JP stays in Brazil +...

Things are great here in Brazil. Right now I am working with YWAM in Paraty (in the state of Rio de Janeiro). We’ll be doing urban missions here for about 50 days, working more specifically with four values that we’ll try to pass on to the church and the population here (Responsability, Integration, Initiative and diversity) and through these values we’ll share the love of Christ. My team and I are very excited about our mission here. Our first week has been a blessing already ; )
Last week I received an assistantship to do an EdD at UGA, but I turned down the offer in order to stay in Brazil and continue to work with missions and YWAM. This was a very , VERY hard decision!! But after much thinking and praying and seeking God’s voice I am certain that this is where I am suppose to be right now. I wish I could’ve done both... so I could be in GA and see my dear friends and at the same time continue to do the work we do here. Although I am sad to not be able to back at GA, I am very happy to stay here and continue to work w/ missions in Brazil.

It was very hard to turn down the assistantship offer, because it is a great opportunity and it would be great to be back in Athens, close to all of my friends. I prayed a LOT, and I was really seeking God and in the end He confirmed that he was calling me to stay in Brazil and work with missions. At first I am not exactly sure what I´ll be doing, but my desire is to work with sports ministries. I would also like to take another course in YWAM in the near future.

If I get the working visa I’ll try to work in GA this summer, but I have no idea if that would be possible....
Either way I would like to return to the US to take care of my car and other little things I have there. I don´t know if I´ll be able that, nor how long I would stay if I go to GA. For now I have to focus on Paraty and the work and training we´ll be doing here along with the local church.