As I was making peach cobbler this afternoon, I began to reflect on this summer and everything that has happened even in the last couple weeks. I have 2 more days before I return to work for a new school year and I believe I will return a vastly different person than when I left in May.

In late July, a few missionaries from Brazil and Japan came to stay in Peoria for several weeks as one recuperated from surgery. While they have been staying here, they have been attending our church. Their presence turned out to be an answer to prayer. They have been here for about 4 or 5 weeks now and we know that our church will not be the same after they leave. We have been praying for a renewed vision and passion within the church and it seems that we are about to get it. You see, the missions organization (PAZ) they come from in Brazil (that has extended to Japan) is seeing a mighty work of God. Their central church boasts of about 15,000 members, growing daily! Do we think of churches that size when we think of Brazil?

As they have been here, Isaac and I have felt a very strong urge to go down there and help next summer. I certainly didn’t see that coming at the beginning of the summer! We have been invited to go down there several times, and though, Isaac probably would have gone in a heartbeat each and every time, I have never really felt a strong desire to go, other than “it would be neat” or “maybe someday.”

Apparently, God had that “someday” planned quicker than I expected, because this time when the invitation came around, it was different. I can actually say that I really want to go and am very excited to pursue this journey throughout the next year. Those that know me know that I tend to be a worrier by nature, but things that would make me second guess this decision (like, what we will do with our dogs for 6 weeks???) don’t have me concerned.

Though we will be going to do whatever they need us to do, I am really excited to see how they run things and just how they operate. I want to learn and I want to grow. And I want to bring it back here. I think that is what God has in store for me.

In the mean time, please pray for us as we begin to prepare for this adventure. We are so excited we have already started taking Portuguese lessons!

Hopefully my Portuguese will turn out better than my peach cobbler.

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