I for got to post the address of World Missions! All support can be sent there with our names indicated on the envelope.
AFLC World Missions (Name here)
3110 E. Medicine Lake Blvd
Plymouth, MN 55441
Also, a more specific prayer request: We have been dealing with a lot of problems with many of the children in the Miriam Infant Home. The three new children have a very hard time with being away from their family. As of today they have been trying to run away. They never get very far beyond the Home, but its hard on everyone there to constantly be trying to catch them. Another struggle is their lack of obedience. Its difficult to have patience with them. Please pray that we would always show them and the other children LOVE and PATIENCE in every situation.
Here's a quick overview of our near future plans. Tonight we're heading up to Maringá with Pastor Joni. We're going to spend the weekend there to celebrate July 4th! After spending part of next week at the Bible school, we're heading on a crazy adventure up to the Amazon! Please pray for safety as we trek through the jungles, go spearfishing and visit an indiginous tribe:) The last two weeks of July will be filled with lots of work for the childrens and youth camps. Pray for lots of kids to come and be impacted by the Word of God!
In Him,
Amanda
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A few of the blessings in our life!
Here's some pictures of the 5 new kids who are here. This is the youngest girl, Sandrinha. She's 4 years old and quite the little cutie!
Giovana is 6 years old...she has the toughest time being apart from her mother. Please especially pray that she is able to find comfort here.
Jonatas is 8 years old. Thomas is a little older:P Jonatas loves having the older boys around to hang out with!
Also I don't think that we put up a picture of Larissa before. She's very attached to Bethany and I and LOVES attention. Her, as well as the other children have quite a hard time with being separated from their parents. Its hard to see the pain they go through but its also so wonderful to spend time with them. They need love so badly! It opens up lots of opportunities to talk with them about Jesus and His love for us:)
Giovana is 6 years old...she has the toughest time being apart from her mother. Please especially pray that she is able to find comfort here.
Jonatas is 8 years old. Thomas is a little older:P Jonatas loves having the older boys around to hang out with!
Also I don't think that we put up a picture of Larissa before. She's very attached to Bethany and I and LOVES attention. Her, as well as the other children have quite a hard time with being separated from their parents. Its hard to see the pain they go through but its also so wonderful to spend time with them. They need love so badly! It opens up lots of opportunities to talk with them about Jesus and His love for us:)
We want to ask you to continue to stick with us in support, both prayer and financial. We're coming up on several big events including two winter camps and a 30 hour road trip to a church in the the state of Espirito Santo. There will be lots of people to share with and opportunities to watch the Lord work, as well as quite alot of expenses! We know that the Lord will supply. Thanks so much for all the ways you've already blessed us with your support!
Keep seeking Jesus in everything!
In Him,
Amanda and Bethany
Saturday, June 26, 2010
5 More Children To Pray For...
This week has brought 5 new children to the Miriam Infant Home! On Thursday, three siblings arrived, Jonatas (8), Giovanna (6), and Sondrinhia (4). They miss their parents a lot and have cried through many of the nights that they've been here. Please pray for God to comfort them through this difficult time. Also, they have a 10 month old brother who was not taken out of the home. Please pray for safety for him as their was abuse taking place in this situation.
After lunch on Thursday two other kids arrived. A 15 year old girl (I can't spell or pronounce her name) and a 13 year old boy (Jefferson). They came from an abusive situation as well. However, the next day they were taken home. So, please pray for their safety.
So...at one point we had 14 CHILDREN! Now, we are down to 12 again. It has been very chaotic. There have been many jealous moments between the kids as we try to divide our attention equally.
Well...for now we have to run (this weekend is PACKED FULL!).
Tchau!
Bethany
After lunch on Thursday two other kids arrived. A 15 year old girl (I can't spell or pronounce her name) and a 13 year old boy (Jefferson). They came from an abusive situation as well. However, the next day they were taken home. So, please pray for their safety.
So...at one point we had 14 CHILDREN! Now, we are down to 12 again. It has been very chaotic. There have been many jealous moments between the kids as we try to divide our attention equally.
Well...for now we have to run (this weekend is PACKED FULL!).
Tchau!
Bethany
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Soccer, Babies, Bananas, the Amazon, etc.
On Thursday we had a new girl arrive at the orphanage. Her name is Larissa and she is 8 years old. At first she was really confused as to why she was here, and had to leave her 7 year old and 10 month old brothers. It was so hard to tell her that we didn't know either. All we could do was hug her. Later, we found out from Sarai, the director of the orphanage, that she was being abused by her grandfather. She is a very nice girl. Please pray for her!
Much of Friday and Saturday were spent preparing for our BrasilAmericano night, Saturday evening. We got to visit some colleges and english schools around Campo Mourao, and invite them. We also prepared by giving them a taste of some American food. We made chocolate chip cookies, salsa, and quesadillas (a little on the Mexican side). The Brazilian food that they made was very delicious as well! They made tapioca, which we think of as a type of pudding, but it was fried in oil and filled with ham and cheese. We had a wonderful turnout of 40-50 people and got to share our testimonies, cultural differences that we've seen, and sing songs in both portuguese and english.
On Sunday we were able to take in the second Brazil game of the World Cup. When Brazil plays during the World Cup, everything stops in the country. All work stops, schools are let out, no stores are open and all the streets are silent, while everyone watches the game. It is similar to the Superbowl in the U.S., only seen as even more important! They have now won their first 2 games :) After the game, we got to sing for the service at Cohapar.
Our Monday consisted of more doctor's appointments for the 11 month old twins, Thavilidy and Altieres. Everywhere we take them, they have lots of admirers! This time was no different. We had 15 or 20 different ladies stop and play with them and ask about them. Everyone wants to adopt them (however their mother is still involved and wants them very much, so this is not possible). Please continue to keep them in your prayers as we just found out at a recent appointment that they both have fetal alcohol syndrome and will be growing and learning slower than normal their whole life. This was definitely the most difficult appointment we've had to face. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
We found out last week that we will not be able to go on the missions trip to Paraguay, as they're out of space on the bus. So, we are now planning on making a trip up to the Amazon on July 8th. Hopefully we'll be able to share with some of the tribes that we meet as we go travel up the river. Please pray for our safety and health during this trip (denghy is a definite possibility with all the mosquitos up there).
So...I'll end with a funny story about Ana, our 4 year old. This morning we walked over to the orphanage and started talking and playing with all the girls and Ana was eating a banana. Fifteen minutes later, we were sitting on her bed in her room and there were like 3 more banana peels sitting on her nightstand. Amanda and I hadn't seen anyone else eating bananas and we looked at each other and said, "Where are all these banana peels coming from?" Ana currently had a banana in her hand that she was eating, which we thought was still the first one. We asked the other girls where all the banana peels were coming from and they just smiled and said that Ana really likes bananas. Ana then proceeded to open up the drawer on her nightstand to get another banana and we found a cluster of about 12 more bananas. She had been going to town on the bananas, and trying to eat as many as she possibly could before she got caught! We just laughed and left the bananas in her drawer. We'll have to check in her drawer again tomorrow to make sure we don't end up with a drawer full of rotten bananas :) We might have to make banana bread (what a treat!), if we leave them too long.
I'll leave it at that for now, and update more sooner rather later!
In Christ,
Bethany
Much of Friday and Saturday were spent preparing for our BrasilAmericano night, Saturday evening. We got to visit some colleges and english schools around Campo Mourao, and invite them. We also prepared by giving them a taste of some American food. We made chocolate chip cookies, salsa, and quesadillas (a little on the Mexican side). The Brazilian food that they made was very delicious as well! They made tapioca, which we think of as a type of pudding, but it was fried in oil and filled with ham and cheese. We had a wonderful turnout of 40-50 people and got to share our testimonies, cultural differences that we've seen, and sing songs in both portuguese and english.
On Sunday we were able to take in the second Brazil game of the World Cup. When Brazil plays during the World Cup, everything stops in the country. All work stops, schools are let out, no stores are open and all the streets are silent, while everyone watches the game. It is similar to the Superbowl in the U.S., only seen as even more important! They have now won their first 2 games :) After the game, we got to sing for the service at Cohapar.
Our Monday consisted of more doctor's appointments for the 11 month old twins, Thavilidy and Altieres. Everywhere we take them, they have lots of admirers! This time was no different. We had 15 or 20 different ladies stop and play with them and ask about them. Everyone wants to adopt them (however their mother is still involved and wants them very much, so this is not possible). Please continue to keep them in your prayers as we just found out at a recent appointment that they both have fetal alcohol syndrome and will be growing and learning slower than normal their whole life. This was definitely the most difficult appointment we've had to face. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
We found out last week that we will not be able to go on the missions trip to Paraguay, as they're out of space on the bus. So, we are now planning on making a trip up to the Amazon on July 8th. Hopefully we'll be able to share with some of the tribes that we meet as we go travel up the river. Please pray for our safety and health during this trip (denghy is a definite possibility with all the mosquitos up there).
So...I'll end with a funny story about Ana, our 4 year old. This morning we walked over to the orphanage and started talking and playing with all the girls and Ana was eating a banana. Fifteen minutes later, we were sitting on her bed in her room and there were like 3 more banana peels sitting on her nightstand. Amanda and I hadn't seen anyone else eating bananas and we looked at each other and said, "Where are all these banana peels coming from?" Ana currently had a banana in her hand that she was eating, which we thought was still the first one. We asked the other girls where all the banana peels were coming from and they just smiled and said that Ana really likes bananas. Ana then proceeded to open up the drawer on her nightstand to get another banana and we found a cluster of about 12 more bananas. She had been going to town on the bananas, and trying to eat as many as she possibly could before she got caught! We just laughed and left the bananas in her drawer. We'll have to check in her drawer again tomorrow to make sure we don't end up with a drawer full of rotten bananas :) We might have to make banana bread (what a treat!), if we leave them too long.
I'll leave it at that for now, and update more sooner rather later!
In Christ,
Bethany
Thursday, June 17, 2010
We love because HE first loved us!
Last Saturday was Dia dos Namorados- the Brazilian valentines day. In celebration we had big youth group party! For the purposes of our party, it was renamed Hug Day. It was a more youth group friendly theme:) Mariana and Paulo did a great job putting it together and making it a fun evening for everyone involved. This is them leading some worship:
Thomaz gave the message...his first sermon (I think...) and he did excellent! He talked about God's love for us and how it is an example for how we are to love the people in our lives.
Two of my favorite things in Brazil: Bejinho and Brigadero! We spent the afternoon before the service making lots and lots of it. They are really popular candies here in Brazil and I'm ready to bring these tasty treats back to America! The entire three platters were demolished in minutes:)
Thomaz gave the message...his first sermon (I think...) and he did excellent! He talked about God's love for us and how it is an example for how we are to love the people in our lives.
Two of my favorite things in Brazil: Bejinho and Brigadero! We spent the afternoon before the service making lots and lots of it. They are really popular candies here in Brazil and I'm ready to bring these tasty treats back to America! The entire three platters were demolished in minutes:)
From awhile back....
Alright, I'm trying to catch up on those pictures that Bethany promised!
This is of the new baby Vitoria. She's bigger than Thavilidy and Altieres and very healthy. Also, one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen! 
Thavilidy and Altieres are doing well too! We take them to doctor's and physical therapy every week and they're improving so much. They eat fruit, rice and vegetables, and have gained a lot of streangth. Praise the Lord!
This is us with our friends Emerson, Helen, Fernanda and Yuri. We spend lots of fun times at their house here on campus. We watch movies (and American basketball games!), play games and eat Helen's delicious cooking! Last week we had a worship and prayer night which was a really big blessing for all of us.
Have a great day! Fica com Deus!
Amanda
Monday, June 14, 2010
Some Toledo Photos!
As Bethany wrote, we had a FANTASTIC time in Toledo! Everyone in the church was so welcoming and friendly. They really made us feel at home, and we were able to have a great experience with their ministry. Their congregation is so mission minded and really cares about reaching people! Hope you enjoy the pictures:)
Our friend Fabio welcomed the Brazilians and Americans with a specially made sign on his door! Fabio graduated from seminary and worked with the Miriam Infant Home. It was especially exciting for Karla and Edival to see him since they all went to Bible school together. Now he's involved in children's ministry, outreach, church work and he just wrote a book (which I will attempt to read in Portuguese... :P)! Please keep him in your prayers!
This is the first children's program we put on. I'd never thought of dressing up so crazy for a program like this but the children LOVED it. They all wanted to meet us and talk to us because we were acting as our characters. It made it so much more exciting for them. One more idea I want to bring back home to the States!
Bia [Fernanda], Tata [me], Tutu [Thomaz] and Paty [Bethany] showing off our shnazzy outfits!
These are the people we worked with the most in the church. Lots of good memories were made and we're all hoping for another chance to visit Toledo!
Our friend Fabio welcomed the Brazilians and Americans with a specially made sign on his door! Fabio graduated from seminary and worked with the Miriam Infant Home. It was especially exciting for Karla and Edival to see him since they all went to Bible school together. Now he's involved in children's ministry, outreach, church work and he just wrote a book (which I will attempt to read in Portuguese... :P)! Please keep him in your prayers!
This is the first children's program we put on. I'd never thought of dressing up so crazy for a program like this but the children LOVED it. They all wanted to meet us and talk to us because we were acting as our characters. It made it so much more exciting for them. One more idea I want to bring back home to the States!
Bia [Fernanda], Tata [me], Tutu [Thomaz] and Paty [Bethany] showing off our shnazzy outfits!
These are the people we worked with the most in the church. Lots of good memories were made and we're all hoping for another chance to visit Toledo!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Well, it has been a whole week since we've updated, so here we go...
We went to Toledo (about 4 hours south) for the weekend to do some evangelism and children's programs for the church there. We went with Karla, Edival, Thomaz, and Fernanda. Amanda and I were included in the play for the children's programs and had to memorize all our lines....IN PORTUGUESE! We were quite nervous, but it all went well. On Saturday afternoon we had a really good turnout at the school where we put the program on, and we got to do it again for Sunday School the next morning. On Friday afternoon we got to do some evangelism to men in a rehab center, and many less fortunate families in their homes. We traveled back to Campo Mourao on Sunday afternoon. We took lots and lots of pictures of the weekend, which I'm sure Amanda will be posting in the near future. Yesterday (Monday) we got another baby girl at the Infant Home! She is four months old and her name is Vitoria :) She's very adorable! So, we now have 3 babies to help with! The tias at the Infant Home will have their hands very full. I think that covers a lot of what our last week has consisted of. Please continue to pray for our Portuguese to improve. We're all learning, however some times seem slower and more discouraging than others. Thanks for praying for us!
In Christ Jesus,
Bethany
We went to Toledo (about 4 hours south) for the weekend to do some evangelism and children's programs for the church there. We went with Karla, Edival, Thomaz, and Fernanda. Amanda and I were included in the play for the children's programs and had to memorize all our lines....IN PORTUGUESE! We were quite nervous, but it all went well. On Saturday afternoon we had a really good turnout at the school where we put the program on, and we got to do it again for Sunday School the next morning. On Friday afternoon we got to do some evangelism to men in a rehab center, and many less fortunate families in their homes. We traveled back to Campo Mourao on Sunday afternoon. We took lots and lots of pictures of the weekend, which I'm sure Amanda will be posting in the near future. Yesterday (Monday) we got another baby girl at the Infant Home! She is four months old and her name is Vitoria :) She's very adorable! So, we now have 3 babies to help with! The tias at the Infant Home will have their hands very full. I think that covers a lot of what our last week has consisted of. Please continue to pray for our Portuguese to improve. We're all learning, however some times seem slower and more discouraging than others. Thanks for praying for us!
In Christ Jesus,
Bethany
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
JUNE ALREADY!!!
Hello all! I have a few other things to add to the blog today. First of all...I would like to correct Amanda in that it is actually June and not April. Was this supposed to be a joke? I have no idea. Maybe this joke is on me. However, I would like to wish everyone a happy first day of June! Time definitly has flown from April to June!
Back to Friday at the school, I'd like to restate how much we all felt like movie stars! We signed well over 100 autographs, there were so many children around us that I couldn't even look up. All I could do is see all the papers that were being shoved at me to sign. Anyway, I was thinking, "We are nobody. Why do all these kids want OUR autographs? If they reallyknew who we were, just four American youth, would they really want us signing all these papers for them? Probably not." Then I realized that to them we are famous. They made us that way. Even if we don't think so. So, if we are famous and heroic to them, we need to live our lives worthy of that. We need to give them something worth wanting to imitate. We need to model the kind of the love that Christ has for us, and use this "fame" to point them to the true hero, Jesus Christ.
Saturday we got the wonderful opportunity to help with a children's program at Central Free Lutheran Church, here in Campo Mourao. Kids from all over the city were invited, and we had a great turnout of about 100 kids! We got to lead them in some songs and spend lots of time just simply playing with them.
After the children's program, in the evening, we got together for a service with some of the members of the church in Cohapar and Lar Parana. Nate got to give his very first sermon in Portuguese all by himself with no translator! He did a great job, and will hopefully be able to do more preaching in Portuguese in the near future.
On Sunday we got to worship with the Lar Parana church and share special music (a total surprise to us, when we were called up in the middle of the service to sing!).
One of the bittersweet moments of our Sunday came when he had to say goodbye to our 4 year old, Vitoria, who lived at the Miriam Infant Home. She left at 5am Monday morning to go to live with her grandmother in Curitiba. Please keep her in your prayers. We have no idea what kind of a home situation this will be for her. Pray that she will be safe and well taken care of. She proudly told us that she packed her Bible that we had given her, when we were saying goodbye. She loves Jesus soooooo much, please pray that this never changes, and she will continue to live for the Lord her whole life.
Yesterday (Monday) we started our week as we do every week with a visit to the physical therapist with our twin babies, Altieres and Tavilete (I know I spelled both of those names very poorly, so I'll let Amanda correct me in a future post). They are getting to be very big and strong, and are beginning to get numerous new teeth!
Well, this is all I have for now. Thanks for keeping up with us :)
In Christ,
Bethany
Back to Friday at the school, I'd like to restate how much we all felt like movie stars! We signed well over 100 autographs, there were so many children around us that I couldn't even look up. All I could do is see all the papers that were being shoved at me to sign. Anyway, I was thinking, "We are nobody. Why do all these kids want OUR autographs? If they reallyknew who we were, just four American youth, would they really want us signing all these papers for them? Probably not." Then I realized that to them we are famous. They made us that way. Even if we don't think so. So, if we are famous and heroic to them, we need to live our lives worthy of that. We need to give them something worth wanting to imitate. We need to model the kind of the love that Christ has for us, and use this "fame" to point them to the true hero, Jesus Christ.
Saturday we got the wonderful opportunity to help with a children's program at Central Free Lutheran Church, here in Campo Mourao. Kids from all over the city were invited, and we had a great turnout of about 100 kids! We got to lead them in some songs and spend lots of time just simply playing with them.
After the children's program, in the evening, we got together for a service with some of the members of the church in Cohapar and Lar Parana. Nate got to give his very first sermon in Portuguese all by himself with no translator! He did a great job, and will hopefully be able to do more preaching in Portuguese in the near future.
On Sunday we got to worship with the Lar Parana church and share special music (a total surprise to us, when we were called up in the middle of the service to sing!).
One of the bittersweet moments of our Sunday came when he had to say goodbye to our 4 year old, Vitoria, who lived at the Miriam Infant Home. She left at 5am Monday morning to go to live with her grandmother in Curitiba. Please keep her in your prayers. We have no idea what kind of a home situation this will be for her. Pray that she will be safe and well taken care of. She proudly told us that she packed her Bible that we had given her, when we were saying goodbye. She loves Jesus soooooo much, please pray that this never changes, and she will continue to live for the Lord her whole life.
Yesterday (Monday) we started our week as we do every week with a visit to the physical therapist with our twin babies, Altieres and Tavilete (I know I spelled both of those names very poorly, so I'll let Amanda correct me in a future post). They are getting to be very big and strong, and are beginning to get numerous new teeth!
Well, this is all I have for now. Thanks for keeping up with us :)
In Christ,
Bethany
April already?!
Time is flying by like crazy! Time for a good long update....
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we were able to spend lots of time wtih Pastor Jonathan Unverzagt. It was lots of fun to talk to him and see his heart for the ministry here in Brazil. Its such an encouragement to hear from people in the states who care so much about missions! Besides lots of talking, we visited a grade school and English school, walked around Campo Mourao and hung out in our favorite ice cream shop in town. Another highlight of his visit here: an AMAZING churrasco that Pastor Sylvio made for us! Hope you had a great time too, Pastor Jonathan:)
I've got to sign off for now....In Jesus, Amanda
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we were able to spend lots of time wtih Pastor Jonathan Unverzagt. It was lots of fun to talk to him and see his heart for the ministry here in Brazil. Its such an encouragement to hear from people in the states who care so much about missions! Besides lots of talking, we visited a grade school and English school, walked around Campo Mourao and hung out in our favorite ice cream shop in town. Another highlight of his visit here: an AMAZING churrasco that Pastor Sylvio made for us! Hope you had a great time too, Pastor Jonathan:)
Friday is a day that will definately go down in history (of our lives..haha!) as a day we'll never forget. Pastor Anilton, who teaches us Portuguese, asked us to come visit the school he teaches at in a town called Mambore. He teaches English there and wanted to kids to not only practice English, but hear about our mission and faith. We were expecting a pretty normal reception from them but we didn't realize that they'd never seen American's before...which
is apparantly pretty cool:P We visited classes all morning and sang some songs. The rooms were full of kids and they'd all talk at once so it was a little hectic at times. We thought it was pretty funny how excited they were...one kid even had us sign our names in his notebook! Well, his autographing idea spread and after class we were surrounded by screaming kids who wanted our signitures. Everyone from teenagers to little children were crowded around us pushing their notebooks and papers at us to sign. A few even had us autograph their arms! We felt like movie stars! As ridiculous and funy as it was, it gave us a great chance to have contact with kids that we never would have otherwise. Almost all of the kids got our email addresses which enables us to stay in contact and build friendships. Its great to see how God uses all situations for His glory! Here is a picture of us with a few of the students.
I've got to sign off for now....In Jesus, Amanda
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