one-way ticket

So, this being my 7th time to Brazil in 9 years, at the ripe old age of 22, many of my friends often joke with me that sooner or later I might come to Brazil and just not go back home.  Well, folks, that moment in the life just might be upon us.  

I've been offered a full-time position with Hope Unlimited down here in Brazil.  There are TONS of logistics to work out, things to think about and figure out, but the offer's out there.   Just sittin' on the table waiting for a decision to be made.  I'm supposed to go home 3 weeks from today.  As of right now, I still plan on doing so, whether I accept the position or not.  But it might not be for as long as I had thought.  I feel like it's time to grow up, and I'm not so sure if I'm ready...

Just be praying.  God knows what He's doing.  May He give me ears to hear and eyes to see so I can follow His lead.  

The Newest Addition

There's been some changes in the home of Philip and Corenne Smith. The star is a little girl named Isabella Suzanna Smith, the beautiful little girl adopted into the Smith family this past week. She came home Friday evening - all 6lbs. of her tiny, beautiful little self!

Long time

Wow, it's been quite a while since I've updated the blog...
It's been a while since I've done a lot of things...
By July 2, I had 20 people under my care, in a manner of speaking, in a country where 18 of those 20 people spoke none of the language, and the other two spoke it brokenly. That put me in pretty high demand. By July 9, 16 of the 20 were gone, and I was left with 4 16-year-old girls. The responsibility for which I shared with Philip and Corenne, especially considering the fact that 2 of them were their nieces. That sounds like a much lighter load, but somehow I think it wound up being just as tiring and time-consuming. Thankfully, I like what I do. Last week was camp with the kids - complete with soap soccer, a slip-n-slide, swimming, and team games. We were up at 7 every morning and home in time to get in bed by about midnight. Still equally tiring and time-consuming, not to mention the fact that I was going on 3 weeks of being out of the office, not checking my email, etc. Three of the four girls left on Saturday, which means I have one 16-year-old girl "under my care." I'm starting to feel the load lighten. It worked out that instead of her staying at my house, she's at the girls' ranch this week. So here I am, catching up on life a little bit. :0) And soon I will be catching up on sleep....

Life as I know it

Well, Philip has been gone for a couple weeks now and life has been pretty slow for me.  But that all changed overnight.  A group  arrived on Tuesday.  Philip was supposed to arrive the same day, but wound up coming not getting here until Wednesday.  I left the house at 6 am on Tuesday to pick up the group and, other than a 30-minute stop at home in the evening, was with them until about 10:30 that evening.  That's the nature of my work.  It's exhausting, challenging, fun, exciting, and, well... interesting.  It's been a long week, and it's starting to hit me.  It's 7pm Friday night, and we have the night "off."  Meaning I'm at the office by myself working on a couple other projects and crossing my fingers, hoping to still fit in a walk and get my laundry done! (It's been three weeks...)  I'll work all weekend and throughout the week.  I'm hoping for a three-day weekend next week, if possible.  Wish me luck!