Saturday, July 29, 2006

He's Home


Well, he made it home in one piece. At least the trip home wasn't as eventful as the trip down....he was pooped, but glad to be home. The boys were excited to see their daddy again....

The photo on the left is a banner that Bob's church gave him...they had all been praying and when they opened their eyes, this was in front of them. In case you can't read it "WORDS ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPRESS NOW MUCH GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE HERE". The one on the left is the crowd waiting to come in & register for VBS. Bob said the line would spill out on to the sidewalk, die down into the corridor, then build back up again. The pastor told him the total attendance for the week was 1600+. He didn't yet have a salvation count, that will come later, I hope. All in all , things went well, he didn't leave anyone behind (wanted to, but didn't), and they all came home wanting to go back again in 2008.

The weather has finally cooled off here, enough that I'm not worried about Bob ending up w/heat stroke while he mows the lawn this morning! We're gonna head out somewhere as a family, not sure where yet, but together & that's all that matters!

Chelle

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Heat

Yes, its hot here - 111 degrees & its 6:40pm! Argh! The power flickered a little bit ago and so the AC lost its momentum. The inside temp rose 5 degrees in 5 minutes - not a good thing! I hear they shut down a skilled nursing facility in Stockton - one of the residents died over nite as their AC failed completely. They were transporting the other residents elsewhere to keep cool.

Talked to Bob last nite, things are wrapping up for them. They were supposed to do the "Grateful" service tonite - where the churches thank them for coming and all that. Probably a lot of tears - the Brazilian people are always soooo appreciative of people coming. Bob said he & another missionary were "mobbed" for their autographs yesterday - had to have "crowd control" and everything!

Just found out that Bob's best friend Vinny is on some island in the Indian Ocean flying his B-1 bomber. He went straight into the AF from the academy, and has never yet had to deploy until now. His wife and 3 kids are in Texas, anxiously waiting for him to come home. Scary to have someone I know so well to be over there in danger.

The boys & I went to a minor league game last nite in Sacramento - I was literally dripping in sweat......no breeze or anything to help out. My boss had bought 40 tickets for all of us in the 3 offices so we could all get together & have some fun. One of the girls even caught a fly ball. I was walking along the concourse & heard someone yell my name, it was the brother of an old friend of mine from grade school! I knew he was in Folsom, but never imagined I'd see him anywhere! Crazy small world.

Chelle

Friday, July 21, 2006

Busyness

So, I haven't exactly been a busy bee all week, but seeing as how I didn't pry myself from bed until 10:30 this morning, you'd think I didn't sleep all week. I don't sleep well when Bob isn't home, so that may be part of it....

I have managed to get 2 loads of laundry done, the media ready for Sunday am and feed both kids off and on, but not much else today.

Bob told me that the church he's at actually had to turn people away for VBS on Tuesday because they max'd out the capacity of the church. This was because 500+ people showed up! What an incredible indicator of how hungry these people are for Christ. On top of that, they had 120 volunteers from the church coming every day to work - more than they needed. If only Cooper members could be that way - not caring about the property, the money or what type of kids are we drawing - just focused on sharing Christ with those who need Him. He's doing well, the knee gets stiff at night; and his throat is sore from all the talking/preaching he's doing, but nothing major. I don't have reports yet from the other churches - I'll share those when I get them.

Chelle

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Restful Sunday

Well, I didn't mean to, but I ended up napping most of 2 hours away this afternoon once we got home from church. I don't sleep well at night when Bob's not home, so the naps become vital - wonder if I can work one in tomorrow at work?!

Bob emailed me this morning - things are going pretty well so far, he preached tonite, will again Wed nite & Sun night. The rest of the week he'll be dong home visits & helping teach VBS with the other missionaries at the church.

The boys are doing okay, the longness of this trip hasn't hit just yet, but I know from past experience that it will. Nick will especially get really clingy and whiny by about Wed or Thurs. I'll be about ready to throttle him, I'm sure.

Chelle

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Slugs

Well, for basically 2 days, we (I) have been slugs around the house. Today, I did actually get the boys outside for awhile while I was trimming my rose bushes - something I've needed to do for quite some time. Chatted w/the new neighbor in the process - his wife's great grandmother pulled a hand cart along the Mormon trail years ago to help settle Mount Pleasant. They are an interesting couple. He said his grandfather was a Baptist circuit preacher - and that growing up, he had gone to the local Baptist church every Sunday. Yet, they did their "mission" doing sight seeing tours along the Mormon Trail. He must have converted to marry her years ago.

No word from Bob today, I'm assuming that all is going well. The recording says that his other bag was found and was supposed to be delivered this afternoon sometime. I'm sure that will be a big relief to him.

I discovered Wednesday this week that I will be the only youth teacher for the next 2 Sundays - Bob & Stanley are in Brazil, and Pete is doing his Nat'l Guard thing, as well as vacation. My luck all the kids will come & I'll have 20 instead of the normal 10. Oh well, God will take care of us!

Chelle

Friday, July 14, 2006

Found Bags

Well, he has one of two bags - at least its the one w/his clothes! The other one has pencils/bubbles/give away stuff for VBS next week.

Have spent most of the day just hanging out here at the house. Worked on a power point thing for Tsunami in December about balancing ministry & marriage. I included our calendars for the summer months this year - more of an example of what NOT to do!

The boys have watched all 6 Star Wars movies in the course of the day....the box has been king. I am sitting where they can come interact w/me - we've done some star wars trivia online & they've even talked to Daddy at one point when I called the pastor's house in Brazil trying to track him down.

Talk at ya later!

Chelle

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Lost luggage

So, Bob finally arrived in Rio - after getting rerouted to Sao Paulo - they had to circle the airport for awhile, until they nearly ran out of gas, so the plane heads to Rio to refuel, basically passing time until Sao Paulo is ready for them. Even tho Rio is their final destination, they are not allowed to deplane, but go back to SP, then run to the flight to Rio! Needless to say, his bags are no where to be found at this point. I just called the hot line & they haven't located his bags. He has no clothes, shampoo, etc.....so his life has not gotten any easier by any stretch!

As far as I know, the other group left on time this morning, I haven't heard otherwise. It is quite possible that the missing bags are on their flight since that was the original flight plan, but who knows right now.

The boys are doing pretty good, it hasn't completely sunk in just yet since he's only been gone 3 nights total. Next week could be a different story.

Time to sack out again!

Chelle

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

God is good

Okay, so I admit it, I was beginning to doubt that this would get pulled off....9:30 this morning, I get a call at work that the visas have been approved, I just needed to get someone to drive the 3 hour 1 way trip to San Francisco to pick them up. Thankfully, a couple people had already volunteered to do that for us - a couple phone calls & it was taken care of. I didn't get personal possession of them until 5:30 tonite, but I got them! As for Bob, mechanical plane difficulties caused him & Stanley to reroute thru Sao Paulo to Rio instead. Not what he wanted to do! He said that he had written in his journal that for a control freak and perfectionist, this was driving him absolutely crazy! He will live, and he knows he just needs to relax & let God take control. I just need to worry that the emails I sent to the pastor in Rio will get there so he knows to not show up until 2 hours later than originally planned.

As a result of the great stress release this morning, I managed to get nearly nothing accomplished all day at work...and it didn't help that I needed to be at church tonite in case any youth showed up. Luckily, I don't have a DDS in the morning, so I will have some time to recoup & finish what I need to.

I'm gonna go veg out for a while - my brain is quite tired!

Chelle

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH


WE STILL DON'T HAVE VISAS!!!! Can you tell I'm more than a little ready to call it quits with this whole trip?! The lady is supposed to head back to the consulate when they open at 10 am tomorrow morning to try & push things thru so she can somehow get them to me in time for me to get them to the missionaries before they have to leave for Sac for their 8:30am flight out Thur am.

Other than that, I'm doing okay - dropped Bob & Stanley off at the airport so they can catch their flight in the morning - this is the last stretch of time he'll be gone this summer. This will make 5 of the last 8 that he hasn't been home. That's probly the biggest thing I'm struggling with right now - I don't like him gone, but how can I tell God that He can't have my husband? I usually do okay, but its the boys that have the hardest time with all of it. Nick even prayed one nite that Daddy wouldn't have any more goings away. That was in early June I think. Boys need their daddies. Stanley told me tonite that the men's prayer group has been praying that next summer won't be so busy so we can spend time together as a family - we're praying that way, too. Maybe we'll all go to Brazil on our own. Think I'll start the visa process now!

The pic is from last summer at Fort Bragg...the boys were really boys that week!

Its nearly 11 - I need to get to bed before heading back to the office in the morning....night all!

Chelle

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Sundays

What a morning - helped lead worship at church w/both my boys singing along - cool! Bob was supposed to preach, but since he had our youth speaking about their camp experiences, there was not time for a message, but what the kids had to say was incredible - about not being ashamed to share Christ w/their friends anymore, about trusting God, about accepting His control. It was cool!

Chelle

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Schedule

Got to thinking that some of you may want to know the travel schedule for Brazil - Bob leaves on Wed the 12th w/one other missionary, arriving in Rio on Thurs the 13th. The other 12 leave on Thurs am, arriving on Fri the 14th. They all start the trek back on Tues the 25th, arriving back here on Wed the 26th. The plan is to do some evangelistic visits, along w/VBS in the afternoons, alongside w/the existing church members. All this at 3 different churches in a town called Sao Jao de Meriti outside Rio.

Bob's knee is doing okay, he says he can put some weight on it, but not much. He comes home from camp today, so we'll see how things go once he gets here.

As for the visa situation, I got a call from the lady again this morning, stating that the consulate called her late yesterday that they can't read one of the birth certificates I faxed 2 weeks ago & so I need to refax them. I'm waiting on a phone call from Bob to see if he still has them in his office or if I need to make 4 more last minute phone calls. Good news - Bob just called, he still has the birth certs in his office - so I don't need to call anyone, just the fax, ma'am, just the fax...

Keep us all in prayer, its particularly hard on the boys to be w/o their daddy for so many days in a row.....

Hey, my mail is here :)

Chelle

Friday, July 07, 2006

frustrations

okay - so I'm back from my trip to So Cal w/the boys - all that went quite well, they had a great time w/the grandparents and flying there & back.

I had to call to check the status of the visas for the Brazil trip next week - 12 people have raised money to travel to do VBS for a week, share Christ, etc, and we didnt' have their travel visas yet when I left town. I call today, and they still are not ready. The flight leaves 7/13 at 8:31 am from Sacramento - the contact keeps telling me its not a problem, but I'm more than just a little stressed about it. I can't take off work to go meet her to get them, and Bob in the course of standing still at camp has reinjured his bum knee, so I don't know what his driving status will be either. Can you tell I'm a little stressed out about all of this?! On top of it all, of course the boys want dinner, to watch a movie, etc - I go out to check our personal mail that I'm pretty sure I requested to be delivered today, and its not there. I head down the street to the post office, where they don't have it either. Not that I'm expecting anything, but its a little disconcerting to not have mail you know you should have!

I need to just calm down, eat & remember that God is ultimately in control of all of this & it will all work out to His glory. More for me to learn about serving Him wholeheartedly.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

hey everyone

Well, I figured I'd join in the craze - didn't want to do myspace, so here I am. I'm gonna try to use this to keep everyone posted on the boys, ministry and generally anything else I'm dealing with.

Right now, we're getting ready to head off in directions for the week - Bob to camp with the youth from church & the boys and I are headed to SoCal to see the extended family while he's gone. Then we're all back home for a couple days till he leaves again to Brazil for 2 weeks. Thus will end the massive amount of time away from home for him this summer. I won't lie, it ain't been easy on me or the boys.....pray for us!