Sunday Funday September

Our weekly vlog:

We are really happy to have the Turner family back in Brazil (after their home assignment for the last six months)! We love being neighbors:). We also can't believe in two and a half months we will be heading to the USA on our own home assignment. Friday night was another English class at Cajueiro Claro, which Caid (he is teaching the kids) and I (teaching the adults) are doing this semester. It has been an unexpected blessing, and a great time to minister to our church family and community.

August and September the Real (Brazilian currency) has been really down, compared to the dollar. For the past couple of years, it has stayed right around 1 Dollar to 3 Reais: but lately it has been 1 Dollar to 4 Reais. This is very revealing of how the Brazilian economy is doing right now, and how unsure things are before the presidential election (the election is the first Sunday in October). But it also means that any donation to Living Stones is worth 25% more to us right now!

Reads from the Interwebs:
1. Changing the Narrative: so appreciate the grace of my cousin Amy!
2. Our most unlikely Teachers: this is right on the subject of my current Bible study--going through the Gospels asking "What does this teach me about being last?" (Eventually, I hope to put together my findings in a coherent, shareable, manner.)
3. If I had to get a Job: I think about this a lot actually...being a missionary, there are so many things you can't control and you never know if they are going to change and if your life might suddenly look much, much different.

Long Weekend Sunday Funday

Our weekly vlog:

In the USA you had Labor Day last weekend, and I hope you had a lovely relaxing three day weekend. But welcome to Brazil, where Independence Day was Friday, and Carpina (our town) founding day is September 11 (we are not celebrating America's sadness) and so we have a five day weekend. Whoohoo! We had a lovely week, and my 6th and 7th graders finished their first semester special projects:

We will let you know how our LOOOONG weekend was next week, because it isn't finished yet!

Reads from the Interwebs:
1. Learning from Injustice while Living Overseas: yes. THIS. You don't need to read anything else. Just this.
2. Ministry and Mom Guilt
3. The Day I choose to Smile

September Sunday Funday

Our weekly vlog:

We had a lovely week where Jessica is officially mobile, Sofia is learning her letters, and Caid and I are getting more sleep, which is one of the best parenting gifts ever at this age. Last week, someone broke into the church at Cajueiro Claro and stole all of the food for the Living Stones program. They didn't touch any of our toys or supplies, and for that we are grateful. We are praying that if they are ever that desperate for food again, they would come to us and we would have the opportunity to give it to them instead. We hope you all (in the USA) have a good Labor Day with family: in Brazil we have a holiday (Independence Day) next weekend, so we will get our relaxing time then:).

Reads from the Interwebs:
1. Taking Care of the Poor: Most Ignored Command in the Bible?
2. 12 Questions to help kids think deeper about poverty
3. 10 ways to entertain kids on long flights: Wish they had window clings in Brazil...at least, I haven't found them here yet.