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It sounds so cliché to say that time is going by fast, but it feels like its flying by!
We are back in Brazil after 3 months in the US (which I'm always so thankful for), and its almost as if I have to work really hard to keep up with it.
Gigi and Isaac's wedding was so beautiful! I wish all of you could have been there.
We met Issac's family for the first time 2 days before the wedding, and hit it off with his parents right away. Thank God! I felt so apprehensive meeting his family right before the weeding, but it all worked out perfectly and all of us had a great time together.
The newlyweds are doing so well and they are so good together. I'm so proud of them and it was such a treat to have them move to Lawrence and to enjoy them a little bit more before we left to head back to Brazil.
The 3 months we stayed home were so busy. As always Mike worked non-stop and I stayed plenty busy managing Airbnb and house stuff while spending time with our kids and family. If I've learned anything from all this back and forth it is to live the "now" and enjoy the "present". So I do my best to put it into practice.
Now we're in Brazil and life is a little different, but still good.
It was such an honor to speak at a women's conference at the end of July. I had terrible anxiety a few days leading up to the conference, and honestly it was a struggle for me. When I walked into the church sanctuary I felt like I was ready to burst into tears. The Lord had told me to share some of my personal testimony and go into some details that I usually do not talk about in a public setting.
I was so apprehensive about it, but I knew God wanted me to do it, so I did. The response was beyond what I could have imagined. So many women identified with my story and later thanked me for openly sharing. I also was told that women had started crying as soon as I had begun to speak. God knows exactly what each of us needs and He is always ready to love on us.
The meetings in Maringá were "mind blowing". Thats the best way to describe what happened in those 4 days. Consecutive days of intense ministry are physically and mentally exhausting, and when you add interpreting to it all, it takes the whole thing to another level. My brain feels like it's being stretched beyond its limits, but at the same time I feel supernatural strength to keep going. On Saturday night Mike joked with me that I should be the one speaking Sunday morning, and I said "absolutely not!". This was after midnight and I told him he was crazy for even mentioning it to me that late and especially after all the interpreting and worshipping I had been doing.
On Sunday morning he spoke for about 10-15 minutes and then he told the church that I would be the one speaking and he walked off the platform! I was left standing there kind of dumbfounded... There wasn't even a chance to "get mad" at him, because I was standing in front of the church!
The Lord told me "speak from your heart and be very open. Share your testimony, but with more details this time." So, I just opened my mouth and spoke about coming before Him with gratitude and entering thru His gates with praise EVEN IN THE MIDST OF TRIAL AND PAIN. I spoke about my choice to praise through panic attacks and depression, and shared a little bit more about my life. Im crying right now just writing this to you. Its not been easy, and YES its been painful, but He has ALWAYS been good and faithful. The ugly little I bring to Him becomes something beautiful in His hands. I can't keep asking why or trying to figure it out, but I hope that I can keep giving my life to Him everyday, and through everything.
It was so incredible to see people coming to the altars and to hear the testimonies afterwards. God is AWESOME!
We've had some great family time while back in Brazil this time and even got to be at my dad's uncle's 90th birthday celebration. We spent Brazilian Father's Day with some of my family that I had not been able to spend time with in about 18 years.
I love and treasure these moments so much!
Like Mike already mentioned, we were in Florida for 1 week to say goodbye to our Uncle Meno and spend time with his side of the family. It was extra special to be able to see Bella, Sophia and Luca too. We wish that Gigi, Isaac and Mark could have been there too. How great it is to have these moments, even though the reason why we were there was sad, we enjoyed and appreciated being with our family.
Today we should have the last of the paperwork for Sozo ready to be filed again, and we are seeing God work in all of this waiting time, that can sometimes feels like "waisted", but we know for sure it is not.
Isabella and Luca are coming for 2 weeks next month...YES... and it will be so sweet to have them here for my birthday. I am at a loss for words. Having Luca in our family has been one of the best things in life. He is such a gift and he also has the BEST PARENTS EVER!
I can't wait for him and Bella to be here.
Get ready for tons of pictures!
Thank you all again for loving and supporting us.
We love you so!
Débora
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