Nothing was the way it was supposed to be. We had had our full support for six months. We were supposed to be in the Amazon rain forest, but were arriving in the metropolis of São Paulo in south Brazil. Our documentation for permanent residency visa was supposed to have been approved, but we were coming in on a two year work visa. Instead of twenty steel drums and two crates (one or them a square-stern canoe), packed and ready for shipping (but never shipped), our life was now contained in three suitcases and thirteen small boxes which were held up in Brazilian customs. We had said good-bye to our family and friends in Grand Rapids, but didn’t know anyone in São Paulo. We had no house, no furniture, no language ability…what had we gotten ourselves into?! And to top it off, Sue was seven and a half months pregnant, and our son Joel, a pre-schooler just four 
years old.Flying down to Rio (first stop in Brazil) we flew out of JKF airport in the middle of hurricane David – maybe a forecast of the weeks ahead.
We made that step of faith, believing God was in control. And He was so faithful! Within six weeks we had a house, furniture and a new baby girl, Natali. Within three years we had our permanent residency visa, language, moved on up to the Amazon (a whole other adventure story) and another kid, Aaron.
Fast forward twenty-one years, Saturday, September 15, 2000. We arrived for the first time in Bauru. Our luggage was again held up in customs, no house, no furniture (in our house in São Paulo, rented furnished). This time, along with leaving behind family and friends stateside, we left our three kids (even harder), and we didn’t know anyone in this city. Another big step of faith, but believing God was in control. And again He was so faithful!30 years with our mission, ABWE, and 28 years in Brazil, and we’re still here serving! God has blessed our ministries and our lives during that time and He is still in control.
2 comments:
WOW! God is so amazing!!!
OH WOW!! Who is that adorable baby in that picture! It can't be me, as I am only turning 21 in November, but that baby sure is cute!!
Love,
Natali
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