Cactus Flower

November, 2012 Is there a magic formula that guarantees that God will answer my prayer?  Oh, if only there was!  I'd sure like to know what it is!  I remember very clearly the moment of this photo taken by a missionary friend, Renate Reiner.  It was at a ladies' rally in Juazeiro, Bahia in 2012.  My husband and I were in the beginning of problems with one of our three sons. It would turn out to be a long haul.  We had yet to really "tell" anyone.  But that day in this little group I asked for prayer for one of my boys and some problems in our family. I would pray basically that same prayer over the next years... 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and most of 2016.  God, save my son.  God finally answer that prayer on a night in 2016.  Our son, all by himself in the woods, saw God for who He really is and asked forgiveness for his sins.  And God answered my prayer. P  It was in His time, at just the right hour and in just the righ...

When your MK babes are little, you try not to think too much about THAT DAY.  That day when they will start to make life decisions that include GO or STAY.  When Greyson was little, he would often say that he would never leave me and would always help me... Of course, little boys often tell their mothers that B.G.F. = Before Girl Friends!  Seriously, having our boys with us on the field was very important.  Our boys were mostly homeschooled and very involved in our work.  Greyson was the music man at our church here in Brazil for quite a few years.   Before he went back to the States in the fall of 2017, he left a legacy of trained musicians that continue what he started with faithfulness.  His vacancy in our work was huge, but filled because of his foresight at a young age.  And it left a huge hole in our home as the last of our nest to fly away... Just before Greyson's senior year, good friends in the States offered to...

This past Thursday, Friday and Saturday the local congregation, Igreja Batista Maranata, hosted a Vacation Bible School event.  Vacation time for school kids here in Brazil is December, January and the beginning of February and a few weeks off in the middle of the year.  Since we are south of the equator, everything is opposite! Byron and I had a little more participation than in the past as some of the teens were actually back in school already.  Our young people are all getting up into college and technical courses these days and don't have all the free time they used to.  I helped with some of the stories and snacks.  Byron was a bouncer and control man looking out for the unruly little twerps!  And he provided for assistance during the three days.   We are super thankful for regular financial gifts that help with such undertakings.  The church here is small and would have a hard time providing snacks and prizes for a big even...

For Christmas this year Byron and I traveled to the far south of Brazil with some friends.  We enjoyed learning more about the culture of the state of Rio Grande do Sul with its German and Italian roots.  We saw beautiful churches and more waterfalls than I can count.  We got to see several Christmas programs and ate more good food than I even need to track.  All in all we had a wonderful time and are in great debt to our good friends and hosts.  Here are few of my favorite photos from our travels...

This little girl was sitting beside me when gifts where passed out at a little one room school house in one of the interiors where we've been reaching out these days.  Youth from the local church did a Christmas presentation with songs and puppets, games and cake, and presents!  Dolls for the girls and soccer balls for the boys. When blondie here got hers, she said, Awww!  Then her little sister who was sitting on my lap, said the same thing! Prayers for the boys and girls who live in the little interior villas near Fazenda Santana,  Juazeiro, Bahia.

Do you know that one request always on your mind? That request you make in every prayer service in the church?  The one who seems to never have a firm and positive response? That one it seems God doesn't seem to hear? Hear my prayer, O Lord , And let my cry come to You. Psalm 102: 1 I have a request like that. For a long time I pray for a boy who is very dear to us. I pray that he will have a stable home full of love. I pray that he will have wise adults in his life teaching him to live well. I pray that he may have those who teach him well about spiritual concepts. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54: 2 I think I started praying for this boy while he was still in his mother's belly. I remember when I met her in the shade of a peacock-eye tree with it's little red seeds that my boys loved to collect in jars. She probably does not even remember ... When he was three years old, he came to spend time every day...

Today my oldest turns 23! Whew!  It's been an incredible year for him and I was so pleased to spend a good part of it nearby. We got to be in the USA for Christmas last year and for William's wedding to the lovely Kerri Potter. Our whole furlough was full of many happy reminders of how proud we are of each of our sons.  This photo from the wedding is just one of many that make me smile from 2018. William, I am especially very proud of you individually.  You made it through homeschooling with your missionary mama as your teacher at home and Sunday School teacher at church. You became a missionary at an early age and made it official at the age of 18 when you filled in for your parents on the field, all on your own, for six months.  And you did well !   You figured out life in the States with flair and with little help from mama and papa.  You've proven yourself worthy over and over.  Keep up the good work, buddy! Be dilig...