Another Birth in the Family

On June 26 we witnessed a birth.  It was the birth of my mother into the family of God.  She made the decision to become a child of God and, because the Bible says that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and wants to follow him should be baptized, she did so.  On that Friday she started a new life.

John, Andy (4), my brother Mike, me holding Ben, My mom (after her baptism), Jonah (7), and Bill, my mom's boyfriend

Usually we include a photo or two of a baptism, but this time I am posting several.  One reason is selfish, because each picture elates my soul.  Another reason is because it dawned on me that many of you may never have witnessed a baptism.  

Here are most of the people who were present:

(my brother, my three kids, and Jerry, one of the elders of the church in Springtown, Texas.  He came to open the building for us because it was Friday.)

John and my mom changed into some robes that the church provides for convenience, then they stepped into the water.  John shared a few Bible verses with us:Then he asked my mom if she believes that Jesus is the son of God.  After she confirmed that statement, he baptized her in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit:

Though it's a mystery as to how he does it we believe that God added her to his family for her faith in him:

Now my mom and I can be certain that we will not only spend this lifetime together but also the next.  And, I must admit, I can't think of anything that makes me happier.

Sunday in Colorado

John invited his family over for church on Sunday.  You may remember that before we left for Brazil he baptized his dad and our niece's boyfriend, whom he later married to our niece.  Since then, his dad's wife has been baptized and is attending a local church.  His dad is now in better spirits than we've ever seen him, and our niece and her husband are happy together and being great parents to their two year old.  We couldn't be prouder.

It was great to see how the family is growing together since our last visit.  John reminded them that together we are the church and suggested that they meet together regularly to worship God and encourage one another. 

John's sister Gina invited her friend, who was baptized in the bathtub that same morning.  It turned out to be the best day of our furlough yet.  

If you want to see some more photos of our travels so far, go to "Furlough Photos"

Our Temporary Phone Number

You can reach us at this number until July 25th, while we're in the States: (615) 584-8810.

Our 2009 Furlough Schedule

The Jewell family will be on furlough for two months.  Part of the time will be used to visit our families and friends and part will be to report to our sponsors, with a little vacation time thrown in.  If you're going to be in the same place at the same time, please let us know.  We are trying to work out the details of our stay in each place.  

Here's our travel schedule:

May 25

from Recife, Brazil to Miami, Florida

May 30

from Miami, Florida to Denver, Colorado

June 12

from Denver, Colorado to Dallas, Texas

June 28

from Dallas, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee

July 12

from Nashville, Tennessee to Dallas, Texas

July 24 

from Dallas, Texas to Miami, Florida

July 25

from Miami, Florida to Recife, Brazil

Youth Impact III

Last Night was a special night at the Comunidade de Cristo.  It was the third annual Youth Impact.  The young adults invite their friends to see a theatrical presentation and hear a biblical message about what they just saw.
 

They did an excellent job presenting a piece in which three armed men enter the church and force members at gunpoint to admit their sins in front of the congregation.  The leader of the three insists that there is no such thing as true conversion, and tells the congregation that everyone who claims to be a Christian is only wearing a mask.  He says that they only act Christian at church but have secret lives outside of church.  For the first several hostages this is true.  But the last one the gunmen force to confess is a true Christian who has been genuinely converted.  This drives the gunman mad.  He cannot accept that it is possible because he doesn't believe in the power of Christ.  In the end, he turns the gun on himself. 

John had the honor of following the play with a message about wearing masks in church.  He talked about the fact that the world loves us because of something we have to offer but that God loves us in spite of the fact that we have nothing to offer.  He said God is not impressed with our masks and loves us just as we are.
 

There were over sixty people at the event last night.  Over thirty of those were visitors.  We were very impressed with the great job the young adults did to prepare the evening and we were very happy that they managed to get so many of their friends to attend.  If just one of them is reached for Christ, the whole evening will have been worth the effort.

Our Return to the Hospital

What looks like "Baby's First Tanning Booth" is actually a special bassinet to treat jaundice.  

Just two days out of the hospital, we took Ben to the pediatrician to see about treating acid reflux.  Jonah and Andy both had it and we saw signs of it in Ben.  We just needed to confirm the dosage of medicine to give him since he's smaller than either of them were. The doctor took one look at him and said we would have to deal with acid reflux later.  She said his color didn't look good and she ordered an urgent blood test.  Two hours later we discovered that his bilirubin level, which was supposed to be between .8 and 12, was 21.  He was severely jaundiced.  We immediately took him to the hospital to be admitted for phototherapy.
 

When we arrived they said they didn't have any vacancies.  They called the only other hospital in town that takes infants, and they also said they didn't have any vacancies.  John put out an a.p.b. for prayer and within fifteen minutes we had a room.  Ben spent three days and nights in the light bed that simulates sunlight.  I stayed next to him the whole time.  It was my job to make sure he stayed in the bassinet when he wasn't nursing or getting his diaper changed.  A canvas mask was taped over his eyes the whole time.  

His levels have returned to within the normal range and we were released yesterday afternoon.  I've heard it said that babies don't smile this young but I know Ben smiled at me when the nurse took his mask off.  Monday we will have his blood tested one more time to be sure his bilirubin levels aren't rising again.  Then he'll finally be free of all the poking and prodding until his next vaccines are due.

Welcome, Baby Ben

We just got home with this little bundle of joy:

He was born Tuesday night, March 3 (one year to the day that we left the States for Brazil).  His name is Ben Marshall Jewell and he weighed in at six pounds and four ounces.  I was induced a couple weeks early due to complications involving gestational diabetes and an unexplained intense itch.  After a ten-hour day, Ben arrived at 9:44 pm.  He and mom are doing great.  Jonah and Andy are thrilled, and Dad is on cloud nine with boy number three.  Thank you all for your prayers and your concerns during the difficult pregnancy.  I knew the minute I saw baby Ben that it was all worth it.