LANDED SAFELY!

We had a safe trip home. Everyone made it through customs just fine,all bags arrived and everyone is glad to be home. We are in the car headed home! Thanks to everyone for their prayers..

trent,joy and the kids

headed home to the great US of A!

We are eating our last meal in Brazil and about to head to the airport!
Our family has had a blast and a wonderful trip but we are excited about being home real soon.
Please pray for a smooth evening at the airport and on the plane!

LOVE, THE WILBANKS

Orphanage!

We arrived back in Brasilia yesterday! All went well moving a heard of people through the airport. Our flight got canceled but thankfully they were able to put us on an earlier one. We did not have much time to spare so we went straight from the check in counter to the plane. On our way through security Trent got stopped, and they needed to look in his bag. He completely forgot and left his Leatherman in his bag. So he lost the leatherman - bummer!

Today we are at the orphanage wrapping up work here. We have been cleaning the grounds, cutting the grass, trimming the bushes and racking. It has been fun to be back here and see all the little kids. It is very hot here in Brasilia!

till next post...

Tour of Sao Paulo!

Today I took the girls with the I360 students to tour the city of Sao Paulo. Trent was getting a little behind on his studies so he needed a day to catch up. Plus, the internet here at the hotel is pretty reliable so that helped out tremendously for him to have a successful study day. It's been a bit of a challenge for him to juggle his studies with limited access to internet but he has managed so far. For me today was long and tiring because of having to keep an eye on the girls at all times in the crowded city and crossing streets, etc. At times they would catch a piggy back ride and I would take a breather but then the thought occurred to me... What if the student who they are catching a piggy back with gets lost - then they are both lost. But we made it just fine. Got to go to the one of the most prestigious law schools in Sao Paulo (maybe even in Brazil) - that was a cool experience for our students because Brazilians have to work very hard to get into universities here. For example, this particular law school has about 165 openings each year with about 5,000 applicants. Talked with a friend of ours down here, Mattheus, who has been trying to get into this school for the last 3 years. After taking the test again this past year he was short 5 points. So, its quite an achievement/accomplishment when you bump into university students here.

Trent and I are doing well -- we catch a minute here and there to catch up with each other. So far the trip has gone well, but I think we are both ready to be back home with our three littles ones and a routine in which we have a little more control :)

The girls and I had McD's AGAIN tonight! Kylie - the girls are loving the nuggets - they are eating a few for you :) The funny thing about this McD's experience is that I was able to order it from the hotel and they delivered it to us here at the hotel. I don't think you can find that service in the US! Some of the students were there with me and we got to talking. We think Chick-fil-A ought to do that for us in Pine Mountain - wouldn't that be great! Well, tomorrow we head back to Brasilia for some more ministry opportunities.

Please continue to pray for strength for us! The past three weeks have been great - we want to continue to be just as excited about the last part of the trip as we were at the beginning. Pray for the students as well!

Blessings,
Joy

In Sao Paulo....

We arrived in Sao Paulo Saturday evening. We were greeted by 13 very happy I360 students who had been in Porto Alegre for the past 2 weeks. I think our girls thought when we got on the plane in Brasilia that we were headed home. However, when we got to Sao Paulo and they saw Miss Mary Michael they were very happy. An update on the week - we spent Monday - Wednesday working in a Spirist orphange doing some painting in the girls dormitory. I had a totally different perspective going to the orphanage now being a mom. I realized even more how blessed I am to have the parents I have. There was one girl in particular named Carolina who would just find me and want a hug and for me just put my arms around her. The children are starving inside for someone to love on them. On Friday we went back to the orphanage just to play with them and to share the gospel. I was blown away at how open the people at the orphange are to allow us to come in and share the gospel. One girl named Natalicia accepted Christ. Please pray for her as she begins her walk with the Lord in a very dark place.

Now like I said we are in Sao Paulo. The girls and I are staying with some very close friends of ours while Trent and the rest of the group travel to another town 6 hours away by bus to do some work their. They will be back Tuesday night. The girls are taking a nap right now - very much needed. Like I've said before they have been troupers! Last night they were beging me to take them to bed. I wish that were the case every night! Ashlynn was talking to Trent the other night and said "I am ready to go home because I think I am speaking so much portuguese that I am forgetting English". This morning we got in church and Anna Kathryn starts saying "My tummy hurts...I am hungry...". Well I didn't have anything for her. The rest of the time she kept complaining! I just kept praying please dont get sick here on me. For lunch we had McDonalds (by the way much better in Brasil) and boy she was a different child after we left.

Love,
Joy

PS - When Trent gets back we will update the pics!

we have had a great weekend visiting in the home of Andre and Marney friends from when we lived here. Yesterday we got to go to the home of a family we were really close to when I lived here. All of them are married and a two of them have children. It was neat watching our kids interact. I believe children have a universal language. The girls have been doing wonderful! They were very excited about when we took them to mcdonalds yesterday. Tonight we are going to church. Please pray for me because they want me to translate the sermon from portuguese to English YIKES! I guess if everyone else is being stretched I need to be as well. I thought leavin little Caleb was going to be enough! We got to video skipe yesterday with him and he is doing great. Boy do we miss him but we know we are doing what the Lord wants. Can't believe we r heading into week three. Thanks for your prayers and keep the comments and emails coming. To friends at noahs ark we miss you guys but the girls are workin on their sheets.

Abracos (Hugs),
Joy

Day 5

Greetings from the countryside outside of Brasilia!

Yesterday, Friday, a group of young people arrived here at Agua Viva

for a retreat. Our students are helping lead the retreat. They

have planned the games, led in worship and discussion times. Many of the Brazilians

that are here for the retreat speak some English so they have enjoyed getting to

practice and the I360 students have enjoyed continuing to work on their Portuguese. 

The girls are doing well, they have enjoyed having mommy and daddy

Around for a few days. They are starting to become more and more comfortable

With the language and getting to where I will tell them a phrase and they will repeat

It.  One day Ashlynn wanted to go play with here two friends she met here but was afraid she wouldn’t know how to tell them she wanted to go home. So, I told her “don’t worry, I’ll write it on a piece of paper and you can show that to them.” She kept the paper with her and brought it back when she came home. The girls are getting used to the food, their favorite so far is rice and beans. We are all adjusting to sleeping in one room together.

Blessings,

Trent and Joy