Seeing Pink!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, JESSICA AND STEVEN!!!!

Our daughter, Jessica and son-in-law, Steven are expecting their first baby in August. They shared the good news with us when we were stateside in January.

They sent us a photo this morning via e-mail. It was the picture above of them holding a pair of red baby tennis shoes. I thought....oh, that's cute! They're having fun seeing baby stuff in the stores!

A few minutes later my husband Jeff, entered the room where I was meeting with my friend, Luciana, and studying about different religious cults---in Portuguese and my brain was MUSH! Jeff said, "did you get Jessica and Steven's picture they sent today?" "I sure did", I replied and went on conversing with Lu. He said, "They're having a girl!" "How do you know", I replied. "Because in the picture they sent they're holding PINK baby tennis shoes!", he said.

I had a "caiu a ficha" moment!!! Let me explain....there's a phrase in Portuguese, "caiu a ficha" which literally means "the token dropped", referring back to the days when tokens were used in pay phones and when they were dropped in, they'd make a clinking noise. It means that something dawned on me/someone, or it clicked, or I got it. Jessica's pregnant with a girl!

I immediately had to leave the house after my meeting and beat the afternoon rush hour to the grocery store or it would be evening before I could get home. In the middle of the grocery store, the emotions hit me!!!! My daughter and son-in-law are having a GIRL!!!!!! Strangers in the store must have thought I was nuts as I told them through my tears that my daughter was having a baby girl in August!!!

And I'm just curious...in the photo above, on your screen are those tennis pink or red?!! Here in Rio, they look RED to me!!! And, they're really cute! I hope Jessica and Steven bought them!

Anyways.....Jeff and I are having a GRANDDAUGHTER!!!! God is good---ALL THE TIME!

Seeing red....I mean PINK and Praising God!

Diane (for/with Jeff)

A Flawless Execution...DEUS 'E TAO BOM!

2 years ago the government denied our visas after 5 years and we were given 8 days to leave the country. It took us 8 months to obtain new visas and return to Brazil! We learned to never take our visas for granted and that it truly is both a privilege and a miracle for us to be here in the name of Jesus Christ!

Yesterday, when we went to the Federal Police to complete our annual renewal of our religious visas, which can be converted to permanent status in May of 2013, we held it all loosely. We were ready to accept anything.

It is awesome to write these words....it was a flawless execution! No questions, no hesitations, just a rubber stamp of approval and a "muito obrigado"....thank you very much!

For those of you who were praying....MUITO OBRIGADO!

Here is a 33-second video clip to give you a little taste of what a 3-hour visit is like at the Federal Police....not too exciting!

Holding it all loosely and trusting in His plans alone,

Jeff and Diane

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Last weekend we attended 2 training seminars, lead by CLAVES, a Brazilian mission organization, in two different Brazilian churches here in Rio. The plan was to then go out into the streets to raise awareness of the sexual exploitation of children in tourism in preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

I always love to see how God takes plans and uses them for His purposes in ways that we could never even imagine! I saw God make some amazing connections!

• In the photo above, a group of our brothers-in-Christ were reaching out to a homeless man. They bought him a lunch, prayed for him, and encouraged him to attend the church where he can get some help, as they have a connection with a recovery farm.

• One of my sisters-in-Christ and I had a conversation on the street with a Brazilian woman that had left the church 2 years prior and she gladly accepted a home visit from the church next week! Pray that Maria decides to return to the church and make a commitment to Christ.

• Another Brazilian sister-in-Christ from our group met a woman who had moved into the neighborhood just a few days before and didn't know anyone yet. She was warmly invited to the church and seemed very receptive to attending to meet some new people.

These are just a few connections that I saw, but it reminded me that although we make the plans, God determines our steps! To HIM be the glory!

Walking where Jesus would walk,

Diane and Jeff

Fighting Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Tourism

Everyone is excited here to have the World Cup come to Rio in 2014 and then the Olympic Games in 2016. While this brings fun and excitement, it also has an underbelly---the rise in the sexual exploitation of children in tourism.

The Brazilian church is stepping up, in advance, to teach, raise awareness, and combat this horrific crime---to be the voice for the children!

Please pray for us this Friday, Saturday and Sunday as we walk alongside one of our Brazilian partners in a campaign against the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in tourism.

CLICK HERE to see a quick video clip.

We covet your prayers!

Speaking for those who cannot,

Jeff and Diane

Drew's Getting Married!

A few nights ago, Drew proposed to his girlfriend, Ellen, and she said, "Yes", so they'll soon be getting married!!!

Oh my, how time flies! We remember when he was just a little guy and now he's preparing to get married!

When we Skyped with them on the night of their engagement party...which we soooo wanted to be there for....or at least get a glimpse of.....Ellen told us a humorous story!

After Drew had proposed, they were returning home in his car and Ellen told him to return, back where he had proposed, because she lost the ring! He had bought a size too big and hadn't sized it yet!

He returned and looked for it and miraculously found it! So...he gave her the ring that night...TWICE!!!! Now that's a story they'll never forget!!!!!

The happy couple is hinting about a possible Rio wedding and that would be wonderful!!!!

• Pray that all details come together for a God-honoring and special wedding, wherever it may be!
• Pray for a strong, Christ-centered marriage.
• Praise God with us for such a wonderful Daughter-in-Law-to-be! We love you Ellen!

Celebrating God's blessings again!

Diane and Jeff