For in Him we Live and Move and Exist

Acts 17:28 - For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'  This verse resonated with me recently.  In a sinful and hopeless world, we have the joy of living, "existing," in the hands of the Almighty God.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve Him!

The church meeting together for a meal

We are excited as many new opportunities will begin these next few weeks.  Every Friday, beginning September 14, we will be having a young men's Bible study in our home. Please keep us in prayer as we study together what it means to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord."  We will be studying 1st and 2nd Thessalonians and Colossians. This Sunday I will also begin leading the youth in study during the Sunday school hour.  My language proficiency is still a work in progress, so you can imagine the challenge these times will present.  Thank you for your continued prayers concerning our language study.

I am in constant contact with the ESL schools in the area.  Please pray that I would be able to gain some teaching hours in the next few weeks, as we are in need of those funds to supplement for what we still need in support.  We rest in the fact that the Lord has everything in His hands!  

We had the great privilege last week of visiting our dear friends Beca and Samuel Trancoso.  Beca basically became a part of our family while my parents were missionaries here, so much so that my father walked her down the aisle in her wedding. Samuel is a pastor of a church in Barreiro, just outside of Lisbon.  It was a joy to reconnect with them, and we are thankful for their faithful example in Christ.

Please also lift up Pastor Antonio and Pastor Barnhart (visiting from Minnesota), who left for Mozambique yesterday.  They will be there for 2 weeks, training and encouraging national pastors from several provinces in the country.  Our church here is heavily involved in prayer and support of the wonderful pastors and leaders of that Portuguese-speaking nation.  What an amazing work to be a part of!

We cherish your partnership in ministry here in Portugal!  Thank you for your faithful love and prayer!

This Is My Father's World

I am so thankful that this truly is my Father's World!  I am thankful that I do not rest my hope on the things of this world, but on the promises of an almighty God!  I feel so helpless as I observe the troubling times that we live in.  We serve a God who is infinitely more powerful than anything we face here on earth.  I was reminded of this fact recently, and it renewed my gratefulness for the awesome privilege we have to serve the one, true God here in Portugal!

Our beautiful Isabel

This past month has been an eventful time of orientation.  We have spent some very fruitful time with several individuals and families of our church, and we are thankful for the friendships the Lord is bringing our way.  I have enjoyed working with the men of the congregation on an addition behind the church building, as well as with Pastor Figueira's son painting the home of his sweet grandmother "Maezinha."

Maezinha's Home BEFORE

Maezinha's Home AFTER

As a family we are getting to know a small portion of our community.  It has been great fun as we become familiar with the owners and employees of the various businesses around us.  Very close to our home there is an arts and crafts store, a frutaria, a florist, a butcher, and several cafe's.  Every Friday we walk as a family to the open market, where we have met great people who have blessed us with their kindness.  For the past month I have been teaching English to Jose Luis, a Paraguayan man from our church.  It has been a joy to help him learn the language, which we pray will be a useful tool to further God's Kingdom.  Additionally, Caryne did an awesome job playing the piano at church the past two Sundays!  She was filling in for Pastor Figueira's wife as they were on vacation, and it was a great blessing to watch her work in that capacity.  Please pray that as we become more comfortable here, that we will answer those opportunities when the Lord calls us to share His love to those around us!

Things You Can be in Prayer For

 - Please pray that God would give all of us as a family the ability to learn the language as soon as possible.  We feel this is a tremendous priority, and we would appreciate your prayers for wisdom as to the best way to accomplish this.

 - Pray that we would have an impact on the the youth of our church as they face more and more responsibility in their lives.

 - I have had the opportunity to visit and drop off my resume at several ESL (English as a Second Language) schools in and around the city.  Please be in prayer that I will be able to receive part-time hours working for these schools.

 - Lord-willing I will be going to Iowa in October for a week of training at the annual BILD Summit.  Please pray that we will be able to raise the funds needed for the plane tickets to the States (around $800)

 - We are in need of an additional $350 of monthly support.  Please pray that those funds would come in a timely fashion.

We are so grateful for the prayer and support of each and every one of you!  We can never say thank you enough!

Clarification

I just wanted to clear up any confusion regarding our updated support needs as described in the last post.  Our original goal, based on the research we had done, was to reach a total of $2,000 of monthly support.  After spending a few weeks in Portugal and learning of the tax system here, it was decided between our family and the church leadership that we need to raise an additional $350.

I trust this clears up any misunderstanding from our last post.  Thanks so much for your prayer and encouragement!

Viva Portugal!

Praise the Lord for a safe arrival!
As we begin to get settled here in Portugal, we are thankful for the Lord's provision.  Each day I am reminded that He is in control of every step we take.  My prayer as I wake has been to let go of my concerns and fears, and to be completely open and aware of what God has for us.  We are humbled that He even allows us to be a part of His work on earth!  We cannot do any of this on our own, so we praise Him who has it all in His hands!

Prayer Requests 
Concerning Visas
The Lord has opened the door for us to swiftly receive the necessary documentation to be able to work here legally, and to open bank accounts.  We have a meeting on July 4 that will Lord-willing result in the whole family receiving extended-stay visas.  Please pray that the meeting will go smoothly!


Concerning Support
Also, after learning of the tax system here, we are needing to raise additional monthly support.  The new figure is $2,350 per month.  Will you prayerfully consider joining us in monthly support?

Our Beautiful Girls
Anadia, Cora, and Isabel are beginning to adjust.  Everything is done later here in Portugal, so that has been a challenge!  For instance, out of necessity their bed times have changed from around 8pm to 9:30pm!

They are already getting used to frequent walks with Caryne to the various grocery stores and open markets around our apartment.  We have even begun hearing Portuguese words in their vocabulary.  They are warming up well to the congregation at church, and we are so appreciative of how welcoming the people have been.  We covet your prayers as we raise our girls!

Thank you so much for being a part of the ministry here in Portugal!  We are so thankful for your love and support!  Please subscribe to our daily blog, http://daybydayonthedouro.blogspot.pt/, for more frequent updates!

The girls at a local playground

Our Street

Young people at our church sharing in song

Giving Options

Did you know you can give to our ministry to Portugal using automatic debit from a credit card?  This option is available for monthly or one-time gifts.  If you would like to do this, here is the information you need:

BILD International

Please contact BILD International at 515-292-7012.  Ask for Keith and let him know you would like to give to the Darling Family using your credit card.  He will take it from there. Thank you for your support!



We are departing June 14!

2 Weeks Away!

As we spend the last several weeks with our extended families, we thank the Lord for the wonderful support system He has placed around us. We feel so blessed to have parents who love the Lord, and who value the power of prayer as we follow God's calling for our family.  God has provided the opportunity for us to see and spend time with most of our family on both sides, and we thank Him for what He has done and will continue to do through this time!

New Roots Photography 

The Lord has also given us some great opportunities this past month to share our calling to Portugal.  We spent some time at Caryne's parent's home in New York, where we were blessed to update the wonderful supporting church family of Calvary Bible.  I also had the privilege of meeting up with Pastor Figueira and spending two days in Fall River, MA. Fall River is a city with the largest Portuguese American population in the United States.  Pastor Figueira had come to the States to conduct leadership workshops, and to share about the overall ministry in Portugal.  What a blessing it was to fellowship with local Portuguese pastors and leaders!  Most recently, I had a special time speaking at Calvary Bible Church in Derry, NH.  Calvary holds an important place in my heart, as my grandparents served there, and my parents were sent out from the church as they headed to Portugal as missionaries.  I was welcomed warmly, and I thank the Lord for the blessings that came from that visit!

Our last 2 weeks will be spent first with Caryne's side of the family in the Philadelphia, PA area, and finally back with my family in Connecticut. Before we fly to Portugal we will, Lord willing, share at North Haven Bible, a special supporting church of our family.  We are so thankful for the churches and individuals the Lord has brought alongside us as we head overseas!  

We are at around 90% of our monthly support goal!  Will you prayerfully consider helping us reach 100%?  Through the support and love from so many of you, the Lord has awesomely confirmed His calling for our family.  We are so anxious and excited to enter into our new life in Portugal!  Thank you so much for your prayer and support!

Leaving Lynchburg

On April 30, at around 2pm, we left Lynchburg, VA for good.  Leaving the town that Caryne and I have lived in all eight years of our marriage was not easy, but we are excited as we follow God's calling for our family. We were blessed and humbled as good friends and church family have poured out their love and support to us as we go.


Before leaving Lynchburg we had the awesome privilege of traveling to Kodiak, Alaska to share our calling to Portugal.  What a special time we had!  I woke up everyday to the spectacular beauty of God's creation. We were welcomed warmly by the Kodiak Bible Chapel congregation, and we cherished our time with Caryne's sister and her family.  We are so thankful to the Lord for bringing that wonderful church alongside us as we head to Portugal!

The next 5 weeks will be spent with family and friends in PA, NY, MA, DC, and CT.  We are so blessed to be able to spend time with loved ones before we leave.  We so clearly see the Lord's hand as He lays out His plan for us, and we rejoice in the knowledge that He goes before us.  We thank each one of you for confirming His will for our family through your love, prayer, and giving.  

Praise the Lord the necessary visa has been approved!  The plane tickets are purchased, and we fly to Porto, Portugal June 14.  The Lord has provided us with an apartment in a great location, and we can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the future!

We are at about 80% of our monthly support goal.  If you would like to join us in monthly support, the information you need is in the upper right hand corner of this page.  

Consider liking our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/passionforportugal, so that we can keep you updated as we move overseas.