To Brazil!

On Thursday we are scheduled to leave for Brazil. This year in the US has been amazing and we will dearly miss everybody. But, we are thankful for the Christian family and friends God has given us in Brazil too and we look forward with great anticipation to our reunion with them there. Right now we are doing some last minute things concerning packing and preparing to go (you know, like eating Butterfingers for the last time). To highlight some family activities of the past few months we decided to post the following pictures.


Family pictures! Melissa's whole family was able to get together for
this occaision.


Baptist Mid-Missions Annual Conference in Ohio was a highlight
of our time in the US. We were able to fellowship with co-workers
and other friends and be challenged by great preaching.


Ellie turned 5!! The kids were able to spend a lot of time with
cousins and even go to a parade together.


We met with a supporting church in San Jose, California.
The same week BJ's sister Loa had a business meeting in
San Francisco and she brought BJ's mom with her. We had fun
seeing them and seeing starfish at the aquarium. On the drive
home we drove our full sized van through a living redwood
(parking in Rio is just as tricky), and Myla is standing in front
of an interesting bathroom made from a hollow redwood log.

Oregon Summer

Besides being entrusted to proclaim the precious gospel, and enjoying
fellowship with believers in different parts of the world, another one of
the amazing graces of missionary life is to be able to see and enjoy God's
creation as we travel to churches across the country.


We are now enjoying living in central Oregon with Melissa's parents.
These are some of the mountain views we are blessed to see each morning
and evening from their house.


Since the last blog, our travels brought us by Niagara Falls and
Mt. Rushmore as we visited churches in New York and drove to
visit churches in the West.



Resurrection Sunday was one of the last services that we spent at our
home church with family. BJ's Dad (far right) has continued to recover
well from brain surgery. The kids are growing up and doing great. We
thank God continually for his kindnesses.

He is Risen Indeed!

This last Sunday brought temperatures in the high 70's to central Michigan. It reminded us of Rio de Janeiro weather . . . well . . . winter in Rio at least! We saw lines at the ice cream store and smelled barbecue grills being fired up for the first time this Spring. Lilies are pushing up through the frozen tundra and signs of new life are all around. So what if it might snow again, spring is here! It causes us to pause and think of Christ's resurrection and the promise of new life in Him. May the truth of Christ penetrate through the soil of many hearts in 2011.


One day when it warmed up a little, some deer came out and the kids
got to enjoy watching them up close for awhile. In March, we made it
out ice fishing. It was Myla's first time and as you can see, she's kind
of excited.


Daniel and Ellie are the chocolate lovers. Flavia is crawling now and
sporting one new tooth.


The kids got to meet Great Grandma Sheehan for the first time in
Lynchburg, VA. We also had the opportunity to visit the church of
BJ's former youth pastor, BJ Worley, in West Virginia and spend
some time with his family in April.

Snow!

Our kids are enjoying this novelty called snow. They've thrown it, rolled in it, made snow-angels in it, sled on it and eaten it. We've shoveled it, gotten our van stuck it in (multiple times!), marvelled at it, and, yes, mumbled at it. But, in about a year when we are melting in the heat of Rio I'm sure we'll miss it again (oh, to be content!). On Sunday while the pastor spoke of Christ's sacrifice for us, through the windows we could see large, brilliant white snowflakes falling - timely reminders that, though our sins be as scarlet, in Christ we are cleansed and made white as snow. For that, we are eternally grateful.

Some Christmas and Birthday family fun.

To Every Thing There is a Season

Our family is now back in the United States and we are enjoying the fall season in Michigan- cool weather, colorful leaves, pumpkin pie! In this season of our lives, we plan to be in the US for one year to report to supporting churches and glorify God for His grace to allow us to be in Brazil. Below are some pictures of some of the events of the past few months.


Shortly before we returned to the US, we had the privilege to work in VBS at a sister church.
Our responsibility was to teach the 12-15 year olds.


Just three days before we left, we had our last youth Bible Study. A good group came that night. Our co-workers, the Patefields, are continuing this ministry.


At our meeting in Harrisville, Michigan with Family Heritage Baptist Church, the church put us in a nice country Bed and Breakfast. George, the owner, took Daniel for his first tractor ride.

This is the mission house that was graciously provided for us for our first 9 months in the US. The kids couldn't believe the spacious grassy yard to run in.

We visited with relatives at Uncle John's cider mill in mid-Michigan. As you can see, baby Flávia is healthy and growing!

Gooooool Brasil!

It's World Cup soccer time right now and the nation has stopped to watch the game and to cheer for their team. It will only become more intense as the tournament progresses.

Everywhere you look you see the colors of Brazil's flag. From painting on the streets to fully decorated houses. As the boom of fireworks fills the air, there is no mistaking what time of year it is here.

We got in the team spirit and dressed in Brazil's colors to watch a game with friends. As you can see, Flávia wasn't impressed. Since we were in the U.S. last, our family has grown by two. Because so much has changed, a Pastor in the U.S. asked me to reintroduce our kids on the blog. So.....

Myla is 6 years old. She loves to dress up like a princess, read books, and do crafts. She is Flávia's second mom. Next to her is Ellie. Ellie is 3 but will be quick to tell you that she will be 4 in July. She rides her bike like an Indy racecar.

Daniel was born in São Paulo and is now 2 years old. He likes anything that resembles a ball. The Brazilians love his blonde hair and blue eyes and treat him like a celebrity. Then there is Flávia who was born on May 20 here in Rio de Janeiro. She just wants to hurry and get out of her crib and play with her brother and sisters.

Shortly before Flávia was born, Melissa had the opportunity to speak to some young ladies at a sleep-over/Bible study hosted by our co-workers. The girls came from several of Rio's churches and had a great time.

She's Here! By God's Grace