At the moment I feel like I'm panting, leaned over, endorphins flowing, and mind thudding with all the exciting moments of a race just finished - only to look up and realize the clock is counting down to the rest of the race, which is only a fraction completed.
The first week of our school of missions has been awesome and so much has happened. We moved our little family out to the farm we are renting for the school and got settled in amongst a few bats, rats, and smaller critters, as well as welcomed all the students. The weeks leading up to the school were also crazy! There were thirty people living in the house, our family plus the ever-increasing number of long-term missionaries, and the staff for the school. Herb was training and prepping the staff, we were dealing with some difficult problems some of our missionaries were having, there were countless details in preparing, and our whole family got hit with a nasty flu right before the school. We could totally feel the battle in the spirit!
But we made it!
Currently we are living in two places: our base in the center of the city, and the farm where the school is located, on the outskirts of Fortaleza. Herb is teaching in the school several days a week, doing inner healing with several members of our team, generally trying to guide and make the school everything it should be, and being an amazing dad, while also working on some health issues to mention a few. I am co-leading the red light district outreach, leading worship throughout the school, involved with the students and staff, teaching occasionally, striving to be the best momma I can be for the boys and help Herb however I can. It feels funny to try to list of some of our daily tasks, but I thought it might help get an idea of what our days look like. We also like to play games late at night with the other missionaries, swim in the pool, and sneak away for dates when time and babysitters appear!
Another big issue growing on our plate is a dire need for a new base due to growth and new needs - one being a house and good space to start a rescue home for girls. It looks like, coming out of the school, we will have around 30 missionaries and counting, and we no longer all fit in the base, located in the city center where we have been located the last year. We are praying for God to provide a way to find and buy a farm or plot of land where we can build and grow long term. We have about two months until this need will really begin to show itself even more, when the school is over. We already feel a great need for a home to take girls that are coming out of prostitution and abuse, and the need is only growing.
Please press in and pray with us that God would lead us to the right place and would provide all we need to buy and own a place, where we can build and grow on as a ministry.