Mais mudanças...

It is now June as you read this post...which means a lot is about to happen in the next two months with our family (thus the Portuguese subject line of this email: More changes...). So, would you keep praying for us and the changes to come? Here is a quick update and a few things you can praise/pray about:

• Becky is on track to finish her Portuguese language program around the end of June/beginning of July--praise the Lord! We know this doesn't mean the learning is over though. Pray for us all to persevere and keep learning.
• Ben was able to lead a Bible study at our weekly small group and enjoyed getting some practice with Portuguese in that context. He was also able to start playing soccer with some Brazilian friends on a weekly basis, until a tree fell on the goal post this week--no more soccer for a while.
• Caleb finishes his pre-school in June and will need to say goodbye to all his friends here--pray for him; this is hard to do.
• Samuel is saying more and more words in English and Portuguese but is having a hard time with mommy gone at language school every morning - pray that he will be at peace and that the next month will go by quickly for him...
• David continues to grow...he definitely is our son--large and sturdy. His giggles keep us smiling around here!
• Ben is going to the US for two weeks to Wheaton, IL for a conference at our mission headquarters (dates are July 7th through 17th). This will be a time of strategizing for the future of our mission agency (www.teamworld.org)--would you ask the Lord's blessings over our time together as missionaries, home office leadership, and staff? Please also pray for Becky to have energy caring for the boys during this time.
• After Ben returns from the US, we will be moving to our permanent ministry location (Anápolis) in central Brazil...we are excited for this move, but it once again involves transition...something we've done a lot of in the last few years. Please keep praying! Becky and all three boys will fly on July 31st, Ben will drive the next day (August 1st) with the car full of our belongings. Pray for safe travels.
• Praise the Lord that our support has remained steady this last 9 months! We continue to ask you to pray with us that the Lord will bring the remaining amount in as we move and begin our ministry roles in August. Thank you for your continued partnership and prayers!

We could not be here without your prayers and generous giving--thank you so much! Please keep in touch as you are able...we miss you!

Days go by...

As the days go by in the routine of language school, there are little changes that we don't always notice, but that those of you who keep up with us WOULD notice. So, just wanted to give you a few of those things that you might find interesting...or fun, or just mundane.
-First off, David, our almost three month old, is wearing 9-month clothing. This is in keeping with Bacheller tradition...our boys are plain BIG. He's growing very quickly, and loves to hear and see his brothers playing, singing, and dancing in front of him.
-Samuel is now saying more words than we can count! Just today at breakfast he said "Superman" and pointed up to the sky (we made him and Caleb red Superman capes!) Last night, he was getting into the car himself and said "Okie dokie!" He counted to 10 in English the other day, and says many words in Portuguese without even knowing he's speaking a different language!
-Caleb speaks Portuguese and English interchangeably with Becky and I; we're trying to train him to speak Portuguese when there are Brazilians around us, and English when there are not. He has done amazingly well with the language adaptation--kids almost always do when they are living within the context.
-Becky continues her language learning--it's HARD! I, Ben, joke with people that Portuguese is going to be the language we will use in Heaven...because it seems to take an eternity to learn! She is doing well, but we ask you to pray for her as she has a couple of months left to finish the program. Pray for understanding and retention.
-Me, Ben...well, I'm a "stay-at-home-dad" for now, and until this language learning process is mostly complete. Language learning is never "over" for an adult, I myself continue to learn and grow in the language that I grew up speaking. I'm comfortable with the language, but still find myself forgetting a word here or there, having to re-learn it or learn it for the first time.

If you're interested in seeing pictures and videos, you can look for us on Facebook if you're on that; we post videos and pictures there occasionally.

Thank you for praying with and for us and faithfully keeping us before the Father.

Ben, for the family.

At the beach

During the weekend of the 21st of April, on the 5th anniversary of Noah's homegoing, we went to the beach spend some family time, and to remember Noah's life. We had a restful time and were able to feel renewed enjoying God's beautiful creation! Here are Samuel and Caleb digging in the sand.

In the window??

It's crazy being a parent sometimes...you walk into the other room for 5 seconds, come back, and there's your kid...doing....WHAT??? UP IN THE WINDOW???

Samuel grabbed Becky's running shoes the other day and started walking around the house!

Happy to be home...

David is happy to be home...

David Nathanael Bacheller

Baby David was born on Feb. 10th, at 8:08 am, weighing 8.2 lbs and measuring 20 inches. Thank you all for praying!