Why... hello there :)

Hello dear readers!

Wow, it has certainly been a while.  I apologize for the lack of posts!  Life has sort of whizzed by, leaving me winded and desperate to catch up.  I promise I will try to post more often!  This should be especially easy in the next couple of days because... I have something super exciting to share with you all :)

If you've been reading this blog since its conception, you'll know that last November, I had an incredible opportunity to go to Brasil for a mission trip with a small team from Princeton Alliance Church.  If you'd like a report on what we did, just scroll down all the way to the bottom of my blog -- don't worry, there's not very many posts ;]

I was blessed above and beyond what I could have ever imagined.  The stories of restored lives, the smiles of hope, the hands raised in worship…  These kids experience God in a way that is life-changing.  And it changed my life.

Tomorrow, I will step into a plane headed towards -- you guessed it -- Brasil!  This time, our small team from Church will have some field days with the kids, organize a talent show [which has become a tradition for every mission group after we did it for the first time last November], and spend lots of time with the kids.  One of the biggest projects we’ll be undertaking is rebuilding a home for the mother of an active member of the graduate church.  She underwent a radical transformation from a drug addict and loveless mother with no hope… to a woman who loves Jesus, is yearning for a second chance at being a mother, and wants her house to be a house of worship.  Her life is a powerful story of rescue and love.  We’ll be rebuilding her tattering bits of a shack in the middle of a favela [slum], so you can imagine how nervous my parents are!  Okay, I’m a bit anxious as well… but I know God will be with us every step of the way and I’m excited to see what He’ll do through us :]

I have some bits of prayer requests for you all.  As I said before, we leave tomorrow.  But, this past week, the hurricane Sandy has hit many of my team members pretty hard.  We also have a few issues with funds, possible visa pick-up delays, and schoolwork to finish before we leave...  If you could pray for God to come through in every detail, that would be so great :)

Ahh!  I'm beyond excited to see what God has in store for us these two weeks!  And I'll be sure to update you all as much as I can =]

Blessings! 

Esther

“Missions start where you want and ends where God takes you.” ~Dayane Mendes, a wonderful lady who continues to dedicate her life to the kids in Hope Unlimited.