USA

Tathiana's First 6 months

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Hey everyone, this is Tathiana writing today.

I don't even know how to begin this update; so much has happened in the last 6 months. Moving to the USA has been challenging for our family, each of us has coped in different ways. We've faced days of exhaustion, confusion, feeling misunderstood, frustration, and mourning the distance from family…from the familiar.

I've heard from missionary friends who've also gone through similar transitions that, after a while, it's normal for people to assume you’ve adapted and are adjusted to the new phase. I think the 'honeymoon phase', that new season where there is always something new and intriguing, has passed. The longing to return home is stronger—missing the food, the people, the climate. The seasonal dreariness is real and I have felt down more than usual.

Amidst this, we are raising support. We need a much larger amount than ever before due to the cost of living here. Donations have not come in yet as we imagined, adding to my disbelief and lack of perspective. My faith has wavered based on circumstances. I've prayed to God to allow me to be emotionally and spiritually stable. My faith has faltered, much like the apostle Peter's when walking on the water toward Jesus. Peter needed help trusting, even though Jesus was right in front of him with outstretched hands. I need help believing that He will provide once again and that He didn't bring us to this country to not be able to make ends meet.

Isaac and Sara are, in general, more adapted. Isaac recently had his Individualized Education Program (IEP) developed to help him with his auditory processing disorder and ESL assistance. Sara is doing very well in English reading and writing and making new friends. We really like the school; the teachers, administrators and assistance professionals are helpful and sensitive people who spare no effort to assist our children. 

What I prayed for the most from God in the last days in Brazil was real friendships, people who cared about us. I see God's care in this area, providing sweet individuals. God has truly provided good friendships for the kids and for me and Jon. I thank each of you, dear friends, for every word of encouragement and acts of service you've rendered to us.

I've been meditating on the term 'pilgrim' in the Bible. May God show me that my ultimate homeland is not Brazil or the USA, but the celestial homeland I long for.

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household" - Ephesians 2:19

Thank you to all our friends, family and partners.
- Tathiana

We're in the USA

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Dinner at the airport in Belo Horizonte before our first flight.

After more hiccups than we wanted with our flights, we finally arrived in the USA on Friday, June 16th after 30 hours of flights and two days of delays. All 4 humans, 1 cat, 11 checked bags and 5 carry-ons made it!

We are a bit more rested and are already trying to get out and about and give the kids some vacation activities. 

Our housing in Birmingham is almost closed out, just some details to nail down for an amazing temporary housing option for the next year, with a missionary house that is furnished, very easy on our finances allowing us to save and zoned for a school system we like. 

We will take the next few weeks to enjoy Chattanooga and then make an initial move to Birmingham before school starts in August. Our time will be spent adjusting, investing in some transition exercises, making the move to two temporary houses and getting the kids registered for school in Birmingham.

Thank you for praying for our trip. It wasn't what we expected, but it was seasoned with God's protection and grace. 

Enjoy some pics of the trip!

Miles, Miles and More Miles

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When you live overseas, you know some tricks about how to accumulate frequent flier miles. So we started counting our American Airlines miles. Combine the fact that not since 2010 have we been in the US for purely vacation and time with family. Lastly, Brazil has a week-long holiday and basic country shut-down for Carnaval (Mardi Gras to us gringos). So, all that cooks up a perfect storm to book our flights to the US.

We're coming into Chattanooga at the end of February and will be heading back to Brazil on March 20th. Our plans consist of family time in Chattanooga, one week in Pigeon Forge just Tathiana, Isaac and I, some good rest, coffee-shop mooching of free internet, sleeping in late while the grandparents take care of the munchkin and other vacation-ish types of things.

This post is basically a nice way of saying, "if we run into each other on the street, this is why." If we don't run into each other, we probably won't see much of each other. Hopefully everyone understands, we so appreciate your partnership, and thank you for helping us to have the time of rest and recuperation.

Global Staff Conference 2013

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We're leaving tomorrow, July 10th, for a packed-to-the-brim 7 weeks in the USA. All the passports are ready (Isaac has 2 of them) and the tickets printed out...now we just need to pack.

First off, we will be headed to Orlando, FL for the first ever Campus Outreach Global Staff Conference. Over 500 staffers and family from 5 continents will gather for a week of time togther for "Refueling, Relationships and Refocus". We are really excited because of the great teaching from 3 CO-partner church pastors (John Piper, Matt Chandler and Frank Barker), practical and pertinent seminars that relate directly to our ministry on the college campus and lives as staff, and the opportunity to get to know others who what we do around the globe.

The fact that Orlando is home to Disney and Universal studios ain't bad, either. Tathiana is ready to fulfill a childhood dream of going to Disney - and she get to do it with her sister, Fabiana, who also works with us!

After the Conference, we will be making the rounds with our team and individually in a short support-raising stint before heading back to Brazil at the end of August.

For more info about the conference, see: http://coglobalstaffconference.com