Good news! Kevin made it safely to Brazil! Here he is to tell the tale…

The Brazil trip has been a year and half in the planning with its fair share of ups and downs and close calls. All of us on the trip were preparing for the trip of a lifetime, and now we’re actually here. To finally see all the work that we put into the trip come to fruition gave a sense of completion to a long awaited end. However, this is just the beginning. Plane rides are not one of my favorite things in the world, and the flight to Brazil was ten hours long. Everyone around me was speaking Portuguese and everything was in a blur due to the Dramamine flowing through my system. I fell asleep to the in flight movie and woke up to a motionless neck that felt like it had been broken in my sleep. All I could do was sit there and think about how the first class people were comfortably reclining in their plush leather seats and sipping on whatever beverage their heart desired. The process of getting off the plane to getting through customs only took about thirty minutes. I was impressed at how quickly we got through and a little scared about how unsafe the whole process seemed.

 Brazilian people are by nature not loud folk. They keep to themselves and quietly converse in their own little groups. There is absolutely nothing hostile or threatening about them at all. But, I still wonder what they think of me as an Americans coming to their country. I tried to be on my best behavior and not make anyone notice me. The city where we are staying, Compinas, is about an hour outside of Sao Paulo. The bus ride was just one more trip where all I could do is sit and wait. In the past twenty four hours I had been on two planes and sat for about sixteen hours. Needless to say I was antsy and couldn’t feel my butt anymore. The last stage of the trip ended when we arrived at Faculdade Nazarena Do Brasi, the place where we will be studying for the three and a half months. If people complain about the facilities and accommodations at their college, they need to stay in the closet that I live in. Two people living in a twelve by twelve room. The two showers are shared by the twelve men on the floor and you can’t flush the toilet paper.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything. None of these things would keep me from discovering God’s purpose for me in Brazil and learning to function in a different culture. I expectantly await the rest of the semester and can’t wait to learn more Portuguese.

Abracos,

Kevin

So, you  know how some days never go directly how they are supposed to?

I had one of those days on Wednesday. I woke up late, my car wouldn’t start and everything that would go wrong could go wrong. I was scheduled to work at 3 with nothing to drive to work. So, after I finished my final, I put on my mechanic hat and started to get to the bottom of the issue. I singlehandedly managed to get my car running and took it to an auto parts store to see if I had a bad battery. My diagnosis was correct, and I was pretty proud of myself. I checked my account balance to see if I had enough money to purchase a new battery. Having just bought Christmas presents for some of the people near and dear to me, I didn’t. So I started dialing…

One by one my burdens started lifting. I called my father and he agreed to send me money to purchase the battery. I called my mother for moral support, and she cheered me up. My brother helped out by giving his input on my car diagnosis. I called work to see if anyone could cover my shift. The first person I called agreed to cover my shift so I could focus on my two hardest finals. I was all of the sudden set up for success. I got the money, the nice man installed my battery, and I was good to go.

This is actually just one example of times God has lifted my burden this semester. When I thought that nothing seemed possible and I was doomed for failure, God saved the day. Every time that it has happened, I have stepped back in awe of his work.  I’ve got to give Him the credit that He deserves and so the next time that life gets you down to where you can’t get back up- He’ll help you out.
I hope you continue to have a very happy holiday season. Make sure to spend some extra time loving on your family. After Wednesday’s escapades, I know I will.

Peace and blessings,
Sarah Boston

Well, it has been a week.

Throughout all of the events that occurred on campus and the reported tornadoes and devastation in my hometown of Reedsville, Ohio, I have been stressed and worried for my dear friends and loved ones. I feel as though my entire way of life has been effected. I will admit that I am a bit of a control freak who likes to stay in her realm of comfort, so this has been a real stretch for me. But throughout my processing of these events, I feel like God is trying to tell me something. He is reminding me that He is in control and that I need to remember to praise Him throughout whatever problems I may face. Over the weekend I aspire to relax and spend sometime focusing on God’s promises and seeking His will for my life. Perhaps God’s telling me to give you this little reminder as well.

Have a great weekend!

God bless,

Sarah

Today is the first day of Labor Day weekend.  Many people left work today super excited about having 4 days off.  They are ready to enjoy the last little bit of summer. I actually saw lots of smiles at each stoplight on my way home today.  It reminded me of Christmas.

I can’t help but think about all the people that WILL work this weekend.  The pizza guy on his way to my house, the grocery checkout girl, the police officer and the DJ.  🙂  Yep – my staff works this weekend and I will work on Monday.  Do I have the blues?  No, not really because I just had a week off for vacation.  Does anyone else have the Labor Day working blues?  I think yes.  You could probably find someone working over the weekend that would rather be sitting in the sun, cooking at the barbeque or hanging out with family or friends.

So…I SALUTE the Labor Day weekend workers!  May your hard work and commitment be honored! May your customers and/or clients be gracious and thankful that you are serving them.  May the tips be large, may the words “thank you” be heard and may the many laborers feel appreciated. 
Now…I am not saying that you should feel guilty if you have 4 days off.  Enjoy it!  But – why should we wait until the first Monday of September to think about “thanking” and “honoring” our laborers?  Let’s learn to say thank you on a regular basis.

Hey – I have to go get a bigger tip.  The pizza guy is here! 🙂
Thanks Bill from Papa Johns!

Marcy

Tuesday marks the first day of classes here at MVNU, and I’m excited. For as long as I can remember, I have always anticipated the first day of school with excitement. There is just something very traditional about the way I get all of my new notebooks, pens, and pencils out of their packages and into the book bag. Planning the first outfit of the new school year is also just as equally as important. All of these things I do while reflecting on the past three months of summer.

Ah, summer. I love the smells, the sights, and the sounds of the lawn mowers as I’m driving about town. It’s very relaxing to me. September has snuck up on me this year. It just seems as though just yesterday I was taking my last final for spring semester. I’m not sure that I’m ready for the change that fall semester brings. Incorporating school into my crazy life is going to be a challenge, but for the first time since I set my schedule in May, I think it is going to be okay. Slowly, but surely I am coming to grips with the reality that the greatest summer ever is coming to a close.

I was thinking about it earlier today and realized that I have many people to thank for making my summer the most memorable of the short 21 years that I have been on this Earth. First and foremost, I need to thank you, the listener, for your generous support. It was through this support that I could spend my summer getting to know you and becoming a better broadcaster. For me, this isn’t just a summer job that someone hired me to complete. It was the experience of a lifetime. I learned a lot about myself as well as broadcasting. This experience would not have happened without your love and support. I feel as though God has laid it on my heart to tell you this. I know it might seem sometimes like we are consumed with our own lives and not here to serve you, but that isn’t true. If you need anything from us, just let us know. We will try to help you or point you in the right direction. We are here to help support you in your life, and we want to encourage you to have a deeper relationship with Jesus. I’ve realized how fortunate I am to be put in this position as a Morning Thing co-host, and I have you to thank for that. I hope that I can serve you to the best of my abilities for this next school year. Even though it is my last school year at MVNU, I hope that you never forget me, because I won’t forget you.

I hope you have a great day and may God bless you!

Sarah Boston