Keeping Busy

I will try update the highlights from the last couple of days. Wednesday started out slow but then got hectic. Berto arranged a lunch with a couple here in Curitiba. He is involved in a mission organization that was found a long time ago in England. We enjoyed lunch and conversation with he and his wife. It was interesting to hear how the Church is doing in Brazil... their strengths and weaknesses. After our time there we rushed out to the Hotel. There was little time for swimming as it was a follow up session to check for "critters" again. We then rushed back to Betania as Kevin and Karla had all of us for dinner. Karla made an American meal of Shepherds Pie. It tasted great. I realized how much I miss American food. After dinner we went out for ice cream. Kevin stayed behind as he was not feeling well... not from the meal. I got some acai ice cream. I think it added 1 week to my life. Yesterday we went to apply for the children's passports. We were fortunate to be able to return a few hours later to pick them up... we didn't have to wait till Friday to get them. When I returned Rebekah and I hosted coffee and snacks for all the employees here. We wanted to show our appreciation for all they have done and let them know how much of a blessing they are to us. We had Carol interpret for us. I made a few remarks and Rebekah wrote a poem and read it. I wish we could do more for everyone here. Then before dinner we had a planning meeting with Monica and Luis to discuss our time in Rio. We pretty much just agreed to whatever they had in mind. They know more about it they we do. We are hoping and praying that the plane rides go well. Gabe is sounding like he may be starting on another round of congestion. We are missing the 5 kids back home more everyday. It will be good to get back home. We hear the weather has been hot... really hot. I would take it in a heart beat. Also staying light till after 9:00pm would be good. It is pretty much dark by 6:00pm here now. The last 3 days have been rainy and/or gray. We are hoping Rio is sunny and we have been told it is warmer. Since we have returned from Cascavel, we have noticed a change in the children... mostly the older 2 as they have a better understanding. From the beginning they would say that until we signed the papers they were unsure of how we might change or things may not work out. For them at their age to be thinking of deep issues is amazing. A typical 9 year old doesn't think that way. In their mind we hadn't adopted them yet. That may be true legally, but in our minds we had already adopted them. How would we think or live if we had to wait for God to sign some legal papers to adopt us? Would we try to be really good... or bad to see if He was genuinely interested in us. Everything has already been taken care of in God's mind. It happened 2000 years ago when His Son, Jesus, died for our sins. All we have to do is acknowledge our sin and by faith accept His offer of adoption (gift of eternal life). It's that easy... or maybe for some it may not be easy. If you want Truth, ask God to show you the Truth. I won't be surprised when you find it.
God Bless,
Dave