Feliz Natal - Getting Used to a Tropical Christmas

Here I am, a few days before Christmas, listening to a tropical thunderstorm from inside our breezy (if not cozy) apartment.  Christmas this year looks, sounds, and feels different, and though I had my suspicions, I never truly realized how much my "Christmas Spirit" was tied to my culture and surroundings.  Along with Peace, Love, Joy, and Incarnation always came Snow, Christmas Trees, Hot Chocolate and Candlelight.  This Christmas I have been stripped of all my familiar trappings and am left to desperately seek the One I know that the season is truly about.

Yet still I find myself roaming grocery stores, searching unsuccessfully for food colouring and sprinkles for my cookies, Christmas lights that don't spastically blink on and off, and something a little more warm and cozy - not so much bright and tropical.  Hot chocolate and baking when it's 85 degrees out.  Dreaming of a White Christmas while gazing out at the... palm trees.  Maybe this sounds idyllic to some, but I've always longed for warmth and spring once January rolls around - December for me belongs to warm scarves, hushed snow-covered nights, and watching White Christmas with family, blankets, and Christmas treats.

A Christmas card from our language school helped (a little) to put things in perspective for me.  It described some Brazilian traditions and the difference between our climates, but also emphasized the traditions we share, such as the Nativity and families gathering together.  It goes on to say that "For those in North America and Europe, Christmas brings cold weather and white snow.  But, you can be assured that Christmas in Brazil brings the beauty of a warm, rainy climate, a harvest of fresh fruits and flowers, with much joy.  This is our Christmas... a Tropical Christmas."

It will take me awhile to navigate through what I know the Season to be, and what I've made it to be.  Perhaps this is a lesson I especially need to learn.  Traditions are important, but I am realizing that depending on how they are used, they can either point us toward Truth, or distract us from it.  May we not be distracted from the miracle of the Incarnate Christ.

"So wrap our injured flesh around You

Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sin, and make us holy

Perfect Son of God...

Welcome to our world."
-Chris Rice, "Welcome to Our World"

The Opposite of Fear

I'll be honest.  This leaving thing?  Going to live in a different country for years?  It's not easy, at least, not for me.  As the time gets closer for us to leave, I haven't doubted whether it's the right thing to do - whether we're following God's plan for our lives.  His direction has been clear - at times, astonishingly clear.  But I have found myself giving in to fear - fear of the unknown, of saying goodbye to (and living without) the familiar.  Fear of so many things.  Yet, in the midst of this, it seems that lately, every time I read a blog, listen to the radio, hear a sermon, worship in song - I have been bombarded with God's messages - poignant, tailored tidbits that cut to the quick of who I am and what I'm experiencing.  A few nights ago, God's message for me was through a pastor, speaking to a group of people.  He said, "The opposite of fear is not courage.  It's faith."  Courage suggests something I have or find inside myself - faith is all about what I know God is going to do.
One song that keeps finding me at God-appointed times is Hillsong's "Oceans":

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior." 

One Big Step!

Why has it been so long since I've posted??  It has been a great summer - busy, full, but also a summer of waiting for the myriad documents needed for us to apply for Brazilian visas.  I didn't want to post until we had news, and it's been the same old same old for a couple months now.  Today has been momentous as we finalized the last details, dotted the last "i", crossed the last "t"... and SENT IN OUR APPLICATIONS for visas!  So now we wait some more while they are processed.  No news for another few weeks.  But this big step feels so good to have accomplished.  Those of you who have dealt with processing documents needed to visit foreign countries can relate!  We appreciate your prayers during this time, specifically for speed in processing our visas, and that everything is in order and to the consulate's liking.  

Last steps...

IN THE MAIL!

Lake Lundgren

This past week, our family was able to spend a few days at Lake Lundgren Bible Camp during one of their teen summer camps.  Peter and I were the missionary speakers, so it was a little different than our typical talks in front of people.  We were able to share about Bible translation, aviation, and how we were called into missions as teenagers.  I grew up going to Lake Lundgren, so it meant so much to me to see our kids enjoying the same things I did at camp when I was their age.  We were the ones who were blessed by the staff, campers, and family time together.  Below are some highlights from the week.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for us this week!

                       

Wonders of Wisconsin

We are so blessed to spend our last few months in the States with our family and friends in Appleton, Wisconsin, where I grew up.  It's so fun to watch our kids enjoy the same things and places I did growing up and to see them playing in the same parks, attending the same church, and eating the same foods... like cheese curds.  Below are some pictures from our visit to a local cheese store, which makes the best fresh cheese curds in the world, in my opinion.  We are looking forward to a fun-filled Wisconsin summer!

This is cheese...

 ...so is this.

This is cheese at its best.  Pay no attention to the nutrition label.

Superheroes and Spring

We've been in training at JAARS in North Carolina for the past 6 months, and have truly enjoyed our first taste of living "in the South." However, next month, we will move back to Appleton, Wisconsin, where we will live until we head to Brazil in the fall. I'm thankful we have experienced three seasons here!

 So the big news for us right now is our (temporary) move to Appleton to be near friends and family before we leave, AND the successful potty training of Joel - our youngest superhero! We hope you enjoy our photos of spring in North Carolina, and our own resident superheroes!

Also, here's a link to our latest newsletter to find out a little more of what's going on in our lives.

Joel feels like a superhero in his big boy underwear and cape...

Video Update - Mountain Flying

Here's a video of some highlights from Peter's flight training last fall.  Hope you enjoy!

Mountain Flying Video

Home for the Holidays

This Christmas we were blessed to be able to spend time in Wisconsin with family and friends.  We are currently enjoying time in Pennsylvania on our "way back" to North Carolina (we will leave on Thursday).  We've been blessed to reconnect with so many people and feel that we're heading back to NC refreshed and encouraged as we begin another (shorter) leg of training.  Below are some highlights of our time, as well as some choice pictures of a family photo shoot.  Enjoy!

My dad and Peter - they're meticulous when it comes to clearing snow!

 Merry Christmas!

 My family

 Our true colours  :)

 Sisters!

 Nice, Joel.

 There really are no words for this one.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!