1. Time with family
2. Meet with everyone we can about our ministry and Living Stones
3. Raise the needed funds for ourselves and others
4. Get as much training as possible to do our jobs better.
We are doing well on all of these goals, and here are some surprising extra blessings (besides PEOPLE we love--that is another post!) from this trip:
1. The Gathering Place: located next to the Community Church of Greenwood, they are a wonderful gym and workout place that also has a Tot Spot. They were kind enough to provide us with passes (including childcare), and this has made a HUGE difference to our trip. Not only has this helped us to be healthy, but our girls are old enough now that it is important to have things planned outside the house: and to be regular about it. And I am just ecstatic to be able to workout and SHOWER by myself (the simple joys of moms with young children). This is an unexpected blessing that I didn't even know to ask for!
2. Needing A Place to Stay: This is our first Home Assignment where we haven't stayed with my parents, and I really was nervous and unsure how that would work. But it has actually been an incredible blessing to be in a place of need, and see how God provided, and experience so much kindness from so many! Thank you to Steve and Ann Turner (our first month in the USA), Ferguson family in Connecticut and Wayne in Ohio (our second month), my sister (our 3rd month), and the Jones's (the last 3 months).
3. Aldi and the Library: we so appreciate the quality and convenience of these places--in Indiana, Ohio, and Connecticut.
4. Regular Dates: Caid and I are actually having weekly dates (for the last couple weeks), and it is just really nice and needed. We have grandparents and family that actually WANT and keep ASKING to take our kids off our hands. It is hard having your normal be so far away from family:(.
5. Grandpa Magic: Jessica is not the best sleeper, and we just celebrated THIS MONTH her first sleeping through the whole night, but my dad has magical powers at naptime: when he (and only he) puts her down on the bed and says "Shhhh! Time for bed!" and closes the door, she sighs, and goes directly to sleep (EVERY. SINGLE. TIME). I don't ask why--I am just grateful.
Lastly, here is the list of needs to bring back to Brazil:
1. Personal support: so grateful to be half-way there, but still need $500 monthly support
2. Old(er) phones for ministry leaders (must be unlocked, later models—series 5 or more)
3. 3-6 large suitcases (new or used)
4. Music speakers for outdoor performances (new or used)
5. CD players (100-240v, sturdy for kids, new or used)
6. “Spot it” game ($13 Barns and Nobel)
7. “When I pray for you” by Matt Paul Turner ($12 B&N)
8. 500 Writing Prompts ($10 B&N)
9. The Story of my Life ($7 B&N)
10. Pre-k wipe clean workbook ($10 B&N)
11. “It will be okay” by Lysa Terkeurst ($12 online)
12. “Overturning Tables” by Scott Bessenecker ($18 online)
13. Codenames—PICTURE VERSION ($15 online)
14. Roar: sing and play music DVD ($14 online)
15. Connect 4
16. Bubble concentrate (or ingredients to make it in Brazil)
17. Water balloons
18. Birthday cards
19. First aid kits
20. Facepaint
21. Small toys/prizes/gifts for boys and girls
22. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (used, 4 copies)
23. White Duck tape (2 rolls)
For Living Stones and Teaching English in Ministry (available at the Arts and Education store)
1. Jesus parable posters ($12)
2. Nativity poster ($12)
3. Teach me to pray poster ($3)
4. All about Jesus ($3.50)
5. Birthday posters (need 5, $3.50 each)
6. Writing process, parts of speech, good readers do, be more descriptive, word families, and vowels posters ($3.50 each)
7. Instasnow jar ($13)
8. Dry erase calendar ($3)
9. Dry erase job chart ($2)
10. Sight words placemat ($3)
11. USA map placemat ($3)
12. Money placemat ($3)
13. Opposites, time, money, rhyming flashcards ($4 each)
14. Facial expressions flashcards ($12)
15. Dry erase packets (5 for $12.50)
16. Dry erase roll ($16.50 for 24”x10’)
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