circumstances

While Josh has been plugging away at the hangar with enthusiasm, I (Brin) have mostly been at home, plugging away with homeschool, sports lessons, various events with Asas, but with less enthusiasm.   How I might wish life to be isn't matching up with how it really is, I murmured to myself about 5 months ago. Can't we all say this at some time or another? This incongruity prompts, and some days forces me to ask God what should be different. Do I press on, essentially ignoring that little alarm bell in my heart or do I consider that burden to do something different a trigger from God? I left myself open to both possibilities and told God I am up for whatever, I just want to see His hand in it.  I wanted to lose that nagging suspicion that all was not right. And as often occurs,  the circumstances in life impart evidence of divine providence. If we are sensitive to them.

Homeschooling is going great most days, and I really like it. And I like our home and it's proximity to little neighborhood stores and to the community center where we spend a lot of time. Other things though, have been rather trying. Our house is small and situated on a tiny lot that has no yard, in a neighborhood where it is not safe, we've discovered recently, for the girls to have liberty to play on the streets as they did in earlier months.  Our neighborhood has seen a rash of home burglaries (including our own).  Gabriella has had difficulty meeting and maintaining friendships as we often live far away from the people we minister with. For a 13 year old girl, this is a significant problem. And I empathize; in many ways her own hurts mirroring my own. 

So, this all culminates with a superbly providential and timely visit to a New Tribes Mission boarding school where we went to see an Asas teammate (Andrés) play soccer against their team. The school (which goes by the name Puraquequara, or PQQ) was peaceful, safe, and simple. We watched the children running about barefoot, climbing trees, catching tarantulas and finishing out the afternoon with a dip in the Amazon. I fell in love. So did Gabriella. Another Asas family is already living there and it sparked the possibility of our family doing the same. And as it turns out, they have a house available and a need for a teacher/nurse/coach/whatever you can offer. Well, that could be me! So we prayed and some of you all prayed. And as my desperation grew for a new change, my prayers corresponded. We took slow steps to find out if it was even a possibility and then got approval from Asas leadership. Finally, after several months of waiting, we have been accepted. I am so thankful for God bring it about, I could not have dreamed up something better myself.

The school is only accessible by boat and only has electricity (from a generator) from 7am-9:30pm. About 8 families live on campus with about 25 students, but I am just guessing.  I will give more details about the school later, but I will answer a few questions that I know are coming. 

Q: When will you move? Which will also answer another question, what will Cleny do?

A: Josh and I made a commitment to support Cleny while she goes to school. We are celebrating with Cleny as she has finished her course and awaiting her diploma.  She plans on returning to Altamira as soon as she can.  She plans on pursuing a job in a dentist's office and also is in the midst of making plans for her wedding.  It looks like our move date will be Dec. 19th.

Q: How will this affect your work with Asas de Socorro?

Good question. It will affect it in some ways. The Asas hangar is across the river and upstream a bit from the New Tribes school. From where we live now, Josh has a 30 minute motorcycle ride in congested traffic to get to the hangar. From the school he would have a 25 minute boat ride. Not a bad way to commute to work, so long as it is not raining. It will be more difficult to attend bimonthly meetings in the city but we are sincerely committed to Asas and will make it a priority to attend all that we can. I have committed to work in the medication room at Asas one day a week, likely that will continue and I will just ride into work with Josh.

It is really a boost to have this possibility in front of us. My friend Chelsea, and a frequent character of this blog in it's early years, had given me some notes that were artfully adorned with verses. They are pretty and inspiring and so they find their way to my mirrors or walls, but one in particular has ministered profoundly.

So, while we are sitting in anticipation, hope and astounded at God's provision, we recognize we only have  a few weeks to pack up our belongs and prepare for another move.

In this photo you can see the city of Manaus (pop. 1.5 mil) in relation to the hangar, where Josh works everyday and the boarding school (PQQ)

Instead of a 35 minute, traffic-congested commute, Josh will have about a 25 minute boat ride from the school to the hangar.

The school is situated on the banks of the Amazon River, isolated by water and jungle.  Josh took this picture from a plane a few days ago.