So, I leave for home in 1 week from today. I have mixed emotions about it...but I am trying to enjoy my last week here. Yesterday we got to go see Batman-the Dark Knight.Totally amazing. And I only paid $3.50 in American money to go see it! That made it even better!
While I thank everyone for their prayers for Saturday´s happenings, they were cancelled. The favela was having a meeting all day long about everyone moving , so the event will be moved to this coming Saturday. I think God knew that I would have a hard time memorizing kids songs in Portugese. But Ruth, you would be glad to know, I have officially mastered the song "Fruits of the Spirit" in their language!! I am pumped!
I know everyone is wondering how Bret and Susie are doing. Today, the man came and put up the electric line that will lead to their house. They also officially have a phone number, and a phone line, it just hasn´t been set up yet since they have no house. Susie is adjusting well. She eats peanut butter and drinks Coke Zero every single day. She is also takingPortugese lessons from Rita, and doing pretty well.
For everyone who has met Vivian, the other girl who has been here with me for 2 months, please pray for her. She is attending Wellsley school for girls, and her financial aid did no go through. She is going to have to pay alot of money to go there next semester, and it is very stressful. Keep her in your thoughts.
Also pray for Jodi´s computer to start working again. In last weeks storm, is killed the modem through the phone line. Kind of bizzare, but luckily she had saved everything to an external hard drive just 18 days before, so not too much was lost.
Thank you for your support, and I will see everyone in a week!!
Amber
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
More from the home front
sooo...I know you are all wondering what Susie named her puppy....(Im sorry Allen, Leanna didnt win). She named the puppy Lamber. Please allow me to explain. We put a name jar in the middle of the table. As time was drawing nearer for the name to be chosen, Luke (Jodi´s son) and I decided to have some fun and to add everyones names together. For our names, we had ambuke and lamber. For some strange reason, Susie really liked Lamber. So I officially won the contest and I am going to get treated to lunch!! haha...but we later found out that Lamber in portugese means to lick...so it´s not that strange after all!
I will have to say that this last Saturday was one of the hardest days I have had here. We were visiting two of the favelas in Sao Paulo (Aldeinas and Parque de Campo Novo Mundo). While we were at Favela Aldeinas, we prayed with many of the people there due to the fact that they are being fored to move within the next few months. This move will be terribly hard on all of the families, since many of them have no money, nowhere to go, and many women have to make this move with no husband and many children. It was vrey hard to hear their stories and to have to see them gor through something like this. Its hard to understand how soemone could live like they do, and so easy to forget how thankful we should be. So I am very greatful to be able to pray with these women in their time of need.
The most difficult part came when we were leaving. As we were all climbing into the van, a little girl ran up to the van crying. Her eyes were very red, and so were her friend´s. All she kept saying was that she wanted to just come home and stay with us. Its hard to leave after seeing that. So we decided to have a day where we will pick up the kids from Favela Aldeinas and have them spend the whole days with us at the Shakara. We will be doing this next Saturday, and me and the girls (Vivian, Alexandra, and Rita) get to plan it all! Please keep us in your prayers so that everything will work out and the kids will get to learn more about Christ through AMO. It is one of the last days that AMO will get to spend with the kids from Aldeinas, since it is getting torn down.
Thank you so much for your support....
Amber
I will have to say that this last Saturday was one of the hardest days I have had here. We were visiting two of the favelas in Sao Paulo (Aldeinas and Parque de Campo Novo Mundo). While we were at Favela Aldeinas, we prayed with many of the people there due to the fact that they are being fored to move within the next few months. This move will be terribly hard on all of the families, since many of them have no money, nowhere to go, and many women have to make this move with no husband and many children. It was vrey hard to hear their stories and to have to see them gor through something like this. Its hard to understand how soemone could live like they do, and so easy to forget how thankful we should be. So I am very greatful to be able to pray with these women in their time of need.
The most difficult part came when we were leaving. As we were all climbing into the van, a little girl ran up to the van crying. Her eyes were very red, and so were her friend´s. All she kept saying was that she wanted to just come home and stay with us. Its hard to leave after seeing that. So we decided to have a day where we will pick up the kids from Favela Aldeinas and have them spend the whole days with us at the Shakara. We will be doing this next Saturday, and me and the girls (Vivian, Alexandra, and Rita) get to plan it all! Please keep us in your prayers so that everything will work out and the kids will get to learn more about Christ through AMO. It is one of the last days that AMO will get to spend with the kids from Aldeinas, since it is getting torn down.
Thank you so much for your support....
Amber
Monday, July 28, 2008
an update
For all of you have told me to tell Bret and Susie hello, they miss you. They miss everybody. Plese keep Susie in your prayers. She has been VERY sick the past couple of days, and this has made the move even more hard on her. She still smiles when she sees her puppy though!! We are having a naming contest for it sometime this week. If you have any suggestions, let me know. To give you ideas, it has had gum stuck to its head for the past week. Haha.
The past few days has been dedicated to planting trees. Since AMO is expanding, they had to cut down quite a few trees to make more room for thier future buildings. As the law goes in Brazil, if you cut down a tree, so many more have to be planted in its place. So we have had 2 plant over 300 hundred trees by Wednesday. It is madness!! At least it is not sumer here...
On Friday, I made dnner. Those of you who know me know that I DON´T cook. Amazingly, I was able to cook for 10 people and was greatly complimented for it. I made pineapple casserole and Cheesy chicken. And we had cheesecake for dessert. YAY! That was DEFINATELY a prayer answered.
There is only 22 days left until I leave. I don´t want to leave yet. The people here are so awesome and encouraging. The accountability and positive atmosphere is going to hard to part with. They have even joked about stealing my passport so Id have to stay here. They also said that of course they would invite Justin too...Sounds like a plan to me!!
I don´t want to go back to college!! The transition is going to be so difficult! It starts in 27 days!! AHH!!! But I am looking forward to what the future holds for our college ministry. I miss our bible studies...
But I am gaing SOME biblial knowledge here. haha-Since I am currently living with 2 pastors and multiple seminary students, everything is turned into a lesson. And then the lesson is turned into a debate. I just listen and learn. Haha.
And I dare not reveal any of my talents to anyone here. For example, I was singing while I was doing the dishes, and Pete Brennan overheard me. He continued to pressure me until I sang in front of the congregation. I did and it was terrifying. You can ask my mom if I did well or not. She was there : ).
This experience has definately been one of spiritual growth. I am enjoying every minute of growing closer with Christ. Please pray for me as I continue to grow more.
Thanks for your support,
Amber
The past few days has been dedicated to planting trees. Since AMO is expanding, they had to cut down quite a few trees to make more room for thier future buildings. As the law goes in Brazil, if you cut down a tree, so many more have to be planted in its place. So we have had 2 plant over 300 hundred trees by Wednesday. It is madness!! At least it is not sumer here...
On Friday, I made dnner. Those of you who know me know that I DON´T cook. Amazingly, I was able to cook for 10 people and was greatly complimented for it. I made pineapple casserole and Cheesy chicken. And we had cheesecake for dessert. YAY! That was DEFINATELY a prayer answered.
There is only 22 days left until I leave. I don´t want to leave yet. The people here are so awesome and encouraging. The accountability and positive atmosphere is going to hard to part with. They have even joked about stealing my passport so Id have to stay here. They also said that of course they would invite Justin too...Sounds like a plan to me!!
I don´t want to go back to college!! The transition is going to be so difficult! It starts in 27 days!! AHH!!! But I am looking forward to what the future holds for our college ministry. I miss our bible studies...
But I am gaing SOME biblial knowledge here. haha-Since I am currently living with 2 pastors and multiple seminary students, everything is turned into a lesson. And then the lesson is turned into a debate. I just listen and learn. Haha.
And I dare not reveal any of my talents to anyone here. For example, I was singing while I was doing the dishes, and Pete Brennan overheard me. He continued to pressure me until I sang in front of the congregation. I did and it was terrifying. You can ask my mom if I did well or not. She was there : ).
This experience has definately been one of spiritual growth. I am enjoying every minute of growing closer with Christ. Please pray for me as I continue to grow more.
Thanks for your support,
Amber
Friday, July 25, 2008
I´m Sorry!
In case you were wonering, I am officially in Brazil. I know, I haven´t blogged at all. I was having problems logging on at first and couldn´t understand how to get my password due to the portugese directions. Honestly, I didn´t really try to figure it out because I have been extremely apprehensive about blogging. I am not a very good writer, so when I began thinking about how the pblic would be able to read this, it kinda weirded me out. I have realized that it doesn´t matter, people just want to know that I am okay and know what I am doing.
I am okay.
As for what I am doing, the answer is TONZ! We have a weekly schedule:
Monday-property maintenance
Tuesday-seminary in the AM bible study in the PM
Wednesday-construction at favela Glebba B and church there at night
Thursday-property maintenance (AM) church at shakara (PM)
Friday-seminary , property maintenance, then FAMILY TIME!!
Saturday-visit Favelas in Sao Paulo
Sunday-Church at Shakara(AM) visit favelas Monte Cristo & Glebba B in Campinas
This schedule has allowed for me to build relationships with the children. I have become Tia Amber and have grown to absolutely love these kids. I wish I could put pictures on here, but I don´t know how, nor do I have the time to.Brazil is a beautiful country-beautiful smiles, beautiful landscaping, and beautiful people. My stay here had been very comfortable from my bed and showers, to the food and the company. I know I will be back here, the question is just when. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I will keep updating. I know I am only here for 3 more weeks, but I will.
Thanks for your patience,
Amber
I am okay.
As for what I am doing, the answer is TONZ! We have a weekly schedule:
Monday-property maintenance
Tuesday-seminary in the AM bible study in the PM
Wednesday-construction at favela Glebba B and church there at night
Thursday-property maintenance (AM) church at shakara (PM)
Friday-seminary , property maintenance, then FAMILY TIME!!
Saturday-visit Favelas in Sao Paulo
Sunday-Church at Shakara(AM) visit favelas Monte Cristo & Glebba B in Campinas
This schedule has allowed for me to build relationships with the children. I have become Tia Amber and have grown to absolutely love these kids. I wish I could put pictures on here, but I don´t know how, nor do I have the time to.Brazil is a beautiful country-beautiful smiles, beautiful landscaping, and beautiful people. My stay here had been very comfortable from my bed and showers, to the food and the company. I know I will be back here, the question is just when. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I will keep updating. I know I am only here for 3 more weeks, but I will.
Thanks for your patience,
Amber
Monday, June 23, 2008
I'm leavin on a jet plane!
I leave tomorrow!! Im terrified of flying so PLEASE pray for me. Today I hopped on the bandwagon and bought The Shack to read in order to help with the long flight. Soon I'll be able to join everyone when hey talk about it. I also picked up On Mission with God. I'll let you know how they are. I'll try an post as soon as I can when I get there. Thanks you so much for everyone's prayers and support so far!!
God Bless-
Amber
God Bless-
Amber
Friday, June 13, 2008
Good News
I jus got an email from Jodi filling me in on some details.
Good-
1. I will be staying in a room with a girl named vivian who is my age and from Miami, FL. I am excited about this because she is staying for 2 months also and she arrives the day before I do. It'll be a cool bonding experience.
2. 2 days after I get there, we will be taking a group of 25 kids to a mini-theme park. I am so pumped about this!!
3. The email really pumped me up about the trip!! I leave in 11 days! WOO!
Bad-
1. I have limited internet access. So my posts and email will be few and far between. I try to update as much as possible though!
2. They don't have running hot water, so no warm showers for me!!
the bad is not really that bad, but its just not good....it'll be so awesome down there!!
Jodi also gave me the address of where we will be staying, so email me if you need it for any reason.
Thanks for reading and god bless!
Amber
Good-
1. I will be staying in a room with a girl named vivian who is my age and from Miami, FL. I am excited about this because she is staying for 2 months also and she arrives the day before I do. It'll be a cool bonding experience.
2. 2 days after I get there, we will be taking a group of 25 kids to a mini-theme park. I am so pumped about this!!
3. The email really pumped me up about the trip!! I leave in 11 days! WOO!
Bad-
1. I have limited internet access. So my posts and email will be few and far between. I try to update as much as possible though!
2. They don't have running hot water, so no warm showers for me!!
the bad is not really that bad, but its just not good....it'll be so awesome down there!!
Jodi also gave me the address of where we will be staying, so email me if you need it for any reason.
Thanks for reading and god bless!
Amber
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Brazil!!
I created this blog specifically for my friends and family to read while I'm away in Sao Paulo, Brazil for 2 months. I am leaving on June 24th, and I am so excited about serving the Lord by doing missions work there! Please pray for safe travel and good preparation before I begin my journey.
Thanks-
Amber
Thanks-
Amber
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