"Last" Week

These past few days have been "last" days for us. Last Sunday I preached at church for the last time. Almost every night during the past couple weeks we have been out with friends and families from church for last suppers. A small group dinner. The comments we've heard about ourselves and the ministry have been very encouraging, and God has often used us in peoples' lives without our even knowing it. The last bags are now packed - ten bags and a box with paintings and a window shutter in it - and we pretty much just have to put the locks on them. Yesterday, we went out to lunch with our new ABWE Brazil administrator Cal Clark and his wife Carol, (who were friends and colleagues of ours from back in the days when we were working in the city of São Paulo) and Bauru colleagues Dave and Val Smallman. Tonight is our farewell service. A good crowd was out for a tearful and joyful service.

Former colleagues and friends Bob and Lois Walsh from São Paulo days sharing memories of times together.

South American administrator Cal Clark spoke as well.

Isadora and Veronica (Sue's first children's class, and now teens) presented us a scrapbook with photos and messages from all our teen group.

Deacon and friend Beto Ciola thanking God for our ministry and praying for His direction for the future.

Of course, chocolate cake.

Happy Birthday to Bill one last time.

Then tomorrow noon we make the last trip in to São Paulo to fly Delta up to the states, arriving in Grand Rapids about noon on Tuesday. Although, for the most part, it seems like we are just going on another furlough (this next year is a furlough and we will be with the mission until March 2012), closing things up, throwing or giving clothes away and turning in keys, it is starting to sink in that leaving Brazil is really happening. This blog is the last from Brazil. Next blog will be sent stateside.

Off we go... (pictures added after the fact)