Monday, May 30, 2005

Going to Rio!

Well hello there again folks! Once again, Becky and I
felt like we should email to keep in touch. We want to
share our excitement with you all! For some of you
this paragraph will be "old news", so just skip ahead
to the next paragraph. As of last week, Becky and I
found out that for sure, 100% definite, no joking,
totally seriously, that we are pregnant! She's 6 weeks
now, and the baby's due January 21st, 2006! Please
pray with us and for us for a safe, healthy pregnancy,
and delivery when the time comes.

Also, coming up in June, from the 6th to the 13th,
Becky and I will be going to Rio de Janeiro. We were
invited by a Christian professor at one of the top
agricultural/ecological schools in Brazil. During the
one week we spend there, we will be making contacts
for the future and trying to serve however possible. I
have been asked, believe it or not, to "preach" (more
like speak) that Sunday, as a layperson. I'm asking
God for the courage and wisdom to know what to say.
The church has about 200 to 300 members. This
professor has also asked me to possibly teach his
ecology course for the day that I'm there with him at
the university. I feel humbled and honored, wondering
if I'll know what to do! :-) However, what I am really
looking forward to is helping him (Dr. Carlos Eduardo)
teach an agriculture training course to missionaries
on Wednesday and Saturday. This is all exciting for
me, but also a little nerve wracking as well! Pray
that all goes fine, and that both Becky and I will
have the strength to step up to the challenges before
us. Thankfully my vertigo is almost completely gone
and I'm feeling more like myself.

However, Becky has been feeling "morning sickness"
lately, so we ask that you pray for this to pass ASAP.
It's amazing to think that during this 6th week, the
baby's facial features and hands & feet are already
forming. Psalm 139 says that he knows us even before
we were conceived! So He's watching out for this
little one already, wouldn't you say? Just as He
watches over us and has a plan in our lives and in
your life.

We're also in the process of figuring out our last
month here in Brazil (July). A pregnancy can change a
few things... Pray for us that we'll be able to decide
where to go while in the northeast of Brazil and how
long to stay in that region. It is likely that Becky
will not spend much time there due to the rough living
conditions, while I might spend a week or so visiting.

We also want to thank each of you who continues to
support us in the ways you have--our needs here in
Brazil have been more than met--Thank you so much for
encouraging us and praying for us! For more regular
updates, you can look us up on our website:
http://bachellerfamily.blogspot.com

Let us know of any specific prayer requests you might
have as well so we might better know how to pray for
you. We hope you have a great week!

Love and Prayers, Ben and Becky

Saturday, May 21, 2005


Surprise Inside!

Pregnant!

Hey folks! Great news! As of yesterday, we know for 100% sure, no joking, completely seriously, that we are pregnant! Becky was at 5 weeks just yesteray, and by golly, are we excited!!!
The due date is January 21st, of course, give or take a bit.
Please pray with us for a healthy, safe pregnancy all the way to the end.
We are glad that we can make Becky's parents and Ben's parents grandparents for the first time, and we think they are too! :-)
Please keep us in your prayers. Thanks!

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

August

Well, we've already reserved our rental truck & car towing accessory (man, those things are expensive to rent!!!) for our move from Fort Myers, FL to Columbia, SC on or around the 11th of August. I think that'll be a Thursday, can't remember. Anyhow, we're looking forward to the move into our new place, just simple little home for us; it'll be home for the next couple of years as I pursue my Masters of Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University. It will probably take three years we're thinking. After that, who knows what's next!? One thing is sure, if the Lord leads us overseas, we're going! Our time in Brazil has been great so far, showing us where we could serve and where we think we shouldn't. :-)

On another note, I'm feeling a bit better today from the vertigo I caught (makes you dizzy and lose your balance, along with nausea feelings). I'm going to go check on the garden, see how it's coming. It'll be the most walking I've done in almost two weeks! Write more later!
Ben.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

There's always a Cultural Lesson

Happy Belated Mother's Day, we pray you had a joyful day
celebrating the special moms in your life. This Mother's
Day brought for us another cultural lesson and a reminder
that we are constantly learning more about Brazil (even
with Ben having grown up here!). At around one o-clock in
the morning on Mother's Day we were awakened by people
blaring music outside our window. Ben went outside to
complain and told the group to quiet down so people could
sleep. However, Ben soon found out that the group was made
up of seminary students simply trying to honor all the
mothers by serenading them on Mother's Day. From our
perspective the students were being rude, yet that was not
how they or the Brazilian mothers saw it. We were
reminded again the need to be culturally sensitive and not
judge others based on our own perspective. Ben and I are
thankful that our time in Brazil not only includes serving
but learning as well.

Things are going well at the orphanage. The garden is coming
along and thanks to the fence some of the boys built with
Ben the sheep are being kept at bay. I am having a wonderful
time teaching crotchet to the oldest girls and have even
found some patterns in Portuguese. It's encouraging to see
their excitement and the beautiful things they are making.
My Portuguese is coming along and each day it seems like I
can understand a little bit more. I love reading Bible
stories in Portuguese to the kids (and the kids seems to love
it too because there is always a rush to see who gets to sit
on my lap).
Here are a few specific prayer requests:
-Ben is starting to feel dizzy like when he had vertigo
several months ago (after the hurricanes).
Pray that I will know how to help him and that we can find
the right doctor here.
-Kathy (Ben's mom) is in the States for a few days. Pray that
we will be able to help Joy(Ben's little sister)not be so
"mom-sick" while Kathy is away.
-Please also pray that our relationships with the kids at
the orphanage will allow for opportunities to share about
the Lord.

We are very grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Love, Becky (& Ben)

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Teens from orphanage at Judo

This past weekend Becky and I went to the local university gym where a State Judo competition was being held. We went to watch a few of the teen guys from the orphanage compete. One of the kids actually got gold in one division, and silver in the next. It was neat to spend time w/ them, supporting them, since there's no parents to come watch and support them. Even so, I don't think I have the patience that a teenager's father would have (yet), because I got tired after a few hours and had to come home and get some rest. It can drain you a lot, especially when it's in another language! Anyhow, that was Saturday, and today, Wednesday, I give a short Bible study to these same teenager guys at the orphange, at 8pm our time, 7pm Eastern St. Time, while Becky hangs out with the teen girls, talking and teaching them how to crochĂȘt.
Please pray that God will work in these kids' lives, bringing them to Him, and that we'll be sensitive in knowing how we can help.
Ben & Becky.

Orphanage teens at Judo competition on Saturday, April 30th, 2005