The Lady in "Waiting"

We are in the midst of a very blessed and unusual time of "waiting". We left CA, house, belongings, what was left after liquidating and giving away all but some remaining boxes of our earthly belongings, on the 27th of June. We set out for the east by way of Aurora, CO and stopped at our Daughter and son-in-law's house, Debbie & Damian and the grandchildren, Naomi & Declan! It was our delight to have some hours with them and to eat a lovingly prepared "42nd Wedding Anniversary" breakfast at their table.

Next, we headed to Decatur, IL, where we spent a few quick days with many dear life-long friends there and had some dental work done. Our dentist and his wife have lovingly hosted us many times as we have crossed this nation in these past 15 years. They are dear lifelong friends. :)

Now we headed into our 2nd all night drive to Bridgewater, MA where we are graciously and lovingly hosted by dear friends and fellow believers. They are "washing our feet" and we pray that we are "washing" theirs also. Our first Sunday here we had the joy of ministering in the Bedford, NH Foursquare Church, where dear friends pastor a wonderful church full of the grace of the Lord. It was an unforgettable experience!

I spoke to a group of Portuguese speaking women on the following Saturday night, and since there was one English speaking lady present, I did my own interpreting; something, I realized, I would not like to have to do on a regular basis. :) This session was followed by a "Prayer Vigil" until 1: am with their entire congregation. They are Pastors Eduardo & Livania Marques whom we have known nearly 30 years. We remember when they started dating in Brazil when we were there previously as missionary representatives. :)

Our second Sunday we enjoyed a service in Norwell, MA with dear friends who pastor there and it was a great blessing to see how God is using and blessing them in that community. Then a time of fellowship and lunch afterward with some dear friends from our past history in New England. What a blessing to see what God is doing in the lives of those who faithfully grow and nurture others on their way through life!

What does this all feel like? I haven't talked a lot on this blog about my feelings; it has been more informative and not so much a look into the personal journey I am on. Recently I felt led to formulate a teaching around the fruit-bearing in our lives and how it is nurtured and cultivated. May I encourage any of you who read this, by sharing that the most difficult times of our lives can become, if recognized and turned over to God, the most meaningful times of our lives.

This time of uprooting and accepting the challenge to return to Brazil has been, it seems, far more difficult and character-building than was the first time with 4 children in hand and all the luggage involved in moving your whole family. There is the aspect of leaving that family behind, in a manner of speaking; a scriptural concept, I might add, even though not an easy one. There are more in the family now, counting in-laws and grandchildren. And we have wonderful enriching relationships with our adult children as they continue to navigate their way through life; all of them in some form of military life. They are growing at different rates and in different ways in their spiritual lives as we accompany them in prayer. We entrust them to God and know that in His time we will have together "family" times, yet in our future.

We will be in New England for the months of July and August. If our FMI approved budget is not yet met we will spend the remaining time with our children in Virginia and Colorado making ourselves available to serve and share in the churches in those respective areas, until we reach the goal that has been set. In a recent meeting with a member of our FMI deployment team, we were encouraged as to the fact that, this process usually takes at least two years and that we are currently ahead of the norm, which we owe to many of you who have stepped forward during your own financially difficult times and stood with us.

One marvelous answer to prayer has been the on-going help, on the other end, in Brazil, of a dear life-long couple, fellow missionaries, of over 40 years, who have stepped forward to handle the preparation of the FMI owned apartment we will use while there. They have lovingly repaired, refurbished and cleaned the apartment in anticipation of our arrival. We will of course reimburse them financially out of our start-up funds but we can never repay the labor and time that these dear people have sacrificed to "prepare a place" for us. :)

As we have traveled throughout the US and visited our Foursquare churches we have been blessed to see how God is moving and directing so many pastors and churches in the same direction. There seems to be a universal "prompting" from the Spirit of God to prepare "the Bride" for her "Groom". We see many making their way back to God, and currently growing believers taking more seriously the day and time in which we find ourselves. Even though we grieve over the defiant and rebellious ways we see the world citizens resisting the message of their need, and the only answer, we continue to faithfully spread the table and invite the guests!

Please remember us as we prayerfully visit churches and invite them to stand with us in what, we believe, the Lord of the Church is calling us to do in this new epoch of our life and ministry. We are open to do anything He wants and this, so far, is all He has indicated to us. So we move forward in faith and obedience. It is our desire to be a great blessing to our state-side churches even though our target ultimately, will be to bless our Brazilian pastoral families with spiritual and emotional care, as well as, support as they wage the battle in these final days of history.

I do not doubt for one minute that we are in the final days of history as we know it and I want to be found faithful regardless of the cost, until the end....or the beginning...depending how you look at it. :) God bless you all,

Patti (for Dale & Patti)

Prayer Needs:

The sale of our home
Continued health and strength
Acute spiritual hearing
Continued provision as we raise the needed support
The Brazilian Church and leaders: Marriages and family
Our children and grandchildren

Thanks so much for prayer...without it nothing happens. :)