Back to Brazil

Yup. Really. No joke. We're going back February 11. After 13 long months we're going, but our situation is complicated.

Why so complicated? Well, we aren't sure about how long we'll be there. Honestly, there has been no joyous uproar about returning, because we still haven't gotten our long-term visas. We are working with our lawyer on a visa, but it hasn't happened yet. Five months ago we were told by said lawyer that we would be back in Brazil in a month, but we're still filling out paperwork and trying to get through maze of red tape.

So, what to do? We're praying and instead of just waiting here twiddling our thumbs, we've decided to go back on short-term visas. We'll be staying for six months again, or if our long-term visa gets through 2-4 years.

So everything is up in the air again, or maybe it's still - Everything is still up in the air again. Things are complicated, and to be honest I'm afraid.

Life is great here right now. It's safe. We have our family around. We're happily living with my brother, his wife, and a dear friend. The house always busy with friends. Our Christian friends are loving and supportive of us. We have an awesome new church family. Great jobs. Savings set aside. A soft bed. Fast internet. Health insurance. Taco Bell. Comfort. Ease.
Returning to Brazil stirs mixed feeling inside of me. I feel great joy and excitement about returning to our friends. I have missed so many people so much!I can't wait to teach again. I want to see how things have changed! I want to get back, but but I guess the long wait has stirred up fear.
I'm constantly running through the 'What Ifs.'
What if I feel out of place? What if we don't raise enough support? What if I am really a horrible teacher? What if I never get to finish all the schooling I want? What if we dry up all the savings?

What if we end up back in the US again in 6 months?



Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. - Psalms 37:5
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you... -Psalms 55:22

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! - Psalms 40:17

-Lindsay

Hello October, Goodbye Summer

Perhaps you’ve noticed that we have been putting off another communication. We had hoped that this message could deliver exciting news about our visas, but now we are fairly certain that we won’t be back in Brazil for a while. We still aren’t sure how long “a while” will be. It may be two months, six months, or two years before we are able to return to Brazil.

Here’s the skinny on where we are with things.

What’s with our visas? We are still trying to obtain work visas with a Brazilian lawyer. We were originally told that it would take 30 days to get our visas; it’s been about two months and we still haven’t gotten them. We have just learned that the Federal Police have had strikes on and off for the past 9 months or so. Any visa other than a tourist visa must first go through the Federal Police so we are left to wait. They are in part striking for structural reform that will help ease the process of issuing visas, but reform takes time. We are still being asked for more information so there has been no denial of our visas yet.

Lindsay with an old pal, former exchange student, Fernanda

What have we been doing? Before visiting Jeff’s grandparents in California we quit our jobs believing that we would leave for Brazil shortly after our return. Since we’re still here we’ve found ways to keep busy. Jeff has worked on various ministry projects and continues to do freelance work fixing computers. We’ve also spent a lot of free time visiting with out of town family and friends.

Jeff helping Lindsay's brother rebuild his deck.

What are we going to do now? Returning to Brazil may not happen immediately so in the interim we are hunting for jobs. While there is still a good chance that we will be going back soon, we want to be prepared for being in the US for a while. If we do have our visas denied, we will need to go back to school. We are hoping to find jobs at universities or jobs that offer tuition reimbursement.

What are we praying for? Please join us in praying: We are praying that God will continue to lead us and open the doors that he chooses to open. We are praying as we search for the jobs that God has planned. We are praying that we will continue to trust God as we wait to hear what will happen. Pray that we will feel at peace with what God is doing in our lives.

Jeff at the Cart Family Farm

In God's Hands

Well we have done everything we can on our end for the Visa and now the lawyer in Brazil is working on getting our visa for us. We haven't heard much from the lawyer at all so I guess no news is good news. Please continue to pray for the process.
We did just get back from a trip to visit my Grandparents who live in Southern California. It was a really great trip and we were able to spend a lot of time with my Grandparents but we didn't wear them out. We were able to do a lot of really cool things while we were there, including a trip to the San Diego wild animal park and a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Lindsay has some picture up on her Facebook site . Check it out here.

Legalized

After having to take another trip to the Brazilian Consulate in Chicago, we finally have all of our documents "legalized" by the Brazilian government. Basically meaning we can give all the documents to the lawyer and we should have our visa within a month.

Praise God

Things have gotten rather complicated with the Ministry of Labor and they are giving Tele the run around. The good news is that through researching the requirements for the Visa, Tele ran across a lawyer that knows the process and can get us our Visa.
So we have hired the lawyer and now all we need to do is go to the embassy in Chicago and get our credentials certified. The Brazil government does trust documents that haven't been certified by a Brazilian.
We will take a trip to Chicago on Tuesday June 19th. Please pray that is process goes smooth.

Good News

Tele went to the Ministry of Labor and they like my credentials!! So now Tele has to write a employee contract and get it approved by the Ministry of Labor. More news soon.

So much time

Sorry we haven't posted in forever. It has been a weird but wonderful time here in the US. Yep thats right we have been in the US since November 06 because we have had trouble getting our work visa to go back to Brazil. The Brazil government pretty much said that we didn't have enough schooling to be qualified to teach at the International school. So, I (Jeff) have been studying for the Comptia A+ computer certification exams because the Brazil Government has said if I have a computer certification they will give us the work permit. In the course of starting to study for these exams a good friend of mine offered me a job in the computer field that would also pay for my exams (they are about$158 each). So the last couple of months I have worked for Roche Diagnostics in there IT department and have been studying like crazy for the Comptia A+ exams.
Well, the LORD is faithful and I have passed the exams!! Which means I am official a Comptia A+ professional, translation= I know a lot about computers and could work as a general computer repair guy. So, as I write this I have been getting my resume updated and I will be getting my college transcripts and sending them all to Brazil in hopes of getting a work permit so we can apply for the work visa!!
Keep us in your Prayers

Another way to get a Visa

A+

Well the newest way that we are trying to get our work visa is now through Jeff. Tele has been in communication with the ministry of labor and they didn't approve our visa through Lindsay.They did say that if Jeff had a computer certification that they would give him a Visa to teach computers at the International school.
So, this means that Jeff has started to study a ton in order to take the Microsoft A+ certificate test. It is two tests one hardware and one software. Please be praying for Jeff as he is studying for these tests and will take it in a couple weeks once he feels secure that he can pass.

So Lindsay and I have been living with her parents in a two bedroom apartement for the past 2 months. We have really enjoyed living with her parents and like the apartement also but sometimes wierd things happen there.

Like the other night it started raining inside the aparetment.
So it turned out that the new neighbors upstairs didn't have toilet paper and one of the girls thought it would be a good idea to use paper towels. Yes that is right it was raining toilet water down upon us. Luckily it was only in the two bathrooms that it happened.

Still in Indiana

Yes we are still here but things are looking good for getting the work Visa and heading back down to Brazil.
The International School now has the government number from the IRS of Brazil that will make it possible for us to get a work visa. We are praying that everything will be processed fast and that we will be in Brazil in March!

Keep Praying for us!