Monday, October 5, 2009

Happy 8th Birthday Projeto Crescer!

Happy Birthday Projeto Crescer! (The Growing Project) This weekend, we celebrated the 8th year of the project! (if you want to learn more about the project, keep your eyes out for an update in the next few weeks about the new website! It is coming soon and looking great.) After doing a unit focused on Brazil and it's 5 major regions, each class picked a region and the respective teachers made a booth and foods from their regions of Brazil. It was an awesome party and a huge testimony to what is God is doing and continues to do in Cafuba! There was pizza from Sao Paulo, bar-b-q from the south of Brazil, and fish from the North-east. The cake was bigger than any cake I have ever seen and there were also items for sale that the kids made ie. vases, bookmarks, placemats, various painted boxes, etc. Everyone turned out for the celebration. There were vollunteers from our church and students from years back. We count it a privilidge to be a part of such a great organization and to see how far God has brought things. Pictures from before it ever existed reveal an empty lot, which now holds classrooms, and so much more for 80 kids Monday through Friday. A big hit at the party were the prizes that were raffled off. Everyone sat anxiously looking at their numbers waiting to see if they had won. I will brag on my husband a bit, and say that the raffle was his idea! He is such an amazing director. He has poured his all into things this past year and it was a blessed day to get to see everyone celebrate the continuation, growth, and hope for even more in the future! God is SO good! MMMMMMM, this cake was soooo yummy! Thank you Deisy! She is the cook at the Project and she did a great job on the cake! Anxiously awaiting cake!
I know that this picture is a bit blurry, but I just had to put it on here..... Near the end of the party, Pastor Claudio gave a word of encouragement and incentive, to look for healing for whatever is hurting us physically, spiritually, or emotionally, in Jesus. After that he prayed for the community, everyone present, and the project! It was such a precious moment and one that I believe states strongly why the project exists and what God hopes for in this community. People healed by the power of Jesus! To God be the glory!

Joel is 1!

I am a little late with this post but I couldn't go without posting a few pics from Joel's 1st Birthday! We had a frog birthday party with my parents, and some friends from church and the Project (the before and after school program that we work with....FYI a new website will be up and running soon with lots of info on "Projeto Crescer" and we will update you on that when it is good to go! ) Anyhow, here are some pics.
Everyone says, "I can't believe that my child is _____ years old." I am not sure if I can believe that Joel is 1 but enough has happened in the past year to make me feel like he is one. He has changed SO much, as have I. I think that I have learned more as a mom than in any other role ever in my life. It is such a huge responsibility and one that in my opinion requires such humility, a servant's heart, a selfless spirit constantly (all of this I am still working on by the way) and a love that is beyond ourselves-thank You Jesus for providing this in my life without limit! I owe my life to you, yet you are the One that gives me life daily. I love Joel more each day, if that is even possible, and I wouldn't trade the adventure for anything!
So, here is to my son, Joel Deron Geroy.
Congratulations Son, I love you and am so proud of you!