Traveling Shoes On

Did some big time traveling this weekend. Byron and William and I went with another couple and two ladies to another Brazilian state for the wedding of the daughter of missionary colleagues. Even though the trip was long and hurried with the car full of passengers, we all had a grand time and were happy to be a part of the festivities.

As a foreigner in a strange land far from home and family, participation in major life celebrations is often sacrificed for the greater good. Sometimes it's just too far to go to a loved one's wedding or birthday party, especially if that person is in the States and we are in Brazil. For me it was a special gift to be able to attend the wedding of this young lady whom I've seen grow up over our years here.

Yes, missionaries seem like people that are always traveling and always on the go, but most times we don't get to go to all the things we would like when it comes to family. This time I didn't have to sacrifice - I got to go. I'm very grateful for the memory making opportunity...

Ah, I was especially blessed to have a new outfit and new shoes to wear. Incredibly we got to the wedding five minutes before it was supposed to start! I thought I would hardly have time to change into my fancy clothes. Everything worked out just fine and we managed to get to the church on time with the right shoes on!

Comments

The Sun is Not Yet Set

Byron, the guy in the white helmet, turns 61 today. That's our son, Byron the Third in the black helmet. He'll be 30 on his next birthday at the end of the year. My husband and I were close to thirty ourselves when we had our first son. Lately it seems that every other day or so someone wants to know "When we are going to retire?" Sometimes it feels more like, "When are you going to leave" is the real question, but that's a story for another post sometime. Has the sunset on our work and ministry in Brazil? Is it time to hang our hats and pack it all up. Are we too old? Too old for what? Too old to tell others about the love of God? Too old to preach and teach? Too old to ride a motorcycle on dirt roads? Okay, you may have us on that last one! It took a few days to recover from our 8 days of motorcycle travel with our oldest and his wife last month. It took a few weeks to recover from all the bumps and aches of our ...

My Promise Verse

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. This verse has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. When I was a high school senior at a Christian school in Virginia, Job 23:10 was chosen as our class theme verse. At our graduation commencement, the valedictorian and saludatorian in their addresses that day divided the verse in its two natural parts as a basis for the core of each one's address. I was the salutatorian of my senior class that year. I chose to speak of how God would one day reward our faithfulness and thus, we should always strive to remain true. For many years though, the first part of the verse haunted me in a way. As a missionary especially when times were lonely or difficult, I assumed it was my "trial" or "test," and as such must be accepted in all humility. As I have grown older, I have begun to look more toward the pearly gates and have reconsidered the thr...

Old Film, Same Message

A missionary colleague recently uploaded some old films made about the work in Brazil by Baptist Mid-Missions many years ago in the 1950's. Yesterday I was able to watch the first of the series. All I can say is "Wow! Things haven't changed much in Brazil. And things haven't changed too much with the work of missions in Brazil either!" There are still donkey carts in the street. They have better wheels nowadays! There are still people who live in grass huts and high apartment buildings, too. Bicycles are still many people's only means of transportation, if they are that lucky! Many roads in the interior towns are still paved with cobblestones, if they are paved at all. And yes, chickens are everywhere, even in big cities. Brazil still needs missionaries! That's right, Brazil is not evangelized and in no need of foreign missionaries today. It still needs workers to spread the Good News of the Gospel and the Risen Saviour! Sadly that part of t...

Cactus Flower

Search This Blog