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