Madelyn Louella Sirmon

Aubry has a new baby cousin!!! She is just gorgeous and we wish we could be there to see and meet her. MadiLu weighed 6lbs and 4 ounces, was 19 and 1/2 inches long and has dark hair and eyes. She was born on Monday morning at 11:06 am. Her proud parents Spencer (Mary's brother) and Laura went home from the hospital today. We can't wait to see pictures of her in her new nursury. We hear it's beautiful but not as beautiful and perfect as MadiLu!

Aubry Nicole's First Day of School

Aubry loves her new yellow school. It's called a time to grow. They say for third culture kids who begin to get frustrated with language, the best thing to do for them is to put them in school early with other native children. So, that's what we're doing. Plus, it will be something all her own when her new little sister comes and it will free Mommy up to rest a little more in her third trimester of pregnancy.

On her first day when we went to register her, she went straight back to her classroom without Matt or I - we think because she heard the other kids clapping and singing. She is such a social bug, school will be a good thing for her. As we were leaving we went to check on her and they had her in the 2 year old classroom - I guess because that's the class she "joined" on her own and she looks 2 years old. The first two days of class they tried her out in both classrooms and decided she would be better suited for the 2 year old class because they thought her advanced for her age as well. Of course!

But also of course, she got sick after her first 2 days of school. Poor Aubry now has a 7 day virus with blisters, fever, congestion and muscle and head aches. We're hoping she'll be well by this coming Wednesday so she can go back to school after Tuesday's national Brazilian holiday - Tiradentes.

Paisley Diana Mabery

Well, as most of you know, I am about 7 and 1/2 months pregnant now. We've decided to name her Paisley Diana Mabery. Paisley is a name that came up on the social security website while we were researching a different name and it also happens to be the last name of very good twin friends of Mary Virginia's. We really liked its meanings: Paisly is a type of design which comes from the town of Paisley, Scottland which is named after the latin word for basilica because of all its churches. Diana is Mary Virginia's Aunt Angie's middle name, as well as Matthew's good friend's name, and a friend of both Matt and Mary here in Salvador.

It is interesting that Aubry's initials are AM and Paisley's are now PM. My brother made the joke that they probably Will be as different as night and day. Paisley is already so much more active than Aubry was in the womb. We watch Mary's belly roll around all the time now. Paisley is due the middle of June and it's closing in fast. It's fun getting Aubry ready for Paisley even though our 1 year and 8 month old has no idea what's coming. Lots of changes coming up for Aubry and her parents. Pray for smooth transitions and a healthy Paisley girl!

Andreia

Well, we've finally done it! We've finally hired a church secretary - something we've been needing to do for a long long time (especially since all of us women on the team started getting pregnant). Andreia is a member of our church. She speaks some English. She is a people person and has been a Christian for some time. She is the single Mom of Alicia age 9. And she has good computer skills. What a blessing she already is and will be. Please, keep her in prayer as she starts this new job. She will make follow-up for visitors, evangelism, and all the ministries of the church run much more smoothly and more organized. The whole team took Andreia to celebrate her new job and her birthday this month. It was a bit of a culture shock for her I think going out to a nice restaurant just her with all of us North Americans but she had a great time and so did we!

Easter Weekend at Church

We had a great Easter weekend at ICOS even though there were many of our members traveling (Easter is a travel holiday here). It started Friday night with a Family Night at the building. We had about 20 including some English students and some new visitors at our church. It was a great time for games and praise and service. Although for or the Brazilians we've decided charades will be a much better game than win, loose, or draw.

Some of the preparation on Friday night was separating care packages of food for needy families to be distributed Saturday morning. Matt (in charge of benevolence at church) headed up a group of 4 Americans and 4 Brazilians who took food to six deserving families that members of our church are connected to - through family or neighbor / friend ties. The group got to pray with each family and give them invitations to things going on with our church family. It was a blessed day for all.

On Sunday we had a special communion service and worship time. We had less than usual attendance because of the travel weekend but the service was special all the same and was based on Philipians 2. Thank you Jesus for your great sacrifice of love - the is the reason we have such a wonderful and diverse family to share You with here in Salvador, Brazil.

Happy Easter

For Easter this year we had our first ever naked Easter Egg hunt. Ceara, Aubry, and Jackson (all between the ages of 1 and 2 and 1/2) had a great time, dieing Easter Eggs, then hunting for them and then dressing up their birthday suits even more with spagetti - (we had three umpa-lumpas at the end). It was a good time. Lots of pretty colored eggs!

Anniversary Video

Here is a video that our church was blessed to watch together on Anniversary Sunday. Enjoy!

3rd Anniversary Sunday and Other News

Our 3rd Anniversary Sunday went spectacularly well! We had right at about 100 in attendance for the worship and 120 for pot-luck lunch afterwards. The year video for the church was great, one of our Brazilian men preached, and everyone loved the special songs from the children! We also are having about 100 for English classes on Sunday afternoons. God is truly blessing our church family. Continue please to pray for those who came yesterday whom we hadn't seen in a while and for those visitors who need and are wanting more of Christ. Pray also that our members grow in maturity and ability to reach out to all the new faces.

On other news... Average attendance in the month of March has been about 64 each Sunday. Our women's class is getting of to a great start studying Mary and Martha. Our youth have an event this Friday before Easter and have invited the neighborhood behind the church building. We have a service project on Saturday to give away care packages of food to needy families that members of our church know. And Easter Sunday we have another Brazilian young man preaching. Last but certainly not least, we have hired a church secretary! Her name is Andreia, she is a member of our church and you will be hearing much more about her in the future. Thanks for the prayers! Keep them coming!

Aubry and the new room

My-Myee and Ashy's Visit