Basketball Game

This was the second game that our team p[layed again the team in Hortolandia. You can see that our team is mixed girls and boys because we did not have enough girls. This was listen to the tesimony after the game.

Simone gave her tesimony and it went really good. Then we gave the team some athlete Bible which are lots of good verses put together for athletes. I am holding one in my hand

Here is the teasm picture. Our frind Flavia and Carlao were there to watch and participate Flavia plays basketball in Italy. She is under contract so could not play with us that night! She is as tall as me and an exceleent player. You know what is really fun is that I got to play with Timothy and Stephanie a little bit. Now that is fun. Timothy hit some threes and had some other shots. Jessica was watching Rebeca.

This was the Bible Study that Rogerio gave before the game to our team. He is studying the audience of one principles with the team. We are playing for the glory of God.

Trip to Sao Paulo

Sunday we took a trip to Sao Paulo. We got to go see where Rogerio first started to play basketball. He played at the club for 2 years and then got to move to another city and play. In just two years he became a great player. Rebeca was sleeping so missed out and Thomas and Priscila are with us. Where is Tiago anyway?? We were also in Sao Paulo to visit and celebrate Sabina and Ronald. It was Ronaldo birthday so had lunch with them. They were the couple that came to Washington and got to stay with us one month. Thomas and his family are there too. Sabrina's mom made us a great lunch BBQ. It was a great day. Sabrina and Ronaldo have been a blessing to our ministry for many years and we are so thankful to them. They continue to help with Priscila college as she continues to help Rogerio with the basketball program.

Planning and Praying

Yesterday I was making a cake for my kids and four boys that came to play all afternoon and I was thinking how great it is to have a relationship with these boys because they are on Rogerio's basketball team. What a great way to use sports to be able to spend time with kids to encourage them to know Jesus. A good cake or some cookie can do wonders too!!!

Rogerio and I are amazed each month how God provides for us to be here. Thank you to all those involved. We have been back to Brazil from our furlough now over one month. It has been a month of planning and praying about the activities that we will be involved in now that we are back. The kids are on winter break and school will begin again at the first of August. Rogerio plans to begin basketball practices again soon. He does have to wait as they are putting a cover on the court that he uses. This is an answer to pray and no more canceling practices on rainy days. We will also be involved in some of the activities at church and Bible studies.

House

We have been back to Brazil now for about a month. We are still living at out house at the camp grounds. One day these are the tentaive plans for our house on the land that we are buying. Because we will not be able to begin building right away we will either stay at this house or rent a house in he city.

School

Thank you everyone that prayed about school for our kids. We just register the kids for school here in Brazil. It is a small private school here in Nova Odessa. They will start on Augsut 2nd. I will also be at the school two afternoon each week teaching English. This will pay help pay for the kids tuition. I am glad to see too what it will be like at the school. We are excited to have them involved and learning more Portuguese. Because homeschooling in illegal here in Brazil and other factors, we believe this will be good for the kids right now. They will go until December and then we can reevaluate. Our prayer is that we all can be lights at the school and we will get to tell may about Jesus. It is actually much easier to talk about God and Jesus here in Brazil because Brazilian are very religious. The kid are scared but excited too. Continue to pray for them.

Bike Ride Sunday Morning

Rogerio had the opportunity to help a church with a bike ride on Sunday morning. All of us got to go and be involved. We are missing one bike so Jessica stayed at the church with Rebeca. My bike's peddle came off in the middle of the race so I run and walked the rest of the way. the church had a raffle at the end of the ride for some bikes. Tiago won a hat! Then they had a story about finding Jesus. It turned out to be a great outreach for the church. Praise the Lord

Tiago had his named called at the raffle.

Rogerio had everyone stretching at the beginning of the ride.

We are getting ready to go.

Muddy Bike Ride

I don't know if you can really see the mud but it is everywhere. Rogerio was brave enough to ride in the rain and mud through the sugar cane fields the other day. The rest of us stayed home.

Rebeca washing more then just the dishes!!

Without her two sister, Rebeca has been hanging out more with me and where am I most of the time....she has been really loving being at the sink and entertaining herself. Timothy did babysit for a couple of hours tonight and he does a good job. Our Sunday School classes at our church are reading the book by Paul Meyer 25 Keys to Sucess. The chapter we studied last week was about how God made laughter and we need to laugh and be cheerful for it is good medicine. We all enjoying laughing with Rebeca tonight

Just Three Children for the Week

Jessica and Stephanie have been gone for the week at their friend Victoria's house at the beach so the three have had a nice quiet week here at the house with us. OUr family would not be the same without our two other precious girls. Wow I miss them so much and not just because they are so much help to me with cooking dishes and Rebeca.

The boys have been playing Wii, computer games and lot of soccer outside. It is too bad it started raining because they were sleeping outside in their tents. Rogerio brought the boys and the girls a tent for Christmas this last year in the US. I did not think much about it but they just love it and the tents the same here were about $100 instead of the Walmart ones for $20 in the US.

Friends

Jessica and Stephanie were sooo excited to see their friend Victoria. Victoria is Stephanie's age. Her parents work on AeA staff with us. they have all been friends since birth:) Victoria lives by the beach but is on vacation for the month so is visiting her grandparnets in Nova Odessa. The girls are getting to play, swim, and talk almost everyday! Isn't a great gift from God to have Friends

Brazil loses in the World Cup

Last Friday Brazil lost their game in the World Cup. We were all watching and cheering, all of Brazil was. This is Rebeca and Tais they were really dressed for the occasion. Then Rebeca tried on the hat and glasses after she was not so scared of them! We were actually really sad. Brazilian do not like to lose in soccer.

Last Day of Volleyball Tour

Volleyball clinc? After all these years of doing basketball clinics, Rogerio enjoyed helping with the volleyball clinic. This day they were in Atibaia at a puplic school by one of the churches we work a lot with. He said there were about 400 kids.

The Americans always are asked to sign autographs.

Thank you AIA for the Spikeball game

This is the brouchure from the AIA Volleyball team. Rogerio said great things about you guys. The kids and I would have loved to meet you all. We just love the Spikeball game that you gave to us!!! The kids have been playing since Rogerio set it up for them and showed them how.

Will any of the Soares kids be volleyball players???

Rebeca's Days without her mom

These are some fun pictures of Rebeca during the time she was here with her dad. They went on the bike ride at our church. Visited with Friends. This is Tais

Someone tried to do something with her crazy hair!

Rogerio time with AIA Volleyball Team

Rogerio got home on Tues night after a 10day tour with AIA Volleyball Team. He said it was a blessed time. Here are some pictures to share from some of the various activities that they were involved in. The is Bira our director sharing with the Jr National team that they got to play. USA did lose all their games and these guys were from big D1 schools. Volleyball here is Brazil is the secopnd most popular sport and the teams are very good.

This young player from one of the teams was so thankful that the team was there to play and share about Jesus. There were about three players from the other teams that really wanted to continue to learn about Jesus. Rogerio will be in contact with them with Bible Studies.

This was a game and clinic for lots of kids.

Sharing with another team. This is Rogerio helping with a testimony.

After doing all the talking for 10 days, Rogerio likes to come home and have some quiet days.

This is the Brazilian National Volleyball Team!!! They came to Rio on the day the American team was getting ready to leave. They got to have a picture with them. This team has won numerous world championships. This was a highlight of for the Americans.

This is Rio at the Military base where the team stayed. Rio is beautiful