISU0s_Hj9kVU8oxvpyoKaVDOzm9zq9vPhP5Gbxy1QiLOYMhw2lqEeuDjpf3gaFNGI9x57y_BXu1qI-ZyXGvmnLVV0aXPLR6kx71x9P7EdMOCSw_VFSiX4mFomVK5TG/s1600/DSCN9399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj469fILCYwfKzYirISU0s_Hj9kVU8oxvpyoKaVDOzm9zq9vPhP5Gbxy1QiLOYMhw2lqEeuDjpf3gaFNGI9x57y_BXu1qI-ZyXGvmnLVV0aXPLR6kx71x9P7EdMOCSw_VFSiX4mFomVK5TG/s1600/DSCN9399.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Estela didn't waste any time making new friends!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yZcoeAS8Sn1Hfi0muSMKBr4YJ12iQh5sOjJG6rGprrjbm5xTscF5Rfv5TVDcjCDa7NlHWDhcQJzx5IR3WvzPp8dYG5eMvjKz8PF6mFaayguONybt357N50aDDH8c2EvwgxcQrHsoYw85/s1600/DSCN9435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yZcoeAS8Sn1Hfi0muSMKBr4YJ12iQh5sOjJG6rGprrjbm5xTscF5Rfv5TVDcjCDa7NlHWDhcQJzx5IR3WvzPp8dYG5eMvjKz8PF6mFaayguONybt357N50aDDH8c2EvwgxcQrHsoYw85/s1600/DSCN9435.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A litte futebol!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KuYub5HB0FBf3rsu5NRgyUWi-SXCbvEkxo4DpzbhmjYoG9uhtYjskzQ4Pzoj-xwB6nDHoOoMkphtruCORkzcnxStN7eZVGwfejt-dWdK4EQWL8pDqLLef72_jqSvuMDRa4hjdBPnO0mj/s1600/DSCN9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KuYub5HB0FBf3rsu5NRgyUWi-SXCbvEkxo4DpzbhmjYoG9uhtYjskzQ4Pzoj-xwB6nDHoOoMkphtruCORkzcnxStN7eZVGwfejt-dWdK4EQWL8pDqLLef72_jqSvuMDRa4hjdBPnO0mj/s1600/DSCN9420.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the neighborhood boys, Robson</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5VQOpBFTGVBSXiShfs4c9aQsC3wum94vE9LZDqpNaYoWmcbqxNYi7CTvIs7A_JQTF5icSKbir45P05ZwDectEJzwLZRvCRmxObiPZDpfgzxdzC8NGNIpqhaQNziDDW6CBsiMOgFd80Pj/s1600/DSCN9440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5VQOpBFTGVBSXiShfs4c9aQsC3wum94vE9LZDqpNaYoWmcbqxNYi7CTvIs7A_JQTF5icSKbir45P05ZwDectEJzwLZRvCRmxObiPZDpfgzxdzC8NGNIpqhaQNziDDW6CBsiMOgFd80Pj/s1600/DSCN9440.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bárbara with Vitória, one of the member's of Planalto's youth group</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil99OxIl3aOjB4o7EMQYV_JeL9IiELYN7A8I-NWYYUtN8Nu0Lmc28Up-ZdrIaKT61dj5VZ9X0ozV11BC3eYURglDvA_dkWE15Vo_1dAZu9FVdbU41JkO-GlqOS2yvL2sm55ZZkmBz7jJI-/s1600/DSCN9475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil99OxIl3aOjB4o7EMQYV_JeL9IiELYN7A8I-NWYYUtN8Nu0Lmc28Up-ZdrIaKT61dj5VZ9X0ozV11BC3eYURglDvA_dkWE15Vo_1dAZu9FVdbU41JkO-GlqOS2yvL2sm55ZZkmBz7jJI-/s1600/DSCN9475.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Neighborhood kids getting home from school</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuY8whrBQTFiDVEYN1r9tHs0qlOz1g4esQsydI2iY02TV-RJrUaSEtDnWBKJw0d9kJNwHTgJhr16fg8xXIPwHRZhAQznbQqmmKTrRTCkpJLOQ0SPZ_ySU4QoRInDAUq0HL84yVikNXJ-O/s1600/DSCN9485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuY8whrBQTFiDVEYN1r9tHs0qlOz1g4esQsydI2iY02TV-RJrUaSEtDnWBKJw0d9kJNwHTgJhr16fg8xXIPwHRZhAQznbQqmmKTrRTCkpJLOQ0SPZ_ySU4QoRInDAUq0HL84yVikNXJ-O/s1600/DSCN9485.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is Leitiane and Nattah, a young couple from the church. Leitiane is battling cancer, and Nattah is a recent convert. He was baptized on Saturday night at Vila Safira's new building's inaugural service. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqju7grhMQeEPI3cgTxxP5ZgJuu1DGk9vBBSGxq4WL7TLLFlKMpcipZHWa6SerJ3OM_7P1D2DFyy1nzBEd1WtDTBd4_V6dTi9hda1HtKl2r972ksijE5e5_aPb0cmp_Wz96VVe93FjO96/s1600/DSCN9489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqju7grhMQeEPI3cgTxxP5ZgJuu1DGk9vBBSGxq4WL7TLLFlKMpcipZHWa6SerJ3OM_7P1D2DFyy1nzBEd1WtDTBd4_V6dTi9hda1HtKl2r972ksijE5e5_aPb0cmp_Wz96VVe93FjO96/s1600/DSCN9489.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor Ubiratan, his wife Cleide, and their son Haniel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0c5IyHuVY-bn65WXx5opoMDsaZ-_V3kDBgskrDpUojqLRTx7_wUwznN9ZiHIdzVH2kLF6TsT3aJjL_P0ICwl0yRs2d5ROSkeo_xBQDhIYAIG7X48Cf4665FyTc4DwrHTgURE2Huh02O2/s1600/DSCN9502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0c5IyHuVY-bn65WXx5opoMDsaZ-_V3kDBgskrDpUojqLRTx7_wUwznN9ZiHIdzVH2kLF6TsT3aJjL_P0ICwl0yRs2d5ROSkeo_xBQDhIYAIG7X48Cf4665FyTc4DwrHTgURE2Huh02O2/s1600/DSCN9502.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love days that end like this! Sweet baby Anthony slept in my arms through much of the evening's service.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAHy1tPmVOrewl7cK28kn2RkqJLUkah1B6e3S8i3EQ96k94_0R2EK5gS1EzIXob3mbBhBRsjRPliSq1SJ2VlOdrRRxaSQRlMa0EvxYEhHa-A4amKGFsb7nlcDjvPoDC239adA1IsUjeSZ/s1600/Speaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAHy1tPmVOrewl7cK28kn2RkqJLUkah1B6e3S8i3EQ96k94_0R2EK5gS1EzIXob3mbBhBRsjRPliSq1SJ2VlOdrRRxaSQRlMa0EvxYEhHa-A4amKGFsb7nlcDjvPoDC239adA1IsUjeSZ/s1600/Speaking.jpg" height="63" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Apparently, I don't make normal faces when I talk. Caption contest anyone?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g_BV64DyoaRP9XOd0NzgywtxOTjQnjMeLxuLmDnOCUfcFbpYd49kkP79D-3buzgWL9CL5juRPtkuUTlFTRvT7T-0NLGnw33TMMwF7tyI96NGu74EXfg7fUnmPpX3DB3gDLMvFBT_jx4d/s1600/BlogInitials.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g_BV64DyoaRP9XOd0NzgywtxOTjQnjMeLxuLmDnOCUfcFbpYd49kkP79D-3buzgWL9CL5juRPtkuUTlFTRvT7T-0NLGnw33TMMwF7tyI96NGu74EXfg7fUnmPpX3DB3gDLMvFBT_jx4d/s1600/BlogInitials.png" /></span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-56072017446591401932014-03-13T00:05:00.000-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.929-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Day 4<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the craziness of the last couple days, a more laid back day today was welcomed! We made a stop at the Big store (the Brazilian WalMart) to stock up on some necessities (i.e. Brazilian chocolate and coffee) this morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our ministry focus of the day was the feeding ministry service at Igreja Batista Viva. We assembled food kits of various necessities like rice, pasta, beans, flour, oil, and more that were distributed to families in need in Vila Nova. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the service tonight, Paul shared about the need for men to step up in their families to lead by example and to love their wives and children well. He challenged them to look to God as the example of a loving father since most families in the area have not come from a home with a good father, if a father was present at all. The message was well received, and the emphasis this week on godly leadership from the men in the church is one that can transform families as they follow the Lord!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the service, we served those in attendance a meal and distributed the food kits. Though it wasn't a day packed full, there is still impact on the community. We love seeing the church at work as the pastor, his family, and lay people serve the people in their area and give of their time and resources to help their friends and neighbors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for your continued prayers for our team as we encourage the pastors and their ministries here! Tomorrow we will be going into the Vila Planalto neighborhood, and Friday we'll be in Vila Safira.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gc1RsedMNqdz8OAi-uF3qLgtpod5kscXCLF_N3cB4heFrqjRe2YKz5ZuKmm4MUm3wFWevzeMH106oOJA0JZ6GzbbMTAdGCKRtOyWKrsjs5_7jkec_XwoAwHhr13qS_oeIYO3HBKr5mKm/s1600/DSCN9322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gc1RsedMNqdz8OAi-uF3qLgtpod5kscXCLF_N3cB4heFrqjRe2YKz5ZuKmm4MUm3wFWevzeMH106oOJA0JZ6GzbbMTAdGCKRtOyWKrsjs5_7jkec_XwoAwHhr13qS_oeIYO3HBKr5mKm/s1600/DSCN9322.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Estela and several others from the church putting together food kits for this evening's service. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr4B3LWX0Uh1Y8Nyjx9jLL-iTcu60lgd4necnT09-nNMnlPlVOjFQ65dojCErL1cpPBwJgUq7DIuDROQzAxLNmTE7zw6YMtEM1b13ki8tJWvtV8f7VVW65rGIEXtVmU8Vm_vHuF2jH1lc/s1600/DSCN9324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr4B3LWX0Uh1Y8Nyjx9jLL-iTcu60lgd4necnT09-nNMnlPlVOjFQ65dojCErL1cpPBwJgUq7DIuDROQzAxLNmTE7zw6YMtEM1b13ki8tJWvtV8f7VVW65rGIEXtVmU8Vm_vHuF2jH1lc/s1600/DSCN9324.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some of our best memories are from the opportunities we get to spend down time with the church members, drinking coffee, and sharing life!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirQ3TJbWX-lyx8eHERntCXNYZhqHjHWP2z0UYGFo2LFdZHxroeJVh3KXzTc6J6EEyBoky9vJZSdzh04mqm8P0ZLVt9V6JmUZmCBbBPMwZywoVoXnQGGFu9y9H1kAXt5JjwdLigQ5xTbj2/s1600/DSCN9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirQ3TJbWX-lyx8eHERntCXNYZhqHjHWP2z0UYGFo2LFdZHxroeJVh3KXzTc6J6EEyBoky9vJZSdzh04mqm8P0ZLVt9V6JmUZmCBbBPMwZywoVoXnQGGFu9y9H1kAXt5JjwdLigQ5xTbj2/s1600/DSCN9327.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Estela and her new friend Gi!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul sharing an important message this evening</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-21811356787183843292014-03-12T01:52:00.001-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.922-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Day 3<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you can see by the time of this post, today has been a long one to say the least! Long and tiring, yes, but no less a blessing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We got to spend the day traveling to and visiting with our two church plants outside the city of Porto Alegre in the coastal towns of Capão do Canoa and Torres. Both of these ministries are led by men who faithfully serve their communities despite less than ideal circumstances. Though the stories of their parishioners and neighborhood families are just as simultaneously challenging and inspirational as those we have encountered earlier this week, what has struck me most today has been the faithful work of the missionaries and their families in these towns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lindomar is our worker in Capão, and he has a vision for expanding his ministry in this town. Without any kind of formal Bible training or seminary education and having faced many difficulties with the building where the church is meeting, with raising teenage sons who are rebelling against the faith of his family, and with a lack of resources to do all he would like to do in the area, he presses on and works toward reaching his goals of seeing more people fed, more hearts reached with the Gospel, and more lives transformed with the love of Christ. He is in the application process for a government program that supplies fruits and vegetables for organizations helping the needy. He has an ongoing soccer ministry that reaches out to the neighborhood children and is reformatting the activities to involve the children's parents more so it becomes a family event. He is in the planning stages for new programs that will spread the message of hope in the Lord to more people in the community. His heart for his people is evident as he continues to dream big for the Kingdom!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Artênio is our missionary pastor in Torres. He and his wife Lú have an evident love for the people of their community. Tonight they held their weekly children's outreach where they have special activities and a meal for the children of the neighborhood. Their work in Guarita (an area of Torres) is in a dangerous location, and they have had to relocate four times in the past two years because of the lack of safety or issues with their landlord. But these things don't hinder the continuation of their ministry. Just this morning Artênio was in the home of a couple in the community who have a unique story. One evening last year Mercedes came home to find her husband Bento hanging by a rope in their shed. She called for help and by the grace of God, Bento survived this suicide attempt and has since recovered. However, this was his fifth unsuccessful attempt to take his own life. When we visited their home tonight, he shared with us his struggle with believing the whole Bible and how he feels hindered when he tries to pray. Though his wife has made a profession of faith, he struggles to accept Christ. The spiritual warfare in this home is evident, and Artênio faithfully maintains a relationship with this family, being an example of the love of Christ!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This hardly begins to scratch the surface of these ministries in Capão and Torres, and the few short hours we got to spend at each location just aren't enough to encourage the pastors and their families the ways they deserve and to get to know the people in the communities like we want to. But we pray that each family we visited, each child we hugged, and each home we walked by will be impacted by the ministries of Lindomar and Artêntio, these men of God with whom we are blessed to partner for the sake of the Gospel!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDR-Ns-sIGCGYogTYNeHgU8Hi-OQRUSpC2pMtt492Ito33ZkrWv1FH71CfB1v_O5zxRxPCTG-tOvhrRFjIpJn4-wp-0wDi_Qh3XrjJoSmW5U955ADe4B3oChoKbxvddDOn8ibHlqcnFUI/s1600/DSCN9199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDR-Ns-sIGCGYogTYNeHgU8Hi-OQRUSpC2pMtt492Ito33ZkrWv1FH71CfB1v_O5zxRxPCTG-tOvhrRFjIpJn4-wp-0wDi_Qh3XrjJoSmW5U955ADe4B3oChoKbxvddDOn8ibHlqcnFUI/s1600/DSCN9199.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor Magioli enjoying some chimarrão en route to Capão this morning</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--RxjxO4Q2Mo/Ux_y_8xfS-I/AAAAAAAACAQ/RC0_rhgPdks/s1600/14+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--RxjxO4Q2Mo/Ux_y_8xfS-I/AAAAAAAACAQ/RC0_rhgPdks/s1600/14+-+2" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My sweet friends Jeisi (left) and Tracy (right)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor never passes up a chance to play the guitar and sing, even if it's just the birthday song!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A quick walk by the beach!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2yBYyj2V1Nk/Ux_y_4Ilm_I/AAAAAAAACAQ/Dn-vgN8pFJ0/s1600/14+-+3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2yBYyj2V1Nk/Ux_y_4Ilm_I/AAAAAAAACAQ/Dn-vgN8pFJ0/s1600/14+-+3" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is in the neighborhood where our church in Capão is.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tDsI806mUkg/Ux_y_4zZy1I/AAAAAAAACAQ/7r6Z3Uffl8o/s1600/14+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tDsI806mUkg/Ux_y_4zZy1I/AAAAAAAACAQ/7r6Z3Uffl8o/s1600/14+-+1" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can never get over the bare feet on these roads.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lindomar and his wife Marilu</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqvJhyphenhyphenuDaMwMEGK25kse0qp_T9gYqqfmWKolawEuyXuTFeYANVVXqG69ea262XMQtVy-0boCFNkp-n4Wqdcegg9Ow-I9OvEObJIbaSrhpglgWh0hQ0ynf8Baydjn4UY_gEyM06042WU-e/s1600/DSCN9252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqvJhyphenhyphenuDaMwMEGK25kse0qp_T9gYqqfmWKolawEuyXuTFeYANVVXqG69ea262XMQtVy-0boCFNkp-n4Wqdcegg9Ow-I9OvEObJIbaSrhpglgWh0hQ0ynf8Baydjn4UY_gEyM06042WU-e/s1600/DSCN9252.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The mountains between Capão and Torres</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Artênio and Lú, the workers in Torres</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is Bento, the man who has attempted suicide multiple times and now struggles to trust Christ for salvation. Pray for the Lord to soften his heart and for the enemy's stronghold in his life to be released!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-88245466590033501422014-03-11T00:21:00.001-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.938-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Day 2<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last night and today we had continued opportunities to spend time with the people of Igreja Batista Viva and its community in Vila Nova. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Sunday evening service at IBV is usually the biggest of the week. Last night there was a great turn out for Trip, one of our team members, to share what the Lord is doing in his life these days. The church body responded well to his teaching, and several made renewed commitments to live for the Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today we got to visit several families in the Campo Novo (near Vila Nova) neighborhood. There are heartbreaking circumstances in many of the homes we visited, but the hope of Christ shines through in the midst of pain and suffering. It is neat to visit some of the same people over the years and watch the children grow and the Lord continue to transform lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We saw children doing their homework with the school supplies they were given through <a href="http://www.sharechristmas.org/" target="_blank">Share Christmas</a>. We saw the building where IBV held their first service as well as the first building they first called home. We visited a lady from the church who has gone blind and has been unable to attend services for some time. We spent time in the home of a family whose husband/dad had recently been beaten nearly to death because of money he owed a drug dealer and will now live in a child-like, limited state because of extensive brain damage. We were given Fanta (yum!) by a shop owner and his wife who have resisted coming to the church but are always welcoming to the Pastor when he visits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And this only begins to scratch the surface of the lives of the dear people with whom we interacted today. There is so much more to be learned about these men, women, and children, who are precious to our Lord and should be precious to us. Each story is unique and each heart needs the love of Christ. It's refreshing to see the ministry in Vila Nova and Campo Novo continue each day. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though the progress seems slow, the Lord is at work in this area. Each time I've gotten to visit, I can see homes in better condition, smiles on more children's faces, and hope in places that seem like they should be hopeless.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trip sharing his testimony at IBV's Sunday evening service</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBALMXTBI17RgkiSvLFm2L9JYm8ZNTCpyE0cFEsRr-e0spCHFdPwZisfx1vRZjjg0asImRoYvQfeg2YN4ts4xWfmDbLO9O3XUxCU0Bt_2UUMErQnLUSDJoGq226_hB7JxIIBAVbdyj-58X/s1600/DSCN9095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBALMXTBI17RgkiSvLFm2L9JYm8ZNTCpyE0cFEsRr-e0spCHFdPwZisfx1vRZjjg0asImRoYvQfeg2YN4ts4xWfmDbLO9O3XUxCU0Bt_2UUMErQnLUSDJoGq226_hB7JxIIBAVbdyj-58X/s1600/DSCN9095.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A number of people responded to the message preached.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4_xhIU7sCGW9HG_CBRFQ07sz3rdOUk6Xzi4vl-lC0LUKUIUGs0cUjhOOHuZnonYhOaEtbOEOWF0j9RPvsEo45NmEBrffVTty4tRl0xWf2DUHM34iQTnEHIBzJQmE-lQ7ABGiVhtOdi3V/s1600/DSCN9103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4_xhIU7sCGW9HG_CBRFQ07sz3rdOUk6Xzi4vl-lC0LUKUIUGs0cUjhOOHuZnonYhOaEtbOEOWF0j9RPvsEo45NmEBrffVTty4tRl0xWf2DUHM34iQTnEHIBzJQmE-lQ7ABGiVhtOdi3V/s1600/DSCN9103.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We sorted out donated items to deliver to each church plant.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvipr4MClUrfcvPybG__jVhNBzdHaqyxUblhyDN9sQRoo60elpWLTm-NbqoEg-MMXucHVZ-7tPWkH0SgefaUgRvhVL8u6qB8-N0Cdb-Q_HISZAcMCIwrgfhqRi993AEQ1sHThULMR8SLD/s1600/DSCN9113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvipr4MClUrfcvPybG__jVhNBzdHaqyxUblhyDN9sQRoo60elpWLTm-NbqoEg-MMXucHVZ-7tPWkH0SgefaUgRvhVL8u6qB8-N0Cdb-Q_HISZAcMCIwrgfhqRi993AEQ1sHThULMR8SLD/s1600/DSCN9113.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor Magioli and Dona Maria (called Vozinha or <i>Granny</i>), one of the first believers in the community. Her home is next door to the building where IBV used to meet.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtiZIi93EdibEkhWZVn8Uj2xY0hijztMF6V6SxLhi80Xt0jTRIGfaHyhhPPVKyHkFbFUse4XJiwjXRJh60-kUeOvEcZZZuB-_xKM9IVj0eYqg3kHGTj_yGi7_QvyUH0XicG_zh3qPnasQ/s1600/DSCN9142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtiZIi93EdibEkhWZVn8Uj2xY0hijztMF6V6SxLhi80Xt0jTRIGfaHyhhPPVKyHkFbFUse4XJiwjXRJh60-kUeOvEcZZZuB-_xKM9IVj0eYqg3kHGTj_yGi7_QvyUH0XicG_zh3qPnasQ/s1600/DSCN9142.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bárbara embracing Dona Bárbara, the woman who has lost her sight and has been unable to attend services</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexgdufuVpeGpmJpwrycNY9GNew54UcobVmZ-tJQzu2vUtoVyXGiyD1dfrBhiTIPl8mPYbeUMXe72oeO8Z_d9kaphBMdleBJ0L_QcVZmTrpWNEPYfUsp__m7KyzismMK1swKuqKPgFDrm_/s1600/DSCN9170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexgdufuVpeGpmJpwrycNY9GNew54UcobVmZ-tJQzu2vUtoVyXGiyD1dfrBhiTIPl8mPYbeUMXe72oeO8Z_d9kaphBMdleBJ0L_QcVZmTrpWNEPYfUsp__m7KyzismMK1swKuqKPgFDrm_/s1600/DSCN9170.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The smiling faces of little girls who love getting their pictures taken and visiting with us</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeObBjS0bLG9SJumVOGSXkYsTn-R2fKULCcJ0KUEhE1EePFk4RBk-JmdbAPJ7O75qgGQO1zj6PSgEUx6OksvIF3WENh_y-6tHHRLQi-_NOchJA7i-0zwTHrqy1fyEVLoy0RR9LgFoA50K/s1600/DSCN9197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeObBjS0bLG9SJumVOGSXkYsTn-R2fKULCcJ0KUEhE1EePFk4RBk-JmdbAPJ7O75qgGQO1zj6PSgEUx6OksvIF3WENh_y-6tHHRLQi-_NOchJA7i-0zwTHrqy1fyEVLoy0RR9LgFoA50K/s1600/DSCN9197.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This little guy has been collecting all the different parts for a bicycle so he can build one himself. His dad is the one who is now suffering from extensive brain damage and won't be able to help with his bike project.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g_BV64DyoaRP9XOd0NzgywtxOTjQnjMeLxuLmDnOCUfcFbpYd49kkP79D-3buzgWL9CL5juRPtkuUTlFTRvT7T-0NLGnw33TMMwF7tyI96NGu74EXfg7fUnmPpX3DB3gDLMvFBT_jx4d/s1600/BlogInitials.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g_BV64DyoaRP9XOd0NzgywtxOTjQnjMeLxuLmDnOCUfcFbpYd49kkP79D-3buzgWL9CL5juRPtkuUTlFTRvT7T-0NLGnw33TMMwF7tyI96NGu74EXfg7fUnmPpX3DB3gDLMvFBT_jx4d/s1600/BlogInitials.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-21035343983753712362014-03-09T16:31:00.001-04:002014-05-02T11:50:01.919-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: Day 1<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After no major travel issues, we arrived safely in Porto Alegre yesterday. However, with the busyness of getting settled, spending the evening out and about, and getting back to the hotel at around 1, there wasn't much functionality left for me to get an update out! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saturday night we had the privilege of being part of the official inauguration of the new building of our church in Vila Safira. They pulled out all the stops for the occasion! Complete with balloons and cake, the celebration lasted late into the night. We celebrated with lots of music, a special skit, baptisms, a message from Pastor Magioli, a video montage of the church's history, and prayers of dedication for the new building and the church's continued ministry. It was a beautiful evening to reunite with people I've known from previous trips and to meet new friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning we attended Sunday school and the morning worship service at our first church plant, now 10 years old, Igreja Batista Viva in Vila Nova. During the service, there was more celebration with Pastor Magioli's grandson's baby dedication and our team's arrival. One of our team members Estela shared her testimony this morning, also. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The service was followed by lunch at a churrascaria, a Brazilian barbecue restaurant, where we introduced our team to a little more Brazilian culture! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're looking forward to this evening's service and not having to get up very early tomorrow! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'd love to hear your thoughts or if you have any questions about what we're doing. Thank you again for keeping up with us!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgsQnMBSNLzBfPkoD348yGWcytIdozi0jaEDrJRcWhVx_Bxn_Zqgp0l-j1LaSUZAGpPrvBB2S37EJVwTfnU8eE7T34GJ5PmK9ofmx5MCC4TKD674OWchAX-3tJWyTg0uhBwriJfJztuC8/s1600/DSCN8928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgsQnMBSNLzBfPkoD348yGWcytIdozi0jaEDrJRcWhVx_Bxn_Zqgp0l-j1LaSUZAGpPrvBB2S37EJVwTfnU8eE7T34GJ5PmK9ofmx5MCC4TKD674OWchAX-3tJWyTg0uhBwriJfJztuC8/s1600/DSCN8928.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Getting checked in with all our baggage!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7qs_SgBfMo3pAP3hQG0Y6SltsP1qt7HOiFa0l7EOa2HtZBEqBu23mTMnVYRR2zPQ4JIQP6XckzCNlHGZEVdv4v_ldoJTK0a0cGra4eWAbgQe-RVtHTPEPzjCi16mX5npvPeAooDv7Pf6/s1600/DSCN8935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7qs_SgBfMo3pAP3hQG0Y6SltsP1qt7HOiFa0l7EOa2HtZBEqBu23mTMnVYRR2zPQ4JIQP6XckzCNlHGZEVdv4v_ldoJTK0a0cGra4eWAbgQe-RVtHTPEPzjCi16mX5npvPeAooDv7Pf6/s1600/DSCN8935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The new church's sign - It was dark so a decent picture of the new church building will have to be forthcoming.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHUgGvhgHxixEhBqUO8VbSxPSkts6-CQCPtDWXVipIAkFM0maqyy3EKkzXvrR8X6kZkgctrLodHE6geY0HkXgB4YnC-NBhbNNq3t53cBaosALKfjsVi7S6qhXc7BV5FQYht8N-XbcTkeE/s1600/DSCN8933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHUgGvhgHxixEhBqUO8VbSxPSkts6-CQCPtDWXVipIAkFM0maqyy3EKkzXvrR8X6kZkgctrLodHE6geY0HkXgB4YnC-NBhbNNq3t53cBaosALKfjsVi7S6qhXc7BV5FQYht8N-XbcTkeE/s1600/DSCN8933.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The inaugural service's program</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NPFw93-zgbMXWkwGZ7pzJtRv8n0tSdrzMW49aNMk7srKDJOJ_Z61McWPSMNWkAV1hJZIYFjH8DaREap4prCu_91UAJ9fXhUevx6x7Zy2lez6A5SxYkEM5rHflCIgtDDnM7mfxAuN1OvD/s1600/DSCN8960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NPFw93-zgbMXWkwGZ7pzJtRv8n0tSdrzMW49aNMk7srKDJOJ_Z61McWPSMNWkAV1hJZIYFjH8DaREap4prCu_91UAJ9fXhUevx6x7Zy2lez6A5SxYkEM5rHflCIgtDDnM7mfxAuN1OvD/s1600/DSCN8960.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the young people who was baptized last night</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuMpEeM22xgxlBOBruEWFP6zKHjUGBk2AkQ3LQ10XHsN4nfN5no92qURtErwftYmLwBCG8W0qC57nlc7k-zEy_2dwX_0guVscldFDRz3F9T5iurJEgZ3M6sxvOF0D5jYmxBDTFRyFize5/s1600/DSCN8983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuMpEeM22xgxlBOBruEWFP6zKHjUGBk2AkQ3LQ10XHsN4nfN5no92qURtErwftYmLwBCG8W0qC57nlc7k-zEy_2dwX_0guVscldFDRz3F9T5iurJEgZ3M6sxvOF0D5jYmxBDTFRyFize5/s1600/DSCN8983.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor Alexsandro and his family serving in Vila Safira</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOCxZa-pxN5ILlitqLcf-Yyf-Ud4Zr9sgYR0GXCcJqDbcfJ2XiMj8fzLUz9GdP21rZrT5l8p5kJiNjXDZFWTHNjSwRM5RsvG2epgSH8tXzpSzsi7pLPhRpRbVc9mSuLs6NqLeTeh0b_YC/s1600/DSCN8978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOCxZa-pxN5ILlitqLcf-Yyf-Ud4Zr9sgYR0GXCcJqDbcfJ2XiMj8fzLUz9GdP21rZrT5l8p5kJiNjXDZFWTHNjSwRM5RsvG2epgSH8tXzpSzsi7pLPhRpRbVc9mSuLs6NqLeTeh0b_YC/s1600/DSCN8978.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the woman in whose home the church in Vila Safira has been meeting for the past four years.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe3W9vYmwVVb910R9iN8TtvQntFVUw1bD3qSzfd2HZNQ7NbidCV882zL1kevNcWwQo0w4CVOyPZ_UFlglwt6AWeKbaaP8FpMhOTBEV-p_q5IEuFLkd_MbH0a07GUGnlmEZpKXeXaheJCu/s1600/DSCN8995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe3W9vYmwVVb910R9iN8TtvQntFVUw1bD3qSzfd2HZNQ7NbidCV882zL1kevNcWwQo0w4CVOyPZ_UFlglwt6AWeKbaaP8FpMhOTBEV-p_q5IEuFLkd_MbH0a07GUGnlmEZpKXeXaheJCu/s1600/DSCN8995.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My lovely friend Ingrid</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTRJhu2iklf5IyNCfCDqH0WPJVYbE54PjrnQNxLuItS-fSQgCfEj5gKtTl98NoRj02XrPq8CEYTC2mSzHcc8dJcq7aC9BSNxU1serqQ451oYyVRXZZ1KgMYyIG9A5TvOL2QgeVTpdE_wk/s1600/DSCN9001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTRJhu2iklf5IyNCfCDqH0WPJVYbE54PjrnQNxLuItS-fSQgCfEj5gKtTl98NoRj02XrPq8CEYTC2mSzHcc8dJcq7aC9BSNxU1serqQ451oYyVRXZZ1KgMYyIG9A5TvOL2QgeVTpdE_wk/s1600/DSCN9001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our team touring the improved Ministério Pão Vivo Offices at Igreja Batista Viva</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLespzSebIL0b-2QIGtYVrCvmKHFTG_6L60WiqmncL5p3DWTB4rabMchkwyMsvGqotSlAuCzDBxy5hh-PBKRCpKYweYl7Veq2la2dJ60Y8GmItP0sfkFBN9s5dJ-az9KC5t08FDWBPIGr/s1600/DSCN9020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLespzSebIL0b-2QIGtYVrCvmKHFTG_6L60WiqmncL5p3DWTB4rabMchkwyMsvGqotSlAuCzDBxy5hh-PBKRCpKYweYl7Veq2la2dJ60Y8GmItP0sfkFBN9s5dJ-az9KC5t08FDWBPIGr/s1600/DSCN9020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Viny and Wanessa dedicating little Pedrinho!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_MvlZ0RECW-d2kTOcqEC6sEdb6aaC147mzBiM3qQ824JJD0h3HM8Y3mWKZve5IIM2Nf4fJsFMQm6bvwVGkE5UFQVjNoGYx41kpR0N2Tn6hhvhLzJND7dqruY95tNwWWqnRGADUV1cy15/s1600/DSCN9049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_MvlZ0RECW-d2kTOcqEC6sEdb6aaC147mzBiM3qQ824JJD0h3HM8Y3mWKZve5IIM2Nf4fJsFMQm6bvwVGkE5UFQVjNoGYx41kpR0N2Tn6hhvhLzJND7dqruY95tNwWWqnRGADUV1cy15/s1600/DSCN9049.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Estela sharing her testimony during this morning's service</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgJPhWSKDRcSLnjp_909bQ9lph_-xsbtwsk_VAG75HDlFJqa4YKcKhfC2CT3C1nDKXYAqcW8MlBq2iA5xmwTrfHjyTOf6n6Bh2WbWasnRE2Ep8Mx37tR9l0754sXz9TkQoMtu42aEGDhf/s1600/DSCN9062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgJPhWSKDRcSLnjp_909bQ9lph_-xsbtwsk_VAG75HDlFJqa4YKcKhfC2CT3C1nDKXYAqcW8MlBq2iA5xmwTrfHjyTOf6n6Bh2WbWasnRE2Ep8Mx37tR9l0754sXz9TkQoMtu42aEGDhf/s1600/DSCN9062.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A cultural presentation at the restaurant where we had lunch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-16224624043347019622014-03-07T20:39:00.000-05:002014-05-02T11:49:45.165-04:00Brazil Trip 2014: And We're Off<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(FYI: This trip is known on Twitter as #LBM10yrtrip if you'd like to follow along there. You can keep track of us by following Bárbara [<a href="https://twitter.com/bhbrasileira" target="_blank">@bhbrasileira</a>], Living Bread [<a href="https://twitter.com/Living_Bread" target="_blank">@Living_Bread</a>], and </i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">me [<a href="https://twitter.com/Finchworthy" target="_blank">@Finchworthy</a>]</i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you all for your prayers for our team as we head to Brazil for the next 10 days!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite the snow in Lynchburg this morning, we didn't have any trouble driving to DC to catch our flight south out of Reagan. I even got to have lunch with my friend Lindsey who lives in the DC area! Now, our team is sitting in Miami, waiting for our 9:30 flight to Brazil. We'll have another several hour layover in Curitiba before continuing on to Porto Alegre early tomorrow afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a two hour time difference between Brazil and Eastern time until tomorrow night. Then, Brazil will only be one hour ahead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sending you our schedule for the week, so you can have an idea of what we'll be up to. My goal is to get at least a short update out each day, but I'm not making any promises. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ok - now to get some grading done before I have to board!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kristi</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH_m5uXdHmSgs_wbE3-fm1f13Vyitdh2mmOdzQVBOm4Jrh-qMMDsKLZZmjXMwlX6mv4M6ngCPl5SY5pjuhSjK4qJadfcU1rBOweGT5pxAZUKSnqMT4qOd8rgr3hwyyWumNpYl1Eaytf_M/s1600/Logo-Global.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH_m5uXdHmSgs_wbE3-fm1f13Vyitdh2mmOdzQVBOm4Jrh-qMMDsKLZZmjXMwlX6mv4M6ngCPl5SY5pjuhSjK4qJadfcU1rBOweGT5pxAZUKSnqMT4qOd8rgr3hwyyWumNpYl1Eaytf_M/s1600/Logo-Global.png" height="113" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">March 2014 - Agenda<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Friday, March 07, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7:30am – Meet at LBM office to
head to DC <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 2:59pm – Board flight to Porto Alegre, Brazil (via
Miami and Curitiba, Paraná - Brazil) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Saturday, March 08, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2:00pm – Arrive in Porto
Alegre, Brazil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Transfer to hotel for some R&R<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 7:00pm – Meet in lobby for departure to Vila Safira<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 7:30pm – Inaugural service of the new building at
Vila Safira<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Dinner on the way back to hotel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Sunday, March 09, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8:00am – Leave for Sunday
School and service at Igreja Batista Viva (Vila Nova)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 1:00pm – Lunch at Churrascaria Roda de Carreta (CTG
35)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 6:00pm – <i>Lanche
</i>at Igreja Batista Viva (aka early dinner </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7:00pm –
Church service at Igreja Batista Viva (Vila Nova)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Monday, March 10, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Morning – Team meeting &
prayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 12:30pm – Lunch <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Afternoon – Visitations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Night – Dinner and R&R <b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7:30pm - Bárbara will have a
meeting with leadership of Ministério Pão Vivo at the hotel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Tuesday, March 11, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 7:50am – Meet in lobby for departure to Capão and
Torres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Morning – Capão<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lunch –
Capão<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Afternoon
– Torres<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Evening – Dinner in Torres & return to Porto Alegre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Wednesday, March 12, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -45.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">9:30am – Leave
for Big (aka Wal-Mart) & Barra Shopping (largest mall in South America) –
on your own for shopping. This is a great place to buy snacks, chocolate and
other items to take back as souvenirs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 12:30pm – Lunch <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -45.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4:00pm –
Prepare for “Living Bread Service” (food distribution service) at Igreja
Batista Viva (Vila Nova).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7:30pm –
“Living Bread Service” – team will set up and serve dinner to those in
attendance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Thursday, March 13, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">9:30am – Leave for downtown,
Luz & Vida (Christian bookstore)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 12:30pm – Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 4:00pm – Head
to Vila Planalto for visitations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 7:30pm – Service at Missão Batista Planalto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Friday, March 14, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">9:30am – Leave for Vila Safira
to visit neighborhood and visits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 12:30pm – Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -45.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3:30pm – Head
to Pr. Magioli’s home. We will meet for fellowship and an informal update on
the progress of the work in Brazil and their vision for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -45.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7:30pm –
Dinner offered by the Magioli Family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Saturday, March 15, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">City tour & souvenir
shopping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Sunday, March 16, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8:00am – Leave for Sunday
School at Igreja Batista Viva (Vila Nova)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 10:00am – Service at Igreja Batista Viva<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 12:30pm – Lunch offered by Bárbara’s mom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Afternoon – free to pack & rest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 7:00pm – Service at Igreja Batista Viva w/ meal
afterwards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Monday, March 17, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">11:00am – Meet in lobby for checkout
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 11:30pm – Depart for lunch and airport<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 3:03pm – Board flight to return to USA (via Rio and
Miami)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";">Tuesday, March 18, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">9:15am – Arrive at Reagan
Airport (DCA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman\,Bold"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
Pick up rental van and drive to Lynchburg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-60828247176392262762014-03-06T14:16:00.001-05:002014-05-02T11:49:31.702-04:00Heading to Brazil!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've shared before about my work with <a href="http://www.livingbread.org/" target="_blank">Living Bread Ministries</a>. I serve as their Administrative Coordinator, managing our home office. This is a ministry with which I'm so thankful to be connected. If you aren't familiar with them, check them out; this is a work worth getting behind!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my favorite parts of my job with Living Bread is that I get to help lead our short term trips. Tomorrow Bárbara and I are taking a small team to Porto Alegre, Brazil until March 18th. Please pray with us for our time in Rio Grande do Sul as we encourage our church planters and their communities. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntWHYHaExOq88YVHDBCoyBfmT4-7Mm6PjKEWiQadhX0PK4HF9s57Hi4cJLR9y1e4flGLJMxtNAHjVqrLOOzDcxMUW3ovZ2Bzs91ne22Zjxy99mmhUj_M6CuMCRxulA56eFM1tVrU_omI9/s1600/DSCN5250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntWHYHaExOq88YVHDBCoyBfmT4-7Mm6PjKEWiQadhX0PK4HF9s57Hi4cJLR9y1e4flGLJMxtNAHjVqrLOOzDcxMUW3ovZ2Bzs91ne22Zjxy99mmhUj_M6CuMCRxulA56eFM1tVrU_omI9/s1600/DSCN5250.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the neighborhoods, Vila Planalto, where we have a church and will be serving.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm planning to post regular updates of our adventures in south Brazil. I won't promise a post each day, but that's my goal. Be prepared for lots of photo documentation, too!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shot from my first trip to Brazil with Tracy, one of our pastors' daughter.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-35945105926560811982014-02-26T11:29:00.000-05:002014-02-26T11:29:30.573-05:00Red, White, Blue, & Gold<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To say I'm an Olympics enthusiast may be an understatement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This biannual meeting of the best athletes in the world may be one of my favorite couple weeks every couple years. This year's winter games in Sochi, Russia were no exception!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before watching hours of skiing, ice skating, bobsledding (I mean <i>bobsleighing</i>), snowboarding, biathlon, ice dancing, and curling (we can't forget curling!) and tracking each medal won and each disappointing loss, we welcomed the games in typical ChezMK fashion!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Miranda and I threw a pretty sizable shindig for the Opening Ceremonies, more sizable than ChezMK can easily accommodate. Our par-tay was complete with themed snacks, photo backdrop, medals to win, a winter wonderland, Team USA pride, and lots of Olympic spirit. Check out some of the highlights!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Olympic Ring-Themed Chip Dips</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Torches to Carry the Olympic Flame</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bobsleds (4 Man, of course!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r89VznbrSkOEG8ngV_dX5LCJVU8dVshbmKJNQMg8x9Hnqzb_zIVJ8xmYSXEr3nUPSPhVwnqF_QtRj3KgPgWkZkiD9P32lnT-aI7FlTIwHBgGwS6RwzPyTuMG3ZrWDtF3sFsvqggjV4DW/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r89VznbrSkOEG8ngV_dX5LCJVU8dVshbmKJNQMg8x9Hnqzb_zIVJ8xmYSXEr3nUPSPhVwnqF_QtRj3KgPgWkZkiD9P32lnT-aI7FlTIwHBgGwS6RwzPyTuMG3ZrWDtF3sFsvqggjV4DW/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ski Slope Cake!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS272r1Vos_YCzrzp2yYDOvblx6ls8fguQpL5EAbQhNQuGC3LnPEfIuBGfJbIZLt6MvLdMIxW_-CvBLrgdN83TfiE5i0c_T-2IMQOISs4vpXMzP5TSLp49C1q-balr07kth2oANWvawst8/s1600/IMG_3996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS272r1Vos_YCzrzp2yYDOvblx6ls8fguQpL5EAbQhNQuGC3LnPEfIuBGfJbIZLt6MvLdMIxW_-CvBLrgdN83TfiE5i0c_T-2IMQOISs4vpXMzP5TSLp49C1q-balr07kth2oANWvawst8/s1600/IMG_3996.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Winter Wonderland! There may have been more snow hanging from our ceiling than there was at the games!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEyIGjtZ_pI88-sB-xOz8Xh7qLcNVveSY4NiicYyMAW3VB3mk5HgsnPtNnnlGk7kda67_u3D-yS3vuVHgYzwmnsEEOVA7RIHUW2Jr3AYzv7MDW0a05lAJuZn9Dc8s05WM-hVbzidggrXM/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEyIGjtZ_pI88-sB-xOz8Xh7qLcNVveSY4NiicYyMAW3VB3mk5HgsnPtNnnlGk7kda67_u3D-yS3vuVHgYzwmnsEEOVA7RIHUW2Jr3AYzv7MDW0a05lAJuZn9Dc8s05WM-hVbzidggrXM/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Suspended O-Games Rings</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU0c0mEQYXv1mn7LfuMGGhhLh_ubgQrRmFhtoBCbQs4ieS4uMRNrmY39UHwa4UW55WgDzR5svKikO2nJa5DdQZQcrbVWPs4hyphenhyphen0vywiU7VNlWAn-Dg4IrNqVieZ_NrVLDISq7bOWqH_Fqj/s1600/IMG_3993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU0c0mEQYXv1mn7LfuMGGhhLh_ubgQrRmFhtoBCbQs4ieS4uMRNrmY39UHwa4UW55WgDzR5svKikO2nJa5DdQZQcrbVWPs4hyphenhyphen0vywiU7VNlWAn-Dg4IrNqVieZ_NrVLDISq7bOWqH_Fqj/s1600/IMG_3993.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Medals for the Game Winners</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gLsAXQDZ5ySY6l3a074Zcriiuvehyphenhyphen5N6FchKRudeaelPzAZy35B_xS5eZb00Q85rEDxQKo7QayX9vdCNcVHskj2zujZwXSmEKbWjk4eX46hakd8pUtxuIJVY6bL1tsocAV0qHhpXU6gQ/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gLsAXQDZ5ySY6l3a074Zcriiuvehyphenhyphen5N6FchKRudeaelPzAZy35B_xS5eZb00Q85rEDxQKo7QayX9vdCNcVHskj2zujZwXSmEKbWjk4eX46hakd8pUtxuIJVY6bL1tsocAV0qHhpXU6gQ/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ring-Themed Candy Favors</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP35pnrQQC2l0qle2ia6H1Okfl9e6kpBHVdv0hQWOE88Kb8R7DTK1JKHoK23unFV_rceYhNd7o4JQ4d-r5ur5kcsKAq6iUqjoq6gxZYVXiAOr1ZaafOHIFYHKnOr9W5MuuAOHd8yODGrVj/s1600/IMG_3999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP35pnrQQC2l0qle2ia6H1Okfl9e6kpBHVdv0hQWOE88Kb8R7DTK1JKHoK23unFV_rceYhNd7o4JQ4d-r5ur5kcsKAq6iUqjoq6gxZYVXiAOr1ZaafOHIFYHKnOr9W5MuuAOHd8yODGrVj/s1600/IMG_3999.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Team USA Gear for Party Guests Who Didn't Bring Their Own</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo Backdrop!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbeviQSUy_hXscVgDO2MxDCuhbHkQYd40XeMn9TCbFyPMRnyiD3d8JVqmkRG93aTF99WdMr51IC_dmLYnAac6J0SziWnfbV611zeOGlS0U2AD0egRL0TxtvZ8fPETusHjUr3mN9pRKT-n/s1600/IMG_4018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbeviQSUy_hXscVgDO2MxDCuhbHkQYd40XeMn9TCbFyPMRnyiD3d8JVqmkRG93aTF99WdMr51IC_dmLYnAac6J0SziWnfbV611zeOGlS0U2AD0egRL0TxtvZ8fPETusHjUr3mN9pRKT-n/s1600/IMG_4018.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Medal Tracker! USA ended up in 2nd, but we'll look forward to first place next time!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What can I say? Chez MK loves the Olympics! Can't wait for Rio 2016!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxjnmuEZZTc/Ut8AtiaCeGI/AAAAAAAABmk/1oCCOR6aczw/s1600/Accounting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxjnmuEZZTc/Ut8AtiaCeGI/AAAAAAAABmk/1oCCOR6aczw/s1600/Accounting1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm taking a 200 level accounting class. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yikes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't been in school for three and a half years. I haven't been in an undergrad class for five and a half years. I've gotten pretty used to being on the other side of online learning, so switching back to student mode, while still maintaining professor mode for the classes I teach, has been interesting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm looking forward to the class content-wise. I have dearly missed math, so playing with numbers sounds super fun. Plus, it will be a great benefit to my administrative role at <a href="http://www.livingbread.org/" target="_blank">Living Bread</a>. I have some accounting-type responsibilities and, before taking this job, had about zero accounting exposure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But there are parts of it that will be challenging. Like all the comic sans in the course shell. And the difference in structure from the classes I'm used to. And having to a group project with who knows who. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Either way, it's a new adventure, and I'm excited about it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What new adventures is 2014 bringing your way?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-27951747363646390282014-01-10T13:04:00.000-05:002014-01-21T18:25:19.094-05:00Scubie-dubie-duba<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A year ago, I dove in. Almost literally. It wasn't actually until March that I took my first literal dive, but I made the decision a year ago. </span><br />
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I learned how to scuba dive. Whoa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a pipe dream of mine for a while. It was a hypothetical ambition. *Someday* I wanted to learn to scuba dive. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef is on my bucket list. But the super-far-into-the-future bucket list. But around last Christmas/New Years, I decided to do it.</span><br />
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I did the research. I found classes in my area. I even (kind of) talked a friend of mine into taking the class with me!</span><br />
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I did it. </span><br />
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I learned how to scuba dive. It was on my life to-do list, and I did it. I checked something off my list. </span><br />
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Somedays, when I feel like I'm not making progress toward a goal or like I have nothing to show for the nearly 27 years I've been around, I remind myself that I know how to scuba dive.</span><br />
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Now to actually go diving somewhere...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606088829239201151.post-22564715193144901362014-01-02T13:31:00.000-05:002014-04-30T14:33:25.374-04:002014 - Immanuel, God with Us<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past Christmas was an interesting one for several reasons. Certainly, it was a joyous time of celebrations with family and friends. Yet at times, in the midst of these celebrations, I felt a tinge of loneliness. While praying through this loneliness during a season that's supposed to be all smiles and warm, fuzzy happiness, God whispered in my ear, "<i>I came.</i>" I came for you. I came for you when you felt alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the midst of the loneliness of the world in sin and in need of a Savior, God showed up in person. He came to fill the longing in our hearts and the sadness in our souls. He is the ultimate cure for the loneliness of mankind. He continues to be with us day in and day out along the journey of life. This year, I want to live in light of his presence. Immanuel, God with us. <i>He came</i>. When we needed him most, he stepped in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think the implications of this truth on my life are many, but I want to focus on a couple specifically this year. The first implication of God's omnipresence on which I want to set my heart is his <b>constant companionship</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout the Bible, there are many times when God promises to be there for us and not to leave us on our own:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No matter what I may face, I will never have to face it alone. Sometimes I may feel alone, but God's word says otherwise: I am never alone. As I walk through days that might seem filled with loneliness or filled with community, I can always have confidence in the Lord's presence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The second implication of <i>Immanuel</i> on which I want to focus this year is the <b>accountability</b> of the Lord's presence. Having a consistent awareness to God's presence in my life should hold me to a higher standard of conduct and a greater desire for personal holiness. Would I make the same choices if I was keenly aware of Christ's presence in the room? Would I do what I do if Jesus was watching? Well, he is watching, and I need to live in light of this presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know when I sit down and when I rise up; </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">you discern my thoughts from afar. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You search out my path and my lying down </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and are acquainted with all my ways. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Psalm 139:2-3</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing escapes the Lord's awareness and his knowledge. He knows the choices I make; he is there watching me make them. This makes me </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">desire to live in a way that will honor his presence in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, this year, I want to find comfort and conviction in his presence because <i>he came.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Immanuel, God with us. God with me.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00053460339911717235noreply@blogger.com0