Hello friends and family....things are slowly but surely returning to whatever normal might be for us since returning from Brazil. We are enjoying a short visit from my Sister Lezlie and her daughter Raegan. Showing them all the sights and fun places in Frisco and just some catching up time. Celebrating Mother's Day together was a blessing.
We are continuing to settle in to life here and look ahead to wrapping up with homeschooling soon while Jack will be in school until June 1....poor guy! The kids continue to stay busy with baseball and softball and now will be playing even more with having been chosen for select teams with more tournaments and higher competition.
We are continuing to seek God's plan for our return to Brazil. We visited a school this week that is a part school/part homeschool Christian school that would encourage our time in Brazil and be very flexible with the long absence. We are praying about this and would appreciate your prayers for this specifically. Also, regarding employment for Brad, we continue to seek the right opportunity and trust that God will show us how this will look as well.
Shelby and Jack are getting more involved in the youth at church and are really feeling welcomed and part of the group. Brad and I are in an adult fellowship that is full of very dedicated Christian people who are passionate as well about getting the gospel out here and around the world. We are grateful to God for these new relationships.
We continue to feel somewhat lop-sided in our hearts as part of us is always in Brazil. But God provides our comfort in this and we know that your prayers uphold us each day.
The Snowcone Lady! What a treasure we have found here in Frisco....a tiny little building with a gravel parking lot and any flavor snowcone you can imagine for $1.50! A great little treat for our family and I think our goal is try every flavor combination. It's the simple things, right?
I will close with a precious comment from our little brother Drew today. Riding in the car, he said, "Dad, why did we move here?" Brad replied, "so we could be in Brazil more." Good, because maybe then the kids won't cry so much when we leave like they did last time."
2 Thess. 2:8 "We loved you so much, that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
In pursuit of HIM,
Robbyn for the Hanstads
I think I could be a snow cone lady if or when I retire! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Hanstads,
ReplyDeleteI have been praying for the items for which you have solicited my prayers. I also pray the Lord will help you in your "times away", whether they are times away from the states or from your Brazilian friends and family.
This brings me to some unsolicited words with which you can do whatever you like. Most people have a sense of what you mean when you say "your heart's in two different places". Often people find themselves in one situation (physically) yet at the same time, miles away (mentally/spiritually). What I have found to be invaluable is a proper understanding of "vocation" (which I didn't have until rather recently and am still most certainly learning). Often if/when we think of vocation, we are talking about our career. Expand that. A vocation is in fact anything in which you have a relationship and responsibilities. For example, you may have the vocation of parent, child, grandchild, worker, co-worker, spouse, neighbor, citizen, (oh yeah, and cousin!). Each vocation has a relationship (son and father; husband and wife) and a responsibility (parents nurture and raise their children; spouses love and support each other).
Because we have so many relationships and responsibilities, everyday life can become challenging as we strive to balance our many vocation adequately, only to realize we haven't done any of them perfectly! In your current situation, it is clear that you have two vocations weighing heavy on your minds and hearts: being citizens of the US (and a new community) and missionaries to Brazil.
At long last, this is where a (hopefully) helpful nugget of truth comes in. The most important vocation I have is the one I'm doing right now. The most important person/people in the world is/are the one(s) I'm with right now. (cf. Eph 2:10)
This has helped me tremendously as I've struggled with knowing I "should be" doing xyz. If my thoughts are on xyz, what am I not concentrating on? God has given us all our many vocations and much to do. He also blesses us with plenty of time to do it all . . . one thing at a time! And it’s all important because we do it all in Christ who gives us strength!
(Again, I apologize for the unsolicited words. Just the same, I genuinely hope you find them helpful!)
Say “hi” to Lezlie and Raegan for me!
In Christ,
Corey
Hi Corey,
DeleteI couldn't be more encouraged by your very helpful words. Thank you for sharing. I definitely know that the call God has given me is both here (US) AND there (Brazil). And I most definitely know that he has equipped me so that I do not have to choose here OR there. This encourages me to remain focused on those He has put in my care here (my husband, children, extended family, friends, church family, neighbors) while we are here, while continuing to pray for and encourage my Brazilian family. And when, we are in Brazil, the same. I am encouraged that God has certainly made my heart big enough for it all. Practically speaking, however, it helps me to remember that the work of the day is all I need to worry about. By his strength, each day I can serve him well.
I appreciate your prayers and your words of wisdom. Now, may I be wise to put them into practice.....thus bearing much fruit for HIM....here and there.
Blessings,
Robbyn