LEAVING MIAMI AND GETTING THERE!

From the first moments of our trip, we KNEW that God had big plans for us all. On the eve of our departure our entire team was hit with the disastrous news that Rebecca's Brazilian passport had expired. The airline said simply that without a renewed passport (which takes MONTHS) or a Brazilian visa (an entire day's ordeal) Rebecca would have to stay behind. The bus ride to the airport and walking in with all 30 of our bags felt dry and wrong because we all knew that we were leaving her behind in the hopes that she would be able to fly out in the next days. Then everything began to change, and we began to see God's hand at work.The man attending us behind the counter at TAM airlines was incredible. Not only did he not charge us for extra baggage, or let bags that were too heavy pass through without inspection, but he gave us all the wonderful news that Rebecca WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER Brazil! Even with her expired passport! This is how after tears of relief and definitely of joy and excitement, and with only the clothes on her back and her passports, Rebecca drove back to the airport and boarded with us on our plane! The welcome gift on the flight was a small package including a tooth brush, comb, and toothpaste...important things that Rebecca was missing. God provides!Finally arriving in Sao Paulo, we rode on the BRAND NEW bus to the Chacara. In the days before, it had rained..and rained..and rained some more, so all the dirt roads were not very safe nor accessible via bus. So we all grabbed the luggage we could on our backs and with flashlights, began the hike up to the house. Through tall grass, sinking in mud, tripping over rocks, splashing through puddles, and laughing the entire way, it was the perfect ending to an exhilarating day. Every part of the adventure it had been had fit perfectly into place. All the unexpected turn of events and emotional excitement had worn us out, but not before we were all able to feel the strength and depth of the plans that God ad for our ten days on mission!