First Week

Last Sunday evening we started off the DTS with a special dinner and time to get to know each other. This picture is of the DTS and staff. There are 12 students. We are expecting 3 more who need their visas.

 This is a picture of the girls. (One of them is missing because she came Monday.)

 

This week's topic was about the fear of the Lord and hearing the voice of the Lord, taught by the leader of the base. During the week hearing the voice of the Lord became a very practical part of the class as we had times of worship and giving/receiving of words from the Lord to students and staff. It was an intense and good start of the DTS! 

On Saturday a group on outreach from Montana, some staff, boys from Hope House, and the DTS went to a beach for the day.

Bem-vindo a Brasil

Here are a few first glimpses of Recife, Brazil.

(You can see the ocean in the background.)

I am actually living right outside of Recife...but i can see the city from the base. 

Class starts this evening.

A new Season

I am once again thinking about packing my bags to travel! This time in the United States has been very good. God has been showing me so many things, and I've been learning much about Him, life, and working with children. As I've been praying about what God may be calling me to, I believe that I have received confirmation to pursue going to Brazil, which has been in heart and mind for awhile. I will be going to do a YWAM DTS with a focus on children at risk, in Brazil, with outreach in any possible country in the world. Join me on this journey! Check back here at my blog to see what God is doing in my life and through my life!

A few last activites...

My last week at the Finca before returning to the states...

Last Wednesday the youngest group in English classes celebrated with a pizza party and movie.

Last Thursday we made cookies for Friday night's special supper.

 Thursday I was invited to participate in a special activity with the elementary students at the Finca. 

(They had to earn their entrance to the activity with good behavior in the classroom.)

Friday night for my farewell celebration I made (with the help of several girls) pizza for everyone at the Finca--about 100 people.

 I spent some time with some of the girls as we climbed up to the tree house (creation by Harlan Horst) in the mango tree to enjoy some green mangoes with salt and spices.

I also enjoyed a little more time with some little cuties like this one...he found one of the older boy's garden boots.

The youth group at the Berea church also hosted a farewell party for me...complete with a typical meal and lots of pictures. :)

 I also took some of the girls out to the park and enjoyed ice cream.

 Some more girls hanging out one day.

I arrived home early Thursday morning. Thanks for all the prayers and notes of encouragement and I look forward to seeing many of you soon.

Pictures

Friday night we celebrated another birthday. I think I've had enough cake for awhile.

Saturday night I had a slumber party with my house three girls. We made soft pretzels.

 

Monday afternoon I had a party with two of my English classes. I bought pizza at the local pizzeria and created a bit of commotion walking up the hill to my house with the pizza box. We also played some games and watched a Veggie Tales movie.

We watched the movie on the "big screen". Welcome to Andrea's theater 

(also known as her house, party central, Bible study spot etc.)

 

This morning, Tuesday, I had a party for my high school age English classes. We also ate some food, and played a game.

We finished off the party with a little Dance Praise.

Then there is my porch....which for the past week or two has become the hot spot for coloring and playing games.

 And this is Jennifer....she has been my most-of-the-time loyal sidekick this year.

Winding down....or is it up?

This week I traveled up north to la Ceiba for a few days to visit an EMM missionary, Matt Keiser, and the YES team that is working with him in the marginal community by the city dump. I had fun visiting and hanging out with the team and also helping out with the different activities they do in the community.

I carried my camera around with me most of the time but unfortunately didn't take any more pictures than the blurry shots of the pineapple fields on the bus ride. So, sorry, no pics this post.

Now I am back at the Finca and planning what all I want to do yet with the kids, and how that is all going to fit into the days that I have left before I fly home. Hopefully I'll remember to take pics of the activities and will be posting them as they happen.

Some rambling and some other thoughts...

This weekend was a busy one, not that should come as a surprise anymore I guess. :) I'll give you a little glimpse into what it looked like for me. Friday morning I had Bible study with the girls, followed by decorating t-shirts with my house 3 girls in the afternoon, and finishing the day off with the 18 and older kids coming over to my house for the evening. Saturday proved to be just as busy with Bible study in the morning, and some of the girls hanging out at my house and helping me clean my house until I eventually asked them to leave because I myself had to leave to run into Teguc to buy Chinese food for snack in the evening. One of the older girls went along with me and we headed in by bus to find some Chinese food. Shortly after arriving back to the Finca I had to help with an activity with the kids, and then in the evening I had seventeen 15-17 year olds over to my house to play games and enjoy the Chinese food. On Sunday I had the pleasure of having some friends from Teguc come to visit me. After going to church in the afternoon I had about 16 girls over in the evening to watch "One Night With the King", which is the story of Esther. I invited all the girls who are currently in my Bible study groups, as well as a few who were in the group when we studied Esther. My life here isn't always quite as busy...although it probably is more busy than it is not.

Here are a few pictures from the activities.

We celebrated another birthday Friday night.

There are moments of great fun and laughter, like Saturday night as a group of youth who were at my house played "Mennonite Manners" (at least that is the name I know it as). Then moments of a more serious tone as I'm hanging out with a little group of kids and the subject comes up of my upcoming departure from the Finca.

So, it is with many mixed feelings that I look to these next three weeks, saying good-byes to many children and youth who I have spent so much time with, and love, and at the same time looking forward to returning home to catch up and spend time with other people who are so important to me as well. May God continue to extend His grace to me, and all of us as we continue on the journey that He has set for each of us.