One Week Left

I have one week to go before I leave for Brazil.  I can't believe it.  I have been visiting with my parents and family here in Massachusetts for the last month and having lots of good rest and relaxation.

I presented at Fellowship Bible Church and was blessed with a love offering to help me with my travel to Brazil.  It was fun presenting at the church I grew up in, and found a love for missions in.  God has been good to keep connections open there.

I may only have a few days left here but lots to do.  I have begun my packing and repacking to fill my suitcases with 70lbs of stuff each and I plan on taking 3.  I also need to sell my car. I have it on Craig's list but have not received any interest.  I am praying I can get some money for it by selling it somewhere.  I still do not have my missionary visa, I do have a tourist visa that I may use instead to get me there and continue the process of waiting for my missionary visa.  Please pray that I will make the right decisions regarding this whole situation.

I am sure to have many funny stories coming soon as I attempt to speak in my new language.  I talked to some Brazilian friends on Skype the other day and struggled through our conversation.  But, with God's help I will understand and be understood.

Thanks everyone for following this blog, I plan on updating much more frequently once I am in Brazil.

~Joy

Home again!

So the last few weeks have been crazy ones for me.  I packed up all my earthly belongings and either sold, stored or gave them away.  I visited ones of God's natural handiworks (the grand canyon) with my family and had a wonderful time.  I then packed my very small car (ford mustang) and drove over 1400 miles to Massachusetts.  I made it in 2 days and then toured New England and New York City for the next 4 days with my good friends and former roomies Shelly and Shelly.  I am now gratefully sitting on the couch at my parents house trying to recuperate from the former fun.

I have finally received all of the letters and forms that I believe I need for my visa and should be able to send them in to the consulate soon.  So with God's grace I may still get my missionary visa in time for my July 6th departure.  Please pray to that end.

My plans for this month are to study Portuguese, buy a few things I think I will need for Brazil, pack and weigh my bags to see what I can take with me to Brazil, and spend time with family and friends here in Massachusetts.

I have only 2 dates left on my list of activities before I leave for Brazil.  I am presenting my mission to Fellowship Bible Church on June 12th, and I leave on July 6th for Brazil.

I praise God for His grace and strength that has gotten me through this crazy time and continue to pray for the strength to do what He is calling me to do.

I included a few pictures from my recent trips!  Enjoy!

Antelope Slot Canyon, Page, AZ

The whole gang at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon was so much bigger and grander than pictures can show.

NYC with Shelly and Shelly

Over half way there!

Not only is the time running away very quickly, but I am actually accomplishing somethings as well.

Nothing is finished but things are progressing.  First of all I sent in my papers for my Visa and I heard back from them as to what I am to do next.  So I am working on all of those and hope to send it off early next week after I accumulate everything I need. Please pray that this next phase of sending forms in will be the last and that my Visa will be approved quickly.

Second,  I have been receiving support and I am happy to report I am over half way there!!! Praise the Lord!  Each time I have been discouraged or worried that I may not be doing enough God has provided the encouragement and support to correct my unbelief and trust Him to provide again.

Third, I have gone through at least half of my stuff making 3 piles: 1)Go to Brazil, 2) Go to my parents (storage) 3) Get rid of (donate or give away).    It is quite a chore for me to get rid of so much, my frugalness and sentimentality get in the way. But, I am enjoying seeing the get rid of piles get bigger and bigger!

Here is my updated calendar for Events leading up to my departure for Brazil:

May 1st - presenting my mission at PLBC during the evening service
May 7th - Going Away party for me at my house (you are all invited!!!)
May 15 - Last Sunday at PLBC
May 16-23 - Vacation with part of my family to the Grand Canyon
May 25 - Leave MN drive to MA
June 12 - Present at FBC (Fellowship Bible Church) during evening service
July 6 - Fly to Brazil

Please continue to pray for me as I finalize my plans and prepare for my new ministries in Brazil.  Also, please let me know how I can best pray for you.  Thank you for being a part of my ministry and May God Bless You!

Out of my hands

That phrase "out of my hands" describes just about everything coming up for my trip to Brazil.  The next steps are out of my hands and in God's very capable hands.  Which I am so glad that they are!  I sent off my visa application to the Brazilian Consulate and am now waiting to hear back from them.  I bought my ticket to get to be Brazil and I leave from JKF on July 6th.  Once I get my visa back I can focus on my studies and my packing!

I just got back from a trip home to Massachusetts last weekend. I got to bring Roque, Adriana and a couple from Brazil (João and Mary).  It was a very fun trip, and also very exhausting. I do not think that these Brazilians like sleep as much as I do! = )  We had a whirlwind trip including visiting Boston, NYC, Maine and the bowling alley (for candlepin bowling, a New England specialty). There were many pictures taken and lots of laughs had, and best of all my immediate family got to meet some of the people I will be spending lots of time with in Brazil.

Finals Plans

I haven't created a new post in quite a while. A few things have happened since the last post.  I have received all the letters I need to apply for my Visa and I am just waiting on one last question to be answered so I can send it all in.  I am in the process of purchasing my tickets to bring me to Brazil, and I am creating my plan for what I am bringing with me to Brazil, what I am bringing to my parents in MA, and what I am getting rid of.

I feel like I am on the precipice of getting a lot finalized and finished, but I just can't seem to take that final step and make it happen.  I have begun raising support for my trip and my first supporter is PLBC who voted a couple of weeks ago to support me as a church.  Praise the Lord for that huge blessing.  I also sent out many letters with more to follow asking for partners who want to be a part of this ministry.  Please let me know if you did not receive a letter and would like to.  I have a deficient address book that needs many updates.

So for now here is a basic calendar of the upcoming events in my life:

March 31-April 4 trip to MA and NYC with my Brazilian friends
May 8 - Present ministry at PLBC in the evening
May 15 - last sunday at PLBC
May 16 - May 23 Trip with family to Grand Canyon
May 25 - drive from MN to MA
June - Sunday present at FBC (Fellowship Bible Church)
July (first week) fly to Brazil

So that is a look at how my last 3 months in the States with shape up.  I am sure many other events will fill up the time in between these dates.  I am just beginning the Good-byes and am not looking forward to them.  For my friends here in MN I would love to get together with you all before I leave.  And MA friends and family I am looking forward to time spent together as well!

That is all for now talk to you again soon!  ~Joy

So little time so much to do

I realize I have over 4 months before I go to Brazil.  But, did you just hear that I only have 4 MONTHS UNTIL I GO TO BRAZIL!!! Ok I am done shouting.  As my roommate put it I have way to long to start freaking out now. But, there are moments when I do not have victory over my emotions and my irrational fears begin to show and I once again need to give my cares to God for Him to hold. And I know He holds them and cares for them much better than I can.

Ok so little time and so much to do.  Timelines have always been hard on me, I get things done but usually just in time. But, I am trying hard to get things done sooner.  My visa is still not even applied for yet. I am waiting for letters to arrive from Brazil that I need to send in with my application.  I am praying the mail delivery services take good care of them and that they arrive soon.  I feel that there may not be enough time for me to feel accomplished in speaking Portuguese before I leave and that is to say nothing about the ministries and tasks in Brazil that God maybe calling me to do that I have no confidence to complete.

Wow those things are kind of a downer.  Now on to what God is doing.  He continues to give me time to complete my tasks and friends along the way to encourage me.  I am filling up my free time with memories I will take with me to Brazil and I am planning fun trips along the way.  God has also given me snow, yes for those of you in the Northern States of the USA you might think I am crazy but for someone who is moving to a country without snow I am soaking it up and loving the cold and beauty of God's creation.  That said if you are in MN and want to do a winter activity with me please let me know!

Thanks for reading and I hope that by next week I will have an update on my Visa and my next step towards Brazil!

Visa

I feel like to have so much to do before I can go to Brazil.  One of the major hurdles is getting a Temporary Residency Visa for Brazil.  I have been compiling the list of items that I need but I am still waiting to get the letters from Brazil that are hopefully in the mail on their way to me.  This whole process has 2 steps.  I need to fill out forms and send in letters, and then they send it back to me and then I have more things to send in again.  So the few months that I have left may not be enough time to get it all done.  Please pray for God's will in this. I do have my tourist visa from the last time I went so  I am allowed in Brazil for 180 days in each of the next 4 years. So that is a big blessing.

My thoughts are often on what I should be bringing to Brazil, what I can fit in my car to bring home and what I should sell/or get rid of.  I have never thought that I have a lot of stuff, but right now it does seem like a small mountain's worth. I am glad I have a few months to figure all of this out.  If you have any advice on things I may need there or creative ways to get rid of stuff please share.

I attended a free Portuguese class last night at a local Brazilian Church.  I am reminded of just how much more I need to learn, but I am encouraged by just how much I do understand. I never seem to find enough time to sit down and study portuguese so having a class to go to helps a lot. Languages have never been my thing, but that is just one more way I see God working and changing my thoughts towards His. I am excited about learning and understanding a new culture, language and people.  I am looking forward to the day that speaking in Portuguese comes naturally and Brazilians can understand me. = )

Well that is all for now.  If you want to know more please email or call!