Dear Granddaughter

December 20,2023

Dear Mariyah,

Gramma never thought about having a girl as wonderful as you from whom I'd have to live so far. Oh, but I treasure the special moments we have had over your seven years. I cherish the fact that you have been to my house in Brazil. You were so little. Papa Vovô and I were absolutely happy.

What a time that was...

You were a "hit" everywhere you went!

And Gramma had the wonderful joy to spend almost every afternoon with you during our furlough in 2018. You were walking and talking by then. We lived in the church mission house. Gramma counted every day as a blessing.

Well, little Sissy, I hope you know for certain how much Gramma Michele loves you. I have prayed for you since before you were born, and always will.

Tomorrow you will be 7. Where oh, where did the years go! I'm happy I got to see you on two different trips this year and one last year! I even got to sleep in your new house.

That was great!

Gramma prays that on our next trip to the USA that you and I can have lots of good times together. It will be a while yet. Don't start counting! But it will come.

In the mean time, you pray for me and I'll pray for you. I pray that God will give you a heart for missions and that maybe one time you will be a missionary just like me.

Hope your birthday is wonderful.

Love, Gramma Michele

Comments

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...

Motorcycle Adventure

This past month, Byron and I traveled by motorcycle to meet up with one of our boys and his wife arriving from the USA. Several times along the route we weren't sure if we would make it. Somehow God protected us inspite of ourselves. Watch the video made with my grandchildren in mind to see and hear the whole story.

Cactus Flower

Search This Blog