Encouraged.

Since Monday, there have been a number of things that have reminded me of God's tender care and love for me: 

• Two supporters and dear friends called, made my day; 
• I received a really sweet e-mail from another friend/supporter, made me cry; 
• Two other supporters and friends sent me very practical suggestions about games and ice-breakers I can use for our upcoming January retreat, socials in our home, and upcoming wedding showers; 
• We continue to receive updates from couples from our small group at Oak Mountain about new babies and pregnancies!
• A Brazilian friend spent 2 entire days with Mark and I, helping me pick up my finally finalized visa - with the clearest instructions we've yet received about what we need to do to renew it - and helping Mark and I get all the documents to finally request our Brazilian driver's licenses; 
• I had an encouraging conversation with a friend and student last night (30 minutes!) about why Mark and I moved to Brasil and what we do here. (This was especially encouraging because I couldn't go to her birthday party this past weekend since the party started really late at some club and I had no one that could go with me.  I felt like I sounded silly telling her no, not expecting her to understand my reasons why, but our conversation last night reminded me it's not up to me to maintain our relationship or even to make her like me.  I see God's hand.);
• I was able to make Taco Soup (a.k.a. Santa Fe Soup) the other night with taco powder I got from some American friends, a taste of Fall and home;
• And last but not least, rainy season has started.  I like it a lot, when it's not down-pouring!  Not only is it cozy, but it also helps it feel a little more like Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching!

These are just a few of the many things I have to be grateful for.  It's easy for me to struggle with doubt, guilt, and a critical spirit all too often, so I thought it was only appropriate to call attention to sweet grace from God.  I've felt really special and loved, carried almost.  Thank you all for "holding the ropes" for us in prayer.

ATTENTION GIRLS:  Brazilian Dresses!
A girl from our church, a clothing designer and make-up artist, just released her 2011 collection.  Wanting to use a "blonde" I think, she asked timid me to model some of her dresses.  For those of you that know Ana Luiza (girl that became a Christian after Mark's 2005 trip to Brasil), was our photographer.  I would love to help promote her business since being an entrepreneur in Brasil is very difficult because of the political climate and corruption.  If any of you girls see dresses you like (on my Facebook wall or on her website listed below), let me know.  They're really cute and around $30.  

Visit Arabela's Website: www.arabelarios.com.br

Cooking, Entertaining, and Cooking...

We had an American visitor these past 10 days, Melody!  Melody is connected to our ministry in a number of ways: a member at Briarwood, visited the ministry in Thailand 4 times, and became a Christian through the ministry when she was in college.  She supports us as well.  This was her first trip to Brazil and we put her to work!  By the time she left, she had taught cooking classes, sewing classes, spoken at a mini-retreat, "lunched" and/or "dinnered" with 80 percent of the girls at our church, rock climbed, babysat, tried a variety of very interesting and delicious Brazilian foods, as well as cleaned my kitchen numerous times!  Here are some of the pictures from Melody's trip:

Shopping for all the needed ingredients for the week, i.e. fresh cheese!

Fixing homemade fettuccini alfredo for our team

Part of our team - those in town- came over to meet Melody and enjoy Italian food.

Cooking class with students: chicken marsala, mashed potatoes, and broccoli

Cute recipe cards Melody made for the girls that came

Our discussion group topic for this past Thursday with students was "How good is good enough?"  We had incredible discussion about the gospel through using an analogy of a very common Brazilian drink, chocolate milk!  We agreed that when chocolate powder (sin) enters a cup of milk (mankind) - regardless of how much or how little chocolate powder is added - the result is still the same, chocolate milk (sinful man).  The milk cannot separate itself from the powder on its own.  The solution?  Add more pure milk (Christ's righteousness) to gradually decrease the amount of chocolate.  The more pure milk added... the less chocolate tasted (sanctification process).  The students were so interested and excited about the analogy that everyone who came wanted to take a picture of themselves with milk and chocolate powder to put on Facebook.  College students!

Helenice, me, and Monick learning to quilt.  Thanks, Melody!

Melody sharing her testimony with Cláudia translating during our Women's Retreat 

Craft time!  Each girl drew a name and we each decorated a box with colorful napkins and paint for that person...  

We also wrote a note to our person and committed to pray for them for a year.

Some of the women/girls from the retreat