Prayer Request

I'm sure many of you know Wes and Carrie Gotcher who are missionaries in Brazil. We went to see them there this summer! Carrie was my voice teacher before they went to Brazil.

Earlier this year, Wes and Carrie found out they were pregnant with twin boys!!

Their due date was on Christmas Day. Sometime within the past day, their precious baby boys were born. We have heard that the boys are about 2 pounds each. We don't know a lot of details, but that doesn't matter because God does know. 

Please be praying for this sweet family. They gave up their life here to go tell people about Christ in Brazil. I'm sure it's so very hard to be in another country away from their family and have their boys be born so early. Please also pray that their families can get down to Brazil as soon as possible. They will need many many prayers and support in the days and weeks to come. They are such great people who overflow with God's love. I know they are trusting God in everything, but it's still so hard.

"Even the darkness will not be dark to you;the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well." -Psalm 139:12-14
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Carrie and I on the beach in Niteroi where they live.

Our family with Wes and Carrie at an ice cream place in Niteroi

At church in Niteroi

This song is so comforting..

Our God by Chris Tomlin
Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You
CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

When I said, "My foot is slipping,"

your love, O LORD, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.- Psalm 94:18-20

Brazil part 13...Day 13 and 14 Going home!

On Monday we had breakfast and lunch at the Dutton's and then at 5:30pm a van came to pick us up to take us to the airport. We flew out of Sao Paulo which is an hour drive from Campinas. We said goodbye and started the journey home. The Sao Paulo airport was insane. We got there around 6:30 or 7 and check-in and customs took forever. We got to the gate with only an hour before we boarded.

Finally we started the long plane ride to Miami.

I forgot to put this picture on another post but this is from one of our flights inside Brazil. I love walking out to the plane and having a red carpet!

Side note...remember my fear of airplane bathrooms and getting sucked out? I went on the Brazilian airplanes and I was scared to death. There was no way around it so I had to go to the death trap on a foreign country airplane. Thankfully I am still here today. It was a close one but I managed to not get sucked out. Thanks for your prayers.

On the overnight flight home, we got to see the prettiest sunrise. It was gorgeous!!

We landed in Miami at 6 am I think and had to walk back to Brazil to get to customs. Good grief could they have made customs farther away from the gate? I don't think so. We saw the American citizens sign and ran towards it screaming. Just kidding. We walked. First goal after arriving in the USA was finding a Dr. Pepper. Well guess what? Apparently Miami is not part of the United States because Dr. Pepper is like a word in a different language.

"I want a Dr. Pepper please"

"Coke?"

"No. Dr. Pepper."

"Coke?"

"No...Ok fine coke"

We had a four hour layover in Miami which was just delightful! Not. It would have been fine if they had Dr. Pepper...

We survived the 2 and a half hour flight to Dallas and GOT SOME DR. PEPPER!!!!

We then had a little layover in Dallas where I had Mc Donald's for lunch! It's never tasted so good.

Finally after the quick 30 minute flight (with Dr. Pepper) we landed in OKC and were HOME! It was such a great trip but we were so glad to be home. Thanks for your prayers for the trip!

Brazil part 12...Days 11 and 12

On Saturday we just hung out at the Dutton's house and watched the USA game! It was great to be able to relax and hang out with them!

For dinner we met some people from church at a pizza place! The Brazilians have the best idea I've ever heard of about pizza. Just like the steak place, people come around with different kinds of pizza and you get what you want! They also have the best desert pizza. My favorite is the banana with some kind of seasoning on it! It is wonderful!! They also have chocolate pizza which is good too!!!!

On Sunday morning we went to church! We went to worship then class! That church is so wonderful!! God is working in great ways. We got to see people there that we haven't seen in three years so that was exciting!!!

This is the front of the church! It's a beautiful building!!

After church, we went to eat at a chinese restaurant! I was surprised at how good it was! I loved it!

We stayed at the house that night and hung out!

Brazil part 11...Day 10

On Friday morning, I woke up and had breakfast with Allen and Robin and then I went with Robin to pick up Laura and Tyler from school. They got out at 10:30 that morning because Brazil was playing in the World Cup at 11!

When we got back to their house, another family from church came over to watch the game and then have lunch!

Later that afternoon we went to Tyler and Laura's music performance! Tyler played the drums and Laura sang! I'm so glad we got to go! They did such a great job!!!! Allen's mother and sister and her family came to the performance and then came back to the house with us! We had that delicious chocolate cake again!!! We all just hung out talked until 8 pm or so. We went to dinner at a normal Brazilian time which was 8:30 I think! They took us to this really great little outdoor restaurant. I don't know how to describe what they have there but they were so good!!!!

We were all pretty tired when we got home so we all went to bed!

Laura and I before her performance

Brazil part 10...Day 9 Iguazu Falls

Here are some pictures of our hotel. We ate breakfast Thursday morning and walked around the falls one more time before going to the airport that afternoon.

This is the tower you can climb at our hotel

The falls and rainbows were unbelievable that morning.

Right across from the picture above, there was this plaque in the wall. It says

"Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty." Psalm 93:4

"God is always greater than all of our problems."

We were speechless when we saw that plaque

Iguazu Falls was one of the most breathtaking places I've ever been.

"Life isn't measured by how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away"

That afternoon we left Iguazu and flew to Campinas! We had a layover in Curitiba. Allen Dutton picked us up at the airport at 9:30pm and we drove to their house! We said hi Tyler and Laura and then they went to bed because they had school the next morning. We talked with Allen and Robin and ate ridiculously good chocolate cake! Then we all went to bed kinda late!

Brazil part 9...Day 8 1/2 Iguazu Falls

This is still Argentina. I just had too many pictures!!

You can repel down to the river!

Brazil part 9...Day 8 Iguazu Falls

On Wednesday we went to Argentina to see that side of the falls. We took a taxi and it took about an hour from our hotel because of border control. It's funny because from our hotel room we could see Argentina but it took an hour to get over there! Once on the Argentinean side, we took a little train to the trails. There are so many different trails to go on!

Here are the awesome wheelchairs!

The first trail we wanted to go on was where you stand on top of the Devil's throat. To get there, you walk on a mile of bridges over the swamps and rivers. You are really in the middle of no where!

Try and find the grammar error...

When you finally make it to the devil's throat, this is what you first see.

Argentina flag

Then you can walk RIGHT over the edge. You can't even see the bottom because of the force of the water. It's a little scary!! But amazing.

Looking straight down..

That's what our hotel looks like from Argentina. You can't tell but it's up really high!