Let's start this adventure off right... with an "awesome" travel experience :P

I MADE IT TO BRAZIL!!!!!!!! 

Right after I posted my last post, about flying up, up and away, my plane started to board. I was told that I would have to wait for my name to be called by the lady at the United desk. I waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, the plane was taking last calls, and there were four of us who had not boarded our plane yet. They were asking for people to volunteer to change their flights so that others who needed to make their connections and what not would be able to stay on track. Two people gave up there seats, so a couple jumped on. But no one else did. So myself and one other gentleman who was here from Israel for business were left to watch our plane take off without us. Talk about scared... 


I was fighting back tears. Scared. Worried about my luggage which was on that plane. Worried about getting to Brasil. Scared about having to sit in an airport alone for days... So I prayed. I prayed hard. 


I know that God doesn't let things like this happen without a reason, as Heidi reminded me in her texts...maybe there was someone I was supposed to meet. Or I just wasn't supposed to fly from PDX to Chicago, Chicago to Newark, NJ to Sao Paulo... 


Well there was my first blessing. I was only going to have one layover now, and it was in Houston. So instead of flying from PDX at 6am, I was now leaving at about 12p. I board my plane, everything is good (other than me being smashed in the window seat next to Mr. Humongo Retired Military Man and Mr. Alabama, who was really nice, whereas Mr. HRMM was drunk... though still very knowledgeable, he was just up and down and up and down every 30 minutes during our 3 hour flight). 


We land in Houston, it was a rough landing but still, on the ground. Kinda like halfway there!! I find my next terminal, find some food, its around 4pm now and my next flight is taking off at 6:50. Waiting around to board when they keep telling us the cleaning people are taking forever. They finally let us board at 7pm. THEN, about 45 minutes of sitting on the plane, the captain tells us, "So, the flight controls are not checking out at 100%. Now I care about my safety more than yours, so if you see me grab my luggage to get off the plane you better follow. Maintenance is working to get it fixed, I will keep you posted." and within 20 minutes of that we are all walking off the plane so that maintenance can do some tests. Another 30 minutes after that, we are told that they are going to put us all up in hotels, that we will be flying out Monday morning at 8:45. But then it kept changing and the final time was 9:45a.  


Two long hours later, after finally getting our hotel vouchers and taxi vouchers (because now it is after midnight and there is no shuttle running people from the airport to hotels), we make it to our rooms at 1:30 in the morning. 

Second blessing: hot shower. big COMFY bed. oh, and a great new friend!

Lauren is her name, she is 27 and works for JP Morgan in Sao Paulo. She is originally from Oklahoma City and then New York. Blonde, sweet, has been living in SP for almost a year now on her own. 

She was the biggest help EVER. 

God is good. 

We made it to our hotel together, actually got rooms right across from each other. She even called me in the morning to make sure I woke up to catch our shuttle. Once we made it back to the Houston airport, she snuck me through the "Premier" line for security, so I didn't have to wait forever. And since a lot of the passengers from our original flight didn't make it back for the new flight, we were able to snag seats next to each other. 


So, here I am again, thanking God, even through the chaos of TWO flights not working out as they were "supposed" to, because He gave me someone to help me through the crazy process. I wasn't totally alone. 


Lauren and I had some great conversation, she was really helpful as she told me a lot of what to expect as a blonde living in Brasil. Super sweet girl!


Tati and Wellington picked me up at the airport after we landed. Oh, so I made it through immigration without a problem, was in line maybe 20 minutes. Went to find my bags, they told me they were up in the United office, to go through customs and up to the second floor. So I walked through customs, no one ever stopped me, so I just kept going. Went upstairs, found my bags. I kinda felt like a big girl now!! haha


We were in the car and Tati asked how long immigration gave me here... I said something like my visa is good for 90 days. She took my passport and was looking at my visa stamps and apparently they should have written so many days in there somewhere... but they never did. (oops??) 


We just kept on driving and stopped at a fast food place called Habib's which served Arabic food, hamburgers, mini brazilian pizzas, and milkshakes. I got some hummus and pita bread and it was actually really good! 


I made it to Isabel's, my host home, around 12:30a. The family was still awake so Isabel, the mom, gave me a tour of the home and kinda gave me a little bit of a rundown of the place. Laryssa came home right after I did, we are sharing a room. She goes to work at 7am, then goes to school right after, and doesn't get home until after midnight. It is crazy. I asked her when she has fun and she said on Saturdays and Sundays. 


I was able to get on their computer and let everyone know I made it safely to my house last night. When I went to lay down my mind just wouldn't shut off. I kept trying to think of how to say things in Portuguese. I want to learn the language so badly!! 


Today has been a great first day! Other than the freezing cold shower... I guess if two people try to take showers, the hot water shuts off. Armanda, my host brother, apparently was trying to take one in the other bathroom....

Erika and Bruna Crafting for Saturday's Party

Leticia singing and playing with Sophia watching 

It has been so wonderful to see all of my girls again! Deyze, Bruna, Erika, Leticia, Sophia, they are all such sweet girls!! 

With Leticia, she told me that Saturday I get to meet her whole family, and that she has told them about me (:

Everyone is working with me on my Portuguese! It is funny to have the kids try to tell me to say a word, watching them all bust up laughing, and just knowing that it was probably something naughty... haha


K, I am going to go do some more crafts for our big festa junina that is Saturday! Look it up... (: 


Tchau! 

Flying Up Up and Awayyyy

Well, I made it through check-in... initially a little over and a little under weight... but was able to get my suitcases evened out. So from 76.1 pounds to 69.5 was quite an accomplishment, and all it took was moving some tortillas and some puff paint!

Christine and Heidi dropped me off this morning. 3am came awfully early after not getting into bed until around 12:30. Then, even once we were in bed, I realized Heidi and I had picked up some Snickers ice cream bars and I HAD to have one before I left. 'Cause what if they don't have Snickers in Brazil?!?! 

I feel like I keep back tracking from this morning, to last night, to yesterday, but I'm going to keep going anyways...

I had an absolute blessed time with all of my family and friends yesterday out at my dad's farm. We ate good food, we played some ladderball (or "testicle toss" as my dad liked to call it...haha). The photo shoot(s) were also pretty awesome (can't wait to see all the pics on FB soon! Don't worry, all ya'll will get tagged). It really was the best send off I could have had. I am so thankful I was able to have each person there!!

It was really cool, at the Solid Rock~Generations conference the speaker Leslie Vernick spoke with so much encouragement and helpful words. One thing that really stuck with me was when she spoke about externalizing your emotions instead of identifying with them. The example I found stand out in my life as of today and yesterday and this last week was identifying with anxiety. I would say "ya, I am really anxious, and mostly about flying... or about packing... or about pooping...". She tells us to think about your emotions as not part of you. So instead, I chose to say, "I am feeling anxious, but God, I really do desire your peace, your protection, and pure excitement!!" 

So, needless to say, I am excited. Thank you, Lord for this opportunity. Thank you for loving friends and family. Thank you that all of my stuff fit in my luggage (and that I get 70 lbs!). And that I am now embarking on an amazing adventure of a lifetime. 

XO

So... there was this time I thought I had my flight booked...

Not gunna lie, my stomach dropped when I talked to the travel agency yesterday and realized that I had never officially booked my ticket, but what she was emailing me were proposed flights.... Awesome. 


Praise God that I could still get on a flight for the same day... now its just at 6:09am. Really early :P 

Best part of that story: The flight was cheaper. 

God truly has a way of making our silly human mistakes work out. 

Boy am I glad He is so much bigger than me!! 

This week I have been spending time with family and friends, and while it has been wonderful, it has also been really hard. I struggle with trying to please everyone else, I mean, people for some reason like to spend time with me... But there is only one week and one of me to share in that week! Getting flustered has been an understatement. 


Yesterday I got to have a sister date with my youngest, Payton (7). We went to Champoeg State Park, went on a walk, then drove around trying to find The Butteville Store so we could have some yummy Tillamook ice cream. Afterwards we went home and baked some snickerdoodles for the BBQ I went to at Memorial Park in Wilsonville with some friends from Corvallis. Was a great day with great people!

Was chatting with Sarah Cole about Brazil after everyone else left. That girl has been an angel sent from God Himself. I would not feel as prepared as I am without her, though last night's conversation brought along a lot of emotions. I was finally able to let the anxious tears roll. I needed a good cry and that's what I had. 


I fly out in 3 days, and while I should be working on packing my suitcases... I am gunna hit up Portland with some of my most favorite girls. 

Pedis. Sunshine. Laughter. Pictures. Free dinner. The Bridge. Memories. 

I am ready to ignore my packing list and enjoy this beautiful day God has so graciously given me to have with my beautiful friends, Christine, Kalee, Sarah and Rachel. 

Just a week away....

Between finals, work, packing, moving, cleaning, housesitting, working through a medical hiccup, saying "see ya laters" and finally booking my airfare, this last week has been exhausting. And its not even over yet....
I have to say though, I gotta give a shout out to Jade Berry-Cabio for being a phenomenal packer, to Aaron Mock for having a sweet truck and a few minutes to help get my big stuff moved to my next house, and to Christy Baggett for being willing to come in the heat of the day to take two carloads (and two trips, so 4 carloads of stuff total) over. I would be an even hotter hot mess if I hadn't been blessed with their help! 

Though Jade was able to get the mass majority into my two suitcases (the stuff above is just the clothes that I needed in...) I still need someone to help me itemize everything that I am trying to fit  because I still have a carload of stuff trying to go... Any takers up in the Portland area???? (:


It still hasn't sunk in that I am actually going back. It's kind of like an out of body experience, like this cannot be real. The process has gone so quickly, it was just in January that I was considering the idea of going back for the summer or fall, and then just February that I started the application process. And here I am, car loaded with bags, plane ticket booked, and mind boggled with emotions. 

I fly out of PDX next Sunday morning, and will land at GRU (Sao Paulo, Brasil airport)
on Monday morning.
Won't be flying back out until September 24th, landing back at PDX on the 25th! 

Prayer for discernment on what to pack would be wonderful. As well as a relaxing time to visit with my family and friends up in Portland this next week and safe travels next week. I have never flown alone, and to be honest I am more worried about not getting lost or kicked out for doing something wrong than I am about actually living in Brazil! 

One week away. One quick week away.
And I am soooo excited!!!!

Brazil BBQ Fundraiser = MAJOR success!!!

Last Saturday, June 2nd, was my Brazil BBQ Fundraiser, 
and it went amazingly! It was super encouraging to see the variety of people who took the time out of their busy schedules to come hang out with me in support for my trip! We not only ate some good BBQ food (which was not totally figured out until late the night before/that morning), we were able to sample tons of delicious desserts from killer pies (Greg, you were right, people do like your pies) to Deanie's to die for Caramel Brownies, to some unique Brazilian gooey ball things that Diana made. 


Marvin had the place all squeaky clean, and right away he was ready to get it all set up with tables and chairs everywhere with the help of Austin.  Erin and Lord Gabriel (haha) were SUCH awesome decorators! Couldn't have done it better myself (: 


My friends are awesome. Period. 

{Me with some of my favorite men from The Corner House <3
Matt, Trevor, Greg, Luke, Aaron, & Peter}

 It was really great to have my mama and sibs down for the afternoon too! They were a great help, once Garrett decided he was maybe going to miss me while I am gone...I really appreciated all of their hard work during the prep and set up!

{from left: Garrett, Haley, Mom (Trina), Me, Gavin}

{Gavin and I being silly...these boys are growing up too fast!}

Having my mom's support means a lot to me. We have definitely had many challenges in our relationship, but God has really taught me how to love her more like Him, for who she is, not who she isn't. For a long time, I have had expectations of who and what my mom should be like. If there is one thing this past year has taught me, God puts people in my life just as they are for a purpose. He has a plan. I have been able to look back at the terrible times of our relationship and learn from it. I can see where I came from to where I am. And especially where she has come from to where she is. 

This song plays in my head as people ask me why I feel called to
pursue this ministry in Brazil:

"All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way

I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found

Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You"

Gungor, "Beautiful Things"

He without a doubt has taken the home that I grew up in and has used it for such good. When I was in a dark place, hating where I was, feeling hopeless, broken, used, undeserving, He stepped in and swept me off my feet. 

I Praise My God for intervening in my life. 

What is even cooler, is He is sending me to Brazil to share the Hope and Peace that He has placed in my life. 

Sunday I drove to Eugene to meet with Berean Baptist Church's missions board after sending them a support letter (thanks to Dan Euhus who was my connection!). I was able to share briefly about my Walk with the Lord, what the ministry is in Brazil, what my planned project is about, and what I hope to use this experience for later on in my life. I had mentioned not growing up in a Christian home, how God kinda just plucked me out like an apple off a tree. After they asked a few questions they offered to pray for me. Let's just say, I was crying when I stood and asked to hug each of them. To have people who hardly know me, just 20 minutes after meeting me, show so much support and love, it made my heart overflow into tears. Thinking about it now gets me teary eyed. (': I left Berean and got into my car. As I tried to drive out of the parking lot I just lost it, I was balling. I had no idea why, so of course I called Jade who couldn't understand a word I was saying, haha.

Needless to say, it was an amazing weekend.  I have been so overwhelmed with excitement, anticipation, and now the reality that I am going to Brazil for an entire summer to build relationships, love on the children and teens I will have the honor of meeting, and work alongside a team of people whose sole purpose is to bring Glory to God. This is my future. This is my life. I am going to Brazil in 18 days. 

Oh, I forgot to mention, my financial needs have been met. I get to book my ticket by the end of this week/beginning of next! EEEEEK!!! :D

** I want to thank each and everyone one of you who have supported me not only financially (which has been super important obviously) but with the kind words of encouragement, with time spent asking me about the ministry, and especially with prayers. I'm blessed to have each of you in my life and along side me through this journey!!!

<3  

Half Way There!!

Raising funds is most definitely a major part of preparing for my mission. WorldVenture and I were able to lower my budget with cut-backs in a couple areas, but the trip still totals to about $3,800; quite a large chunk of change. 


I have been trying really hard to not let money be something I am fearful of; I keep reminding myself that something so worldly would never get into God's way if it is to have me in Brazil this summer. This is kinda a big deal for me... ask my mentor Kayla, or any close friends... money has always been a massive stressor. A lot of people heard my story about raising funds for the December 2Fortytwo group trip to Brazil, about how I thought it would just be handed to me without a doubt, no worries there. Except, God had a big lesson for me to learn there... might have had a little (or a lot) to do with WHO I am going to Brazil for. One night He took me to Hebrews 12:


 " Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." 


^^ Slap in the face. When I was able to recognize that my heart needed to be in it for Him, and not my own selfish ways, my prayers were different, my eyes were fixed on a different goal, and He provided. 


Going into this second and much longer trip happens to take a lot more trust. Trust that He will provide the financial support, that He would prepare my heart and life for the huge change to happen, that I would be able to pass all of my classes, show up to work on time, eat right, maybe get a killer workout in, and still have time to build relationships with those people I love so dearly not only here in Corvallis, Molalla and Portland, but those down in Brazil awaiting my return in just four short weeks. 


"I trust You. I know You have a plan and purpose. I am ready and willing to follow You." 
I just repeat these words daily, remembering that He provides a way no matter what path is taken. 


There have been a lot of distractions in the last six weeks as I have been trying to remain focused on the big things, like Brazil preparation, tests, papers, 2Fortytwo, and work. The Lord has protected me on more than one occasion from falling into a massive pit. He has offered me a wonderful group of women who support and encourage me daily. He sent His Son to die for me so that when I get even a little too close to the edge, He gives me a clean slate. Man, am I one thankful daughter. 


In addition to my spiritual walk persevering, I did want to update you all on where I am with fundraising:


This last weekend I had my first fundraiser with Heather Fix who sells Vault Denim Jeans and Julie Monroe-Falk who sells Mary Kay at my Aunt Heidi's house. We had less people show up then we expected, but I still consider it most definitely a great turn out! Nearly everyone who was able to join us was able to find something between Heather and Julie's awesome collections to purchase. 100% of the profits from Sunday's fundraiser, as well as any parties booked between now and when I leave with Heather, and anyone who purchases Mary Kay products from Julie with a comment about my trip, goes towards the total cost of my mission! HOW AWESOME!!

I want to give a big shout out to these two wonderful women who have been amazing support for me, I really do appreciate their generosity and flexibility to throw me a great party. 


Last night I was up late, working on checking things off of my crazy Week 8 To Do List, and decided to check the status of my funds raised. It was to my super surprise, which almost brought big crocodile tears, I realized that I am already to the half way mark ($2,000 of $3,800)!!!! 


DEUS E MUITO BOM!!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!! 


I hope that you would all be able to join me at my Brazil BBQ Fundraiser on Saturday, June 2nd from 2-5pm at NW Hills' Brown House, 3300 NW Walnut Blvd. If you can, please RSVP on FaceBook or let me know via phone or email (just so we know how much food to have). We will have hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers; chips fruit, some kind of salad, drinks, and my beautiful Brazilian friend, Diana, and I will be preparing a traditional Brazilian dish all for $3 a meal!

There will also be a bake sale with the desserts individually wrapped so you can snag as much variety as you or your household desires, as well as, my Brazil support bracelets for sale for $5 each!


I thank you with all my heart for your love, support and prayers through this journey! Te amo! 


~Lacey

His Love Never Fails

Thankful for this song as things start to feel overwhelming these past couple days. What a wonderful reminder that His love never gives up on me, to know that I am never alone. 

"Nothing can separate

Even if I ran away

Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes

But You have new mercies for me everyday

Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage

I don't have to be afraid

Because I know that You love me

Your love never fails

The wind is strong and the water's deep

But I'm not alone here in these open seas

Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide

I never thought I'd reach the other side

But Your love never fails

You make all things work together for my good"

'Your Love Never Fails' by Jesus Culture <3