Beca 2 Brazil

Hey Friends!  This summer has been a full one, and one that has kept me busy! I have hardly had time to sit and write my thoughts about it all. I have been running all over the planet and I am only getting started. I still have several new places to visit before this year is over.      Currently I am on my survey trip and am in Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil. The Lord has been so good and has blessed my trip so much already. I have had the opportunity to visit three different Deaf ministries here in Brazil and visit with 6 missionary families. It has been such a refreshing trip for me. I needed the break from deputation and have thoroughly enjoyed my time away so far.     There has been so much here for me to think about in regards to my upcoming move and future ministry to the Deaf. Deaf ministry is a unique ministry and has so many nuances that many who are not involved may not be aware of. It has been a blessing to me to sit with many of these experience...

Hey friends!        I t has been a minute haha. I have been traveling like crazy and haven't had two minutes to rub together to sit and write this, but I wanted to share a blessing from this week with you all as well as some prayer requests.       About a week ago my AC quit working... not really a huge deal, but I've been down in Louisiana and the heat index has been around 105-115. Ray has not been loving the heat at all, needless to say. He hasn't been driving poorly, but has been getting awful gas mileage due to the excessive heat.       I had a meeting this past Sunday morning, but didn't have one for Sunday night, so I decided to drop in on a church in the area. I dropped into a church about 15 minutes away from the hotel I was staying at. The pastor saw me from the pulpit and asked me to come up and talk about my ministry, what a blessing! After the service, the missions committee voted to support me! God is so good! Aft...

  Searching for a Home. What an awesome week I have had here in Berne, IN. Ive gotten to spend some time with some of my very closest friends and strongest encouragers. For those who may not know or be familiar with my background, I had the privilege to teach here in Berne two years ago. What an awesome experience that was for me, a tremendous time of learning and preparation for me before I started deputation.       I have another week here with friends before getting back on the road and heading back down south. I have meetings in MS, AK and LA for the next month or so before heading to Brazil for my official 'Survey Trip.' I am so very excited to get back to Brazil, even if it is not full-time quite yet.      As I have been here (in Berne) for several days, I have often remarked to my friends here and to some on the phone, how great it has been to be back home. It has been almost surreal to be here, just driving through town takes me back to wh...

Hello!  It seems to me that time is flying this summer. every time I turn around it seems another week has just passed. I have been all over these last few weeks. I had my second week of candidate school the first week of June, and since then I spent about two weeks in South Carolina with some friends before driving up north to the Michigan/Ohio area. It has been a fun, but fast paced few weeks.  Candidate school was such an encouraging time for me! I loved getting to reconnect with some friends from last year, as well as get to know some of the new missionaries who are joining us. It was a great time of fellowship and learning there at the mission. I love being down at BIMI, their staff are some of my favorite people in the world! They are so friendly and always encouraging, I have never left the mission without feeling overwhelmingly loved by them.  I had such a great time in South Carolina! I had one meeting down there and was able to take a little bit of time off just...

Hello from Northern VA!       It has been so nice to spend a few weeks here in my home area. I haven't spent much time up here just because I’ve had meetings all over the place, but its been nice to see them and be in familiar territory.  I got the news that our container has gone out! It is so exciting to think that all of my things will soon be in Brazil and I will be following shortly!       In the last few weeks I have seen a small jump in my support, putting me up at 60%! I am super excited to see the progress as I continue to pray and make preparations for a move in November.       Last week I had the opportunity to go on a hike up in Front Royal, VA. It was a hike I had read up on some and I was super excited to have the time to go. I checked the weather, it was supposed to be a warm, sunny 75 degrees all day, perfect hiking weather. It was about a 4 mile round trip hike, so not too long. I got to the site and parke...

Happy Spring!        I am back up on the East Coast! And may I say, it is COLD!!! I was not quite prepared for the 50 degree weather I would be facing lol.       That aside, it has been wonderful to be back up here with some familiar faces, it has been so great to see my parents again. I haven't been home since Christmas! All my travels have kept me quite busy and out of the area.       It has been an exciting last couple of weeks for me lately! I recently purchased my plane tickets for my Survey/Set-up trip in Brazil! I will spend the month of September down there in preparation for my move, which will be, Lord willing, this coming November. It was so neat to buy those tickets and think that very soon my life will be transplanted for good in Brazil. I am very ready to get down there and get busy!       Also in the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to begin classes for Brazilian Sign Language (Libras...

       Well it’s never boring, that’s for sure! There is always something happening or going on to make this deputation thing exciting and thrilling! We are *still* enjoying the wonderful warm weather down in Florida. I will be making my way up north(north-er) on Monday. My mom flew down to spend the weekend with me and help me make the 17 hour drive next week back to Maryland. I am so excited to get to spend some time with her these few days!       Yesterday we were driving from eastern Florida to south-west   Florida. I had a meeting on the East coast Wednesday night. We were taking our time, it was just a 4 hour drive so I wasn’t super pressed for time or anything. We pulled off the highway to eat lunch and as we were leaving the restaurant, Rays front bumper just about fell off! I had checked to be sure I wasn’t up on the curb, and both of us are sure I didn't hit anything yesterday, but there it was, hanging on by a few clips. Last week ...