Thavilidy testing out her new crawling skills!
Bethany and Altieres at a doctor appointment:)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Crawling already!
Our adorable babies who can sit up by themselves now!
Thavilidy testing out her new crawling skills!
Bethany and Altieres at a doctor appointment:)
Thavilidy testing out her new crawling skills!
Bethany and Altieres at a doctor appointment:)
Ready for Children's Camp!
Yesterday we got to spend lots of time with the babies, Altieres and Thavilidy, from the Miriam Infant Home, as we took them to an appointment in Campo Mourao. It's going to be so difficult to say good-bye in just 2 weeks :(
Well...we have had 2 days to rest and recuperate from Youth Camp and tonight we're ready to start our Children's Camp! It will be from Wednesday to Saturday for kids 6-12. We are expecting about 50 campers, from what we have heard so far. So...we will have our hands plenty full! Pray that we would have enough energy to keep up with all of these young campers. Also, please pray that God would be working in their hearts and minds during this camp. Please pray for the weather too! One of the tia's at the orphanage just mentioned to me that we are supposed to be expecting rain in the next few days :( Whatever weather God decides to send us, please pray that it would not hinder the learning and fun that take place at camp.
Well, we're about ready to head out to camp, so that's all for now!
In Christ Jesus,
Bethany
Well...we have had 2 days to rest and recuperate from Youth Camp and tonight we're ready to start our Children's Camp! It will be from Wednesday to Saturday for kids 6-12. We are expecting about 50 campers, from what we have heard so far. So...we will have our hands plenty full! Pray that we would have enough energy to keep up with all of these young campers. Also, please pray that God would be working in their hearts and minds during this camp. Please pray for the weather too! One of the tia's at the orphanage just mentioned to me that we are supposed to be expecting rain in the next few days :( Whatever weather God decides to send us, please pray that it would not hinder the learning and fun that take place at camp.
Well, we're about ready to head out to camp, so that's all for now!
In Christ Jesus,
Bethany
Monday, July 26, 2010
Group Photo!
A group shot of the whole camp! It was a fantastic bunch of people and I know we were all so blessed there. As I got to know some of the girls in my group it was just so amazing to hear their life stories and the different ways they're growing in their faith. They all have different struggles and strengths. Being a counselor is definately a fullfilling and great experience!
Please pray for us as we go into this next week of children's camp!
God bless,
Amanda
Photos of Youth Camp
Chapel Service at camp! There were some amazing times of worship!
A beautiful rainbow over the chapel!
Pastor Anilton was the morning speaker. He is SO good at connecting with the kids. His messages were all tied in with the analogy of soccer (since that was the theme).
We had a Brazil themed banquet on the last night of camp! It was lots of fun as us counselors put on a program of songs and skits.
A beautiful rainbow over the chapel!
Pastor Anilton was the morning speaker. He is SO good at connecting with the kids. His messages were all tied in with the analogy of soccer (since that was the theme).
We had a Brazil themed banquet on the last night of camp! It was lots of fun as us counselors put on a program of songs and skits.
Youth Camp!
Yesterday we finished up a wonderful 5 days of camp with youth, ages 12+! We enjoyed much ping-pong, skits, canoeing, soccer, volleyball, etc. Our theme was "Rumo ao gol" (Going for the Goal). We had a great turnout of about 40 campers. One girl, Meyriane (17), from Campo Mourao came to camp for the very first time. It was really exciting to have her there. She is not involved in any of our churches here, but was randomly invited and she showed up! She had a really fun time and was exposed to so much of the Bible in these past 5 days. Please join with us in praying for her and her faith. We got to experience our first serenata one night as a group of the boys came outside singing and playing guitar in the middle of the night. Quite interesting to see the looks on the girl's faces :)
In Christ,
Bethany
In Christ,
Bethany
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Shots of the Amazon
A team picture out on the Amazon! It is so beautiful there!
We didn't encounter too many animals in the wild but seeing this boy's snake, it makes me kind of glad!
The other team picture was ON the Amazon...this one is IN it!
We didn't encounter too many animals in the wild but seeing this boy's snake, it makes me kind of glad!
The other team picture was ON the Amazon...this one is IN it!
Back Home to Campo Mourao after Adventures in the Amazon and Curitiba ;)
Hello All! We have safely returned from spending 5 days in the Amazon and 6 in Curitiba. We had a very fun and adventurous time. While in the Amazon we got to meet quite a few people from many different countries. It was encouraging to see the Lord open up doors to share our faith with some of these people. Rather than try to explain more of our adventures in the Amazon, I'll let Amanda put up pictures (because a picture is worth a thousand words, and I honestly don't have hundreds of thousands of words right now). All in all, we had an AMAZING TIME, and would love to be able to return one day! Afterwards, we got to spend some time in Curitiba with Thomaz and his family. We also got to make a little trip to Bateias on Saturday night, to visit and encourage the youth group there. Then, we returned by bus to Campo Mourao on Monday evening. Tuesday we got to spend time with the babies, Altieres, Thavilidy, and Vitoria at the orphanage and catch up on our laundry :) Today is the first day of our Youth Camp, which will be until Sunday. Please be praying for this camp, as well as the Children's Camp that we'll be having next week. This is all that I have time to update for now. Hopefully there will be pictures to follow soon.
In Jesus Christ,
Bethany
In Jesus Christ,
Bethany
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The Promised Picture Update
Last week we were in Maringá for the final Brazil game. It was a sad time when they lost, but we had a great time getting ready! Thomaz was able to join us for the day, and we made sure he had a special welcoming party when he arrived at the house. It was especially fun to have Pastor Joni's daughter April around!
Here's a fun memory from the Festa do Carneiro no Baraco. Nate and Yuri arm wrestling! I arm wrestled Yuri next and it was a tough battle:) Our night there was lots of fun. We went with Emerson, Helen, Fernanda, Yuri, Sabrine, Monise, April and Thomaz. It was an excellent time!
Last Saturday at Jardim Esperança the kids had a meeting about what they want to do in the future. It was really adorable to watch them discuss their ideas!
This is the group of English teachers that we celebrated the 4th of July with. Our celebration was complete with a churrasco and country club! (But we did miss out on the fireworks....)
Here's a fun memory from the Festa do Carneiro no Baraco. Nate and Yuri arm wrestling! I arm wrestled Yuri next and it was a tough battle:) Our night there was lots of fun. We went with Emerson, Helen, Fernanda, Yuri, Sabrine, Monise, April and Thomaz. It was an excellent time!
Last Saturday at Jardim Esperança the kids had a meeting about what they want to do in the future. It was really adorable to watch them discuss their ideas!
This is the group of English teachers that we celebrated the 4th of July with. Our celebration was complete with a churrasco and country club! (But we did miss out on the fireworks....)
Hope you all enjoyed the pictures! God bless and have a wonderful week!
Amanda
In the past week we...
- Witnessed the U.S. AND Brasil lose in the World Cup :(
- Got to celebrate the 4th of July with Fisk English School (sadly we didn't see any fireworks this year)
- Celebrated the Carneiro No Buraco (Festival of "the lamb in the hole"), a fair in Campo Mourao
- Said good-bye to Jonatus, Govanna, Sondrinhia, and Larissa (as they moved out of the Infant Home and back to their homes). And...Ana (4) was ADOPTED! by a couple who have been trying to adopt for 10 years. What a blessing...please keep this new family in your prayers!
-Helped with the children's program at Jardim Esperanca
-Attended and shared music in the Cohapar church (and then went out to pizza with the WHOLE CHURCH!)
- Spent time at the Miriam Infant Home, playing with the babies, and many other kids
- Visited CCAA English School to talk to some students in our native tongue ;) (and enjoyed dinner with the owners and some of the teachers afterwards)
- Drove to Maringa...TWICE
- Held a welcome party for Thomaz when he arrived in Maringa
In the coming week we will...
- Travel to the Amazon
- Stay malaria-free (please pray for this, as well as other health issues we might encounter)
- Camp in the jungle
- Go spear fishing
- Eat fish, fish, and more FISH! (this will be when Bethany starts to like to eat fish hopefully!)
- Visit and share with a tribe on the Amazon
- See piranhas, crocodiles, pink dolphins, and many crazy insects
- Travel to Curitiba and visit Thomaz's home and church :)
Tomorrow we are flying up to the Amazon, and at this point Amanda and I think that we might be totally out of our minds. It sounds crazy. We hope we don't come into any near-death experiences (Anacondas??? will they be sleeping too, when we're sleeping in the jungle? hopefully! And spiders the size of dinner plates...do they really exist??? I guess we'll find out this week). Please pray for our health and safety. I don't think the internet reaches the Amazon (though I'm sure they're close with this), so we probably won't update again until next Tuesday or Wednesday. However, hopefully Amanda will put up a picture update before we leave tomorrow...
In Christ Jesus,
Bethany
- Witnessed the U.S. AND Brasil lose in the World Cup :(
- Got to celebrate the 4th of July with Fisk English School (sadly we didn't see any fireworks this year)
- Celebrated the Carneiro No Buraco (Festival of "the lamb in the hole"), a fair in Campo Mourao
- Said good-bye to Jonatus, Govanna, Sondrinhia, and Larissa (as they moved out of the Infant Home and back to their homes). And...Ana (4) was ADOPTED! by a couple who have been trying to adopt for 10 years. What a blessing...please keep this new family in your prayers!
-Helped with the children's program at Jardim Esperanca
-Attended and shared music in the Cohapar church (and then went out to pizza with the WHOLE CHURCH!)
- Spent time at the Miriam Infant Home, playing with the babies, and many other kids
- Visited CCAA English School to talk to some students in our native tongue ;) (and enjoyed dinner with the owners and some of the teachers afterwards)
- Drove to Maringa...TWICE
- Held a welcome party for Thomaz when he arrived in Maringa
In the coming week we will...
- Travel to the Amazon
- Stay malaria-free (please pray for this, as well as other health issues we might encounter)
- Camp in the jungle
- Go spear fishing
- Eat fish, fish, and more FISH! (this will be when Bethany starts to like to eat fish hopefully!)
- Visit and share with a tribe on the Amazon
- See piranhas, crocodiles, pink dolphins, and many crazy insects
- Travel to Curitiba and visit Thomaz's home and church :)
Tomorrow we are flying up to the Amazon, and at this point Amanda and I think that we might be totally out of our minds. It sounds crazy. We hope we don't come into any near-death experiences (Anacondas??? will they be sleeping too, when we're sleeping in the jungle? hopefully! And spiders the size of dinner plates...do they really exist??? I guess we'll find out this week). Please pray for our health and safety. I don't think the internet reaches the Amazon (though I'm sure they're close with this), so we probably won't update again until next Tuesday or Wednesday. However, hopefully Amanda will put up a picture update before we leave tomorrow...
In Christ Jesus,
Bethany
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Happy Thursday Evening!
Every Tuesday morning we have our art class that we attend with a few of the kids from the Miriam Infant Home. Its one of the best parts of the week! We get to make friends with kids from around the city as well as get to know some of the social workers. This is a mural we've been working on. Bethany and I picked the subject of "communication". Its been a fun project so far! The man in the background is our art teacher, Alessandro. He is great working with the kids and I've really enjoyed getting to know a brasilian artist!
Here's a cultural difference: mosquitoes. Their quite a bit more blood-thirsty here! Bethany recieved a few well placed bites on her ankle that made it swell up quite noticably!
On Saturdays Thomaz is in charge of leading a children's program at Jardim Esperança. Its in a very poor neighborhood and is a great avenue of ministry. Pray that many kids would continue to come and hear the Word. Also that God would provide people to help work there.
On monday night we had our friends Monise and Sabrine over, along with some girls who teach at Sabrine's English school. It was such a fun night! Complete with a bonfire, s'mores and cheesecake. The English school teachers thought it was so crazy that American's actually have bonfires with s'mores...they'd only seen it in movies:)
Have a blessed evening!
Amanda
Here's a cultural difference: mosquitoes. Their quite a bit more blood-thirsty here! Bethany recieved a few well placed bites on her ankle that made it swell up quite noticably!
On Saturdays Thomaz is in charge of leading a children's program at Jardim Esperança. Its in a very poor neighborhood and is a great avenue of ministry. Pray that many kids would continue to come and hear the Word. Also that God would provide people to help work there.
On monday night we had our friends Monise and Sabrine over, along with some girls who teach at Sabrine's English school. It was such a fun night! Complete with a bonfire, s'mores and cheesecake. The English school teachers thought it was so crazy that American's actually have bonfires with s'mores...they'd only seen it in movies:)
Have a blessed evening!
Amanda
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