In Sao Paulo....

We arrived in Sao Paulo Saturday evening. We were greeted by 13 very happy I360 students who had been in Porto Alegre for the past 2 weeks. I think our girls thought when we got on the plane in Brasilia that we were headed home. However, when we got to Sao Paulo and they saw Miss Mary Michael they were very happy. An update on the week - we spent Monday - Wednesday working in a Spirist orphange doing some painting in the girls dormitory. I had a totally different perspective going to the orphanage now being a mom. I realized even more how blessed I am to have the parents I have. There was one girl in particular named Carolina who would just find me and want a hug and for me just put my arms around her. The children are starving inside for someone to love on them. On Friday we went back to the orphanage just to play with them and to share the gospel. I was blown away at how open the people at the orphange are to allow us to come in and share the gospel. One girl named Natalicia accepted Christ. Please pray for her as she begins her walk with the Lord in a very dark place.

Now like I said we are in Sao Paulo. The girls and I are staying with some very close friends of ours while Trent and the rest of the group travel to another town 6 hours away by bus to do some work their. They will be back Tuesday night. The girls are taking a nap right now - very much needed. Like I've said before they have been troupers! Last night they were beging me to take them to bed. I wish that were the case every night! Ashlynn was talking to Trent the other night and said "I am ready to go home because I think I am speaking so much portuguese that I am forgetting English". This morning we got in church and Anna Kathryn starts saying "My tummy hurts...I am hungry...". Well I didn't have anything for her. The rest of the time she kept complaining! I just kept praying please dont get sick here on me. For lunch we had McDonalds (by the way much better in Brasil) and boy she was a different child after we left.

Love,
Joy

PS - When Trent gets back we will update the pics!

we have had a great weekend visiting in the home of Andre and Marney friends from when we lived here. Yesterday we got to go to the home of a family we were really close to when I lived here. All of them are married and a two of them have children. It was neat watching our kids interact. I believe children have a universal language. The girls have been doing wonderful! They were very excited about when we took them to mcdonalds yesterday. Tonight we are going to church. Please pray for me because they want me to translate the sermon from portuguese to English YIKES! I guess if everyone else is being stretched I need to be as well. I thought leavin little Caleb was going to be enough! We got to video skipe yesterday with him and he is doing great. Boy do we miss him but we know we are doing what the Lord wants. Can't believe we r heading into week three. Thanks for your prayers and keep the comments and emails coming. To friends at noahs ark we miss you guys but the girls are workin on their sheets.

Abracos (Hugs),
Joy

Day 5

Greetings from the countryside outside of Brasilia!

Yesterday, Friday, a group of young people arrived here at Agua Viva

for a retreat. Our students are helping lead the retreat. They

have planned the games, led in worship and discussion times. Many of the Brazilians

that are here for the retreat speak some English so they have enjoyed getting to

practice and the I360 students have enjoyed continuing to work on their Portuguese. 

The girls are doing well, they have enjoyed having mommy and daddy

Around for a few days. They are starting to become more and more comfortable

With the language and getting to where I will tell them a phrase and they will repeat

It.  One day Ashlynn wanted to go play with here two friends she met here but was afraid she wouldn’t know how to tell them she wanted to go home. So, I told her “don’t worry, I’ll write it on a piece of paper and you can show that to them.” She kept the paper with her and brought it back when she came home. The girls are getting used to the food, their favorite so far is rice and beans. We are all adjusting to sleeping in one room together.

Blessings,

Trent and Joy

Enjoying Brazil!

Greetings!

If you've been following the IMPACT 360 Brazil Blog, you know we all safely landed in Brazil. The girls enjoyed riding on top of the luggage in the airport!

Yesterday, Ashlynn and Anna Kathryn stayed at Agua Viva, the beautiful ranch about 45 minutes outside of Brasilia which was formerly the WinShape foster home here in Brazil, and is now a Christian retreat center. The group is staying here, and Chia Jasmine along with several other ladies who are cooking and taking care of our group played with the girls yesterday while Joy and I accompanied the students on a tour of the city and culture of Brasilia.  When we returned home for dinner, the girls had learned a few new Portuguese words, and taught Jasmine English for "Close your eyes!"  They were excited to go to the home of one of the workers at the retreat to play with their 3 children, dolls, and parrot!

Thank you for your continued prayers as we have this unique opportunity to build relationships with the students, serve the Brazilians and expose our children to the culture which was instrumental in Joy's childhood!

I am currently in town at a shopping center accessing the internet to study and upload some assignments for my masters program.

Blessings,
Trent, Joy, Ashlynn, and Anna Kathryn

Off to Brazil!

Greetings! We successfully got everyone packed and to the airport! The other night Anna Kathryn told Trent that, "Mommy will learn you to speak Portuguese once we get to Brazil!" 

We have decided that we will need to be cautious to not do to the girls what Mary & Joseph did travelling with the young Jesus when they thought he was with friends and family but they later found him back in Jerusalem astonishing the teachers in the temple! They are both having a blast with all the "IMPACT360's"!

Blessings,
Trent, Joy, Ashlynn & Anna Kathryn