update!

Hey all!
Wow it has been quite some time since I have not updated! Many have asked me to keep up on the blog. But ever since I have gotten back home I have been on the go. I have been getting involved in many different things. Such as teaching English, Beekeeping, Photography and helping my parents in the ministry...

On the weekends I have been teaching English at my brother's English School and has been an awesome experience!

While in the States I worked on a bee farm. I learned many new techniques and how to better work with the bees. It has been an incredible challenge because we have the Africanized bees which are very violent!!! One hive that I had I would get like 20 stings on my neck and about 30 else where! I found a hive that is tamer and tried to make queens from them and while in the process of the experiment I moved the boxes closer to the village to keep a better eye on them but forgot to put oil on the cans so the ants won't get them. We lost the 5 hives. I am really frustrated at the set back. We still have some boxes to retrieve in the jungle but have not been able to. Still waiting, after 2 years, to get the jeep fixed. So my dad's truck won't get all banged up on the bad road. Right now we are out of a honey flow so I am learning the best method to feed them. I covet your prayers to get this thing moving so we can go beyond our sphere of influence and reach into other peoples lives by taking beekeeping into other parts of the country and providing jobs and services to better people's lives not only materially but to reach out touch them with the Love of God!
Our first harvest after 2 months being back. We lost half of the honey when the truck broke down. Gil (Lolly's boyfriend) and I had to walk back to the tribe, 7 km!
Gil with the wild hive!!
Right before we tried to get the honey but the truck broke. =(
Gil and I fixing up a gate. We were looking for other places around the country to put the bees and asked different people. We found one man who said we could. He just asked us to fix his gate! It isn't going like I had hope right beside an eucalyptus plantation but it is an excellent location to establish a bee farm! Lets see what the future holds!
Also, while in the States I was a new DSL Camera. I have been able to get some pretty amazing shots as I learn how to use it! I laid the camera on the ground ( on a sheet of course) and took the picture and allowed it to capture the stars. I look ghost like because i stepped out while it was taking the picture of the stars. =)
Now I am working on setting up a Studio as a "tent making business" as my Grandpa calls it. =) All the rest of the pictures I took were taken in my little Studio!
Dave, Rau and Family....
Dad and Mom...
Grammy and Grandpa, they will be with us a little bit longer and then they will be heading southern Brazil. I will miss them greatly. =/
Ms. Lois, has come to Brazil and take part with my parents in the Ministry and is learning Portuguese! It is amazing as she has left the States and come to Brazil to pour into the lives of the Indians!
Gil, Lolly, Oli and Me...
me and Oli... =)
again...for family who want to see more pictures... =)
Gil and Lolly....
Another one for family... =)

I dont have one of Darel and Bella on hand but when I do I will update it again!

Blessings....

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Graduation!!!!

Hey all!!
Wow, how time goes!!! And I made it to the finish line but only to discover it is just the beginning of many new things, GRADUATION!!

As I heard in a movie once, "Its not the arrival of your destination that brings joy but the journey itself...." So has this journey been for me too.....

At Bethel, they had so many amazing things that they taught us and one of the few things that stands out is they taught us to learn is, "Not what to think, but how to think." During this journey I have discovered more about myself, who I am and why I do, think and say what I do. And I find that I am still learning!

It has been incredible as I have been able to study the history of the Church. When I was in High School my history book stated that students after they study history they understand why we are where we are today....the same is applied to Church History. It is eye opening to understand where we are today by past men and women of God who have shaped and changed history.

Also during this time I have wondered what exactly was I going to do...a question many come to at this stage of life. I had an idea what I wanted to do but had very limited knowledge in that area and wasn't sure exactly how it was possible...and coming here, has been amazing because Bethel is training and equipping people to send them out to all spheres of society to bring His Kingdom of Love, Peace and Power. My Dad has done beekeeping on and off all through out my growing up years and I have wanted to do beekeeping and grow it but wasnt so sure if it was possible. Coming here seeking God and seeing Him guide and direct me in that direction, I was able to get a job in beekeeping and the experience has been incredible as I have learned many new things that I will be able to apply to back there!

This journey was only made possible by God who gave me strength with all the transition and changes and many people how supported me along the way...Thank you for all those who have given me strength and supported me during this time!

Here are a few pictures that a friend of mine took that came from Sacramento for my Graduation!!



"With Christ all things are possible!"

Pastor Bill Johnson...of Bethel Church! An amazing man of God....

Bob Jones who has mentored Pr. Bill....an incredible man with crazy stories to tell!!

Pastor Kris....the one that is in charge of the school....he imparted so much to me through his teachings....he has hilarious stories to tell!!!

ME!!! Walking across the stage to get my certificate!!!
Yiiihaaaaaaaa...an amazing moment!!

and special too!!

I know I will not be remembered by these people who have imparted so much to me because there were 1000 students in the school but I will forever carry what they have given to me in my heart!!

I made it!!!! Many long hours of reading and studying!!

But I completed it!!

Ally, me and Bev....Thank you so much for coming to my Graduation!! You both will never know how much it meant to me! Thank you Ally for taking the pictures and Bev for your words of encouragement!

While they where here I took them to where I work....this is what i do part of the time...and for hours at a time...wiring frames!

Well, now that I am done...I have my plans set and soon will be heading home but before I do so, I will be making 3-4 stops to visit family and friends! I plan on leaving Redding on the 12 or 13 of this month and go to Sacramento to visit David and Ally whom I spent Christmas with for a few days....then off to Florida to see family and friends whom I have not seen in 6 years!!!!! Wow! Where did all that time go?! I will be there for a week and hopefully will be able to get to see everyone! Then I will fly out of Orlando on the 24th and might spend a few days in Sao Paulo, then on a 18 hour bus ride to Anapolis to see my Grandparents and family for a few days and then make the last 20 hour bus ride to home! I should be arrive home on the 30th.

Well that is all the news from here for now!

Blessings,

Life in Brazil

Mom sent some pictures today so i decided to post them! Not a lot but a few to enjoy... =)Debbie and Esther...man they have grown so much since i left!
..........=)
Pawpaw with Esther and Debbie... =)
well, not sure if many of you know of the new addition to the famil...Laila i believe is her name...eheheh...sounds like Lolly's cat likes to claw her up when Laila bugs her...LOL...sounds like a cat dog type of thing! ;)

Blessings....

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...Arcata Mission Trip...

Hey All!!

Wow it has been a while since I last updated and 3 months have gone by since I have done so! Just last week I went on a mission trip and I went ahead and got a camera so I can capture images that I will never be able to capture again...I went to Arcata, CA. On the coastline about 3 hours west of Redding and got to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time! It was an incredible trip and the people there are sooo awesome!

We went through a lot of moutnains and got to see a lot of beautiful views! I had a hard time cutting down on what to put in and what to leave out!!
....a curvy ride it was!! wow! i was so quite abit behind on reading so i took advantage to read and the people in the back seat couldnt understand how i could read going 40 mph on the sharp curves...lol!
we stopped in Weiverville for a quick break...a small town where Pastor Bill pastored before pastoring Bethel...
the PACIFIC coast!! Yiiiihaaaa....
a little pier...
it was soo beautful!
crab catcher...
it was sooo cold!
and windy too!!
when I left Redding I thought to myself, 'i am going to run barefoot on the beach!!' LOL...well when i got there i decided not to...eheeheh
.............
The church was a small church of less than 50 people....we where able to minister to them and give lots of words of encouragement and go out on the streets to evangalize...
I was sooo blessed just by being there and remember what it is like back home when people come visit us and how we are so refreshed afterwards!
they people there are so warm, open and hungry for God...
some of the awesome people i met!
the town of arcata reminded me of the town where my brother Darel is pastoring in southern Brazil....

Our team with a group from the Church on our last day...what an awesome time we had but it was sooo short... =/ but an unforgetable trip too!

over the night it snowed, rain and hailed! so going back over the mountians we got a beautiful view!
.....
.....
it was really breath taking in some places!
well to finish up the last leg of the adventure...from the church to my house the ride i got with one of the team member's tire went flat and the spare was flat too!! LOL, so we started to walk to the gas station and someone stopped to give us a ride and back...

Well, since i last updated I have gotten a job at beekeeping and I will soon take some pictures of where I work and post more pictures!!

Blessings!

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