Perfect Peace

Tu, Senhor, guardarás em perfeita paz aquele cujo propósito está firme, porque em ti confia.

This was the first verse I memorized in Portuguese. I got a Portuguese/English parallel Bible while in Boston and a couple of days before we left, this is just where I turned when opening my Bible. Translation:

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
-Isaiah 26:3

Was that the most fitting verse to turn to or what? This has been such a fun time. It's been so crazy, but really exciting. And we can't wait to see all that will unfold over the next few days/weeks/months/years. What an adventure we are on!

The last few days have been very full...

Saturday: We had a cookout at the Asas hangar. It was a great time and we got to talk to a lot of people. Priscilla left from the cookout with some friends from Goiania to stay with them for a week. We rented our first movie here in Brazil. We finally saw Fly Boys, Jared. :) It was good.

Sunday: We went to the 4th of July thing in Brasilia. As I mentioned before, it wasn't what we expected, or what Joel remembered it being like (he and his family went to that several times while living here). He remembered it being for the Americans...I mean, it is at the American consulate's house and it is an American holiday. That wasn't the case this year. I barely saw any Americans there. I didn't talk to one person that spoke English. It was amazing how quickly I developed a really bad attitude. I am not prejudiced and I love the Brazilian people...hello, I am in their country after all. But, since I had expected a small gathering with some fellow Americans that I could actually communicate with, I found myself all ticked off that all these Brazilians were trespassing on my party. :) Plus, there were so many people there, they ran out of food...American food (grilled burgers) before I got any. I spent most of my time in line for a bathroom actually...then when I got about 4 people away from it, it stopped working. Yeah, it wasn't a fun day. Even Joel and the other people we were with were really disappointed. Apparently, it was some kind of publicity/relations thing that everyone was invited. But, it kind of made for a mess of a day. In the end, since we didn't get anything to eat, we went out to eat. Brasilia is the capital of the country, so it's kind of like going to Washington, D.C. Therefore, the city is full of all the richest people and it has all the nicest things. Guess where we went to eat...TGIFriday's. :) Yum.

Monday - Wednesday: Since we knew we were about to move into our new house, we had tons of shopping to do. So, that's what we did for the past 3 days...shopped. Joel helped out at Asas Monday morning and Wed. afternoon...they are getting ready for their candidacy for prospective new students/missionaries coming in. But, other than that...we shopped. Do you know how amazingly hard it is to shop for everything needed to furnish a house (so many details even to get just the necessities) with 3 children 3 and under? Wowsers. It was very hard, but we got a lot done amazingly. Tomorrow we are going to Goiania to visit some friends and attend a wedding. We plan to do some other shopping there. I don't have any idea what we will do with what we buy...we barely have enough room to put a suitcase in our little car. :) But, I guess we will figure something out.

We were actually supposed to go to Goiania today, but decided that it would just be so much better to just relax today. Since we got here, we haven't had a day off. We've either gone shopping to get food or other necessities or been to Asas or been to church or gone to meet people or visit with friends. We haven't stopped. So, today is the day for just us. I am sending this out, just to keep you all in touch. Then...family relaxing day.

Please keep praying for us in these ways:
--for wisdom to get just the right things that we need for housing...there are so many decisions to be made even still
--for health for our children...and us; Grady was sick for a few days about a week ago...stomach trouble; we prayed for him and God truly healed him quickly, so that we didn't even have to seek medical attention; Asa has a little cold right now (runny nose)...just continue to pray for our health; it has been amazing that we haven't been sick other than that...God is faithful
--our shipment...we are truly, officially, in a battle; we haven't had to seek legal counsel as of yet, but it might come to that if something doesn't change soon; Joel will be calling the shipping company in California this afternoon...please pray for a good relationship, favor, and resolution
--we will be traveling to Goiania tomorrow, only about 45 minutes away; we will be staying with some friends there for 2-3 nights...pray for continued grace for us and the kids to travel well and sleep well somewhere else

PRAISE THE LORD...we will be moving into our house on Monday afternoon. We met with the owners for the last time last night so that we could get the lowdown on the workings of the house and get keys and all. We thought we would be moving next Tuesday and possibly even as late as Wednesday. But, we found out that it will be ready for us Monday afternoon, so that's when we will be going. Funny how God gives you just enough grace for one situation...then whenever it's time to leave, you know it...there's no more grace for that place. He has prepared you. It's been that way for every move we've had to make. Well, we are all a little stir crazy in the house we are in now. The house we are moving into...it's about 4 times bigger than where we are now. Can't wait to stretch out our legs. Last night the kids just ran and ran at the other house. :)

And one of the best parts about the new house...INTERNET, which means PICTURES!! :)

Since we will be out of town, it might be Monday or Tuesday until you hear from me again. So...until then...