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Tuesday, January 12, 2010, Brazil
Dear Prayer Warrior,
CLM ENTRE RIOS:
We can only talk and talk about the wedding. It was unique, beautiful, and everything the Lord had planned. The day was similar to what we have been having - some rain, some wind, some sun, and changing from one to the other. In the morning, the sun was so bright that I had a hard time looking out the window, but then that changed to a light rain. Many were asking what is Plan B. We said that there was no Plan B. Faith does not have a Plan B! Well, the rain stopped maybe about a half hour before the wedding was to start, but the wind picked up. It literally picked up the white tent over the altar. It was unrepairable. The flowers would not stay on the pedestals and the green carpet would not stay in place, until stones were put on it to secure it. Praying that the wind would let up some, we delayed the start of the wedding. It did let up some and the wedding began. A few hats were flying here and there. As Bob and Loeci and I began our procession to the field it started drizzling just a little. It felt so good and was like a touch of God. By the time, we got to the front it stopped. It drizzled on and off, but it didn´t seem like it was bothering anyone, except for maybe the photographers and the musicians who needed to protect their equipment. God was present and He was joining Marcelo and Loeci as man and wife. A big highlight of the wedding was when Loeci sang a song to Marcelo. It was absolutely heavenly and touching. There was another special number sung by 2 of their friends and sang in English. It too was absolutely great. The hat collection was beautiful and just as Loeci had dreamed it to be.
Three days before the wedding, we found out that our cook would not be able to make it. He was sick and in the hospital and was not up to such an undertaking. Thankfully, we were able to get another group and they did a miraculous job. Everything was made that same day and fresh and wonderful. There were lots of salads, stroganoff with rice, and pork. The cake (from our local bakery) was chocolate and coconut and also delicious.
There were so many of their very precious friends at the wedding. Loeci had groups of people from the 3 jobs she has had, including her present one. There were several that came from the States and Canada - Bob, Zach, Mark, Barb, Heather, Greg, Jenny, Andrea, Talissa, Jonathan, Rosilda. CLM Plusers also made the effort to be here and participate in this important family moment - Marilda, Julio and Elisabete, Berenice, Elenize and Guilherme, Josiane, Lizena, Claudemir. Many families from both Marcelo and Loeci´s church in the city and our local church in the colonies were here, also. CLM Turvo came in full force. Several of Marcelo´s relatives and family friends were also here. The CLM kids did a wonderful job before and during the wedding. We were so proud of them. Marcelo had 11 couples and Loeci had 10 couples in the wedding party, that they wanted to honor for having very significant influence and for being tremendous blessings in their lives. Everyone walked away smiling and commending what a beautiful wedding. God was present. His plan is best.
Marcelo and Loeci left after the wedding to go to Foz do Iquaçu for 3 nights. They were going to a hotel that has a water park which they both enjoy. Please keep them in your prayers as they adapt to married life and continue to be used by the Lord in a powerful way.
It has been a little difficult getting turned around after the wedding. Besides being a little on the tired side it was hard to get the gears switched to summer activities for the kids and other projects that need to be done. This month still holds some travels, Vera´s graduation, and visitors. Jake and Amanda will be traveling to Paraguay with Kristen to once again get another visa for her to continue her stay here. We are praying for a 3 month visa, which she has not gotten up til now. Hopefully, this time they will give her what she needs to finish out her stay until March. Who knows maybe they will just tell her, she has to stay in Brazil forever! Bob and Zach will be leaving CLM on Sunday and flying out on Monday. On Thursday, Viktoria, Lizena, Rosilda, Vera´s father, brother, and sister-in-law, and I will go to Curitiba for Vera´s graduation returning on Friday. Somewhere by the end of this month, I will be taking Francielle and Aline to Foz do Iquaçu for their 8th grade graduation trip.
The visitor that will be coming on the 27th will create one of the most exciting moments in all the years Viktória has been at CLM. Her sister, Zsuzsa (Susan) and first member of her immediate family will arrive. Our prayer is that it will be a very uplifting time for Viktória and that Zsuzsa can take back to her family wonderful pictures and deep insight as to the ministry that Viktória has here. Please keep this visit in your prayers.
It was good to be able to get in touch with the Volkswagon dealer in Curitiba and place our order for a new Kombi today. I will be able to pick it up when I go to Vera´s graduation on the 21st. We will have to go by bus, to be able to return with the Kombi. We continue to have challenges with our vehicles. The old white Kombi will not start for anything. The gearshift on the blue Kombi dances all around. The newer white Kombi starts when it wants to. When we went to the city on Saturday for Loeci´s legal wedding, we had to push it downhill 6 blocks through intersections and it wouldn´t start, only to discover that the battery cable had come off. Believe it or not, when Jake tried to start the tractor to take the wedding tables back, it wouldn´t start! Oh, how refreshing a new Kombi will be!
When Alisson, Aline, and Alex came to CLM there was talk of their little brother, Mateus coming to join them. Since there was a chance that they would return to their grandmother, it was decided that Mateus did not need a double move. Now that the visit have been terminated and the direction to be taken seems to be going in the direction of adoption, the question of moving Mateus has come up again. Since we had made a commitment to bringing the siblings together, we have accepted the transfer. He will be coming Thursday afternoon. He is a cutie, but the adjustment may take a while. Pray for Mateus.
This Sunday, the church will be having baptism in the CLM swimming pool. Our Josiele will be baptized. Although, we know that she needs to grow in some areas of her life, we are confident in her sincerity and the commitment she has made to Jesus Christ. There are many more who have been disciple, we have also made the decision and commitment to be baptized. Please pray for this important step.
One birthday this week for us is Sergio´s who will be 22 on Sunday, January 17th. He came to CLM from the streets of Pinhão when he was 8 years old. His mother has mental problems and was not able to care for him. Sergio showed various traumas from the dangers and insecurity of the streets. He graduated from High School and moved out to live with a friend and Claudemir here in the colonies. Since then, he has found a companion and they have moved in with her grandfather to care for him. He is not working at the moment. He stops in every now and then and comes for most family events. He is not walking with the Lord, but we trust that the Lord is still pursuing him. Pray for job, that he would marry his girlfriend, Gislaine, and that they will commit their lives to the Lord.
CLM TURVO:
Luiz and Aninha and family will be traveling to Minas Gerais to meet up with Luiz´s new found family and to visit Aninha´s family. They leave on Thursday morning. We have lined up for Rosilda and Kristen (after she returns from Paraguay) to go to Turvo to help Fabio and Edit during this time. We trust that things will go smoothly and for the full cooperation of the children. We ask for your prayers for safety and protection on the Moreira Family trip and for wisdom, strength, and direction for Fabio, Edit, Rosilda, and Kristen.
Today is Tainara´s 5th birthday. She came to CLM when she was 2 years old. Her mother is very young and totally incapable of taking care of her. Tainara has a very strong personality. She can be very stubborn, demanding, and defiant. She also is very loving and affectionate and loves to sit on people´s laps. She likes to make other people feel good. She enjoys her baby dolls and like to sing and dance. She did well in school, although, she was very disruptive at times. She likes to talk and call attention to herself. Keep Tainara in your prayers especially for a family who will cherish and care for her.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Loeci and Marcelo´s wedding - praise God for a beautiful wedding, that everything went smoothly, for every guest that came and participated, for the cooks, decorator, and hairdresser, pray for Loeci and Marcelo as they begin a new chapter of their lives, for their relationship, for their jobs, for their schooling, and for their ministries, God´s protection on their return from their honeymoon.
2) Jake, Amanda, and Kristen - for God´s protection as they go and return from Paraguay, that Kristen will be granted a 3 month visa to complete her stay, for a great time of fellowship.
3) Bob and Zach - that they can take full advantage of their remaining time here, God´s preparation for their return home, for safe travels, God´s blessings on them as they have blessed many.
4) Vera ´s graduation - praise God for this great accomplishment for her, that she would feel our love and support and how proud we are of her, that she would get a permanent job in her area, for continual emotional and spiritual growth.
5) Zsuzsa´s Visit - that the Lord would bring her safely, for the tremendous blessing of sister sharing, that she would be open to understand and appreciate Viktoria´s ministry at CLM, for special memory making.
6) Kombi - praise God for the new Kombi, pray that it would be available on the 21st, pray that we can get the other Kombis running and reliable.
7) Mateus - that he would adapt well, that his siblings will rejoice at his coming, that all would accept him into their hearts, pray for the future that God has planned for this sibling group and His timing.
8) Baptism - pray for a nice day, pray for Josiele and her growth and commitment to the Lord, pray for all others who will be baptized.
9) Sergio - pray that the Lord would remind him of all the teachings during his childhood and that he would return to the Lord, that he would marry his girlfriend and lead her to the Lord, that he would find a job, that he would grow in character and righteousness.
10) Mark, Barb, Heather, and Andrea - they will be traveling home on Friday. May the Lord bless and keep them, may their experience always warm their hearts, may they know that they deeply blessed Loeci and Marcelo with their presence as well as many others.
11) Jonathan - he is on his way to Rio de Janeiro for a work related opportunity to be an arquitechical consultant. May the Lord keep him safe and take him home without any difficulties.
12) Talissa - She has been Kristen´s shadow for the first week. She is doing great with her relationships with the children and certainly has a servant´s heart. May we be able to pass to her her schedule, that she would be strong during the time that Kristen and Rosilda will be gone, that God can stretch her in a loving way, for growth and vision for God´s calling on her life.
13) Vacation time and the return to school - that the Lord would bless our plans for activities and help us prepare for the return to school.
14) Luiz and Aninha and Family - that the Lord would clearly illuminate the entire way on their trip, that the encounter with Luiz´s family can be emotional and all he expected, that they may all have quality time with their new found family, for a good visit with Aninha´s family, for safe travels, for inner peace that exceeds all understanding that all will go smoothly at CLM Turvo - It is God´s work!
15) Tainara - that the Lord would tender her heart, for development of sensitivity to other´s needs and hurts, for overcoming the stubbornness and developing obedience, for success in school, that God would guide her future.
We are blessed to overflowing. We are encouraged and grateful. God is good all the time.
loving Him more and more,
Mary
