Christa and Bethany are in the process of planning a summer trip to Brasil. We’ll be leaving either in May of June. We’ll be back sometime in August. Christa is going to renew her visa, Bethany is going to be in a friend’s wedding. There will be several opportunities to minister while they are in Brasil but no plans have been finalized.

Charity is working full-time for a Brasilian company in Chattanooga, TN. She loves her job and really enjoys being in contact with Brasilians.

You’ve read about some of it here on the blog, others have received emails, and you’ve seen a few pictures posted here and there. I made a photo book and had it printed and it’s amazing. Since all of you can’t come over to my house for a cup of tea (or rather, Brasilian coffee!) and look at the book, I’ll post the link on here. You can view it online. If you want to come over, though, feel free to! I’d love to go through the book with you and share the stories behind each picture.

Thank you for your prayers and support towards my trip to Brasil. I am currently praying about when the Lord would have me to go back. I’m looking at a couple of dates and opportunities and am excited to see how the Lord is going to lead.

For now I am teaching English as a second language and working at Taco Bell in Trenton, GA. I play the piano and harp at church and interpret. I’ll be helping out with the Reformer’s Unanimous program once it gets started at our church, too. I stay busy.

Here’s the photo book:

Click here to view this photo book larger

I arrived in the States on Sunday, August 16th and am praying about what the Lord would have me to do now. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

I look forward to going through all my pictures and videos and putting together a presentation for you all. So many memories, stories, and things to share.

I do ask that you all pray for my remaining eight days here in Brasil as I “close up shop”. I teach my last English lesson tonight and my last piano lessons on Tuesday next week. I have good-byes on Sunday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I already had two good-byes last weekend.

The past two Sunday mornings I had the privilege of substitute teaching the Deaf class at the Bible Baptist Church.

Giovanna - Deaf girl in Osasco.

We stopped at this restaurant when we arrived in Curitiba. It was delicious!

The music conference began Wednesday night with a service/concert. I played a special that first night and then the next morning.

Dr. Bruce Cox was the speaker for the conference. Besides speaking he sang and played specials. His wife, Jennifer, and son, Caleb, were with him and provided many specials as well.

There were afternoon workshops and evening services/concerts.

At the end several people wanted a picture of me with my harp!

On Saturday I went with Davi and Tallyta to a soccer tournament. Davi played with the guys from the youth group at their church.

Sunday morning I played three specials.

Sunday evening I played four specials at a different church.

One month from today I will arrive back in the United States.

After the service Luis Eduardo, son of André and Renata (both Deaf), came out of the children’s class and said he got saved! Praise the Lord!! We were all rejoicing with him and excited.

Although I don’t have time right now to get into the details, this new name in Glory is fruit added to your account. I look forward to sharing the whole story later on.

Right now I’m waiting for my ride to arrive. I am headed south to Curitiba for a music conference. I am very excited about this trip. I will be playing atleast two specials in the conference as well as playing with the orchestra and choir. On Sunday I will be playing in two different churches.

Thank you all for your prayers! God bless you.

I do want you all to know that I’m alive and doing well. I was sick last week but lots of rest helped me recuperate. Bethany and lots of rest don’t normally go well in the same sentence!

I have been staying busy and will continue to do so for the next month and and a half. I have 47 days left before I board the big plane for the US of A. Not exactly exciting for me but I am looking forward to seeing my family and harp again.

I will be heading south to Curitiba, Parana, on July 8th with a group from Jundiai. Pastor Terry Broyles is taking a group from his church and offered to take me with them. There is a music conference with Bruce Cox and others July 8-10. I will stay in Curitiba a few extra days to play the harp in two churches on Sunday, July 12th, and a few days with my friends, Davi and Tallyta.

I have been helping out at my Uncle Dan’s church with their Deaf ministry on Sunday mornings. Things are going well and their ministry is growing. Yesterday there were six Deaf people, and three hearing people. We were missing three Deaf people due to work and an ear ache.

I’m going to post a few pictures here and will hopefully be back to write more this week.

Translating for the BJU soccer team

Serving dessert at the Valentine’s banquet

Playing piano for the service after the Valentine’s banquet

Singing with Deaf class at Bible Baptist Church in Osasco

It’s been a lot of fun for me as a teacher to not just teach music but to see my students learning and watching the light bulb turn on. One of my students finally realized how to count the beats in the measure where the pianist will start the introduction. It just wasn’t sinking in but Tuesday night he “got it.” Last night he was able to hold the last note an extra beat and still come in on the fourth beat for the second and third verses. I was very excited!

As I went through the 500+ songs in the Majesty Hymns hymn book I wrote down songs I didn’t think they would know. It had been requested that I teach happy songs so I was trying to pick those out as I went through the book page by page. On Monday night I went through my list and asked them what songs they did and didn’t know and was amazed at how many hymns they really do not know. A few they have heard on CDs but have never actually sung the song, much less in church.

The thought that we take music for granted really hit me hard this week. It’s amazing! I grew up “in church,” have played the piano for almost 16 years, have played in MANY churches, have had five different piano teachers, have taught piano for several years now, and it’s a rare occasion to find a hymn I do not know in the more common hymn books. I have taken this for granted for far too long.

This week I have taught songs such as A Shelter In The Time Of Storm, Brighten The Corner Where You Are, Singing I Go, and Oh, Say But I’m Glad. Other songs they do not know are He Lives, Bringing In The Sheaves, Victory In Jesus, and many others.

I am very grateful for my parents encouragement in the area of music, all of my many music teachers, the musical talent God has blessed me with…and for all the hymns I know!

How many hymns do YOU know? I will not be taking the songs I know for granted anymore. Will you?

I had never eaten chicken hearts at a cookout before, only at restaurants. I wasn’t sure if I’d like them because I’m used to having them seasoned a certain way, but I didn’t have any problem with these. I ate 15!

Sonoko (Deaf, Japanese) put a couple of bananas on the grill. After taking a long walk she came back and ate them with a spoon.

Diego (Deaf) on the left is Carina’s (picture below) boyfriend. He was saved some time ago but works every other Sunday. He comes when he can and has been participating more in church activities.

Carina is Deaf and almost blind. Please pray for her to be saved. Sonia has been reaching out to her but Carina is having a hard time understanding the message of salvation. Carina lives past what we call “the other side of the city” and only comes to church when Diego can accompany her.