by Donna:

Another milestone has been reached this month! Jason has graduated from high school! Congratulations Jason!!

Now I am looking back to the beginning and amazed at how fast we have reached the end. How time flies! I guess we begin at the starting line! It was nearly 40 years ago when Jorge and I made the decision to homeschool, and it was one of the best decisions of our lives!! At that time, we were young and full of energy, faith, and idealism and it was fun teaching our two energetic and clever young sons, Philip and Gabriel, the basics of Bible Scripture, ABC’s and 123’s while traveling the extensive Brazil frontier as itinerant missionaries. We took our books and pencils with us everywhere and school was held at home, in hotel and motel rooms and waiting for the bus. (We took a lot of buses!!!) We were always learning and learning always together!
Then, according to His plan and perfect will, the desire was planted in our hearts to move to China to work in the great fields which were so lacking in laborers (on the Lord’s work). As we followed the calling East, God began to add to the family more and more blessings. Our dear baby Andrew joined the team and then the Lord saw fit for him to graduate to the heavens above while in our far-flung home in India. This was the beginning of another major set of changes in our lives and in the Lord’s amazing and mysterious ways we were soon transplanted to the field of Macau, a doorstep to China!!

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Well, to make a long 33 yr journey short, the Lord added six more blessings to our family while in this territory! We spent some years enrolled in the traditional Chinese school system so that the kids could learn Cantonese and Mandarin but we kept our English Homeschooling program alive on the back burner. We continued to home study during our years in África alongside other families who had made the same choice. In due course, as each child followed their individual pursuits within the basic framework, all the students finished their high school years with their home school program and all graduated with honours! A successful and wonderful journey indeed!!!

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Now, the History, Chemistry, and Physics books sit neatly on the shelf. Pencils are packed away, pretty much replaced with a computer… No more deadlines to meet or tests to prepare for! I learned so much!! Jason will move on to learn in new ways as the others before him have. The good news is that we continue to learn together and in this digital age of information, in or out of school there is much to teach and learn! The biggest lesson I learned is to value every moment I have with my loved ones. “There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on” L. Christopher. All is well!!

Fathers’ Day

Father’s Day was celebrated with the precious liturgy of a family dinner. It is so special to have everyone together. 🙂 Psalm 128 reveals the truths of how a godly man is blessed “Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, that walketh in His ways.” Godly fathers and husbands are greatly encouraged in this Psalm: blessings of labor through which to care for their family, the blessing of children, like olive plants round about the table, a vision as well as influence on the generations to come. We greatly appreciate all the godly fathers in our family and everywhere!

Miranda had one more lovely birthday and we were happy to share a special moment with her! Our prayer is that she is very blessed in her calling as wife, mother, teacher, sister and friend in the years to come! We are so thankful for you Mandy!

Gloria can now add one year to her age, although she doesn’t look much older! Youth!! Glória enjoyed celebrations with family and friends in a land far from us. Prayers for joy in your labors and continued success in exams and another year of med studies!

Times have changed and homeschooling is perhaps less viable today. Thus, the grandchildren are following a more orthodox school path – at least for now:
Zach, of Philip and Julie, and Isabel, of Emanuel and Mandy, living in two different countries, both graduated from kindergarten. Zach received a reward for the peacemaker of his class. Way to go Zach!!

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