Bits May 2023

We made it home! Thanks so much for your prayers for the passport situation and our travels. On Friday the 19th, I (David) left for Oregon right after picking up the girls from their last day of school. I was able to meet with a missions team coming down in July to do youth group meetings, English conversation, Upward football, and a couple of other things. Then I spoke at the church (Bethany Baptist) on Sunday. 

On Monday I flew back to Nashville and met Sarah and Anna Claire and we flew to El Paso, Texas, the one passport agency in the entire country that had openings for a rush passport. It took a little longer than expected, but our flight was delayed and so we still made our flight to Tampa easily after receiving Anna Claire’s new passport (and actually she saw mine would expire in December and was gracious to recommend I just do it then and there). Meanwhile, Sarah’s dad Bob and Evelyn drove the car down to Tampa from Chattanooga with all of our luggage. Many thanks to Bob for being super flexible and helpful! He even had his flight delayed by weather, missed the connection, and had to sleep in the Charlotte airport. He is very selfless and we appreciated that so much!

As he was delayed by a Tampa thunderstorm, our plane was behind him. That delay also made us miss our flight to Brazil; so we rebooked for the next day and our arrival in Brazil was delayed about 27 hours. But we had a huge blessing by being picked up at the airport with our new car that was able to be purchased even though we were not present. A generous friend in Brazil as well as our colleagues Dan and Carol Cook met us at the airport so we could drive straight to Arcoverde. 

In the last couple of weeks, many details had to go right. Even if they didn’t, we know God is in control. Why in the world was it God’s purpose for us to go to El Paso (besides my own irresponsibility)? Yet God provided and blessed. We didn’t know how it would all turn out, but we had to give it over to God and He gave us His peace (yes, our stomachs were turning knots for 10 days), but we still knew that no matter the outcome, God’s will was in it. On the flight to El Paso, I sat next to a Lebanese soldier. I was able to talk to him about war and the peace of God based on what I know Jeremiah Cook has been telling Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. I am grateful for my friendship with Jeremiah and how it prepared me for a good conversation with this soldier. I shared the story about King David from the Bible (we were talking about names) and read Psalm 23 to him. I received his contact information and we have interacted since then. 

We had a reception pizza party in the Arcoverde church on Saturday night where we gave big hugs to lots of friends. Evelyn and Anna Claire felt very much at home as their friends received them so well. On Sunday we went to Tupanatinga for the day. At night we counted only four empty chairs (we have fifty chairs there) and felt so welcomed… and had another pizza party after the service. It felt good to be preaching again. I am grateful for how the church did during our absence. It was not easy for them but they persevered. 

As of now, we are adjusting to living here, painting and organizing our house, and evaluating our plans in light of reality. Pray for us this month as we transition the Arcoverde church from the Smiths to us. 

Thank you for your prayers. I know many increased their prayer life on our behalf this month and we appreciate it so much.

All for HIS glory,

David, Sarah, and our glad-to-be-home family