Last Day before our Son arrives

We are so excited and ready for our son to arrive. Tomorrow morning we will welcome our son into this world.

Our doctors dinner recommendations

We are very happy and not nervous at all about the coming c-section. We have a wonderful team who is going to be a part of our special day. We like our doctor who even gave us recommendations for where to order sushi for us after our son’s birth.

Our Son is the size of a small watermelon

Tati is really ready for our son to arrive. I think that it is awesome to watch our son moving around in her tummy. We are excited to be able to hold him in our hands tomorrow.

Thanksgiving

During this day we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. When my family would get together we would normally have a time where we go around the table and share things we are thankful for.

Thankful for Friends

We are thankful for friends and many who reached out to us during this year of the pandemic. We are thankful for those who we have stayed in contact with even when in quarantine.

Thankful for Projects

We are thankful for the various projects that we have been able to work on. There were projects for the church and projects for the Sítio da Esperança and even personal projects that were completed this year.

Thankful for Language Growth

I am thankful for my language growth over this past year. It has been hard during the quarantine but I have had some people really give me some good feedback.

Thankful for our Son

We are thankful for the health of our son and this great pregnancy that we have experienced during this year. It was not always the easiest but it has been a blessing.

Thankful for the Bible Studies

We are thankful for the Bible Studies that have continued using zoom and then returned to meeting in person.

Thankful for Corporate Worship with the Church Body

We are thankful for the ability to meet as a corporate body and worship in person. We were reminded this year of the sweetness of worshiping in person and not over the internet.

Thankful for Christ

Most of all we are thankful for Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Savior. We rest in his word and in his character. We were dead in our sins until he made us alive. We would be completely lost without his saving work. We are also comforted by his character and knowing that as a good Lord he will provide and protect us. In days of lots of uncertainty it is a blessing to be able to rest in him

Couch Bases

We are working towards getting the church ready to resume all normal ministry in January. One of the projects we are working on is getting couches done for the children’s area and the counseling room upstairs.

Rough cut the wood for the frames

We took some left over boards from the Sítio and cut them into very sturdy wood frames.

Fitting the rough cut frame

I worked in front of the church and put together these very heavy and sturdy frames.

Nicely fitted ceder tops

The ceder boards are beautiful and are waiting to be stained.

Nice sturdy frame

The frames needed to be planed down and fitted so that they don’t tip or teeter. The rough benches turned out pretty good. They will be nice and sturdy.

Nice couch bases

Christmas Decorations!

As we wait on the birth of our child we also have time to decorate for Christmas. I am so thankful for my awesome wife who wants to be ready for Christmas.

Christmas Tree and lights

Normally we don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving but due to the imminent nature of our sons birth we decorated early.

Lights and our nativity calendar

It was good to see all of the decorations and important things coming out. One of the most important items is the nativity scene. Even though we are pretty certain that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25 we still think that it is important to celebrate his birth. There are a few things that would have been impossible without Christ.

Lights and stockings around the TV

Without Christ there would be no forgiveness of our sins and therefore no hope of eternity in heaven. Without Christ’s birth there could be no perfect sacrifice on the cross for the sins of his people. We celebrate this holiday to remember the birth of Christ!

Lights in our bedroom

Bible Studies in Dois Irmãos

We are very thankful for everyone who has been committed to the bible studies in Dois Irmãos.

What a nice group of people

I am so thankful for everyone who has come to participate in the Bible study. The group has changed from before the pandemic but the growth of individuals has been encouraging.

Teaching the group

We have been studying the Story of Hope. It is a great study on an overview of the Bible with a real focus on understanding the gospel and Jesus.

Bible Study participation

I am very thankful for each person who is at the study. It is very rare to see anyone dozing off and the conversations with people indicate that they are being impacted by the study of the Bible.

Story of Hope

Sítio da Esperança Wood Projects: Large Table

For one of the rooms we have been building a large table. This table has taken many twists and turns but we are finally nearing the end.

Application of the epoxy

I really needed some help and it was great to have Edson answer the call. He did a great job of helping out with this part of the project.

Beautiful Wood grain structure

The epoxy really allows the grain structure and knots to show through. The expoy will also protect the wood from termites.

Edson preparing the epoxy

There were some parts of the table where we tried to make colored epoxy. Covering the colored epoxy with clear epoxy really created an illusion of greater depth.

Beautiful tinted epoxy

The covered flat parts of the table received at least two coats of the epoxy. These coats really were needed as the wood was dry and sucked up lots of the epoxy.

Nice wood grains showing through

The termite tunnels were very unique and after filling them with epoxy created many unique features.

Pops of Colored Epoxy

We will finish the epoxy table in the next couple of weeks. By coating the underside with more epoxy.

Almost Ready

Tales of a Pregnant Woman (Part 2)

I know that many of you enjoyed the last blog of Tales of a Pregnant Woman. Many have been asking how is Tati feeling.

Why can’t I pick up things or get up?

I have the opportunity to help Tati pick up things that have fallen on the ground or helping her get up or out of bed.

What I can’t even see my swollen feet?

Tati has had her feet swelling up so I have had the privilege of massaging her feet. This has really helped with the swelling.

How long until I explode?

Every morning Tati asks me if it is time to give birth. Our son keeps on growing and we wonder at times when she is going to burst.

What is he doing inside of me?

It is so fun watching our son kick, punch and move inside of Tati. I catch Tati watching her stomach move all the time.

What sport is he playing?

Our son is a fighter and I think an athlete. When we see the ultrasounds he is constantly in the boxers stance with his fists on the side of his head.

Can you turn on the Fan or AC?

Almost every day I am asking Tati if she wants me to turn on the AC or at least a fan.

Church Services

We are very thankful for a great church and enjoy having our Ágape celebration service this past Sunday morning.

Ágape Service

We are also enjoying our in person services in the evenings. We are very thankful for everyone who wants to worship with us. We know that God is at work bring people and transforming hearts.

Evening Services

As much as we want to have everyone back in person we are unable to have everyone back while still respecting the covid restrictions. It is very hard to have children and their parents worship together. For those people we still are having online services.

Online Services

Samurai, Bandits, Farmers, and Princess

We have various groups of plants at our house. We are in spring and are enjoying all of the plants growing.

The Samurai

The Samurai are doing very well in their perch overlooking all of Ivoti. They both have been growing very well.

The Bandits

The Bandits are enjoying their view near the town center. They have a great view of the hills where they like to hide out.

The Farmers

The Farmers enjoy their location near the town center. They are growing great after getting some new nutrients added to their soil. One of the Bandits is actually checking out the status of the tomatoes, bell peppers, kiwis and avocados.

The Town Center

The town center is doing great and enjoying the wonderful weather down here. There are even new towns folk growing.

The Princess

The Princess decided to bloom early this year and has been enjoying the protection of the Samurai as she looks over Ivoti.

Youth Group Volleyball

This past weekend we had Generation 360 come. Generation 360 is a one year seminary program at Word of Life. They brought 6 youth to come and spend the weekend at our church.

Getting Ready for Devotional

It was good to have an event together with Generation 360.  We had a great opportunity to be encouraged by listening to a devotional that Vinicius from about the necessity of the word in our lives.

Having a Devotional

We also had an opportunity to hear the testimony of one of the ladies from Generation 360.

Listening to a Testimony

After the devotional and testimony we had a great time playing volleyball.

Volleyball with the Teens

One of the leaders from Word of Life mad hamburgers and then some of the ladies did a great job frying up french fries for a meal after volleyball.

Frying French Fries

Yum Hamburgers