20 years of Teams

April 13, 2022 in Team, Personal, Admin & Resource, Campus

In celebrating the past twenty years in Brazil for our 20/20 Giving Campaign, I want to highlight the privilege of serving with a TEAM over these two decades; a dedicated, faithful, multifaceted and multicultural team. Campus Outreach holds teams as a value, as an important part of who we are and what we do in ministry on the campus. Not only are the ministerial benefits significant, but my personal experience and growth has been multiplied so much more because of the teams with whom I have served.

Although our team is constantly shifting and changing, my experiences on the CO team in Belo Horizonte can be characterized by the following chapters of my 20 years and my role on the teams which they span.

Newby: 2002-2004

When I arrived in Belo Horizonte, the original launch team that landed 4-5 years previously was still here. They had paved the way for many things and had understood the need for contextualizing our ministry approach. I looked up to them all. During this time the first generations of Brazilian staff were hired. This was a time to really learn about personal ministry and my understanding of the gospel in real life.

Growth: 2005-2007

There was growth in three specific areas in the second chapter. First, our team and our campus communities were growing because of the fruit of new believers, discipleship and new staff. Still, the majority of the original launch team was still laboring with their young families. Second, I began my new family! Tathiana were married in December of 2006. Thirdly, 2007 also birthed the church plant of Comunidade Horizonte, our local church authority.

Baptism by Fire: 2008-2011

August 2008 began one of the hardest seasons of my life. It, also, was the season that God moved me to embrace the leadership He had in store for me and the personal growth and maturity in my sanctification to become more like Jesus. Our team had many staff leave, both in harmonious, need-based transitions and also in contentious, combative division. This affected both our growing campus ministry and our young church. This was also within my first two years of marriage. It was very, very hard. This chapter resulted in a renewing of resolve and an opportunity to step-up to lead when others had stepped away.

Resource Director: 2012-2018

For about seven years, I had the joy of contributing to our mission and our team via our operations. I took on a role I knew I was gifted and prepared for, but in which I had no experience, nor a subteam to work alongside me. Our renewed team and once again growing movement was in need of structure for the long-haul. It was sweet to provide in these ways in order for the campus ministry to push forward in confidence knowing that the operations were being handled. We developed and recruited what we call a Resource Team, and I handed the reins to that team off because God had prepared others to take over.

Experienced Veteran: 2019-2022

The current chapter began in 2019, when I was already serving on our Leadership Team, and when I made the move back to the campus and to shepherding staff and executing our strategic plans. The team is younger (or we are just older) and I now meet freshmen who were born after I moved to Brazil. However, that's what a veteran is. Even as a church "elder" on our session of elders, I continue to see God using our gifts, experience and commitment to the gospel ministry here in Belo Horizonte and Brazil.

60% - The Good and The Ugly

February 03, 2022 in Personal, Support, Campus, Team

Sixty percent (60%) is more than half, but not quite full. Sometimes 60% is really good. Sometimes it's just plain ugly.

Let's get to the ugly first:

60% is about how normal our return to Brazil has been since January 23rd. When we expected schools to start-up in February, COVID-19 got in the way. In Belo Horizonte, elementary schools have been delayed from starting in-person classes for the new school year until Feb 14th. Our kids, and Tathiana, thought that was really ugly.
Our COBH team was planning our first team-building retreat since September of 2019. However, COVID-19 got in the way and we decided to cancel for now as we had several positive COVID tests pop-up on the team and in our church.
Our car needed some service, nothing major, but because of a lack of mechanics and parts caught in the supply chain issue, we are on day 4 of being "car-less". That limits what we can get out and do by about 60%.
Overall, life and ministry feel about 60%. That's not a complaint, it's still just the overall reality of a late-stage pandemic in a tropical metropolis.

The good 60%:

Our trip to the US for connection with family and supporters was really great. COVID-19 did limit us some, as during the end of the year the Omnicron variant was in full swing in Chattanooga, TN and Birmingham, AL. We had several meetings canceled and overall decided to not expose ourselves close to our return trip as not to test positive and risk not making our flight back to Brazil. So, the trip was a great 60%. It's better to have a 60% visit than not come at all!
Lastly, our 20/20 1-Time campaign celebrating 20 years on the field has closed its first 2 months, and we are happy to report that we are already at 60% of the goal, with over $12,000 in donations so far. Thank you to all who have donated, encouraged and prayed for this important campaign.

Please continue to pray for us as we try to live-out 2 Timothy 4:2, "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season."

US Trip 2021-2022

November 07, 2021 in Personal, Support

Quick summary and requests for our upcoming visit:

We will be coming back to the US for Christmas 2021 and January 2022.

I will be visiting with supporters and working on support maintenance.
I will focus on our up-coming 1-time campaign, stay tuned for more info!
We are looking for a vehicle we can use for local Chattanooga use, only. Please let me know if you know of any options or good deals on car rental.
Another need is for a cell phone for Tathiana. She is used to iPhones, so a good quality, used iPhone is preferred, if anyone is looking for a good place for their used iPhone!

Isaac and His Senses (ENGLISH)

April 06, 2021 in Personal

Hello, my friends, this is Tathiana. I hope that you are all healthy and strengthened in Christ. The time has come again where I felt led to share a bit about our family's life in general, and, especially, about Isaac.

Recently, we decided to visit an Occupational Therapy clinic with Isaac to address some ongoing issues that we have noticed could be getting more rigid (hypersensibility to water on his face, fear of learning to ride his bike, aversion to smells and noises, difficulty paying attention, among others). After 10 sessions of evaluation with a highly qualified professional, we have received some answers. He presents some characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome, of which we already were aware, and has clear signs of Sensory Processing Disorder.

In summary, Isaac processes sensory stimuli differently than others. This includes the commonly referred to “5 senses”, and also the Vestibular System (balance) and the Proprioceptive System (orientation of one's own body and members in space). Occupational Therapy seeks to help him mature his senses and how he processes them, which has been naturally difficult for him due to his Disorder. Below is an example, as seen in the chart. You can see how it is a challenge for him to collaborate sensory stimuli that are processed visually and converted into motor-skills. The Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) is low in relation to his age group (8 years), much like the development of his Fine Motor Skills (Motor). However, his visual perception is equal to that of a 16 year-old!

The Speech Therapy evaluation also revealed a particular challenge for Isaac in his verbal expression. In all honesty, we had observed this challenge over the years, but the report helped us understand how it happens. Also, we saw how Isaac has difficulty processing and organizing what he hears. However, what really weighed on our hearts was hearing the Speech Therapist say that Isaac must suffer by not being capable of expressing what he would like to say.

The result of all this, practically, is that Isaac will continue to have 2 x 1-hour Occupational Therapy sessions per week, and, also, begin to add 2 x 1-hour Speech Therapy sessions per week, also. The clinic is privately owned, so the sessions will be our financial responsibility - Isaac's Brazilian health insurance does not cover this out-of-network expense. This will be an unexpected and significant increase to our financial reality.

Our kids have been having 100% online school since March of 2020, and I honestly do not think in-person classes will be back this entire year of 2021. Because of Isaac's specific difficulties and challenges, online classes have been a very stressful and exhausting experience for him and for me (Tathiana). I would say that Isaac retains approximately 20% of the lessons he watches online, because when I help him with his homework, I realize that he knows a very small amount of the lesson that has already been covered multiple times by his teacher. This, and adding the fact that his reading level is falling behind, his vocabulary is limited and he has a harder than usual difficulty understanding and interpreting the meaning of texts in his lessons and homework.

I admire my friends who have taken on the challenge of homeschooling. Unfortunately this is not my reality, nor the reality that fits into our family nor our context. I, simply, cannot do it and I would dare to say that Isaac doesn't want me as his teacher! We are asking for your prayers to decide how to proceed with Isaac's education in the middle of a global pandemic. We are even considering removing him from school during the online reality and hiring a private tutor, but we must weigh the pros and cons of this decision. The uncertainty of it all really weighs on me.

We are in the worst moment of the pandemic here in Belo Horizonte, facing near lockdown, city-wide curfew, closed public spaces, hospitals close to collapsing and the daunting perspective of maintaining 100% online classes for the rest of 2021. I don't want this update to carry a tone of complaining, but, yes, of opening my heart to friends who care. Sometimes I think I'm going to go crazy; I cry, then I remember these two things: first, “'Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Second, that we are healthy in the midst of so many who are not and who do not have hope beyond this life. Amen!

Thank you for giving us this opportunity to share 🙏.

Tathiana Elam

Prayer requests:

God to provide ways for the clinical and scholastic assistance to fit within our budget.
Mental and emotional health for us and the kids.
Physical health for us all.
Spiritual protection from invisible attacks of The enemy against our family.

Isaac e Seus Sentidos (PORTUGUÊS)

April 06, 2021 in Personal

Olá meus amigos, aqui é a Tathiana. Espero que vocês estejam saudáveis e fortalecidos em Cristo. Mais uma vez senti vontade de compartilhar um pouco sobre nossas vidas em geral e, especialmente, sobre Isaac.

Recentemente decidimos colocar Isaac para fazer terapia ocupacional para tratar algumas questões velhas nele e que tem se tornado mais rígidas (incômodo da água nos olhos, medo de andar de bicicleta, aversão a cheiros e barulhos, falta de atenção, entre outros). Depois de 10 sessões avaliativas com uma profissional muito capacitada, recebemos respostas. Ele tem características de Asperger, que já sabíamos, e tem sinais de Disfunção de Integração Sensorial.

Resumidamente, Isaac tem uma forma diferente dos outros de processar os estímulos sensoriais. Isso inclui os 5 sentidos comuns, o sistema vestibular (equilíbrio) e o sistema proprioceptivo (orientação dos membros do corpo no espaço). O tratamento de TO visa ajudá-lo a trabalhar os sentidos e o processamento para ele poder amadurecer o que tem sido difícil naturalmente pelo desafio de desordem sensorial. Abaixo, o quadro exemplifica o desafio que ele encara para a colaboração entre o que ele percebe visualmente, e como o seu corpo engaja com o estímulo. A integração viso-motora (VMI) é abaixo da média para sua idade, parecida com o desenvolvimento de habilidade motora fina (Motor). Porém a sua percepção visual é igual a de um adolescente de 16 anos!

A avaliação fonoaudiológica também mostrou um desafio para o Isaac no campo da expressão. Isso, de verdade, é algo que reparamos há muito tempo, mas o relatório ajuda a entender como acontece. Também, vemos que Isaac tem dificuldade processando e organizando o que ele ouve. Mas, o que pesou mais nos nossos corações como pais é ouvir da fonoaudióloga que Isaac sofre ao não conseguir se expressar verbalmente como ele quer.

O resultado, na prática, é que Isaac fará acompanhamento com terapeuta ocupacional 2 vezes na semana e, também, fazer acompanhamento fonoaudiológico 2 vezes por semana. A clínica é particular, então as sessões serão da nossa responsabilidade financeira, o que terá um impacto inesperado e significativo às nossas finanças.

Nossas crianças estão tendo aulas online desde março de 2020, e não acho que as aulas presenciais voltarão este ano. Por causa das dificuldades e desafios específicos do Isaac, aulas on-line têm sido um grande motivo de estresse e cansaço para ele e para mim (Tathiana). Eu acredito que ele esteja retendo aproximadamente 20% das matérias que ele assiste das aulas online, porque quando acompanho a lição de casa, percebo que ele sabe muito pouco da matéria já apresentada pela professora. Somando ainda que ele não lê no nível adequado para sua idade, tem um vocabulário limitado, e grande dificuldade em interpretar o sentido dos textos.

Eu admiro muito minhas amigas que conseguem fazer escola domiciliar, mas infelizmente esta não é minha realidade, nem a realidade que encaixa com a nossa família. Eu simplesmente não consigo e ainda ouso dizer que Isaac não me queira como professora. Estamos pedindo suas orações para tentar decidir como proceder com a educação do Isaac no meio de uma pandemia. Estamos considerando tirar ele da escola durante a realidade de aulas remotas e contratarmos um tutor particular, mas temos que pensar e avaliar os prós e contras desta decisão. A incerteza de tudo me deixa aflita.

Estamos no pior momento da pandemia em Belo Horizonte, enfrentando lockdown com toque de recolher, praças fechadas, hospitais perto de um colapso, e a perspectiva de manter 100% aulas online durante o resto desse ano de 2021. Não quero que o tom deste update seja reclamação, mas sim desabafo com amigos que se importam conosco. Às vezes penso que vou ficar louca; choro, depois relembro de duas coisas: primeiro, “'Assim, aproximemo-nos do trono da graça com toda a confiança, a fim de recebermos misericórdia e encontrarmos graça que nos ajude no momento da necessidade.” (Hebreus 4:16). E, segundo, que estamos saudáveis, no meio de tantos que estão lutando contra a doença e falta de esperança depois dessa vida. Amém!

Obrigada por darem seus ouvidos 🙏,
Tathiana Elam

Motivos de oração:

Para que Deus providencie opções para acompanhamento clínico e escolar que caibam no nosso orçamento,
Saúde mental nossa e das crianças,
Saúde física para todos nós,
Proteção espiritual contra ataques invisíveis do inimigo contra nossa família.

Lonely BH, Once Again

March 09, 2021 in Campus, Personal, Team

Belo Horizonte (BH) is a lonely place, once again.

Our city has retreated back to only essential services as of Friday, March 5th. The COVID-19 scenario in Brazil and BH has worsened, and vaccination has not shaped up to be as organized or wide-spread as needed at this moment.

In the last weeks, we had the first in-person ministry event with students of the year, and our church was weekly increasing the number of people participating in-person. Everything has screeched to a halt for now, and we will be going back to basing our efforts and events via online access and socially-distanced formats.

It is a hard reality to accept, as things were ramping up, new relationships, depth of in-person interaction and studies. Pray for us! Pray for Brazil.

100% Year-End Goal

January 12, 2021 in Support, Personal

Before the year of 2020 laid its burdensome self to rest, our partners had already given hope for 2021. We reached 100%, and even beyond, our $6500 goal before January 1, 2021.

We are hopeful, humbled and honored to be part of a group of people who are committed to what God is doing in Belo Horizonte. To Him be the glory.