August 2020

Hello, my friends from toasty Manacapuru, this is the update covering August 2020!

 

Life here is going on rather smoothly.  We continue to have full schedules with teaching online.  I must admit, I am ready for some face to face with students!  They are handling it well.  Nayara and Patricia’s business is going strong and the students are doing very well.

 

Depending on my travel plans we are looking to begin the English Project for 2 of the night classes soon.  The large beginner class will start up hopefully in February dividing them into two smaller classes.

 

Speaking of travel plans, we are still waiting to see if the US will remove the travel ban for Brazilians.  I can come home, and I can return to Brazil but as of this moment, Nayara is unable to travel with me.  We will be making the decision soon.  The options are (1) for me to come home Sept 18 and return Oct 17^th.  During this time, Nayara has a scheduled trip home for a family event.  Option (2) is for us to wait until the last of October and the first of November and see if the border status changes.  There are some little concerns here with schedules and not to mention if the weather turns colder – we don’t have warm clothes!  Option (3) wait and come home next year.  We are continuing to pray about it all. 

 

If I do get to travel home, I am not planning on doing any large gatherings to talk about the project.  I will be contacting you to see if we can have a phone appointment.  I want to hear your voices and tell you about what is going on!

 

I am continuing to work on the curriculum – a slow process for me!  And we are in the process of reviewing all our material to make corrections and changes.  We always want to improve what we are doing! 

 

I am working on getting the brochure I usually print out and give to everyone in a digital format….like an e-book, flipbook type thing.  This will decrease cost and time for sure.  We are also looking into different subject areas to make into e-books for our students.

 

I am also working on getting a curriculum ready to help students get ready to take the TOEFL exam.  TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and is necessary for students who wish to go to school or in some cases work in the US.  One of Patricia’s students is taking this exam and has many questions.  Well, that got me to thinking and researching.  All of this is in the beginning stages, my first step is to get the curriculum together, go through it with Nayara and Patricia, have them take the exam, and reevaluate the curriculum.  If it all looks good then we are thinking about offering a 1-day workshop on preparing for the TOEFL.  In our “neck of the woods,” these kinds of workshops are rare.  This is just another way to help bless and encourage the precious people here.

 

The online classes are going well.  I am working with some of the Amazonas.Languages students.  It has been fun watching them improve.  It is a little difficult doing this online, but they are troopers and doing well.

 

Nayara and I are doing great, thank you, Jesus!  We are working well here in the Mission House.  The church is now meeting again and Nayara is ministering on the Praise Team.  I have not yet made the jump to go back to church.  Children and people over 60 have been encouraged not to attend.  Everyone is very understanding.  I am not in fear, just exercising caution.  Praise God the numbers are not going crazy here with the virus, but we continue to be diligent in being careful.

 

This last month, the focus has been on the fact that God hears.  I am so grateful that during these crazy days, we are never truly alone.  As a believer in Him, He is always present.  He has heard our prayers, our concerns, our heartaches, and our joy.  That reality has greatly encouraged my heart.  During September, the focus is on the fact that God Delivers!  Hallelujah!  I look forward to what He is going to do in and through us in September.

 

I am continuing to stand in prayer for you and your family.  Thank you for your prayers and support during this interesting year.  If there is something we can be praying specifically about, please drop me an email.  It would be an honor to join you in prayer.

 

Bless you my friends,

Lisa

July 2020

Hello friends,

Well, July is over, and August is starting.  I still do not have a definitive word about my plans to come home for a visit.  I am still waiting on word from both the US and Brazil authorities.  So in the meantime, we continue to work.

Nayara and I are working on plans for when we continue the night classes.  At this point, we will continue with the Tuesday night class and the Friday night class.  These two classes are smaller so we will have plenty of space to be together.  The Wednesday class is a different story with 35 students.  Before we had to stop, we were on our 5^th week, so we were just getting started.  Currently, what we are leaning towards is not restarting the class this year.  Then in January 2021, they can sign up again but this time we will only be able to receive 15 students. We will try to open another night so we will have 2 beginning classes but no larger than 15 students.  We also will not be able to continue the class at the Public School.  This is a little sad to me but necessary.  Hopefully, those students who are serious about learning will take advantage of the night class opportunities on Wednesday and Thursday.

I am continuing to work with students in our Tuesday night and Friday night groups online along with several alumni students.  I am pleased with their progress and I really look forward to the group dynamic that happens when we are together.  This online time has been a good one on one opportunity for them to practice.  They were a little nervous at first, but they adjusted well.

I am now starting to work on putting the curriculum together in written form.  This is both a huge challenge and a bit exciting as well.  This online experience has helped us look at different elements of the curriculum as well.  Romans 8:28 is so true, “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I have started diving into a new program that helps writing e-books.  We are going to start giving out some encouraging type e-books for our students (1 per month).  These titles will be like …. Five things to remember when you are learning English…….How to use music to help you learning English, things like that.  We will be using these with our students and with promoting the Amazonas.Languages project as well as with Nayara/Paty and Ame Idiomas.  I am learning all about Instagram (I know I am a little behind), so we are using our time wisely.

The church has begun to meet but children and people over 60 are asked not to come.  Wow, that has felt weird.  But I appreciate their caution for my health.  The virus numbers have been going down with the last report being 15 active cases (3348 total) and 135 deaths.  We all must do our part to keep ourselves safe as well as protect our neighbors. 

This month, the focus has been on how Mighty God has BEEN and IS.  Two things have stood out to me in my devotional time. 

·       First, the bottom line is God is GOOD.  Don’t let anything or anyone move you.  Yes, life is challenging – but He is still GOOD.  Yes, we all have faced some discouragement and disappointment through people and/or circumstances – but He is still GOOD.  Yes, some aspects of the future are not clear and maybe a little scary – but He is still GOOD, and He can be trusted!! 

·       Second thought, we need to view God through the lens of FAITH and CONFIDENCE.  (this is from Christine Cain).  This statement grabbed my attention all month.  I have had to evaluate my own heart, mind, and actions.  I choose what lens I view God through.  I like the words here, FAITH and CONFIDENCE.  These are strong words.  These are the lens that I must view God.  I need to fuel my faith and confidence through the WORD of God and through being IN the Presence of God. 

·       I was reminded of a statement my friend Dee McKinney made many years ago.  When difficult circumstances arose, she would often say in the middle of it all “That is a circumstance that is subject to change!”  Think about that statement this month.

Please know that I am praying for you my friends, your families, your city, and for our country these days.  In August, the focus is on the fact that GOD HEARS.  That is a timely focus!

Thank you for your love and support.  I will keep you updated about any travel plans.

Bless you,

Lisa