In the BIG D

I am so excited to be writing my first blog!!  We hope to keep these updated regularly, especially once we get to Niteroi, to let everyone know what is going on in our lives.  At this point our training is so busy that we hardly have time to check email, so blogging may be a little less frequent.

 However, this is my first attempt at blogging, so I intend to make the most of it!  We pulled into Dallas on January 4th around 5pm to move into our cozy little apartment at the GreenTree Apartments in Carrollton, TX.  This is Wes and my first experience living together in an apartment, and thus far it has been just great.  We have a simple one bedroom apartment, and have realized that it is really all we need.  We have enjoyed having our teammates come over and we have even had a few family visitors already. 

 The day we unpacked I pulled out my little daily scripture and quote calendar and turned it to January 4th.  I was so blessed by the message I found:

 “It is God to whom and with whom we travel; and while He is the end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place.”                               ~Elisabeth Elliott

It was really striking to me to think about that while we are just beginning this journey to Niteroi, God is with us and will be with us all the way.  This work in many ways is unfathomable to us right now, but He already knows the plans that He has for it.  He is already in Niteroi, but He is also right here beside us as we go through our daily training. 

The training through Continent of Great Cities has been an incredible blessing.  Different things throughout the day seem to constantly remind me that we serve a powerful God.  He is powerful enough to take this group of people out of the lives we have been used to and take us to a totally new culture to share His word.  It is a daunting task; but we have His grace and power with us.

The training keeps us incredibly busy with class each day from 9am-3:30pm, then activities 3 nights per week.  We started Portugese last week and can now count to 10…..baby steps.  Wes’ favorite word is “consonants”: “consoantes.”  Wes and I have also been trying to prepare ourselves for living life in Brazil.  I am placing stickers around our apartment with Portugese words on them.  Wes is playing FIFA soccer on X box. 

 We are looking forward to this online journal of our experiences leading up to and in Niteroi!  Hopefully, there will be lots more posts to come!

Dallas

We are now in Dallas for 6 months of training with Continent of Great Cities.  This is our first experience with a blog and we will try to keep pertinent information coming for our friends and family.  The training has been intense and we are enjoying working with Team Niteroi.  Please be in prayer for our team as we begin working on a strategy for planting a church in Niteroi.