dezembro 20, 2006
Merry Christmas!
Another year draws to a close… And we hope you have as many reasons to give thanks to God as we do. In October we sent out a prayer letter for the first time and we received such positive feedback that we decided to not only continue but expand “circulation” and translate it into English, too. Hopefully this Christmas letter is only the start! We would like to thank you for all your prayers, since we have been feeling especially blessed recently.
Blessings and more blessings…
The biggest piece of news from the last few months is the response to a prayer request in our October letter: we found a house! Lord willing it will be ours at the end of this year or the beginning of 2007, at which point we can start the remodel it so badly needs (as you can see from the photo). Last week a little problem came up with the evaluation, but we have seen God’s hand in the timing of everything and how it has played out, so we are confident that He will continue to help us in this process. We also have a probable buyer for our apartment, as long as everything goes well with his bank. Vitor’s parents, as well as mine, have been and continue to be a fundamental part of our being able to make this big investment. We are awfully excited, and just a little nervous.
On the professional front, Vitor continues striving to be a positive influence in the lives of his seventh graders, especially the “homeroom” class he is responsible for, in spite of a general lack of interest, respect and other elements conducive to learning. Besides school, he continues to be involved in projects at the IBP, mainly public relations and the Imago-Dei magazine.
I am working already, although only part-time for now. I work at the Montepio Geral bank, in the Credit Risk Management Department. This might sound boring but is quite a challenge because we are trying to decipher and implement the brand-new international banking rules, and I always did like things nobody knew how to do! It is like a giant numbers puzzle. I am also finishing up my Economics degree and after exams in January I will be free and “degree-ed”.
Our church continues to be a source of lots of work and some really great moments, especially with the youth. Vitor is still running things, but his plate is pretty full with school and the IBP, too. You can pray that God sends more help, especially someone who could be part of the leadership on at least a half-time basis and also a teacher to help me with the 11-15 year-olds’ Sunday School (preferably a man, so the boys have someone who understand them!).
Prayer Requests
· Please pray for our house, that everything will work out so it can really actually be ours.
· Thank God for all the responses we have seen to our prayers (and yours).
· Pray for wisdom for Vitor so that he can help his students to be truly successful.
· Pray for our ministry, inside our church and elsewhere.
And we’ll pray for you, as well, that your Christmas Season be blessed and full of love.
In the love of Jesus, the reason for the season,
Vitor and Austin
Blessings and more blessings…
The biggest piece of news from the last few months is the response to a prayer request in our October letter: we found a house! Lord willing it will be ours at the end of this year or the beginning of 2007, at which point we can start the remodel it so badly needs (as you can see from the photo). Last week a little problem came up with the evaluation, but we have seen God’s hand in the timing of everything and how it has played out, so we are confident that He will continue to help us in this process. We also have a probable buyer for our apartment, as long as everything goes well with his bank. Vitor’s parents, as well as mine, have been and continue to be a fundamental part of our being able to make this big investment. We are awfully excited, and just a little nervous.
On the professional front, Vitor continues striving to be a positive influence in the lives of his seventh graders, especially the “homeroom” class he is responsible for, in spite of a general lack of interest, respect and other elements conducive to learning. Besides school, he continues to be involved in projects at the IBP, mainly public relations and the Imago-Dei magazine.
I am working already, although only part-time for now. I work at the Montepio Geral bank, in the Credit Risk Management Department. This might sound boring but is quite a challenge because we are trying to decipher and implement the brand-new international banking rules, and I always did like things nobody knew how to do! It is like a giant numbers puzzle. I am also finishing up my Economics degree and after exams in January I will be free and “degree-ed”.
Our church continues to be a source of lots of work and some really great moments, especially with the youth. Vitor is still running things, but his plate is pretty full with school and the IBP, too. You can pray that God sends more help, especially someone who could be part of the leadership on at least a half-time basis and also a teacher to help me with the 11-15 year-olds’ Sunday School (preferably a man, so the boys have someone who understand them!).
Prayer Requests
· Please pray for our house, that everything will work out so it can really actually be ours.
· Thank God for all the responses we have seen to our prayers (and yours).
· Pray for wisdom for Vitor so that he can help his students to be truly successful.
· Pray for our ministry, inside our church and elsewhere.
And we’ll pray for you, as well, that your Christmas Season be blessed and full of love.
In the love of Jesus, the reason for the season,
Vitor and Austin
# posted by Vitor & Austin : 22:26
