Still here.....

Hello Hanstad Family Blog Followers.....

Thanks for not giving up on me!  I have not forgotten you and know that we are still walking this journey solely because of the prayers of many of you.  From the bottom of my heart I apologize for the long absence on the blog.  My desire was and still is to keep you updated as to the goings on in our family and the ups and downs of our service in Brazil and just life in general.  Honestly, it has been a rough few months along the journey.  But God is faithful.  I do not say that just to sound "Christiany".  He really is faithful, providing all we need for one day at a time.  Although we are currently in a place of not really know what our next step is in Brazil, I will give you a brief update of what's been happening.

Last December we went as a family of 7 to Brazil in mid-December.  We did an eye clinic for the children and houseparents at Chain of Love and spent lots of time playing with the kids and helping the houseparents.  What a joy it was to experience Christmas and New Year's with our Brazilian family.  Christmas Eve dinner was served just before midnight after spending all day in the kitchen preparing.  It was only about 100 degrees and 100 percent humidity!  Quite a change from the North Dakota Christmases to which we had been accustomed.  We spent many hours with the kids at Chain of Love, playing basketball, going to their activities, helping in their houses, and simply loving them.  Brad, Jack, and Drew left for home about a week after Christmas.  During those two and a half weeks, we honestly struggled as a family in many ways.  I won't go into all the details here on the blog, but we felt that God was possibly closing some doors for us to be there in service as a total family unit.  This brought much stress, sadness and discouragement among our family.  After the boys left, the girls and I stayed for another 3 weeks.   We were able to travel with the kids we sponsor and their house to the beach for 10 days as they spent that time away on holiday.  This was a great opportunity for us to simply be with them in a relaxed mode.  We got to experience a beach community in Brazil which we had never done before.  

When we returned to Chain of Love, we had another another week to help as needed until we left for home on January 20.  The tears came, as they always do, when we said goodbye.  We know that God has purposed our time there and that the relationships we now have were given by him.  

Many of you may know that our daughter has been dating a Brazilian boy long-distance.  He is no longer living at Chain of Love but we had an opportunity to spend some time with him and his biological family.  This is a very difficult situation that he is now in.  We continue to stand with him to help and support in whatever ways we can.  His desire and ours is to have him come here to the states, if possible, as his living situation is not good.  I travelled down to Brazil alone in March and went with him, along with his uncle, to Sao Paulo to try to obtain a visa for him to study here in the US.  The visa was denied and so he went back home, very sad, as was our entire family.  As for now, we will wait on this issue as well.

These things being said, we are unclear as to how God is leading us regarding our service at Chain of Love in Brazil.  We are open to serve in whatever way God shows.  It may be that for now it is shorter trips with only one or two family members going at a time.  We simply do not know.  As hard as this is, we are learning that God must be the one to direct our steps.  He has given us a desire and a passion to serve him and we trust that he will show the way.  We continue to be available to do the things he asks of us....whether that is to stay or to go.  

Brad is now working at Lone Star Vision here in Texas part-time.  We are grateful for this opportunity with a Christian doctor who has a great understanding for our heart to serve in Brazil.    The kids are finishing up the school year and we look forward to the summer. 

Please continue to pray for our family.   Each one of us has struggles unique to our stage of life and the different situations we are facing.  Please pray that God will give us great clarity and that we will not become discouraged as we walk this journey.  We know that God is for our good and his glory.   May it be so.

Waiting, resting, and rejoicing in HIM,

Robbyn for the Hanstads

Christmas in Brazil

Good evening blog followers....this is one tired Mom writing here as we are about 36 hours away from our departure to Brazil.  I have to admit....in the last few weeks, I am somewhat at a loss for words.  I have come to the blog many times to write, but the words simply do not come.  I go to my journal where usually the words flow easily, but my heart is quiet and my hand is still.  I guess maybe one might call it writer's block...but I don't think that's it.   To be honest with you, my heart is a bit heavy amidst the excitement of returning to Brazil.  As I long for the place that I know the Lord has called us to, the worries and difficulties of this journey linger around me.  It is an uneasy feeling that causes me to cling even closer to my God who, unlike me, does not change like shifting shadows.  He is always the same...yesterday, today, and forever.  My refuge.  And so it is there I stay...even as I leave my own country, and my own culture, for the pursuit of his will somewhere else.  Perhaps I can be wise to learn the lesson of listening more closely to God in these times and in those seemingly empty moments that may be actually full of what I really need....MORE OF HIM AND LESS OF ME.  Please continue to pray for us.  Pray that we will not grow weary under the pressures and demands of a committment to service.  Pray that we will have wisdom and discernment with each and every decision we make for our children and our family.  Pray that God will bring forth great fruit out of our meager efforts to love others in Jesus' name.  Brad and the boys will return on New Year's Day.  The girls and I will stay until January 21.  We are grateful for every minute of it.

With great anticipation and overwhelming humility,

Robbyn for the Hanstads

Joy along the Way

Good afternoon Hanstad family blog followers, encouragers, prayer warriors, friends, and family.  My apologies that is has been over a month since my last post.  Many things have been happening and keeping us busy and a little crazy at times.  Here are a few updates of the busyness going on in our life....

We will be heading to Brazil as a family on December 13.   As I look at the calendar now....that is just under one month from now!  We are excited to be able to spend Christmas with the children and houseparents at Chain of Love.  We hope to do eye exams for them while we are there as they head into their summer holidays.  We will work alongside the houseparents helping with the children and serving wherever we are needed.   Due to Brad's work responsibilities here at this time, he and the boys will return to Texas on January 1, 2013.  Robbyn and the girls will stay and help until January 21. Please pray for fruitful ministry and continued opportunities to grow relationships.

After much thought and prayer, we have brought Molly, Ellie, and Drew home from public school and are how homeschooling them.  What peace and blessing this has brought to all of us!  Even though our minutes during the day are much fuller, we definitely feel this is the right decision for us.  Brad is teaching them math, science and physical education, while I am doing the language arts and history.    There is a great homeschool co-op here which we will hopefully be starting next semester where they will do some additional classes with other homeschooled kids.  With so many opportunities here in Texas, homeschooling is a great option for us.   Last Tuesday we spent the day at the Dallas Museum of Art learning about the Plumed Serpent of Mexico, doing crafts, and watching South American dancers!

Shelby has been busy too.  She ran a mock presidential campaign at her school which she had a great time doing...who knows...Hanstad 2024????  Jack is usually out the door in the early hours of the morning heading to football practice.   He has one game left but continues to play baseball for the Texas Raiders with some freshman and sophomores who have nicknamed him "5th grade":)  He has also been convinced by the coaches at his school to go out for cross-country and also basketball.  So he stays busy but hope that his math teacher will be as impressed with him as everybody else seems to be!

Brad continues to pursue his new business and is getting closer every day.  They are hoping to open in January...slow going...but we will keep you posted!

God is working.  He is faithful and unchanging.  He keeps his promises and provides all we need.   We continue to learn lessons along this journey that bring about some heartache...but ultimately result in joy.  Please continue to pray for us.   We have so far to go.  Our goal of being in Brazil is coming...but slowly.  And so, we focus on obedience.   There are many distractions, but when we continue to bring our hearts and our focus in on him...he leads the way, one step at a time.  And we are grateful.

I Thess. 5:16-18 "Rejoice always!  Pray constantly.  Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Time for some lesson plans now....what a journey!

Robbyn for the Hanstads

Autumn.....and other happenings

I write this morning from cloudy and rainy North Texas.  The heat is subsiding and we are finding ourselves enjoying the somewhat cooler temperatures.  I must admit that I am missing the vibrant fall colors that God paints over the Northern Midwest....those reds and golds that delight the soul.  But in the back of one's mind.....winter lurks.  Those of us raised there have learned to appreciate, maybe more than most, the season of Autum....winter's opening act.  And so, here in Texas, I appreciate my hot cup of coffee, a quiet morning, and the peace of knowing that, no matter where I am, God is always doing His thing.

As for a little Hanstad family news....

~We are excited to have become official members of Crosspoint Church.  They have welcomed us with great warmth and hospitality and we are happy to have a church home here in Texas. We are all getting involved in various activities and studies and trust that we will grow and serve well alongside our new church family. 

~The kids continue on in their schooling with ups and downs.   We seek God's help in determining what is best for each one of them.  Sports and various activities keep us busy and running but it is always a joy to watch them and cheer them on.  They have found good friends among their various teams.

~Brad continues to move forward with business prospects and we are grateful for the opportunities that God has put in our path.

~We look ahead with great anticipation to returning to Brazil in November, if all things come together as we hope.

As we face various trials and difficulties along the path of this journey, even though at times it is painful and causes us heartache, we are finding that God is graciously using those things to help us have great clarity in knowing what we are supposed to do.  When we are wise, the heartache itself can actually guide us to the place that God ultimately wants us to be.

As always, thank you for your unending prayers and encouragement.  We continue on with great trust that God's plan is for our good, but even more, for his glory.

I Peter 5:10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Getting wiser,

Robbyn for the Hanstads

Pieces

Life is full of pieces.  I am talking here about all the different parts of our lives that make up the whole enchilada.  Sorry, living in Texas can bring out the Tex-Mex in just about anyone.  There's just a whole lotta salsa down in these-here parts.   But that being said, truly I am not talking beans and rice here.  I am talking about the day-in, day-out, nitty gritty pieces of life that make up who we are.   Who we REALLY are.  How are all of your pieces fitting together?  Do you have your puzzle finished?  Doesn't it sometimes feel like right about the time, after you have struggled and labored and given yourself entirely over to setting each piece in place, and you are almost ready to put in the last piece, and enjoy that satisfaction of completion, someone comes along and bumps the table, and you have to start over again?  Maybe not the entire puzzle was broken, but it was disrupted just enough to cause you frustration and maybe you just had to walk away for awhile before you had the courage to face it again?

Maybe I am alone in this.  Maybe all of you, my friends, family, and blog-following encouragers are basking in the satisfaction of having all of the pieces of your life, your "puzzle", neatly in place.  Well, as we say in Portuguese...."Parabens!" aka "Congratulations!"   For those of you, who like me and my family, have ventured into enough unfamiliar territory as to most definitely NOT have your puzzle finished, I am just wondering......maybe this is a good thing?????

I, Robbyn, am struggling with my puzzle.  It is complicated.  Too many pieces for me really.  What would be easier is just a simple 24-piece Sponge Bob Square Pants for ages 3 and up if you get my drift.  Trying to get all the pieces of my life to come together and knowing how each part fits is just plain hard.   Figuring out how to spend time in this country and making a life and living here while at the same time having a heart called to Brazil is drawing me nearer, and nearer to my ever-faithful God.  It is causing me to try to clear out the distractions of this busy world and truly open my ears to the voice of my Savior.  Only he knows how the puzzle will look when it is finished.  Only he knows that in the process of continuing to perservere, overcoming my frustration and fear, and leaning in closely to him, I  will truly see that he knows exactly what it's going to look like.  And I'm thinking it's gonna be good.

Philippians 1:6 "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Blessings,

Robbyn for the Hanstads

First day of School

Good morning friends and family,

My apologies for the long lapse in posting.....we returned home from Brazil on August 23 at 6 a.m.  We hit the ground running (literally) getting the kids' school registrations, shopping, physicals, and what seemed like a million other details taken care of before school started today.  But all was accomplished, more or less, and the kids are all at school now, the house is quiet, and I'm not sure what I will do today.  I must admit that a lingered a while in Drew's classroom.  I didn't cry--don't get crazy--but he is the last one--and a gem of a little guy too.  Don't get me wrong, I am more than okay with having a little downtime now that they are all in school.  All the stresses of relocating, going back and forth to Brazil, and just simply re-arranging life for a family of 7 has taken its toll.  Maybe I will sleep awhile.  That being said, I will give you a little update on each of the kids and then a short re-cap of our time in Brazil, and our plans for returning.

Shelby, dressed in full uniform of plaid skirt and white collared shirt, nose ring removed and looking beautiful as always..just a little nervous, headed to Cornerstone Christian Academy in McKinney--the city right next to us.  She will be starting her Junior year.  It is about a 20 minute drive for her.  The school is a University Model Christian school which means she attends Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and is home on Tuesday and Thursday.  This will be a great fit for her as it will give her flexibility to do her work in Brazil while we are there.  She continues to work at Marble Slab Creamery ice cream shop in Frisco about 15-20 hours a week as well. 

Jack, joined his group of buddies and walked to Maus Middle School for 8th grade.  He starts football tomorrow morning bright and early and since he finished the year there last spring, he was all smiles as he went back to a school that he really loves.  He will also be playing fall baseball.

Molly, Ellie, and Drew went to Mooneyham Elementary which is about 4 blocks from our house.  I will walk over and pick them up after school today.  They will be able to walk home by themselves after that which will be nice.  Molly is in 5th grade, Ellie in 3rd, and Drew in Kindergarten.  Molly is playing her first season of soccer; Ellie also as well as softball for the Texas Twist select team, and Drew will play baseball for the Rockies.

Brad continues to work on getting his business going and hopefully the details will all be worked out soon.  He is excited and soon I will share more details on this here on the blog.

Brazil~~~where our hearts are.  We had a blessed time there as a family and as always, the time went way too fast.  We spent lots of time with the kids in craft classes and playing baseball and soccer.  Brad even taught them to play "Lightening" with the basketball and that was a real favorite.  I spent a good amount of time helping the housemother, Fabiane, in House 7 with all her work.  Much laundry, dishes, cleaning and cooking were done together.  It is a great joy to me to be able to help her.  I also led the housemothers bible study and spoke to them about discouragement and how God wants to help us through it when we find ourselves there.  I taught the teen girls sunday school as well and that is always a joy.  Brad and I helped the young missionary couple there as well with much work as they were preparing to leave for Canada.  We continue to find ourselves growing closer and closer to the children and houseparents there at Chain of Love and continue to find confirmation of our place and work there.  We are hoping to return in November and December and stay as long as possible.  The staff there is hopeful that we will be able to substitute as houseparents while we are there to give the houseparents their weekends off that they need each month.  Our kids are turning in to real Brazilians.  Learning to speak Portuguese, eating beans and rice, and playing soccer is all they really need!

We are grateful to all who are praying for us and encouraging us as we serve in Brazil.   Thank you for the support that allows us to go as a family which is our heart's desire.  God continues to show himself faithful in our desire to serve him and raise our kids to serve him as well. 

God bless you as you seek Him and may He show you also with great clarity what he has put in your heart to do.

Robbyn for the Hanstads

Seasons

Good morning from hot and sweaty North Texas...we are officially uttering words that should never, EVER, and I mean NEVER, come out of the mouths of native, born and raised, tried and true North Dakotans........."CAN'T WAIT TIL WINTER!!!"  Yup.   We said it.  Curse us if you will our Northern amigos, but truth be told, come November....we'll be the Hap-Hap-Happiest group of North Texans ya'll have ever seen!

Okay, I'm done.  Lost my head.  Certainly I have better things to talk about than the weather.  But since we are on the subject, it is Winter in Brazil....and that's where we are headed today at 6:00 p.m. on American Airlines.  Once again, the Hanstad Family of 7 will embark on a journey to South America, seeking and searching for what God will have for them and encountering many people, both English and Portuguese speakers along the way, and hearing that question that always opens many doors of sharing our faith and our story...."ARE ALL THOSE KIDS YOURS?"

Boy are they ever.   And even though there are moments when all the planning, the details, the chaos (it's so loud--why do they have to be so loud?), the difficulty, the heartache and tears, the joy and everything that goes into to trying to do ministry in Brazil with five kids is completely overwhelming, it is certain that this is as it should be.  As we share with various people in our lives about going to Brazil, often they ask, "What do you down there?"  And so we go about sharing about our work, and the people and what we hope to accomplish.  But, I am starting to really grasp, and God is continuing to reveal to me,  that it is not at all about what we do down there.  God's got that.  It's about what God is doing in us.  In each and every one of us.  He is about the business of turning hearts toward him.  And although we hope to help him with that in Brazil, we have seen him work more in each one of us in turning hearts that want to live for US and molding them into hearts that want to live for HIM.  And we know that as God leads us, goes with us, and in us, beside us and behind us, he smiles and says to himself, "Those 7 Hanstads, Yep....they're all MINE."

Thank you for being our support and encouragement by reading this blog and praying for us.  We are definitely not alone on this journey and we are grateful for each one of you.  Please pray for safe travel and good health while we are gone.  Please pray that we will continue to find doors open for ministry in Brazil and that God's timing will continue to line up for our returning.

Zephaniah 3:14 "The Lord your God is with you,  He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Boa viajem!  (Safe Travels!)

Robbyn for the Hanstads