The Reconciliation of All Things

  Hello all! We wanted to follow up regarding our urgent email requests from a couple weekends ago. We would like to share praises with you. It’s fun seeing God DO things on behalf of His people, but it’s even better when we can all praise God TOGETHER as the BODY of Christ! Thank you each and every one of you who prayed for us (don’t stop!), and also to those who replied with encouraging emails. God is indeed GOOD, and we praise Him—to God be the glory! Regarding our requests: Repairs on the house finished quickly, early this week.   We moved in on Thursday, the 15 th , our target date—this is amazing for a latin country! The city did the sewer work promptly! What is more, our new landlord is a believer—what a blessing! Packing our things to move them out of the apartment in time.   We got everything out on time—somehow we accomplished it! Now for the unpacking and organizing in our new home. For the boys—they are stressed too! ...

Hi all, We come to you asking you to pray very specifically once again. Without going into too much detail, a little over one week ago, after consulting with our mission, our family had to vacate the apartment we were in due to a “touchy situation”. So we spent a week visiting some TEAM colleagues a day's drive away—this was much needed and an enjoyable and restful time for our family. We returned to Campinas Saturday (the 10 th ) with the plans of (1) house-sitting temporarily for some friends on vacation, (2) moving our belongings out of our apartment, and (3) moving into our new residence, all by the 15 th . However, the owner of the house we are moving into suddenly has had to do major sewer line repairs, and now it depends on the local city government to finish the job. This means that we may or may not be able to move in by the 15 th , this Thursday. You can imagine how stressful this is for all of us, the kids included. Becky and Caleb both had to miss their last two w...

Samuel today having fun all by himself!

This is outside the market...

So, most of you were right! It IS indeed an anteater, but it's specifically the Lesser Anteater, a "medium dog sized" animal, a beautiful animal! But, as a friend of ours mentioned who has cared for one before, they are VERY messy animals! Thanks for all the guesses!

As we ask in our prayer letter...tell us your guess...reply below the picture in the COMMENT section. In a few days come back for the correct answer! We'll show you a full-body picture of this beautifully unique Brazilian animal.  

Here's the next part of our video series...this is Caleb riding his bike on October 12th, his birthday. We went  to a local park (Parque Taquaral, in Campinas, SP) for him to try out his bike. The city of Campinas closes some streets in the city on Sundays from 7am to 1pm, and on holidays too...this is to allow for bikes and runners (and families!) to have some space to walk and run and play in the city of asphalt... Notice all the people around us...it's crazy! But, wonderful that so many people get OUT of the house/apartment they live in... October 12th is a special holiday in Brazil... Children's Day..everyone has the day off to celebrate kids. It's fun that this is also Caleb's birthday, he will always have his birthday off from school here in Brazil! So, enjoy the video, and get to know us and our surroundings a bit WITH us. Thanks! By the way, Samuel wasn't too happy this day...he wanted his own bike to ride!

For Caleb's 4th, birthday, Becky made cupcakes in the shape of an icecream cone--that's what Caleb requested!  This is what Caleb got for his birthday...a bicycle! We actually bought it a few nights before we left the US, took it apart that same night, and packed it in one of the 27 bins we brought with us! Much cheaper to do that then to buy a bike here... He LOVES his bike!  And here Caleb is demonstrating his climbing skills...AND falling skills. This peacock was one of many that are at this park...the boys loved hearing them! They are VERY loud, in case you've never heard one up close. So, it was a wonderful October 12th for Caleb, and all of us, as we celebrated his 4th birthday!

Part 1 of our new video series..."Getting to know the Bachellers".

The boys just walked up the stairs to our apartment and are happy to be home.

This is our apartment in Campinas, Brazil where we are living for Becky to go to language school. We are on the third floor and have an older, spacious apartment. The bottom picture is the view from our bedroom window. Yes, that's construction...just in case the boys don't wake us up early, the trucks will :-) It has been an adjustment for us getting used to city living but we enjoy walking to the park, market, school, and just about anywhere we need to go.

Caleb started school two weeks ago and has come to love it! He goes three mornings a weeks to a little pre-school that is all in Portuguese. The teachers have been great with him, using English words only when necessary. Caleb usually goes to school on Tuesday, when they have special extra classes in bodily expression (aerobics/dancing), Thursday (Music, instruments and library), and Friday (show and tell) . Above photos: Caleb is ready for school! But of course, Samuel doesn't want to be left out! In Brazil, as in most other countries around the world except for the US, kids have to wear uniforms every day (I, Ben, did growing up here in Brazil). Below, Caleb is with two of his friends at the entrance to the school; the other photo is Caleb in his school room--very American, he's EARLY! :-)

So we have now been in Campinas, São Paulo state, for two weeks. What a whirlwind it has been...then again, when is it NOT a whirlwind to move? Even still, it's a new culture (yes, for me, Ben, it IS), a new language (again, yes, it really is), and almost everything unfamiliar to us in a big city. Last time we lived in a city this big was when we got married in 2003 and lived in Fairfax, VA, right outside the beltway of the crazy area of Washington, D.C. Anyhow, since we've been here, it has taken a week and a half to get our phone & internet set up. As soon as this happened (this was last Monday), our car started having problems. It's very interesting to me that God uses every little thing to draw us to Himself. We were praising God that we finally had contact with others via our phone and internet, yet could we praise Him even while the car busted each day this week?? Yes, every single day. Last Sunday, the car started making a horrible noise when I put the gear in ...

So often, that's what it feels like in a culture where “time isn't money”. Here in Brazil, people are the equivalent to what this expression is stating. Time is what matters in our American culture...here in Brazil, and many other places in the world, it's not the time that matters but the relationships developed. Yes, we have prayed for a speedy resolution to all our times of waiting this last month. However, God is showing us that there are some cultural values that are quite Biblical here in Brazil that we Americans can learn from: people matter more. Great lesson to learn and live by, since God often uses our relationships with people to draw them into a relationship with Him. Once we arrived in Brazil one month ago this week, we had to wait a lot...wait to find the right car, wait to find the correct apartment/house for language school, wait to get our bank account, debit cards, driver's licenses, etc. That's what we're doing right now...waiting for our l...

Untitled , a photo by bbbacheller on Flickr. The boys were playing off in a corner in the yard, making "collections."

Untitled , a photo by bbbacheller on Flickr. Caleb with Uncle Micah, Socks, and Nessie in the background.

Untitled , a photo by bbbacheller on Flickr. Caleb was jumping on his Aunt Joy's trampoline, and Uncle MIcah's dog came up with him to jump! Here they're relaxing.

I grew up in Brazil, I speak Portuguese, and I look Brazilian. You wouldn't think it would be THAT difficult for me to adjust to life here in Brazil, right? Well, that's where you'd be wrong. In fact, that's where I'm wrong if and when I assume it should be a piece of cake for me to readjust to life in Brazil. Sure, it helps that I speak Portuguese, and that I can more easily get around as compared to someone who doesn't  speak the language or look Brazilian. However, in the 15 years that I've lived in a country other than Brazil, I've become much more American than Brazilian. Here's why: -I finished high school in the US (English) -I lived with an American family for 6 months before college -I went to an American college where there were no other Brazilians to speak the language with me -I married an American (best decision in my life other than accepting Christ as my savior) -I worked at American jobs (speaking English) -I did my M.Div. in En...

First off, if you don't get our regular emails, you need to know about Becky's trip to Brazil a couple of weeks ago. She went for about a week, in order to renew her Permanent Visa to live in Brazil. Caleb and I (Ben) have until October (you might remember that I took Caleb to Brazil in October 2009 by myself to deal with Visa issues?). Anyhow, Becky went with 9 pieces of luggage, each almost 70 lbs! Wow! Yes, crazy, we know...but we are not shipping anything to Brazil. If it doesn't fit in the luggage, it's not going with us. Sometimes we wish we'd ship, but we decided that for now it's not worth the headache with all the paperwork and complications involved with it, including the customs fees and "hidden charges" that might "pop up"! Anyhow, she went and came back safely, though much more tired than when she left...and the following message/email below is what we sent out a couple of days ago. Dear praying friends, Thank you for your pra...

Dear friends, prayer warriors, and everyone reading this, We wanted to send you a quick email with important praises and requests: 1) Praise God that we now have 94% of our monthly support committed! Thank you to all of you who have joined our team! 2) Praise that we were able to take some furniture and personal items to Becky's parent's house in New York; we got much needed refreshment during this time. 3) Please pray that we will get Samuel's Permanent Residency Visa to Brazil soon so that we can purchase our tickets. 4) Pray for Becky's trip to Brazil this Friday through Wednesday of next week. Why is she going to Brazil by herself? Because for her to keep her Permanent Residency Visa, she needs to step foot in Brazil at least once every two years, otherwise she'd lose it—she has until June 29th. If you recall, Caleb and Ben went to Brazil in October 2009, so they have until October of 2011 to get back to Brazil. 1. Specifics for Becky's trip: since we...

So, would you say that you're good at "waiting"? No, I mean, are you REALLY good at waiting? How about when you're waiting for something you REALLY want to do, you have a burning desire to do, you're prepared, you're excited, ready to jump right in...but you have to WAIT. Hmm. Yep, that's what we're doing now...at least, we're beginning to wait. We applied for Samuel's Visa 3 weeks ago now, and according to their website, it should have come back by now, approved. At least that's what the website and their correspondence with us tells us. Then I (Ben) begin to wonder...LORD, what are you trying to teach me/us here? AGAIN? Do I have to learn this lesson AGAIN? Well, just the fact that I ask the question gives me my answer...yes, again. We're never done growing, are we? God wants us to continue growing in holiness, more like Him--did you know that? It's so easy to forget it, isn't it? Especially when we think we're so busy d...

Caleb is enthralled with his soccer trophy!

Look for Caleb, he's number 8!

Easter is sometimes sad, but more than anything it's a wonderful time for those who have Jesus Christ as their savior! This year, Easter was late, as we all know. But it also fell very close to the date we celebrate (and grieve) Noah's homegoing. April 21st was the date, four years ago, that Noah passed away unexpectedly from a massive seizure. The hope we have as believers in Jesus Christ allows us to actually celebrate that Noah is without pain and very much enjoying eternal life...we grieve that we cannot have him with us right now, but celebrate that we will indeed see him again in Heaven! You can celebrate with us as you watch this video to illustrate to our kids that Noah went first, but one day we'll all meet him again.  Noah's grave.    Right before releasing the balloons at the cemetery.

At one of Caleb's soccer games, he played against a team which had his friend from across the street on it. He thought they were all on the SAME team! Oh what fun!

This slide and park are right behind our house, so we go there often!

This was taken on March 1st, Samuel's birthday. He didn't know what to do with this cupcake and candle at first, but he eventually smiled and got to enjoy it!

We had Caleb join the local soccer league, run by a church in the area, they do a great job! After the first practice, I, Ben, joined as an assistant coach. Why not? It's more fun in the mix than watching!

Yes, it DOES snow in SC, but not very often, and usually not enough to make a snowman! This was on January 10th. On the other hand, it is 82 degrees here today, February 28th!

So, you can see that we went to an indoor water park, which Caleb and Samuel really loved, but we also went SKIING! Caleb had a blast with daddy and mommy! He got "warmed up" with Ben, so when Becky took him, he just kept wanting to go faster and faster! Yes, he rode the lift all the way up...Becky was more scared than Caleb! (more because she didn't want him jumping from that high!) Good thing that boy's wearing a helmet!

Praise God with us! We are now at 71% of our monthly needs to serve in Brazil. God has been answering your prayers and ours! Here are some updates and prayer requests for us: Ben quit his job as of Friday, January 28 th , to focus specifically on support raising; please PRAY for our remaining support to come in quickly this Spring so that we can leave for Brazil by June. For a possible part-time job opening for Becky in nursing while we wait to get to Brazil—next week we will know more details—check our blog for more information. For us to balance support raising, spending time as a family, packing, Becky studying Portuguese, and working. For good times of fellowship and growth with the Lord during this busy time. For our trip to Chicago from the 8 th to the 20 th of February. We will be visiting supporters and family along the way, and   then have our final training with TEAM, our mission agency, from the 12 th -18 th .   Thank you all so much for your prayers and sup...

So, we had some snow in Chicago...the kids all enjoyed it, though it was bitterly cold!

So, we went to Chicago for Christmas (and Wisconsin, and NY), as you can see the skyline of downtown Chicago here...we'll give you a pictorial tour of our time in the next couple of days...once we get them uploaded.