Family Update:
Josh & Sarah Brown and Family
December 14, 2014
After 2 years living and serving in Europe our family is back in the states for 5 months. We are spending the holidays with Josh's family, and welcoming a new baby in February. Life is full, and we are enjoying being part of Calvary Chapel in Estero, Florida. Our plan is to return to Europe March 31st, we have our tickets.
Today Ember (our Italy baby) is turning 2, and now she shares a room with her big sisters, she thinks that she is 13 and is always trying to do everything Esther does. I have never washed so much lip gloss of one child before, she seems to think that my lipstick is the best way to get a new hair color, and she is always proud of her work. Rachel and Isaac are loving the ice rink down the street, they train 6 days a week. Naomi and Laura are starting horseback riding lessons next week - a lifelong dream for both. Estera LOVES the public library and brings home 40 pounds of books every week, she is also becoming an excellent photographer. Anna keeps finding people and events to bake for, she has blessed just about everyone in our entire neighborhood, with cookies, fudge and gospel tracts. Susie and Joseph are prolific artists and love the results of having a big box craft store down the street. Josh is playing music at church, and loving it, he is also helping with the youth group a bit. He and Anna are doing music together, Anna can sing so beautifully.
I am finally realizing that a baby is due in 7 weeks, so I went baby shopping for the first time, and started working on a blanket. I bought some cute gender neutral newborn cloths at Marshall's and then went to a few yard sales... I thought I would put together a set of baby boy things and a set of baby girl things. I filled a bag with adorable newborn girl clothes and toys at one sale, but couldn't find anything for a boy. Well, I usually have girls anyway. :) The girls want to put on a baby shower, they love babies and parties. They are so excited about the 10th baby, you would think it was their own, they can't contain the joy... I don't have many friends here to invite... but I do have 7 daughters and that's always a party... there would be hundreds of cookies! Josh's sister and brother will visit for Christmas time, it will be a blessing to have his family all together. Josh's parents just got back from a trip to Indiana to see Joe's doctor, and he is doing great! He is even playing golf again, and recovering from the bone marrow transplant. Isaac is his golfing buddy now.
Looks like it will be really nice 5 months in America, I just miss the most important thing about America - my friends in Indiana. I just can't travel anymore because flying is not an option this late in pregnancy, and a drive would be hard on me... Coming to visit Indiana after the baby isn't going to work out well, as soon as I recover we are planning to pack up and head for Rome. Josh is praying about making a trip alone, but he knows that when babies are due, he is needed around here. When we go back to Europe in the Spring we think our first destination will be Ukraine, where my parents are living. Please pray for us to know the next step as we live life to the fullest today.
We are very thankful for the Lord's abundant provision, and blessing on our family business -www.DyslexiaGames.com - through God's blessing on our business He is giving us the freedom and provision to live and serve anywhere on earth with an internet connection. So as we pray about where to serve we just see so many opportunities and open doors. With hearts for evangelism, music ministry, hospitality and orphans we seek Jesus to show the way.
Last year started off in Ukraine, but while we were in Hungary extending our visas, war began to break out, and going back into the country and extending our visas became less of an option for us. So we spent 5 months in Croatia sharing the gospel with anyone who crossed paths with us. Where we were living was a vacation spot for people from all over Europe, so we bought gospel tracts in almost every language in Europe, it was a joy. While we were there I as very sick (baby coming! surprise!) for over 3 months, and that slowed us down... just a tiny bit. The time of rest forced upon me gave we time to finish writing a book that I have been working on since age 16! In November we published it! It is a book about our adventures, missionary stories, and family life - "Windows to Our World" it's on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Our-World-Crossing-Children/dp/1502510111
Josh & Sarah Brown and Family
December 14, 2014
After 2 years living and serving in Europe our family is back in the states for 5 months. We are spending the holidays with Josh's family, and welcoming a new baby in February. Life is full, and we are enjoying being part of Calvary Chapel in Estero, Florida. Our plan is to return to Europe March 31st, we have our tickets.
Today Ember (our Italy baby) is turning 2, and now she shares a room with her big sisters, she thinks that she is 13 and is always trying to do everything Esther does. I have never washed so much lip gloss of one child before, she seems to think that my lipstick is the best way to get a new hair color, and she is always proud of her work. Rachel and Isaac are loving the ice rink down the street, they train 6 days a week. Naomi and Laura are starting horseback riding lessons next week - a lifelong dream for both. Estera LOVES the public library and brings home 40 pounds of books every week, she is also becoming an excellent photographer. Anna keeps finding people and events to bake for, she has blessed just about everyone in our entire neighborhood, with cookies, fudge and gospel tracts. Susie and Joseph are prolific artists and love the results of having a big box craft store down the street. Josh is playing music at church, and loving it, he is also helping with the youth group a bit. He and Anna are doing music together, Anna can sing so beautifully.
I am finally realizing that a baby is due in 7 weeks, so I went baby shopping for the first time, and started working on a blanket. I bought some cute gender neutral newborn cloths at Marshall's and then went to a few yard sales... I thought I would put together a set of baby boy things and a set of baby girl things. I filled a bag with adorable newborn girl clothes and toys at one sale, but couldn't find anything for a boy. Well, I usually have girls anyway. :) The girls want to put on a baby shower, they love babies and parties. They are so excited about the 10th baby, you would think it was their own, they can't contain the joy... I don't have many friends here to invite... but I do have 7 daughters and that's always a party... there would be hundreds of cookies! Josh's sister and brother will visit for Christmas time, it will be a blessing to have his family all together. Josh's parents just got back from a trip to Indiana to see Joe's doctor, and he is doing great! He is even playing golf again, and recovering from the bone marrow transplant. Isaac is his golfing buddy now.
Looks like it will be really nice 5 months in America, I just miss the most important thing about America - my friends in Indiana. I just can't travel anymore because flying is not an option this late in pregnancy, and a drive would be hard on me... Coming to visit Indiana after the baby isn't going to work out well, as soon as I recover we are planning to pack up and head for Rome. Josh is praying about making a trip alone, but he knows that when babies are due, he is needed around here. When we go back to Europe in the Spring we think our first destination will be Ukraine, where my parents are living. Please pray for us to know the next step as we live life to the fullest today.
We are very thankful for the Lord's abundant provision, and blessing on our family business -www.DyslexiaGames.com - through God's blessing on our business He is giving us the freedom and provision to live and serve anywhere on earth with an internet connection. So as we pray about where to serve we just see so many opportunities and open doors. With hearts for evangelism, music ministry, hospitality and orphans we seek Jesus to show the way.
Last year started off in Ukraine, but while we were in Hungary extending our visas, war began to break out, and going back into the country and extending our visas became less of an option for us. So we spent 5 months in Croatia sharing the gospel with anyone who crossed paths with us. Where we were living was a vacation spot for people from all over Europe, so we bought gospel tracts in almost every language in Europe, it was a joy. While we were there I as very sick (baby coming! surprise!) for over 3 months, and that slowed us down... just a tiny bit. The time of rest forced upon me gave we time to finish writing a book that I have been working on since age 16! In November we published it! It is a book about our adventures, missionary stories, and family life - "Windows to Our World" it's on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Our-World-Crossing-Children/dp/1502510111
In the late summer we went to England for Creation Fest, and Austria for the Missions Conference. Isaac stayed for part of the summer to serve at the Calvary Conference Center, washing dishes - about 40,000. He wants to go back and serve some more next summer, we just don't have enough dishes to wash at home. We spent a lot of time in Salzburg too. We were so blessed to jump in and be part of the sweet Calvary Chapel in that city, what a precious group of Christians! In the fall we found a cheap house to rent on a farm in Portugal, and spent two months focused on homeschooling, my parents came to visit, and that was such a joy.We then spent 2 weeks in Rome - Rome-schooling, history tours for the kids! We arrived in Estero, Florida a month age, and live within walking distance of the church, and a short drive to Josh's parent's house. We are all so blessed. Most of all our joy is full in seeing our older children choosing to follow Jesus. There is no greater joy! Blessings, The Browns |