Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  We are so thankful for each and every one of you!  We have been so blessed through your interest in our family and in what the Lord is doing in Portugal.

We, like most families, absolutely love this time of year!  The girls enjoyed going out and cutting our own tree, and the excitement continues to build as we will be joining family in Connecticut for Christmas and New Years.  The anticipation in our house is also growing as we get closer to our move overseas.

While in Connecticut we will have the privilege of spending some time with dear supporters at North Haven Bible Church. They have been an awesome encouragement to us, and we look forward to seeing them.  At the end of January, Lord-willing, we will travel back north to New York and visit Caryne's father's church in Wevertown, as well as present our ministry to a church in Syracuse.  Please keep us in your prayers as we travel up and down the east coast.

Things are progressing well towards our planned departure in May 2012.  Please be in prayer as we wait on one final piece of paperwork before we can officially apply for work visas.  Once that happens, it is just a matter of praying and trusting that the visas will be approved and delivered in a timely manner.  All in God's timing!

We continue to ask the Lord to provide between $8-$10,000 for start-up costs once we arrive in Portugal.  This amount will be for things like apartment deposit, furniture, appliances, etc.  Will you prayerfully consider a one-time gift towards this need?  If you would like to give monthly, we are currently at 60% of our goal of $2,000 a month.  The information you need is below.

Thank you again for your support and prayer.  It is really a tremendous joy as we praise the Lord for bringing all of you alongside us in our love for Portugal.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email your address to lawrence33180@yahoo.com. 

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift: 

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time 

We're Ready!

We are so excited for what lies ahead!  After much prayer and discussion, we believe the Lord will get us to Portugal by May 2012!  There are many things to be tied up between now and then, and we are thankful that the Lord has all these details in His hands. 

Specific Prayer Request in Anticipation of May 2012

There are a number of specific things that you can be in prayer for. 

v     We are asking the Lord to provide startup funds for these things: visas, plane tickets, an apartment deposit, furniture, appliances etc. 

v     That the paperwork we are sending off to obtain visas would be correct and that the visas will arrive in a timely manner.

v     We are praying that the rest of our monthly support would come before we leave. 

v     Praise the Lord our car has already sold!  We will not be taking many belongings with us, so pray that we can sell the large items that are currently in our home. 

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Update on Pastor Figueira

You can also be in prayer for Pastor Antonio Figueira.  He is a man being mightily used of God to reach Portuguese-speaking people in many parts of the world.  Pastor Figueira recently returned from Mozambique, where he continues to equip pastors there with tools to train up new leaders within their local congregations.  These leaders in turn are used of God to further the Gospel by the expansion of churches.  He was also an instructor at the recent BILD Summit in Ames, Iowa.  His church in Porto continues to be a shining light, and we look forward to joining them next May.  We pray continually that the Lord will sustain him spiritually, mentally and physically.  

Our Family

Anadia, Cora, and Isabel are becoming more and more beautiful every day!  Anadia and Cora continue in ballet on Mondays, and the other days are filled with many opportunities to learn and grow.  Caryne and I are well, truly enjoying our wonderful blessings at home.  Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit my grandparents in Canada.  I had not seen them in many years, and the Lord gave us a very special time together. 

Going Forward

We again thank you for your continued prayer; it has become so evident in our lives in each step we take.  We are asking the Lord to provide between $8,000-$10,000 for our startup costs.  Would you consider a one-time gift toward this need?  If you would like to support us monthly we are currently at 60% of our goal of $2000 a month.  The information you need is below. 

We have felt the Lord lighting in us a passion to step out in faith!  We rest in the knowledge that He takes care of our every need.  We are so privileged to have you along on this journey!

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email your address to lawrence33180@yahoo.com. 

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift: 

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time 

Portugal is getting Closer!

We are truly enjoying the beauties of autumn.  The girls love apple picking and the trips to the pumpkin patch.  Then of course there's the joy of looking forward to getting together with family for the holidays!

We would like to humbly thank you all for both your love and prayer.  Over these past number of months we have been overwhelmed with the support you have shown us as we seek to follow God's will for our lives.

Things continue to move forward!  Our goal to leave last month of course has passed, so we are asking the Lord to give us clarity on selecting a new target date.  Our current support level, combined with teaching English in Portugal, brings us very close to what we need to live overseas.  We ask for prayer as we juggle the anxiousness to go versus making an informed, prayerful decision.

Here are our upcoming plans: On the 21st of this month we will be giving a ministry presentation to several families at our local church.  On November the 2nd I will be traveling to Canada to visit my grandparents, and Lord-willing share with other family members at that time.  We will be spending Christmas in Connecticut with my parents, with the added blessing of spending time with the wonderful supporters of North Haven Bible Church.  We are also praying about the possibility of me going to Portugal in January 2012 to meet with several TEFL schools, with the goal of securing the necessary employment.   

Our desire and prayer is that the Lord will use us as a tool to share Christ with the Portuguese people.  Will you prayerfully consider financially supporting our family as we move closer to this goal?  Thank you so much for your love and support!

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email your address to lawrence33180@yahoo.com. 

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift: 

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

Here Comes the Fall!

Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

I love the fall season!  The cooler air, the changing leaves, and the wonderful traditions are all reasons fall is my favorite time of the year.  Fall for me, however, also brings with it a sense of anticipation.  When is the next step going to come?  When will I be able to move from the job I'm not all that fond of?  The verse above reminds me that the Lord's timing is always perfect.  At times that is hard for me to swallow, but He certainly does not have to prove himself!  So, I need to wait.  Wait and not take for granted the amazing blessings I have in my life.

We are currently over 50% of our monthly support goal.  Our prayer now is that the Lord will clearly show us new opportunities for us to present our love and passion for Portugal.  Please let us know if there might be a possibility of us sharing at your home church!  We are ready and willing to come and share!

Please be in prayer as Pastor Figueira is in Mozambique for the next couple of weeks.  He is there to continue his work of teaching pastors how to raise up new leaders within their respective churches.  Pray that his time there is fruitful, safe, and God-honoring.

I am excited as youth soccer at our church that I am privileged to lead begins September 17.  I thank the Lord for the opportunity, and would appreciate your prayers that the program would bring praise to Him.

Thank you so much for your love and prayer!  We are so blessed to have you alongside us!

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email your address to lawrence33180@yahoo.com. 

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift: 

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

The Lord is Good!

Pastor Figueira and his wife Ana

I am always amazed at the blessings that God allows us to enjoy during our lifetimes!  I just returned from Ames, Iowa, where I had the privilege of spending time with Pastor Figueira and his family as we celebrated his son Levi's wedding.  I was so blessed with the opportunity to reconnect with each of the Figueira's, and to meet and get to know some great people.  What a joy it was to be a part such an occasion!  God is going to do amazing things through Levi and his new bride, Shanna.

My time in New York was an event I will never forget.  My father and I participated in a golf tournament in Syracuse named after my late grandfather and a close friend of his.  The tournament was founded through North Syracuse Baptist Church as a way to share Christ through the memory of two great men.  I was privileged to speak about the impact my grandfather had in my life, and was also able to share about our passion for Portugal.  My father had the joy of sharing the Gospel to the men there.  As an added bonus, we won the tournament!   

I am back with my family, and I have missed them greatly!  The girls are doing well, growing too fast!  Anadia and Cora just finished up ballet camp, and we are very proud parents.  Isabel is healthy and is a beautiful addition to our family.

                         

One of the last things Pastor Figueira said to me before I headed back to Virginia, was that he is praying that we will come to Portugal soon.  There is a desperate need for laborers in that country!  Will you join us in our passion for Portugal?

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email your address to lawrence33180@yahoo.com.

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift:

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

Trip to the Northeast

We are back from our trip to the northeast.  The Lord continues to bless as we had a great time sharing our passion for Portugal in Connecticut and New York.  We spoke on Wednesday night, June 29, at my father's church in North Haven, CT.  We were so overwhelmed with the response from the awesome people at North Haven Bible Church.  The Lord has His hand on that congregation, and it is a privilege to have them alongside us in this ministry.

On July 3 we had the joy of speaking at Caryne's father's church in Wevertown, NY.  A great number of extended family was able to join us, and we praise the Lord as Isabel was dedicated to Him at the service.  In addition, two children of my brother-in-law, Yavneah and Azariah, were also dedicated.  My parents, sister, and Nana were with us that day, what a blessing!  We thank the Lord for the love and support of Caryne's wonderful home church!

On Monday, July 4, we were again blessed as the Word of Life Family Campground dedicated their softball field to my Nana Darling.  The Lord led my grandparents to begin the campground many years ago, and the field is a reminder of what He has done through them.

Please be in prayer for some upcoming trips.  I am heading to New York, July 15 and 16, to share our plans for Portugal to members of a church in Syracuse.  I will then be traveling to Iowa, July 28, to attend the wedding of Pastor Figueira's son Levi.  Please pray for traveling mercies, and that these opportunities will be fruitful.

Praise the Lord we are currently at around 50% of our monthly support goal.  What fun it is to watch the Lord reveal His perfect will!  Thank you so much for your prayer, love, and support!

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift:

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

We were blessed with the opportunity to meet up with Pastor Figueira this past week while he was here in the States.  Pastor spent a few days in the Madison, VA area with the Parrish family, great friends who have been in ministry in Portugal for many years.  We enjoyed the time in fellowship at the Parrish house, and finished the day at a local church where Pastor Figueira was able to share what the Lord is doing in Portugal and Mozambique.

Cora and Anadia with our childrens ministry leader

Last night Cora and Anadia participated in their Awana closing ceremonies.  We are so proud of them both and we continue to pray that they will develop a deep love for the Lord. 

We have an eventful few months coming up! June 27-July 5 we are traveling to Connecticut and New York.  We will be sharing our passion for Portugal with a number of churches and pastors.  On July 28 I will be traveling to Iowa for the wedding of Levi Figueira, Pastor Figueira's son.  In August, Lord willing, we will be heading to Pennsylvania to share our plans for Portugal at my brother-in-law's church.

Please pray for traveling mercies, and that our time with these churches and pastors will be fruitful.  We are excited as the Lord continues to lay out His plan.

Thank you for your love and prayer!

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift:

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time  

Spiritual Desolation in Portugal

Did you know that the population of evangelical Christians in Portugal is currently at .08%?  Christian sociologists report that anything less than 10% is considered "unchurched."  This is quite astonishing, and something that has really hit home with me recently.  In addition, out of the 84% of people who claim to be Roman Catholic, only 1/3 actually regularly attend mass.  Portugal is in desperate spiritual need!

Our plans for once we arrive in Portugal are as follows:  I will be discipled and trained by Pastor Figueira, while I will immediately be in a leadership role with the youth of the church.  I will Lord-willing also be accompanying Pastor Figueira as he assists numerous church-plant movements in Portugal, Mozambique, and the United States.  The Lord has really grown in us a passion to be used to plant new churches in Portugal!  There is such a tremendous need!  Will you join us in this passion!  We are currently at 40% of our monthly goal.  If you would like to give, the information is below.

Thank you for your love and prayer!

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift:

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

Update/Pastor Figueira Coming to the States

We are encouraged as we watch the Lord guide each step of our lives.  We have so enjoyed the process of letting friends and family know of our passion and plans for a permanent move to Portugal.  We are currently at 40% raised of our goal of $2000 a month.  Things are also coming along well in the work visa application process.  Please be in prayer for these things as we move forward.

Pastor Figueira will be arriving in the States May 9.  He will embark on a 2-week journey to meet with friends and churches to share his vision for church planting in Portugal and Mozambique.  Please be in prayer for the Lord to bless his travels and ministry.  We will spend a day with him in Virginia at the home of the Parrish family, great friends who were in ministry in Portugal with Word of Life.

We will be headed to Connecticut and New York to share our plans for Portugal in several churches June 27-July 5.  We will be using the train as our mode of travel, a new adventure for the girls.  Please be in prayer that our time will be fruitful, and for traveling mercies. 

Isabel is healthy and beautiful, and Anadia and Cora absolutely adore her.  We are so truly blessed with a home full of smiles, laughter, and challenges.  Our greatest desire is for our children to grow up with a deep love for our Lord and Savior.

Thank you for your love and support.  Thank you for coming along side us in this ministry!

If you would like to support us monthly or with a one-time gift:

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

Isabel Berlyn Darling Has Arrived!

Praise the Lord for the birth of our third daughter, Isabel Berlyn Darling!  We are so thankful to our Lord for allowing her to be born healthy and strong.  She was born 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and she is beautiful.

We are so glad she is here.  It is now the time to really push forward in our plans to move to Portugal.  We are currently in the process of applying for new passports for Cora and Isabel, as well as applying for work visas.

Would you prayerfully consider joining us in financial support?  We are currently at 15% of our monthly support goal, and we are also in need of one-time gifts for things such as plane tickets, furniture, and visa application costs.  If you would like to give, the information you need is below.

We cherish the opportunity to share with you in this ministry!  Thank you all for your love and prayer.

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

Details, Details, Details

As the months fly by, we just wanted to give you an update on specific needs regarding our move to Portugal.  We are currently in the process of applying for visa's for each member of our family.  This includes getting new passports for Cora and eventually the new baby.  This is something very specific you can be in prayer for, that we will receive visa's as quickly as possible.

We are asking the Lord for the opportunity to move to Portugal by September of this year, just six months away!  We have targeted between $1500 and $2000 per month to be raised.  With the employment we are confident I can obtain, we feel that this is a good goal to set.  We also need to raise "start-up" funds for specific things like plane tickets, an apartment deposit, furniture, and the cost of new passports and visas.

We thank the Lord that He has brought in some initial support.  It is a true joy to sit back and watch Him put the pieces together as only He can.  Would you prayerfully consider joining us now in prayer and financial support?

Please write check out to BILD International, include "Darling Family" in the memo line, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

*Please indicate with a note if gift is either monthly or one-time

Thank you so much for your love and support!

Pastor Antonio in Mozambique

At the moment, Pastor Antonio is in Mozambique, and I wanted to share with you some details concerning his ministry in that country.

A few posts back I shared with you what BILD International provides for church leaders around the world.  BILD has developed a curriculum that is based completely from Scripture that is used to train up new leaders right inside the local church.  As the Gospel spreads rapidly in many parts of the world, this is a tremendous tool available to pastors who do not have the resources to send new leaders away to seminary.  With this curriculum, pastors can keep their leaders to train and "learn on the job," and then be able to send them to a new church plant.

A few years ago Pastor Antonio began to translate this curriculum into the Portuguese language, and it is used to train leaders in the church in Porto.  The Lord also began placing in his heart how this tool could be mightily used in other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Mozambique.  So for the past few years he has been traveling there to meet with pastors and instruct them on how to use this tool to train leaders within their churches.  The Gospel is wonderfully spreading in this country, and we are in constant prayer that the Lord will use this curriculum to supply leaders for new church plants all over that land!

This is one part of the ministry of the church in Porto that Lord-willing we will be involved in.  I truly have a love for the Portuguese people, and it would be an awesome joy if the Lord allowed us to be a part of the growth of the Gospel in the Portuguese-speaking world.

Please be in prayer for our family as our third child should be arriving anytime now!  Pray for strength for Caryne, and that the delivery process would be the easiest one yet for her.

We continue to target September of this year to move to Portugal permanently.  If you would like to join with us financially, the information you need is below.  Thank you for your love and prayers!

Make the check out to BILD International, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

Please write "Darling Family" on the memo line of your check.   

Back From Portugal!

What a awesome time Caryne and I had!  We are back from Portugal and we miss it already!  The Lord truly blessed our time there and we have come back to the States with a tremendous passion to go back and serve our Lord in that country.

The first couple of days we spent getting to know the city of Porto and its surrounding areas.  On Wednesday I had the opportunity to go see my favorite soccer team play near the Porto area.  What great fun!  On Thursday Caryne and I were able to go to a huge outdoor market in the town of Barcelos.  These markets have all the necessities: clothing, fruits, vegetables, meats, bread, live chickens :).  We love the atmosphere of the open market and we can't wait to be able take advantage of this great variety! 

On Friday we visited a number of grocery stores to get a feel for what was available, and then stopped by another outdoor market close to the church.  Friday afternoon I met with two ESL schools for interviews.  The interviews went well and we are excited that there is opportunity to teach English in the Porto area.  Friday night we gathered at Pastor Figueira's home for a "Lighthouse," (small-group) meeting.  Each Friday there are several Lighthouses held throughout the city.  It is just a wonderful time of food, fellowship, and Bible study.  The picture above is of that Lighthouse.  That night we had a birthday celebration for Caryne, which was a complete surprise to her! 

Saturday morning I played indoor soccer with several men from the church, and then we had a delicious lunch with our hosts, the Cristofanos, a family we grew to love in the short time we were there.  What a blessing from the Lord it was to get to know such a beautiful family!  Saturday afternoon was spent at the church with the children and young adults.  Each Saturday they have programs of games and Bible study for each age group.  We also spent a brief time with one of the leaders of the church discussing the cost of living in the Porto area.  From that information we will soon be able to share our target amount of support to be raised.

Sunday morning we spent at church, where I had the opportunity to share with the congregation what had been happening over the past year.  I was able to share some of it in the Portuguese language, which I was encouraged about.  It was a joy to be able to worship and fellowship with fellow believers, even in a different language!

Monday morning Pastor Figueira graciously loaned us his car, and Caryne and I headed north to spend a couple of days just the two of us.  We did fit in a precious time with great family friend, Manuel, for lunch, and it was great to see him.  Caryne and I had a wonderful time together traveling through the beautiful countryside and along the coast.

Now we are back, and eager to set out accomplishing the tasks that will bring us to Portugal permanently.  Would you prayerfully consider joining us in prayer and financial support?  We continue to target September of this year to move, which is not long from now!  Things to be in prayer for: the birth of our third child (March 30), the application process for a work visa, the next step in the interview process for the ESL schools, and support raising.  If you would like to give financially the information is below. 

Thank you so much for your love and support!

Make the check out to BILD International, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

Please write "Darling Family" on the memo line of your check.

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  We enjoyed a wonderful break with my wife's side of the family in Philadelphia, PA.  Now its back to life's responsibilities.  Our immediate task for this month is to get ready for our trip to Portugal on the 24th.  Praise the Lord I was able to set up a number of interviews with ESL schools in the Porto area.  Please pray that these interviews will go well and we would clearly see the Lord's direction.  Pray also for wisdom as we go over the details that come with leaving our children in the care of my parents.

We will be spending most of our time in Portugal with Pastor Figueira and his family, as well as the church family there in Porto.  We will also set aside time to get to know the area, find the location of food markets,  and possibly look at apartments.  We are truly excited to see what the Lord has for us on this next step of our journey. 

We had the awesome blessing of seeing our first monthly supporter join us in December.  We continue to ask the Lord to provide support to supplement employment so that we can move permanently to Portugal by September of this year.  Would you prayerfully consider joining us with a one-time gift or in monthly support?

It is all in the Lord's hands, and we sincerely rest in that fact.  May the Lord bless you and your family as you embark on a new year.

If you would like to join us in support, please send gifts to:

Make the check out to BILD International, and send to:
BILD International
2400 Oakwood Rd
Ames, IA 50014-8417

Please write "Darling Family" on the memo line of your check.