Brazil, Here We Come!

We finally got our visas! We are so excited that we are going to be on our way to Brazil on the 18th! We found out yesterday that our visas were approved, and we obviously had mixed emotions. Our first thought was mere excitement! We have been longing for this moment, praying for this moment, and anxiously awaiting this moment. After we had our moments of smiling from ear to ear, reality started sinking in. I know this journey started several months ago, but now we are so close to making our move to Brazil. Of course I started freaking out a little, realizing everything we have to get done in just a short week and a half. We have to finish packing, buy some last minute things we want to take (like Peanut butter and Dr. Pepper), say more goodbyes, and everything else that comes with moving to a different country!

We ask that you continue to pray for us as we continue in this journey, and all of our stress. I also ask that you pray for Chad and Micah Baker (the other couple going with us) and their visa process. They are supposed to leave the same date as us, and they have still not received their visas. Thank you all so much for your support, prayers, and love thus far in our journey! GOD IS GOOD!

-Kelci

You've Got A Friend In Me

Kelci recently saw the newest Disney movie, Frozen. She liked it...said it was good. However, she did say that for her it wasn't a Disney Classic. We began discussing some of the Disney Classics and some of the obvious ones came up: The Lion King, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, and of course Toy Story! There were many more. But for me, those ones are special. They are the Disney Classics I grew up on, loved as a child and still love to this day. 

For the movie Toy Story the song "You've Got A Friend In Me" was written by Randy Newman. This song is just real good. It might even be a song that emotionally stirs you in the right context. I have no shame in admitting that I have this song on my iPod and listen to it regularly. I would recommend you getting it too, it is just a perfect song. Here are the lyrics to the song. But go find it on YouTube or something and give it a listen.

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

When the road looks rough ahead

And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed

You just remember what your old pal said

Boy, you've got a friend in me

Yeah, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

You've got troubles, I've got 'em too

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you

We stick together and can see it through

Cause you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be

A little bit smarter than I am

Bigger and stronger too

Maybe

But none of them will ever love you

The way I do, it's me and you boy

And as the years go by

Our friendship will never die

You're gonna see it's our destiny

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me 

Kelci and I are blessed to have some really good friends (and that includes our family). A week or so ago, some of our friends put on a going away party for us. It was the last time that we were going to be in Edmond and it was so good to get together and feel our friends' love, encouragement and support. It means the world to us to know that our friends are behind us in this new journey of our life. There is no way we could be embarking on this new chapter without you and we hope you know that.

We hope that you are as blessed as us by the friendships you have. This song has been coming to my mind over the past couple weeks because it really does hit home for us right now. I cannot stress enough how important our friends are to us. We may be miles and miles away from you...but we KNOW that we have a friend in all of you. We KNOW that you all are praying for us and thinking about us. We KNOW who we can call on when things get rough. We KNOW you would do anything for us. And we KNOW that our friendship will never die. We love you all! Thanks so much for blessing us with your relationships. We can only hope and pray that we find friends as special as you in Brazil.

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." - Thomas Aquinas

- Kelly and Kelci

Those Pesky Visas

We are drawing ever closer to our February 18th flight date. A little more than a month from now, we hope to be on an American Airline Flight from Dallas to Rio. Things are about to get crazy. We are spending some time with a couple churches that are supporting us over the next couple weeks and then will be heading to Colorado one last time to be with my family. We are looking forward to that.

This morning, however, we wanted to ask for your prayers. We have made our flights as I mentioned above. We are very close on our funding for 2014. One last thing remains...those pesky visas! The visa process for Brazil is tricky. We had no problem getting our tourist visas last year when we visited. But it is a totally different ball game when applying for a long-term visa. Our prayer is that we get our visas before February 10th. If we do not have our visas by then, we will be forced to discuss moving our relocation date and we REALLY do not want to move our date back again. I could go into how the Visa process works, but it will most likely just confuse you more. Just know that it is tricky and stressful. (To shed some light on its craziness...I had to create a Minister Ordination Certificate, have it signed by the elders at Park Plaza and turn it in with my application.)

So...please pray for a few things. Pray that we do in fact get our visas by February 10th. Pray that we do not have to move our date back again. Pray for the man who will be looking over our visa application and that his heart is softened towards us and our application. We could not be going to Brazil or be where we are now without your prayers, so thank you! We appreciate every one of you.

-Kelly and Kelci

Patience is a Virtue

Well I hope that you had a good Christmas and are getting primed for the New Year. Maybe you are having a party tomorrow night to celebrate the New Year or maybe you will be in bed at 930pm and won't feel a difference on Wednesday, January 1st. If you know Kelci and I at all (especially me probably), you know that we will be up late tomorrow celebrating the New Year. I don't see myself ever being the "in bed before midnight on New Years Eve" type of person. But only time will tell I guess.

My mom has always said that patience is not a virtue she owns. She quite possibly hates to wait more than any other human being I know. I wouldn't say that I hate waiting quite as much as her. I was given a little more patience than she will ever have probably. However, I do not enjoy waiting either. I don't like waiting in lines at amusement parks. I don't like waiting in lines at the bank (I rarely go to the bank anymore, however). I don't like waiting on Kelci to get ready, though she usually is pretty much ready when I am. And I especially do not like waiting on red lights; red arrows particularly. Most red arrows are unnecessary in my opinion...but that's for another day. Waiting is a part of life and as Tom Petty says in one of his songs: (who I saw in concert at Red Rocks on my 14th birthday, it was awesome!)...Waiting is the Hardest Part. 

Kelci and I are at a time in our life when waiting is all we can really do. We are waiting to leave for Brazil and we really cannot do anything about it. Our current departure date is February 18th, meaning that we have 49 days until we leave. All we can do is wait. In the mean time, we are waiting to hear back on our Visas. We cannot do anything to help speed the process along. Again, all we can do is wait. We have had to wait on churches getting back to us at times. We have had to wait on support answers. We have had to wait more than we would like to throughout this whole process and it has been frustrating at times. However, I am beginning to believe that all this waiting is simply God preparing us.

Last February, Kelci and I visited Brazil, the church we are going to work with and the team we will be joining. It was a great experience (obviously)! We were told numerous times that people in Brazil move at their own pace. It is just a cultural thing. They are not nearly as concerned about time or pace. We experienced this right away when we arrived at the airport in Rio. We met up with Brent, who was picking us up from the airport and he kindly offered to get us a drink. He ordered 4 drinks at a little shop; 1 bottled water, 2 soft drinks and an orange juice I believe. That would probably take about 30 seconds to purchase and walk away with here in the states. However, we waited for about 5 minutes before Brent was able to pay (there was no line). It was our first cultural experience in Brazil and these types of things occurred semi-often throughout the trip. This may kill my mom when she comes to visit us. We have been told that we can expect to wait much more in Brazil. We've been told that waiting in line at the bank (which I have to go to there) can take an hour or more. People just wait more there. We better get used to it.

If we could be in Brazil this week, we would be ecstatic. We are just ready to get there and begin our work there. However, we are having to be patient and we are trying to see it as a blessing. We are using this time to spend with family and friends. We are using this time to prepare ourselves more for the work and for the culture and for the language. We are using this time to prepare ourselves to wait...and wait...and wait some more while living in Brazil. I think God is using this time of waiting to prepare us. To prepare us for His work there. To prepare us to be content with the time we are given. To prepare us to be more patient. And to prepare us to be better about how we use the time spent waiting. I know they'll be moments of frustration while in Brazil...but this time of waiting now just may be a blessing in the future. After all, patience is a virtue.

"Therefore, as God's chose people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Col. 3:12

Thank you for your continued prayers and support! We couldn't do this without your prayers, support and encouragement!

--Kelly and Kelci

There's No Place Like Home

Last weekend we were in Edmond, OK for Kelci’s grandparents’ 70^th anniversary! What a special occasion it was. We were able to see some of her family that we had not seen in a while. I met some of her family that I had never met. It truly was an unforgettable occasion and one that I am sure we will all hold close to our hearts for a long time.

While we were in Edmond, we stayed with some friends who have a new house near our most recent home. We also spent quite a bit of time at Kelci’s Aunt and Uncle’s house, which is also very close to our most recent home in Edmond. On Thursday night we drove into town and when we passed our old apartment complex (it was cold and snowy at the time as well), Kelci said, “sometimes I miss just being home, cuddling up with Peyton (our dog), and watching a movie with you.” This was partially the cold weather talking…I mean who doesn’t want to sit at home and do nothing when it is cold and snowy out. However, she also said this out of our desire to be home.

When we left Edmond in September, we moved to Tulsa and in with Kelci’s parents. If you know my in-laws at all…you know that I am extremely blessed and have quite possibly the best in-laws in the world. Home was in Tulsa then. After staying there for a few weeks, we moved to the Dallas area to begin training and have stayed with one of our friend’s parents here (The Durrills) and they have been so welcoming and gracious. Home was in Highland Village with the Durrills then. We have lived in Tulsa, Dallas, Tulsa again, Denver, Edmond, Dallas again and we are going back to Tulsa this weekend after spending a night in Edmond…again. And then, of course as you most likely know by now…we move to Niteroi in about 6 weeks (Lord willing…say a quick prayer over the visa process now please!). So needless to say home is kind of all over the place right now.

I do not write about this to receive pity or sympathy or anything like that. We knew this is how it was going to be when we committed to this and we are still very excited! I simply write this to remind us all (and especially Kelci and I) of a few things.

• First, home is important. We all need a place where we feel safe, loved, secure, wanted, and simply at home. That place may be a certain location, city or house…but most likely it is people that make home for you. My mom moved to a townhouse after I moved to college and though I never lived in that house for longer than a month or so…it felt like home before I got married because that is where my mom was.

• Second, there are many people who do not a have a home. There are people who do not have physical homes and it is our responsibility as disciples to see those “who are strangers and invite them in (Matt 25:35).” Look for opportunities to do so. However, there are also those who do not have emotional homes. Look for these people and do everything you can to bring home to them. It could be a kind word, a meal, safety or many other things. But look to fulfill those needs. I will never again take for granted the physical roof over my head, but maybe more importantly, the family, safety and emotional home that I have had throughout my life.

• Lastly and perhaps most importantly, “this world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through.” Maybe you know the song. This life is temporary. Lets not get too comfortable. Kelci and I are super tired of living out of a suitcase; however, it is been a reminder to us that this world is not our ultimate home. God has a much better place prepared for us that is truly home.

Like I said above, we have about 6 weeks before we leave for Brazil (that’s the plan at least). Our prayer and desire is to bring more people into God’s home of heaven. We are so very ready to be in Brazil and to start our new home there. Niteroi will very obviously be our mission point. Mission happens wherever your home is. It starts with your family and friends and continues to your workplace, neighborhood, supermarket, gym and wherever else you may call home.

Thank you for your prayers and Vá Com Deus!

-- Kelly and Kelci

Love and Encouragement

This week, Kelci and I met with a minister in Flower Mound, TX to discuss our move and mission to Niteroi, Brazil. We were discussing missions in general, the missions that the congregation he works for are a part of, and obviously Niteroi and how we hoped they could partner with us in it. Both in prayer and financially. I don't know if that congregation will choose to financially support us or not. But the time, encouragement and prayer we received from that minister is already enough. We were blessed that day.

This is the Christ Statue from Rio de Janeiro. 

Jesus is actually looking across the bay at 

Niteroi, Brazil where we will be living. 

A current team member said that they joke 

that Jesus has His back to Rio, but his arms open 

to Niteroi.

About a month ago I called an elder at a congregation in the Oklahoma City area where a friend of mine is a youth minister. We discussed the missions program at the congregation, how Kelci and I got involved with missions (and specifically in Brazil), and pretty much every topic that has to do with missions (from funding to mission models to local missions, etc.). I was on the phone for about 40 minutes and in that time, this elder decided to pray for me over the phone. Again, I don't know if that congregation will choose to support us financially or not, but we have already felt the love and encouragement from them through that elder. 

Last weekend, we traveled the 3 hours (I probably sped a bit to make it in that time) from Dallas to OKC for our alma mater's homecoming. We have always attended homecoming and it was so good to see people we had not in a while and to catch up with old friends. This one was particularly special for us, as we knew it might be the last one we attend for a few years. We saw so many people that we love and hold dear to our hearts and everyone of them (whether they knew about God's upcoming plans for us or not) encouraged us with their words and love. Often, we would discuss our plans to move in January and every time we were met with an encouraging statement or a request to send them something so they could support us. It was awesome and it reminded us that #OCisHome (that's their current tag line, a pretty good one too I believe).

Finally, a few weeks ago we received a check in the mail. This has been somewhat common lately as we have spoken with many churches and individuals about supporting us and the mission in Niteroi. However, this was different. It was from a name that we did not recognize right away. It was from a place that we hadn't remembered visited. Kelci's brother texted us about it and and we told him to open it up. Inside was a support check for us with a very encouraging note. Right away, we thought about how God is good and how the church he established is beautiful. 

With learning Portuguese, training in Dallas (and therefore dealing with traffic on a daily basis), raising funds, trying to obtain our temporary visas, and the common daily pressure of life...we have found ourselves a little stressed at times. However, through it all...through everything...through every step of the way dating back to January when we told our parents that we were considering mission work in Brazil...a day has not gone by that we were not loved and encouraged by someone.

It has been such a blessing to feel that love and encouragement from God's people throughout this entire process. I sit here thinking of all the times that someone has prayed for us in person or told us that we were in their prayers or gave us a check or simply listened to us or told us how good they think we will do or whatever it may have been...we have felt the love of God through His people. We want to thank you all. If you are reading this, you're encouraging us and we thank you. We would not be doing this, if it were not for people like you.

We still have a long way to go before set off for Brazil. There is a lot to be done and accomplished yet...however it is such a blessing to know that we have you all on our side and that you are praying for us, supporting us, and that you love us. Never under-estimate the power of encouragement and love. Encourage and love someone today.

"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11

- Obrigado! Kelly and Kelci

Searching For Clarity

We all want clarity.

It is something that we all desire and that we all search for. We want clarity in our jobs, in our finances, in our schedules, with people and yes...in our spiritual lives. Kelci and I were having brunch after church this morning and we talked about how we wished that we had a little more clarity with everything right now. If you are reading this...you probably know that it is our plan to move to Niteroi, Brazil in January. As we plan for that, clarity is simply something that we have had to sacrifice. We are currently living with some people that we know near Dallas, Texas. However, we do not have clarity in our living situation. We are here and there and all over the place. And when we arrive in Brazil, we will not know where we are living for about a month. We are still raising funds for the work and for our livelihood while we are in Niteroi. Raising money is difficult and trying. The lack of clarity, however, is perhaps the most difficult part. We are also striving to learn as much Portuguese as we can before traveling to Brazil and though it is going well, it is frustrating at times. We eagerly await the moment that we have a clearer vision and understanding of this new language.

I know that in your life as well, you search for and desire clarity. What we all must realize is that we find our clarity in Jesus. It is through Him that peace in difficult situations is found. It is through Him that understanding surpasses complication and confusion. It is through Him that clarity is found and our desires our met.

We will be praying for clarity this week in our travels and in our upcoming plans. We invite you to join us in prayer as we all search for clarity in our lives.

Obrigado e que Deus abençoe! (Thank you and God bless!)
Kelly and Kelci