Step by Step

We just got home last night from a wonderful time at our annual family camp during the "carnaval" days here in Brazil.

We were really blessed during the four days we camped together with other believers. It really was a sweet, sweet time of amazing preaching, fellowship, fun and great food. We came home with our hearts overflowing with gratefulness for the work the Lord did in the hearts of many. 

I had the privilege of teaching the adolescent girls this year. Two of them got saved during these days at camp. What a blessing it is to see people saved and Christians choosing to walk with Jesus... our theme this year was "Step by Step with Jesus".

We were reminded that we can WALK with God and still not be CLOSE to him! We're just rejoicing and praying that we will continue to walk closely....step by step with Jesus.

We're a happy, yet tired bunch. This week's agenda is mostly filled with a mountain of laundry and housework to catch up on...
It's so wonderful to serve Jesus!

I (heart) Fridays...

Fridays have to be one of my favorite days....I love the thought that the weekend is right around the corner and I get to spend some time with the awesome hubby!!!

The week has just zooommmmeeeddd by so fast...Feels like I blinked and it is Friday already..
It's been another busy, busy week...life just doesn't seem to ever slow down

The little prince turned 17 months old on Tuesday and It's so hard for me to believe it! Someone recently asked me something about him when he was a baby, and I seriously could not remember for the life of me...sure made me sad...it's just going toooo fast...and if I can't remember a year later, imagine 20 or 30 years down the road?!?! So sad :(
He's into an unbelievable amount of energy, messing-in-everything kind of fase....keeps mommy always busy and entertained. He babbles and talks a lot...he's started saying phrases now, and I really can't believe how fast he's grown!!!

Isn't he CUTE?!?! (Swoon)


oh come on, I'm not biased, am I??!?!

Changing gears now,
We're trying to get ready for a baby shower tomorrow afternoon, so that has given us a lot of little things to plan and get ready...
Sunday is Father's Day here in Brazil, so we're getting ready for that too...I spent a long time getting together a craft for my Sunday school kiddies to make for the daddas ...it turned out super cute..

 See for yourselves....

Adorable, isn't it?!?!?! I think the kiddos will have fun with it!

So looks like we're going to have another busy and sweltering weekend...I'm melting here!!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

A little about my Sunday

Sundays are always a busy day around here.

You see, I'm a Sunday school teacher...I have the little's class.... I have to say, it's nothing like I expected it to be, and it's challenging, but I love every one of the little ones in my class, and teaching them has definitely taught me a lot.

We have anywhere around 10-15 kids depending on the Sunday. I have some awesome helpers...including my amazing hubby! He's just so good with kids! He teaches once in a while to give me a break...and he's really good!

I have the cutest class in the world :) These kids are just way too cute for their own good...and some of them know it (grin)...they sure know how to make a teacher's heart melt!

It's been a blessing and a privilege to teach these little kids and at the same time a huge challenge. Their attention span is very, very limited, so I have to make the stories very simple, short, and sweet!
Would I like to change my "job" on Sunday's??? Absolutely not!!!
Miss all the smiles? The fun and happy chatter? The beautiful singing? Cuddles and sitting on my lap?
Nope...I don't want to miss any of it...
Truth is, I've fallen in love with these kids....but shhhhhh, don't tell them that :) 

Is it Friday yet?!?!

Vacation Bible School is in full steam...and we're starting to feel it!
Don't get me wrong, I love working with kids and it's such a fun and rewarding job, but it's tiring too! I'm definitely ready for some rest :)

Things are going great, though! We have an amazing team who've been such a blessing and huuuggeee help.
We've been having about 60-70 kids come every day. They are so excited about all the prizes and it's been fun to see them memorizing verses to win some goodies that came all the way from the US.

I've been amazed at how they sit quietly through the lesson! Well, at least most of them do ;)

The group of kids who came to VBS yesterday!

Our amazing workers..(minus one who was sick.)

And like I said, our workers are great. They've been such a big help and we're so thankful for them and for the time they've sacrificed to help out, whether helping keep the kids quiet, handing our papers, cleaning the church and the bathrooms, they've been great and I'm so proud of them!

It's been a fun week...I can't wait to see the fruits of this. I am getting ready for a full Sunday school class this Sunday!!  Thank-you all who have been in prayer for us during this week. Your prayers have been fully appreciated!


You can read more about our VBS week here and here.

VBS week

Yesterday was our first day of Vacation Bible School at church. We had a little over 60 kids come. It was very good, and they were amazingly well behaved! It was fun being able to participate and see their excitement over the prizes and competitions! I am really looking forward to seeing how many will show up today and how it goes.

Our theme is "Running the Race of Life".

The "finish" line ..

The kids coloring and working on their activity book.

Coloring

This little guy was so excited to show me his paper :)

Please pray with us that we will be able to reach many children and their families through this ministry!
We're looking forward to an excellent week at church!!!

The Elephant Party

On October 12th, Brazil celebrates Kid's Day. We decided to have a special afternoon for the kids from church on the 16th. Mom and I spent many hours preparing things for this event. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it. I heard some kids are still talking about it :) We called it the "Elephant Party". Mom prepared a cute lesson about elephants and what we can learn from them. We made these cute elephant craft (pictured above) for the kids to take home.

Lucas, a young man from church, dressed as a clown. The kids really enjoyed that! Here is a picture of Lucas & myself ;)

Kids coming in for the party

We rented out a trampoline and they were thrilled to be able to jump. There was also all you could eat cotton-candy ;)

Our elephant ( a.k.a Jeremy Lockhart and my brother, Jedidiah)

Special puppet presentation...

Game time with water ballons!

Daddy and Josh on the trampoline for the first time! (It was the first time for both of them :) They really enjoyed it!

A good time was had by all! It was fun watching the kids enjoy themselves! Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

                                                                Have a blessed day!

                                                                      Jessica

Sunday school

I have been working on Sunday school stuff this week. Here is the final result. I get to teach the pre-schoolers and I am so excited about it! Please pray that the Lord will give me the wisdom to teach! Thank-you!

Flowers with the girls names and birds with the boys!

Their memory verse posters

Our sunday school room all ready for sunday!!!!!!!!!

Jessica

Boys will be boys...

I couldn't help but smile when I saw this scene! Look who wants to be with the big boys ;) He was enjoying watching the big boys play soccer , he was really interested in the game. I just thought it was too cute and I had to share!
Hope everyone is having a lovely day! It's raining right now, so it's cooling off quite nicely! I am going to be fixing up my sunday school room later this afternoon. I get to teach the pre-schoolers starting this sunday, so I am very excited about it!
 Hope you have a blessed day!

Jessica