Community - Old, treasured friends

As mentioned in the previous post, in our many different seasons we've been blessed with rich friendships and community. Thus far in Atibaia, we've been overjoyed to connect with some old friends who are very dear to us. 

Fabiano, Fabiana, Julia, and Laura. 

These are friends from when we lived in São Paulo during Aaron's grad school. We lived in the same neighborhood and went to church together. Though we have gotten to see them a couple times since our departure in 2013, this was our first gathering with our whole families. It was so fun seeing our children become friends and play. Fabiano and Fabiana are such great examples of selfless friendship. During our time in São Paulo they were so willing to help us in any way possible. They loved our children (only Austin and Jonathan at the time) deeply. When seeing the boys again this time around, they were brought to tears at how big Austin and Jonathan were. It was an emotional reunion and sweet time creating new memories. 

The Matthews family - Jonathan, Erin, Samuel, Jesse, Hannah, Abigail, and Benjamin. 

This sweet family were also our friends during our time in São Paulo. The internet helped us find this friendship. Their webpage was Brazil for Christ and we found the site in preparing for our departure for grandschool. At the time they had four kids and we had two. It was super fun to gather all of our children (now nine in total). It's always amazing to me how quickly our children can connect with others and forge deep bonds. Though the children did not remember each other, their connection was fast and strong. The Matthews have been missionaries in Brazil for over a decade. Being with them is always an encouragement to Aaron and I as we hear of God's work through their ministries. 

Gil, Lucelia, Ester and Tito. 

 The friendship with these precious people goes back 13+ years. Gil and Lucelia are missionaries with Cru. We met them in our first years of marriage when Aaron and I served with Campus Crusade for Christ in Fortaleza. At the time, we all served as campus staff. They still serve with Cru, but now Gil is the country director of all of the ministries under Cru. The Lord brought our families together again in December when I came to Brazil to train for Classical Conversations. Lucelia was in that training. There was no sweeter reunion. In talking we realized that though a decade had passed, the Lord had spoken very similarly to my heart as He had to Lucelia's. We were delighted to spend a few days with them after attending a homeschool conference in Rio.