BLOG IS UPDATED!!!

YEE HAW!!! The Blog is now FULLY UPDATED!!! I did back-date, so if you haven't been here recently... the check out all the new posts since Mid-November. All the posts since then are new. YIPPEE!!! Sorry for the delay... but it's all up now! :)

SMASH at SIAO!!

We had an AWESOME Privilege of going to SIAO after our Christmas Bash & Crash! Siao is a Boy's home an hour outside of Brasilia. It was Incredible!! We got to share our "Set Me Free" Drama and lots of Smiles!! We spent time playing with the kids and having a blast. They had a Christmas party and invited the kids from the Community!




Then... we brought presents to add to some of the presents collected for the BOYS to GIVE to the KIDS in the community!! How Incredible!!! It was the heart of the leaders to make sure the boys understood about GIVING, so the boys GAVE presents at Christmas! They have not always had this opportunity! That is what Christmas is ALL about!!

Christ'SMASH' BASH and CRASH!!

We had an Awesome time at that CHRIST"SMASH" Bash and Crash!! We had a "Traditional" White Elephant Gift Exchange, Snacks, Worship, and a Great Message! THEN... the "CRASHERS" stayed and had SOUTHERN STYLE CHILI DOGS! Yummy!! Then CRASHED!!









Here are a Few Pics from the Evening!

The Christmas Program!

We had the Christmas program again, of course! And this year, we took an old program that the school had done before. I re-vamped it a bit, and wrote in the "MEN IN BLACK" (See Pic!)... It turned out really good, and the parents enjoyed it!


Of course, just as any Christmas program, it was a lot of work. I edited and directed the Drama parts and most of the transition stuff. The teachers each coordinated their own costumes and choreography, which turned out to be GREAT!! And our Music teachers did the music.





Caleb got to be a "Santa's Helper" and Santa was played by... Well.... None other than MR FRYAR himself! He LOVED IT! The kindergarteners kept asking him "What did you ATE, Mr Fryar?" To which Chris would respond differently each time! :)

It really was a good show! ... In Fact... Our "Mom" character got FOOD POISONING on the DAY of the Performance! So... I had to step in, no one knew the whole thing quite like I did, so it made it pretty easy. I memorized the lines that afternoon... and added in a few lines for comic relief! :) :) It was great! :) We were still sorry that Nida couldn't be in it though...

Address Update

Some of you guys have been email about our Address. Although... I'm sure you guys are MUCH better than I right now, and probably have cards already sent... However, if there are any of you LIKE ME out there... Here is our Address, if you still need it! :)

SQS 109 Bloco D Apartmento 108
Brasília - DF, 70372-040 BRASIL

**by the way... I know I haven't updated this in a bit... and I WILL!! Very soon! My parents came for a visit, and then Major Christmas Program, and now FINALS! School is out on Friday... PRAISE THE LORD!!! And I will be able to Blog some updates then! :) Thanks for your patience! :)

Mom & Dad in Brasilia!

Mom and Dad had a good time in Brasilia... as far as I know!! :) We stayed really busy, but it was really nice to have more people to talk to! In fact, even though we are in an Apartment now.. it worked out really great! Everyone had their own room, and we put Caleb in the Office (instead of our room!!! :) :) :) ). It was a great time.





Here are some pics from a Churrasqueria. It's a place where they bring you Skewers of meat, and DON'T STOP.. THE WHOLE NIGHT!! It's so GOOD! If any of you know "Texas de Brazil" in the US... it's EXACTLY LIKE THAT. It's a Traditional way the Brasilians to BBQ! And it's AWESOME!! And actually INEXPENSIVE! Despite the pics looking like it would be a really pricey place.. it's not! And IT'S AWESOME!! Here are some Pics!


This is Dad "TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS!" HaHaHa! LOL!



Then we also went to the Cathedral. Although it was a cool, Rainy, overcast day... It was nice... Theologically Interesting... I'm Proud to say that MY HOPE rests on Jesus' RESURRECTION!! Not only the Birth and Crucifixion. I have no greater JOY than to say MY JESUS IS NO LONGER ON THE CROSS!!! He is RISEN...


There were 4 statues (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) - This one is of John.

SET ME FREE!!

Some of the SMASH Crew worked Hard on a Thanksgiving presentation/drama of the Song "SET ME FREE" by Casting Crowns. It was really great! Here are a few pics.








How AMAZING God is that has Loved us SO MUCH that HE CHOSE to SET US FREE from the Life we were destined for.... To Die for us.. so that we can LIVE!! AMAZING GRACE!!

My Parents Visiting & Thankgiving

We were so blessed again this year to have my parents come and visit us here in Brasil. Although we were incredibly busy and couldn't really spend a whole lot of time with them, it was nice to have them here. They spent time with Caleb and Mom taught and tutored at the school.

They brought with them 4 Suitcases full of supplies and things for the school! What a Blessing! Our medical supplies have been limited and expiring quickly. Many thanks to the Bible Church of Cabot for the donations that were sent with them.

These pics are from our Staff Thanksgiving dinner. What a great night! We all had wonderful Potluck food and TONS to eat! Then we sat around and worshipped (Thanks, Jonathan!) and shared our many Thanks for the year. It's wonderful to have a group of people that are committed to Praising God for all things.... THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY!!

And... since I have this great picture. I thought now would be a good time to talk about my friend Marie. She is such a great person!! She's very crafty and thoughtful! She is the Mom to 3 of our students, and her husband works with the State Department. She actually stepped in Last Year and worked the ENTIRE year teaching Kindergarten. She's always quick to help out ANYWHERE that is needed!! She and her husband have VOLUNTEERED to "BUS" our SMASH kids to and from SMASH on Friday's too!! (They do not have SMASH aged kids!!) Another example... She baked cookies for the ENTIRE STAFF... like 8 different kinds of cookies (even the HARD ONES!!) and made Christmas plates for us! She's so thoughtful! What a GREAT SERVANT!! I love her dearly! Thanks, Marie!

Our Tuesday Boyz!

Another little thing we do, is on Tuesday nights we have 3 brothers that come over and we work on homework and study for tests. While this sounds all official and everything... and it does help... we usually end up goofing off and playing around after we work.
Then we go get Pizza or something and hang out. Returning them back home around 8:30. It really has been a lot of fun, and we're working on the academic part... and that's coming around.

IN'TENTS' SMASH!!!

We came up with yet another great name and activity for SMASH - well.. Casey came up with it! We had a CAMPOUT one Friday night. We had an AWESOME SMASH Session, and we had one student SAVED!! Hallelujah!! AND... we had many games and lots of food, and great worship around the Campfire. Here are a few pics from SMASH Intents!
Our SMASH Song is on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfhwBNnzxD8
WHAT a GREAT weekend!!!

ALIEN ABDUCTION!!

One Sunday night, we participated.... ok... we LED... an ALIEN ABDUCTION!!
(Foreign Alien, that is!)



We gathered up 2 of our boys who were DYING to get out of the house... and since we didn't have any FORMAL Plans...



we just made it up as we went!



We kidnapped 2 students and 1 teacher!



Then... some folks got thrown in the lake...

and some other "General" Mischief!
It was SO MUCH FUN!!!

Who said entertainment had to COST something!!! :)

Happy Birthday Melinda

The Staff had a fun time celebrating Melinda's birthday. We went to a Brazilian Pizza place.
It's good... it's different... but it's good!
Here are a few pics from the night!!
We sang Happy Birthday REALLY REALLY LOUD in ENGLISH!!!
That's ALWAYS good for turning heads!! :)

Children's Day!

What a FUN and WONDERFUL Day!!

Here are a few pics. Children's Day is a Brazilian holiday.


The entire month of October is devoted to kids!! AND... our school always has a Children's Day event. It's like a Carnival type event and each class is responsible for setting up and running a game.

It's always so much fun!!