one month

today is our one month aniversary of being in Itu. wow. in some ways it seems longer, and in other ways shorter.
one thing is for sure, i do not miss that crazy trip! we were completely overloaded! we both had hicking packs that weighed about 50 pounds, plus "personal items" the size of small cars.

this week there is one thing we witnessed: my parents' ministry here is a national ministry. you can only fully comprehend this once you've lived in their home and realized how many times you have it all to yourself. =)

i.e. my dad left for Belo Horizonte (a large city about 600 miles N from here, where all the TV programs are recorded) last Thursday -- second time in 1 month. he got home yesterday for lunch, repacked and took my mom to Porto Alegre (another large city about 1000 miles S of here) to offer a marriage seminar. They will be back next Wednesday. Mom and I will speak at a National Christian Women's Conference that weekend. Between now and the end of the year (2 months), they will be in 4 different Brazilian states teaching and encouraging churches. It has amazed me how God has blessed their efforts.

As a consequence of their national wide activities, Mark and I have the privilege to lead Dad's Wed and Fri Bible studies (there are some older blogs that talk about these get-togethers).

All of our full time ministries will start in November. We will be hosting the youth group, young married couples and young professionals weekly, as well as the Wed. and Fri. groups.

I have caught myself several times at church on Sundays sitting amongst people and day dreaming about different ministries, and community outreach, and youth activities... it's an inspiring place to be. What a blessing to be part of a church that is thirsty for creative leadership, spontaneous outreach and big - nation wide - vision for the church.