Bits August

 School! The girls have been excited about going to a real school for months, actually years. This month they have finally experienced what it is like to be in an actual school with classrooms and other kids their age. They are doing really well. To say that they are loving it might be a slight exaggeration, but they are certainly adapting well and making friends. Evelyn is trying not to answer all the questions and make up for six years of not being able to raise her hand and respond to her teacher on screen. She has a little group of friends that got together on the first day of school and has been a blessing for her. Anna Claire makes friends wherever she goes and school has not been the exception. 

Sarah and I are in a different spot in life in which we have never been before. The girls are in school all day and we are not directly taking care of a church or having full time ministry at our feet. But we still seem to keep busy. Sarah is counseling in person as well as online. We both keep in touch with our churches and friends down in Brazil, offering counsel and organizational help. We have enjoyed catching up with friends and family. 

We finally met some famous missionaries
that Cloud Springs supports along with us

During August we stayed fairly busy on the weekends with updating churches. On August 7 we went to Marietta, Georgia with Eastwood Baptist. Evelyn taught the teen Sunday School class and I only heard from all four adults in the classroom as they loved her lesson. She also taught the kids class at Blackburn Road Baptist in Athens, Alabama when we went on August 21. I was able to present and preach at this church who has supported us for so long. Then this last Sunday we spoke to our Sunday School class at Cloud Springs Baptist in Fort Oglethorpe, GA where we attend church while we are on furlough. This upcoming Sunday we will be interviewed as well as preach the morning service at Cloud Springs. 

My college roommate and his family 
drove through Chatt town! 

Furlough has several purposes for us. Rest and reporting are usually the main ones. Putting the girls in school has been a main one for us this furlough and so that has been a big focus for us. We have worked on the rest some (see what I did there?) Another purpose is raising funds if need be. This furlough is not bad at all compared to previous longer furloughs and probably the average missionary need when on furlough. We need to raise about 430 dollars in monthly contributions before we leave for Brazil next June. We will also need to raise around 11,000 dollars for a car (yes, cars are more expensive and less reliable in Brazil). As we speak at churches the gifts will go towards this fund and if it goes over we can use it for Phase three of construction in Tupanatinga. (Phase two is just about paid for!) We also might do some odds and ends jobs while here that can go towards those funds as well. 

Finishing up the kid's room
in Tupanatinga! Awesome!

Friends are good for the soul! It has been wonderful catching up with some this month and we look forward to seeing many others! Thanks for your prayers for us as this month we travel to Prattville, AL to talk about the gospel in Brazil and I will be going to Michigan (and may present to a new church up there). 

All for HIS glory,

David, Sarah and our seventh grade Oakwood Eagle Evie, and our fourth grade Anna Claire (she might be getting used to being called Anna). 

Puppies at the farm!