Impressions about "home"

As I sat down to think through this blog post, fleeting memories of warmth and love rushed through my mind...hugs and good-byes at the Altamira Brazil airport; hugs, tears, and hellos at the Columbus Ohio airport. How very blessed I am, to have two homes filled with people I love!

I also realized that I haven't been taking enough pictures since I've been in the U.S. Gotta get busy with the camera...I'll need those pictures when I return to my other home in Brazil!

I got to watch my 5 year old grandson play soccer in the cold and rain. He's learned a lot about the game since I last saw him play - kept his focus on the ball and moved it along the field, played well with his team, even made a goal!

Another highlight of my furlough was the International Festival at Vineyard Columbus. I met up with Abilene Santos, from Mirante Vineyard in Brazil, who is here studying at Vineyard Leadership Institute. The International Festival was a celebration of the many nationalities that are represented in Vineyard Columbus.

I can't remember the number of countries represented, but the crowd worshipped Jesus in many different languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili, French, etc. Many people were dressed in their native costumes, a huge potluck of ethnic foods, children carried flags of many nations through the crowd, etc.

This weekend is Mother's Day, so I'm happy that I will be with my children and grandchildren, making more memories to take back to Brazil with me. Gotta take more pictures, too!

And here are a few of the pictures from "home" (Friendship House in Brazil) that I am sharing with my American friends...

One impression that has settled deep within my heart...when I am in Brazil, I am homesick for my American family and friends...yet when I am in the U.S., I am homesick for my Brazilian friends and family. I feel kind of "homeless" at times...but God is teaching me that our real home is heaven, and we'll all be a little homesick until we reach that glorious home.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Revelation 21