Ramblings...

It's so hard to say Goodbye... But I think that Chris and I have gotten relatively accustomed to it. I was doing so good, UNTIL... at the airport, Marie gave me a Scrapbook that she and others had made! Each page was an Awesome Note and pictures and memories... So Precious to me!! Caleb even got one from Kaylee, with all of their pictures together in it. He combed through each page as if he was scanning each square millimeter for reprinting. We left a place we cherish and a place that has DEFINED us for the past 3 years. 3 years... seems like a small number. 1095 days... minus the summers... I am NOT going to actually calculate every day... but that does seem to make it seem a bit more significant. We feel as if to so many people, we were gone but a blink... a short whisper. And I guess it would.
But I feel like I could re-live each day, in full color, Like the first girls' sleepover. I was nervous, I asked Laura to stay with me, because I didn't know the girls SUPER well, as we'd only been in Brasilia for 6 weeks. I had planned every hour, with back up plans too.... But it totally didn't matter... we laughed, talked, goofed off, played a couple of games, watched a movie, then when it was about bed time... we SWAM in our clothes at 2 AM!! The neighbors even referenced the late Hour the next Sunday at church!! LOL!! But... what I hadn't prepared for... was the morning! I just KNEW the girls would sleep in!! Right?!?! NOPE... they were up at 7am (after sleeping only 3 hours) and wondering what the day had in store!! We ended up at the Amusement park for a few hours of fun... before all of us folded in dehydration at 4pm!! I still remember that MASSIVE headache from no sleep, little fluids, and being spun in every rotational direction possible!!! Ahh... sweet memories! I remember Chris's first guys sleepover too! So many memories... so many kids. I wish there was a way to actually COUNT the number of kids who have been in our house! Or... even more so... RIDDEN in our CAR!! *We've always packed them in at least 2 deep in the back seat with Caleb on top! Often having at least one on the armrest in the front, or (if a girl) on my lap! *I'm secretly hoping whoever is thinking of buying our car isn't reading this post!!!* My sweet Pandu named our car "The Ghetto Mobile!" *In a GOOD Way!* I still remember how to get to EACH and EVERY kid's house! I can even quote most of their cell numbers, even though they were all programmed in my phone. Most would call collect, as they NEVER had credits! ... so many memories... I'll miss their hugs. and smiles. and laughter. I know that the Lord has AWESOME plans for each of them... I know HE loves them even more than Chris or I do! That is Incredibly Reassuring!!

My prayer for them is... ick... so many of them. How do I narrow my prayers, hopes, and greatest desires for their lives?? TO BE FULLY DEVOTED TO HIM! ... AND ... each of them has such a special place in my heart... each of them has unique gifts, and unique promise, and unique beauty.

I guess if I had to BLANKET statement all of them, I'd put them under the blankets of the Key Verses we used for the past 3 retreats... that would be a Start, I guess.

Ephesians 6: 10 - 14 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to Stand Your Ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Hebrews 4: 14 - 16 - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, Let Us Hold Firmly (to The ROCK) to the faith we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Proverbs 4: 20 - 27 - Above all else, Guard Your Heart (Bulletproof), for it is the wellspring of life.

Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born,

to us a Son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Goodbye's

Yuck! Goodbye's are NOT fun.... Not at all. I don't like them, I don't like them Sam-I-Am!

We've had to spend the last couple of weeks saying Goodbye! Goodbye to our Kids that we love.... Goodbye to the Church that we love... Goodbye to the School that we have served in diligently for 3 years... Goodbye to Great Friends that seem more like Family... Goodbye to places that have deep meaning and memories... Goodbye to a lifestyle...

Thankfully we are NOT saying Goodbye to our Memories, to our Hearts, or to our Fond Thoughts of this incredible Country. We are saying GOODBYE only in a physical sense, but certainly not in an emotional sense.

We know that we carry with us small parts of the dear students that we have poured our lives into... and we know that we leave small parts of our hearts in them.

Goodbyes are not fun. But the Lord has Equipped us to transition well, and to "GO FORTH"... right now... that "GO FORTH" means returning back home. We know that the Lord will "SEND US OUT" again... in some way... some where.

But for now... we rest in EAGER ANTICIPATION of what Awaits us... He has never failed us, left us, abandoned us, or lead us to danger. Instead... He has lead us to places of greater growth, greater ministry, and to greater knowledge and relationship with Him. *What better place to be?!?!*

We know, FULL HEARTEDLY, that He is leading us home... and that HE has already PREPARED a way.

We are called to TRUST. We are called to OBEY. We are called to ABIDE.

... and so we shall ...

UPDATE!!!!!

Well... This note has been a while coming, and a bit overdue. However, wanted to inform you guys that do not receive our emails that

*We will be HOME for Christmas*

..and it is *NOT* for ONLY a VISIT... but for GOOD (or as long as the Lord allows).

My Mom has been diagnosed with Cancer. She has gone through all the staging processes and has began chemo. As many of you know, I have been an Oncology nurse since 2001, before taking a pause to come and Teach here in Brasilia for the past 3 years. Because of my background, and because the Lord has really laid it on us.... we need to be home. *Now*

It will not be easy... NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION... As we have Poured our lives into our kids here, the school, the church, our ministries. We have worked harder, slept LESS, done more than we have EVER done in our lives AND certainly more than we had ever thought Possible... for the Glory of Christ alone.

We have learned so much about Who God is. He has been so incredible to show us more of HIMSELF over the past 3 years.

Leaving will bring SO MANY tears... and we know the Adjustment back to the States will be difficult. We LOVE OUR KIDS!!! We Love them so much.... we have seen them grow, fall, struggle, TRIUMPH, get frustrated, and have Great Hope! ALL Facets of the Teenage experience. We feel like we have "GROWN" with them. The Memories we have, we will cherish for Days, Months, and YEARS!

The INCREDIBLE thing is that we KNOW that many of these kids, while we will not see them here on Earth again... we *WILL* see again in Heaven!!! And... for the Lord to allow us the precious experience of being a part of what HE DID in their lives is beyond our human comprehension.

Please pray for us as we try very hard to FINISH WELL. Please pray for our kids. Please pray for OUR HEARTS! Please pray for us Financially, as well, as we START OVER! We have NOTHING in the States. My Dad will allow us to borrow a car, but literally... we have nothing... well, Ok... we actually did save a Christmas tree! LOL! Pray for safe travel. We fly out of here Christmas Day at 11pm.

Thank you for your Prayers. Thank you for your Support!!

~Beverly - for the Fryar Family!

CHRIST"Smash" BASH

The Christ'Smash' Bash was an AWESOME Event!!

Lots of kids came out for Incredible Food, Fun & Exciting Games, and to hear the "REAL" Meaning of Christmas in some different and unique ways.

For we know that without CHRIST, Christmas is just a pointless holiday... but WITH CHRIST at the CENTER... Christmas becomes an incredible event and time in which to Celebrate, Worship, and GLORIFY the LORD for His Awesome Sacrifical Gift... HIS SON! Who would bring about the SALVATION of the World.

Here are a few pics from the night! :)