CCC Day 4

While yesterday was a day of full hearts for our friends (which by the way, things continue well.  24 hours down, 48 to go before we all breathe a little deeper on it though), it was our final morning of preparation before the ladies arrived.

We had a wonderful prayer walk on the beach to pray blessings over the women as they were coming and pray for wisdom for ourselves to know what to say and how to give them what they need.

But after the tables were arranged and the final preparations done, we still had time to squeeze in a walk to town to catch some surfers

And eat some Acai dessert (the best way I can describe it is a mix between a smoothy and sorbet. But the sound the machines make as the man is making it sounds like a chainsaw on a cow.  So I was a bit skeptical).

But then ... THE LADIES ARRIVED!!!!

And it was time to get this party started!!!

It is such a blessing to have the women here and it's only been 24 hours!  They are full of life and joy and I can already tell you now it will be a toss up between who walks away more blessed by the end of this week.

We ended the evening with a wonderful time of prayer over the women as we sang "Let Your Spirit Come".  And I can feel it here already.

So close and yet...

I am in Brazil. I am three hours south of Sao Paulo. I have been praying for this time with these women for almost 1 year. I am excited to be here and see the amazing ways God is moving. I feel peace here and know this is where I am suppose to be.

But five hours to the other side of Sao Paulo a friend of mine is sleeping in a Brazilian hospitial with his wife. She delivered twins last night very prematurely. From what I heard this morning the she is doing well and will be doing so much better tomorrow when her parents arrive.

The babies are in NICU (thankfully they are at the best one in their town) and while they are crying and breathing, the first 72 hours are the most vital.

It's hard to be so close (compared to myraids of people in Oklahoma who wish they were as close as I am right now), and yet to be so far away. One of their fellow team members and many other women who love them are here with me feeling the same way -- knowing we are where we need to be, but sending part of our hearts to be with them.

And I've been repeating to myself the lyrics from Mighty to Save. Reminding myself that my God is the Savior who can move the mountains. He is the one who conquered the grave. And he is forever and ever the one who can save.

And I'm struck-- this too is part of mission work. This is part of "leaving your father and mother" for the call of the Lord.

It is truly amazing the sacrific the missionaries make for the cause of Christ. But what I see with my friend and with the stories of many women here, it is equally amazing the sacrifice those they leave behind when the missionaries go make as well.

CCC Day 3

Today was a day of preparation where we finished up some last minute training and readied the hotel for the participants arrival tomorrow.

But lest you think all work and no play, we also took this day as a day of Sabbath rest.  We worshipped while watching the waves pound the beach- praising God for his mighty powers

and watched the fog roll back in

We had some more amazing Brazilian food

And I spent time getting to know some of the team members better

The time with these women has already been such an amazing blessing to my life and is challenging me to dive deeper into God, to discover the joy of spiritual discipline and to enjoy the unique creation he has made me to be-- all this before the participants even arrive!  

I'm looking forward to stepping out of the way to see how God will continue to move as the ladies arrive tomorrow.

CCC Day 1/2

On October 1 the lovely team of women I will be working with for the Continent Care Connection 2010  (put on by Continent of Great Cities) arrived in the DFW airport. They were kind enough to provide me with a boa and a birthday crown and one of my team members made some amazing cookies.

Early in the morning on October 2, we arrive in Sao Paulo, Brazil- aka the massive sea of humanity and the third largest city in the world.

And thanks to the prayers of our prayer warriors, especially Mrs. Debbie B. - who has the specific job of praying for our luggage- all 32 pieces of luggage arrived on time and in tact.

What should have been a 3 hour trip south (despite having told everyone I was going north!) to Maresias was an interesting drive spotted with favelas

and fog

and foreshadowing of the rain that was to come

But don't worry- as much as it looks like Al Roker should be here, I did google tropical storm and Brazil and nothing is showing up, so I think it's just a little spring shower that we hope to be all cleared up before the participants arrive on Monday-- start to praying now (Debbie, that means you too!)

But we are all here- seventeen in all (including the 3rd Becky of the group who lives in Brazil and joined us at the airport).  And we're excited and ready to serve the missionary women who will join us Monday.  To provide for them love and rest and peace.

In our dreams

I took some time today before leaving to play outside with ISH. After some time of making "magic dust" out of dirt and rocks, it was time to leave.

"Mommy," he said, "when you get back, can we play this again?"

"Sure buddy."

"Or we can meet in our dreams and play there while you're gone."

Then as I picked him up to hug him goodbye he whispered "See you in my dreams Mommy."

See you there buddy,

Random Thought Thursday, the Eve of 32

What time is it: 859P

Where am I: in the living room with LK

Listening to: Mom and Grannie in one room preparing for the week ahead, dad in another room wrapping up a business call, and the boys radio playing their good-night CD- an odd mixture in deed that is every now and again peppered with snorts or groans from the dog.

Last ate: The Wedge Pizza (the Prosciutto E Formaggi is by far my fav) about to be followed up by Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake, a lovely family birthday celebration

Thoughts: Tomorrow I leave for Brazil. My first time to the South American continent. Tomorrow I'll be on my way to 6 continents down, 1 to go. And yes, I do plan on getting to Antartica before I die if nothing more than to prove those who say I can't wrong.

Tomorrow I turn 32. Birthdays aren't a sad time for me- I don't pout or cry because I'm getting older. (I do, however, firmly believe that with birthdays come cake. No cake on my birthday- then you'll see pouting and tears -- you can ask LK on that one).

I love birthdays. Not because it's all about me- but more that it's fun to be getting older. I even love the fact that I've started to get gray hair. I figure if I'm not getting older, I'm dead- so I'd rather be getting older. And hey! I turn 32 tomorrow and am at this very moment wearing (and wearing well) pants I bought when I was 21 (thanks to Woolite and -most the the time- smart eating habits). So getting older doesn't mean it's all downhill. Getting older is just part of this grand adventure I plan on living for as long as I can (and living it well).

Sitting here feeling blessed,

For the Love of Burlap

Don't tell LK but I think I'm in love with burlap.  Last week I had a luncheon to go to and decided to spruce up some black pumps I'd had lying around looking a bit, well, understated.  So armed with my hot glue gun and some purpley-red ribbon I had left over from a project way back whenever, I set to work and made this shoe embellishment

And then I decided to add hot glue a little rosette and burlap to a bobby pin to carry the look through

And to keep with the rule of three, I wrapped a bracelet with the ribbon and burlap

The ladies at the Starbucks where I stopped before driving to the luncheon raved.  And if you're not impressing the ladies at Starbucks ....