Our Journey

I have often contemplated writing down some thoughts and facts about our journey with Calvin in our fight against autism. People would tell me if I didn't do it then I would forget about all this, but I sort of wanted to. It was something so painful that I did hope one day we could look back and remember those days as a fog. I did not want memories of my beloved son doing bizarre things, to remember the feeling that I could not reach him, feeling so alone and depressed in my pain.
I was waiting for the day when I could to write about how well Calvin was doing with his new diet, and what drastic changes we had seen with the therapies we had implemented in our activities with him, just like I had read in the book I read, and in other people's blogs. But I couldn't.
Calvin's progress has been slow and we have had to work and continue to work hard for it. But it has happened and he continues to get better, and we are more than just grateful for it. We are overjoyed and now more than ever we are motivated to work with him and give it all we can.
There is no doubt that we have been so greatly blessed in this process. We are different people and a different family today, and I now think so differently than I did when it first started almost 3 years ago.

I read something in the "Autism Treatment Center" web site yesterday that blessed me. It was basically about working with our special needs children without thinking RESULTS but honestly enjoying joining them during the time we invest to work with them. It make me realize how much I want to see results and how little I'm willing to wait for them to come, how I loose steam when we have to deal with the same issue for one, two, three, four, five months in a row. But things have been changing in my heart, and around our home there are so many things that have changed, and changed for the better, ever since our journey started

Brazil on Business

We are finally recooperating from the long trip back to Brazil this year. We were there for Christmas to see friends and family, but this time it was for business. The company I work for is looking into starting up an office in Brazil.

The president of the company, the chairman of the board and I arrived in Curitiba from Portland on May 18th. What a long trip! We met my wife there who was already visiting her family in Curitiba.

Luiza and I celebrated our 11 anniversary in Curitiba that day. We went out with our friend Michal and his sister Sheilah. The next day, Michal took us out on a tour of the city. That night, Steve McPherson from Hillsong publishing arrived, and he went to eat with the president and chairman while Luiza and I went to a local church and ministered. What a great night that was! We saw God move powerfully and it was so fun to see people receive what God had for them.

Sunday saw us all in 3 services. The first was in the Primeira Igreja Batista de Curitiba, and the next 2 were in the Comunidade Christa in Curitiba. All 3 meetings were well attended and annointed.

Monday we finally met with pastors from churches around Curitiba. Then we flew that afternoon to Belo Horizonte, then later to Rio and Sao Paulo. In total, 12 flights in 10 days for us! So, we were obviously tired, but the trip was worth it. The company is making plans to start something in Brazil. We just have to wait and see now.