Individual updates

Hey all, It's about time we update you on whats being going on in our lives, the following update we will share about each of us individually, some personal updates, some ministry and some future plans!

I don't know if you heard but we had record breaking temperatures here in Belo about 2 weeks ago ... 7C.... that might not sound too cold to you but for us who had 35C about 2 weeks prior to that and have no heating in the houses - it was VERY cold!!! Here is a photo of Keoni inside our house!! 

Thankfully it only lasted a few days and it is back to the normal for this time of year - about 15C at night and about 24C during the day!

So, first let's start with Nico... more than a year ago we had to switch cars in the ministry, we now have a Doblo car that can hold 6 passengers, 3 less than the previous car - a Kombi. When we changed the car we decided that it would be beneficial for the ministry if Nico did the exam to change his drivers licence to be able to drive a van - YWAM have a van that can hold 16 passengers. A few weeks ago Nico completed the lessons required and did the test and passed with flying colours!! It was an investment of time and money but we are convinced that it was worth it.

The ministry has already been blessed - one of our new groups "Margaridas (Daisies)' for the ladies did a picnic at a park - many of the elder ladies had never visited this park that is 15 minutes drive from our house!

Also, one of the other YWAM houses received a team of dentists who offered their services to people from our slum - Nico could drive them there in the van! It was such a blessing to those who went. There is a free system here in Brazil that includes a dentist but the waiting list is so long - one mum told me the waiting list for her to do a root canal is 2 years!! The dentists were busy all day pulling out teeth, putting in fillings and restoring broken teeth! 

And in the same week Nico also used the van to take our group of teenage girls to their camp with Lamalma. Normally for all these activities we need to ask for one of the 2 other drivers on from YWAM to take the van and drive for us, or we would have done 2 trips by Kombi. So it is such a blessing that Nico can go get the van and do all the driving. By the way the girls had such a blast at the camp... they could choose tents or dorm room they chose to sleep in a tent but soon regretted this choice as it was soooo cold at night!! But they enjoyed every minute and our staff who went with them - Jamily and Yenna felt it was a special time to deepen their relationships with the girls!

Another "project" Nico has been investing in is Pedro! Pedro is 23 years old and has been connected to the Rock House since a very young age. Last month he had a birthday and we bought him a cake - he told us it was his second cake ever for his birthday! Pedro has always searched for work, and has always avoided the drug trafficking and has stayed always firm in a church here in the slum. Seeing his potential we have been suggesting that he does a DTS (for many years) and this year it seems to be the right time for it. Pedro has been filling out forms and making preparations to go to do the discipleship school for 5 months! Nico will miss his help as he has been coming weekly to go with Nico to collect the donations! But we know this investment in his life will be life changing!!

I (Rachel) have been struggling yet again with a balance between work and home life... I generally dip in and out of each group, but as I am always with Keoni it's not ideal to stay a long time, as much as the kids and ladies love to see him. 

I go one afternoon a week to do visits in the community and each Monday night I participate in our new dance group, during these times Nico stays with the kids. 

I have been trying to invite some mums into my home to spend some time together chatting and doing life together, this is always a blessing and something I can do with my kids.

I am also involved in the young adults group which happens every other Friday night. We start at 8pm which gives me time to get the kids to bed and then Nico and I can participate in the group whilst keeping an eye on the baby monitor!!

It's hard to find the balance as I see so much need and I have so much desire to serve the community but I do believe this is a time for me to be more at home taking care of my kids and giving them a good start in life. As they get older we become more aware that they don't have grandparents or cousins, aunts and uncles close, even Lorenzo asks often to go visit different ones from our families, this helps me stay grounded in the fact that at this moment I am to invest in my children.

So, what about Lorenzo... He is growing up too fast - the clothes we bought while in Europe that didn't fit while we were there, now fit perfectly!! He started school! We chose to send him to a private christian school, the public school system here is very weak. At the beginning, he cried a lot and didn't want to go but now he loves it! He says often 'I like my school, I love my school!' I think it helps that his Portuguese has improved so much, its so cute to hear him speaking to Brazilians in his 3rd language! 

Since he is now doing well at school and we have gotten back to 'normal life' here in Brazil after our long trip in Europe, we have seen Lorenzo settling again which shows in his behaviour. He still is getting used to having a little brother - they have a love/hate relationship - one minute they play so nice - hide and seek, chasies (in our small apartment) or pushing each other around on Keoni's toy car, but when Lorenzo wants to play with his cars or building a tower keoni loves to destroy it, and these are the moments when they don't quite love each other!! haha

Keoni turned one on the 9th April. We had a small party for him, we planned to go to the park but in the morning it showed a very grey sky and probability to rain (after maybe 2 months of no rain!!), so we rescheduled and held to party in the Rock House. With age keoni changes a lot! When he turned one he suddenly started sleeping through the night!! Hallelujah! He also started eating better - it was a constant battle before to make him eat... especially fruit! 

All in all both boys are doing well. They are happy boys and even happier when they get to spend time with our team members - we eat lunch together every Friday and Lorenzo often comments how much he loves when we eat all together!

A little personal update: Some of you may know we have been searching for a new church, we started attending one in the slum - a church plant from the Big baptist church in the city. We really enjoy it but struggle as there is no creche for Keoni and he doesn't stay quiet for long in the service so one of us often ends up going outside with him.

We are still on the hunt to rent a house for our family to live off base. To find one in budget with our simple requests is proving quite difficult... but we wait on the Lord who we believe called us to make this move. 

We spent a weekend away with some friends to renew, restore and enjoy some nature. It was amazing! The place we stayed was rustic and surrounded by the mountains and it was a safe place for our kids to play. These times away from the big busy city and away from the work really is necessary and this time was special as we could do it with friends who have kids the same age as ours!

Future plans

Also, 29th July is looming close - my (Rachel) big 40th!! I have requested for my birthday a holiday at the beach as it really is my most favourite place on earth, of course I would rather some time with my friends and family in Northern Ireland but as that is not possible the beach it will be! So we are looking for a place to stay for a week at the end of July. 

Starting in August is a YWAM school called 'Community Development School.' This is a secondary school for missionaries and it is so beneficial for those who work or are planning to work in 'at risk communities.' Nico and I completed this 3 month school in 2017 and during the pandemic Nico helped lead a school (online) which the majority of our staff participated. Now in August Nico will lead the school and it will happen in the Rock House! We are very excited and already in the midst of the planning for it and promoting it to acquire students!Please pray for the right students to come, for all the preparations and for us as it will be quite a busy 3 months, the school will take place but the ministry at the Rock House will continue as normal so it will be very busy.

Nico has desired for a long time to do a Bible Course and he feels God has been pushing him to take some steps forward in this. So he will start an online course in September with a french-speaking Canadian Bible Institute. He believes the investment of money and time will benefit him personally, us as a family and his work in the ministry as he learns more about the bible, how to study the bible and understand practically what God's word is saying to us today. Please pray for us as we learn to juggle finances and our time for Nico to do this course.

Thank you for your prayers and support; for your partnership in this calling that we continue to walk in. We are aware that without you and our churches supporting us in prayer and financially we would be unable to continue so we are always grateful for you:

Philippians 1:3-6 NIV

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."