Women's Night Out!

This Saturday is the first of our new monthly "Women's Night Out" at our local church.  We plan to meet once a month.  


Please pray for good attendance, that the women feel encouraged and are strengthened in their walks with the Lord!

Thrown Down, But Not Broken.....

This morning when we were leaving our front gate, Jeff and I were surprised to find voodoo dolls on our front doorstep.  They were strangely similar to both of our appearances and along with them was an African doll without a face.  It reminded us of the spiritual battle we face each day here.  We felt oppressed and were lead to the following verses today:

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

The Message 

 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best! 

God has restored our spirits.  We're feeling so completely dependent on God, so completely weak in our humble states, and so strong in Him alone!

Cursed by the enemy and loved by our Savior,

Diane and Jeff

Here's What's Been Happening in our Neck of the Woods....

...just a little bit of excitement happening here in our neighborhood....

Saturday night our street was congested with cars flowing by non-stop.  We heard sirens and chaos coming from the avenue in front of our condominium.  A bus had caught on fire and was completely destroyed by the flames.  No one was hurt, fortunately!  Part of our neighborhood was without energy.  The cause is still under investigation.
 
 

Leaning on the Word of God!

The whole Droogsma family is leaning on the Word of God---including our four-legged member of the family, Moses!!!

Have a great day :), leaning on His Word!!!

Encouraging the Lost....

Diane and Sara

We've been blessed recently to be able to spend some time getting to know our new daughter-in-law, Ellen and show her a small taste of beautiful Brazil.  She's been such a trouper!  She loves the food, loves the different fresh juices and seems eager to return some day on a mission trip!  Her Portuguese vocabulary is growing and she hasn't complained once about the problems we've had with our water or not understanding the language!  We haven't scared her away yet...but I bet when she lands back in the USA, she will kiss the ground of her homeland :)


Last evening I (Diane) was given a bit of encouragement from the Lord of one of the possible reasons we are here, using the gifting He has created us with.  It encouraged and excited me to roll up my sleeves and return quickly to the work that He has called us to---after this wonderful time of celebrating our son and new daughter-in-law's wedding!

Upon entering a small shop and searching the shelves for souveniers that Ellen and Drew want to purchase for their friends and family back in the States, I began a conversation with Sara (see photo above) who is expecting her first child.  I shared that our oldest daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first child in August, too. Sara is expecting her first baby in 3 weeks and is unmarried and living far away from her home.

Sara moved to Paraty, Brazil 7 years ago from the North of Brazil (where there has been a drought for many years) to find work.  Although she loves the tranquility of Paraty, she sorely misses her family and because of the huge difference in climate (it's much hotter in the North of Brazil) her aging mother cannot visit her in Paraty, where it can get very cold.  And so, she will wait until her baby boy is 4 months old or so to travel back to the North and introduce her parents to him.


After a delightful 20-minute conversation with Sara, I asked her if I could pray for her and her baby, which she has already named, Miguel.  During my prayer for her unborn son, she began to weep uncontrollably.  I closed the prayer and asked why she was crying.  She replied that she, too, is a believer in Jesus Christ, but has left her relationship with Christ.  Jeff reminded her that when we receive Christ, He promises to never leave us.  She was greatly encouraged and said she would return to following Him again.


PLEASE pray for Sara.  Pray for strength for her to begin following Him earnestly.  Pray for Miguel, that he too, becomes a Christ follower and knows His unconditional love and forgiveness.


Encouraging the lost,


Diane and Jeff

Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Today we're counting our blessings from the Lord!  We've had a wonderful weekend celebrating the marriage of our son, Drew and new daughter-in-law, Ellen!  

Although it was cloudy on their wedding day, it was so much more pleasant than a hot and humid day and God kept the rain away until today!  All of the friends we invited were able to come and celebrate with us! The fellowship was awesome, the food was wonderful, and the red velvet cupcakes were fantastic!  But most importantly, God was glorified and honored!


After an intimate beach ceremony, where Jeff had the honor and privilege of officiating, we welcomed many Brazilian friends to a reception at our church in Recreio.


We enjoyed Mexican Tacos and a beautiful cupcake tower with a cake on top, that was decorated to look exactly like the bride and groom!  Our sister-in-Christ, Penha, did a fantastic job decorating the cake complete with a bride and groom out of sugar in the image of Drew and Ellen!  It was a piece of artwork, with Drew holding one of his unique guitars with a tree painted on it, and Ellen croqueting, which is one of her favorite hobbies!

One more special blessing was that Diane was able to enjoy Mother's Day with two of her children present!


Praising God from whom all blessings flow,

Jeff and Diane

Legally Hitched!!!

Drew and Ellen signed their wedding documents today!  They're legally hitched!  

It was awesome that Jeff's parents, Jessica, Steven and Hannah could represent our family there today.  Looks like there was TONS of wonderful food!


They're off tomorrow for a few nights in Kansas City and will then fly here to Rio de Janeiro.  And we're busy here getting ready to celebrate with them, "Brazilian Style!"  

We're anxious to welcome a beautiful new daughter into our family.  I wonder if she'll want to learn Portuguese?!  Eu espero que sim!

Blessings,

Diane