the bounty of 2013

post by ~ Brin

I am not one for resolutions but today I do feel motivated to catch you all up on our year.  A  2013 Year in Review blog to make up for all the unwritten blogs this past year.

Occurrences and accomplishment of the past year:

• Opened a B&B
• Dropped a lot of jelly
• Added 2 new words to our vernacular 
• Gabriella experienced her 15 minutes of celestial fame
• Had a run-in with a pirate

Josh and I woke up this morning after dropping my mom and dad off at the airport and remarked that today is the first day since June that we do not have a guest in our home. So, ok, we do not have a B&B, mostly because many of our visitors were given a hammock to sleep in and some cases, like Josh's dad, actually prepared the breakfast. It started in March with Josie (a "blind date" who made such a lovely guest that it makes couch surfing seem like a charming idea) who came for a week to help with a VBS at the school, Andrés for an overnight when he had a flight check, Allison (from Altamira) was in and out twice for a total of 5 weeks. A team of 13 people from our home church in Tremont, with Hillary, my brother-in-law Dave Hillrich and his son Caleb staying for some extra time. Josh's parent came and brought with them Abi (niece) and Sarah, a short-termer from St. Louis who, while she had her own little home, gracefully breezed through our house throughout the day as if she were family. Sonya came in October to hug her daughter, and Connie who won't be left out (she traveled internationally 3 times in one year, that I know of) made a second trip.  And we were so thankful to have Christmas with my mom and dad. That is a lot of visitors and I am not even mentioning the snakes, scorpions and spiders.  It suits us well, because as it turns out Josh and I both love to disciple/ be discipled in one-on-one relationships- just living life next to others and deepening our walk with our Savior at the same time encouraging those around us to do the same. And while our "missionary job titles" may say we are in aviation/health/teaching ministry, we sense God working through and in us encouragingly in our B&B guests.

That team from Tremont gave us new eyes to see what God has called us to, since after 8 years what really is extraordinary through the years have blurred to the norm. Amazon mud under their nails (as Hillary put it) bonds each of those participants to us in a profound way and also gently reminds us that, as our sending church, God has us in this together.  Also, they brought a whopping dose of fun and some new words that have stuck. They named the one air conditioned room in our community the "situation room", a vague if not prestigious term that allows innumerable excuses for one to visit that place.  And a Portuguese word was added too. This morning over the breakfast table we got a lesson from friends Márcio and Keila on the many ways we can use the Portuguese word "curtir,"which we noted after spending 3 days with them they use profusely. It could mean "enjoy" or "take advantage of (in a positive sense)" and it is also used on Facebook Brasil as their LIKE button. We are blessed to have a home church that continues to encourage God's work in the Amazon and a few brave ones to see it first hand. And I profoundly recognize it is God's provision to have many friends with such open, gracious hearts and simply are the type of people to use positive words. Curtir!

The guys just before running off to the Situation Room.

The month of May was notable for Gabriella where she became the shinning star of the family and therefore forgiven that she let the jungle take over her bedroom. She gave a co-salutatorian speech for her 8th grade graduation, and then days later was baptized by Josh in the Amazon River right in front of the school. Within days she and I boarded the Asas boat for a week of health ministry in a village upriver where we worked together in a makeshift pharmacy (see blog post here). 

And about that jelly. Maybe I have been prideful about my good health in the past. I have often remarked that my strong back, fear of precious little and quest for adventure makes me the ideal jungle missionary. I had to reflect on that when the first week of June I was befuddled with pain and swelling in my fingers. Besides the pain, I also had weakness that strangely seemed to evidence itself when I was taking jam out of the refrigerator. At least 3 jars were casualties of what I now believe is osteoarthritis, and unlike other things I rinsed after a fall, you can't risk spreading tiny shards of glass on your toast so it just gets pitched.  I have a very hard time doing tasks that require use of my fingers. Which is a lot, obviously. At the height of my pain and frustration who shows up but Jesus in the form of Hillary. I did not ask for her to come. I want to shout this; God alone knew my need! She was my hands at the sink and laundry line and a huge boost to my faith that God sees me. And He graciously maneuvers His children to meet whatever their need. 

We still live at a New Tribes school right on the banks of the Amazon river and each day Josh commutes by boat to the Asas de Socorro hangar. Our girls love their school to understate it and often their evening prayers reflect genuine gratitude that God brought us here. While Josh works under the float planes I work at the front of the classroom. I teach math and science to younger kids but what I have really gotten into is the 9/10 Biology; a fantastic topic paired with fantastic students. Gabriella being one of them. 

Ava, we notice, is growing up and thrives with all the social activities the school offers, including dressing up as a pirate for Class Unity Day. But wait up, there is a reason I mention pirates and the word risk comes to mind. A few days ago I was out in the jungle with mom (who matches my enthusiasm for jungle hikes!) when I stepped right on a snake. I would not have even known had my mom not started shrieking and I turned to see a snake chasing her! It slithered into the jungle and we commented that the beauty, tranquility and simplicity of my jungle life sometimes hides huge risks. As it turns out, the most dangerous animals are humans. Pirates wielding guns and hand grenades have recently begun (again) to terrorize our little segment of the river keeping villagers in the area rather wary of traveling after sundown. Amongst teammates Josh asked a silly question about a guy murdered and his boat heisted a few weeks ago; "Did the police do anything?" "Pffffft," Joel responded; meaning the river is too big, the police resources too weak and the pirates too desperate and violent.  This is notable for us because Josh has recently traveled at least 4 times after sundown, in fact just last night.  We know it is a risk and we give our concerns to God, and when we arrived back home this morning (a different) Joel says, "Welcome back, we prayed for you last night." Our hearts are at peace and we try to live our lives demonstrating trust in God.

Josh sealing the inside of the wing
fuel tank after a leak was found.

The hangar where Josh works was consumed with inspections and painting a Cessna 172.  The average age of our fleet of Cessna 206 aircraft is about 33 years old.  While this is not necessarily old for an airplane, they were not built to be flown this long and require continual upkeep.  The manufacturer is now requiring a more thorough inspection (requiring major disassembly) that must be done before the end of the year. This year the guys performed 3 of these inspections.  Planning at the beginning of last year revealed that they would just have enough time to complete all of these projects. Due to unforeseen repairs the year ended and a couple of the planes still need work.

So reflecting on these things, what should I leave you with? I encourage you to bring your needs/hopes/dreams to God first and let Him rock your world.  Ask God to maneuver you so you can experience being His hands. Live life alongside others such that discipleship occurs naturally, and take a risk that forces reliance on God. I seriously pray one of these things resonates with someone reading this today.

Plans for the year ahead..... We get to see precious faces soon. Next week Cleny, Allison and Cleide and Clyde and Kelsie are meeting us halfway in a little corner of the Amazon called Alter do Chão.   Oooooh my heart just leaps! And in July we furlough in the US and have our "longing killed", as they say in Brazil. But as I write that I admit, us humans make our plans, but it is God who has the last word. Amen to that. 

Prayers:

• We are Senior Class Sponsors this year. Responsible for encouraging them, helping them fundraise (among tight-budgeted missionaries...not easy) and chaperoning their Senior Sneak. Also, weekly I am responsible for a spike in their glucose levels during their weekly meeting in our home.
• We lead a group of high school students in a bi-monthly outreach to kids in a nearby community.  Please pray that we are able to communicate the love of our Father to the kids and that our students understand His love for the lost. 
• As was mentioned, January will be a busy month as Josh and his co-workers wrap up inspections and repairs on two planes.  Pray that the parts arrive and the repairs are able to be finished soon.

Seniors discussing class motto, tortilla making, school t-shirts and giving the one student who always talks about fishing a hard time.

That is Gabriella and Abi playing games and ministering to some kids in a community upriver.

And while I have you here, I want to express our family's gratitude for many of you who have come alongside us in ministry. Maybe you visited, maybe you sent peanut butter along with those that visited, or medical supplies or aviation tools or kind notes. And many of you pray diligently. We thank God for you.

Aviation Ministry

The hangar this past year was consumed with inspections and painting a Cessna 172.  The average age of our fleet of Cessna 206 aircraft is about 33 years old.  While this is not necessarily old for an airplane, they were not built to be flown this long and require solid upkeep.  The manufacturer is now requiring a more thorough inspection (requiring major disassembly) that must be done before the end of the year. This year we performed 3 of these inspections.  Planning at the beginning of last year revealed that we would just have enough time to complete all of these projects. Due to unforeseen repairs the year ended and a couple of the planes still need work.

Unfortunately, sometimes unexpected surprises throw a wrench in our plans.  This time the wrench came in the form of a leaking fuel tank, requiring that we dismount a wing and reseal the fuel tank.  As a result, we have two airplanes that still need a significant amount of work.  We are hoping to get one of them flying by the end of January.

Josh and Joel referring to a manual while Victor works on the engine of one of our Cessna 206s.

Josh sealing the inside of the wing fuel tank after a leak was found.

Student Ministry

One of the benefits of living at an international school is the opportunity we have to get to know the students...

We were asked to be the senior class sponsors, we have enjoyed getting to know the 7 seniors that will be graduating this fall.  Some of you may have already contributed to some of our fundraising events that raises money for the much talked about "Senior Sneak", when the seniors (with their sponsors!), secretly leave on their senior trip. 

Twice a month we lead a group of 5 high school students to a needy community where we have a sunday school program for the local kids.  With our school being so secluded it is easy for the students (and us) to forget about our neighbors.  These outreach opportunities give the students a vision beyond the jungle walls of our school.

Brin stayed busy this past year as school nurse doling out medicine, giving medical advice and performing the occasional wound care.  This procedure done on a student quickly turned into a learning experience for his curious classmats.