Counting it All Joy...

 John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."


A couple of nights ago Jeff and I had the opportunity to share Christ with Robson and Moyses, 2 repairmen, in our living room.  

This was the second time that Moyses had come to fix something in our house.  I was surprised when he told his fellow worker, Robson, in our presence, that we had been in a serious car accident 7 years ago.  I was surprised that he remembered us telling him about it the first time he was at our house.  What a perfect opportunity to tell them of our faith in Jesus Christ and how He protected and healed us!

We clearly shared the gospel with Robson and Moyses and presented each with an "Evangecube" as a gift before they left.

God gave us the opportunity and we boldly gave testimony of the only One who has the power to save.  What a blessing to have a powerful testimony of a serious car accident to share with others of our trust in Him! 

Please pray for Robson and Moyses.  Pray that seeds were planted.  Pray that they begin to trust in the One who saves!

Pray for many more opportunities to share about our Mighty King, Jesus!

Still counting it all joy,

Diane and Jeff

Pathways Training

We're busy preparing to receive two American pastors and their wives!  One of these couples, Mike and Linda Gunderson, served here in Brazil for 20 years, four of those years with us!  It will be good to spend some time catching up!  They've been serving stateside for approximately 4 years now.  They'll be here in Rio with us for 7 days and are coming to offer our Brazilian pastors and missionaries bible training.

As well, we will be hosting two full-time missionaries from CENA to participate in this training!  We're thrilled that they're coming and are hoping to bless and encourage them, as their work is so very intense in Sao Paulo.

Please pray for all the details of the Pathways training to go well.  Pray for good communication between the American and Brazilian pastors.  Pray they have great time in the Word together and that because of this training God's kingdom is multiplied!

Serving together,

Diane and Jeff

The One who gives Eternal Life!

Today we visited the home of a young mother with a new baby and two other small boys.  We had visited her home several months ago while she was pregnant and on bed rest.  It was wonderful to see her again and her healthy baby boy!

Jeff brought her a few verses from Deuteronomy 6: 6 & 7, that say, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

We gave her a bible, which she greatly appreciated.  She said she had gone to church recently and was disappointed she didn't have a bible. 

We ended our time with her in prayer, thanking God for the blessing of a new little life!

Preaching of the One who gives eternal life,

Diane and Jeff

Psalm 96:3, "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

Please pray for us as we take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the streets this afternoon with a local church!  

Pray for hearts prepared to receive Christ!

Walking where Jesus would Walk,

Jeff and Diane

....always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.....

In yesterday's blog post I wrote how I was encouraged in my daily devotions by 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

I love it when God repeatedly gives me a message from the Word within a few days.  When He does this, I know He is trying to get my attention and I listen closely!

Tonight during the church service, the pastor read this same verse and it greatly encouraged me---AGAIN!

Jeff and I met a woman for the first time who was visiting the church.  She is a strong woman of the Lord.  She has been a Christ follower for many, many years.  She has studied theology and went through seminary.

In a conversation with her after the service, she said how happy and joyful we were!  And then she proceeded to tell us that she knew that we have had many persecutions in our lives here in Brazil but that God has great plans ahead of us here.

How encouraging to receive these kind words from a Christ follower whom we had never met before!  God used her greatly to encourage us in our work here!

How sweet to be encouraged by a dear sister!

Diane

Some days do you just want to curl up and quit?  At times, everything seems so complicated.  Why do we complicate things?  Sometimes I just wish Jesus would return…..NOW! 

Then God uses us to touch someone’s heart, encourage a Christian brother, lead someone to Christ….and WOW!  Nothing is better!

Early this morning, refreshing my Spirit in the Word, God gave me this verse….

1 Corinthians 15:58; “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

1 Corintios 15:58; “Portanto, meus amados irmãos, mantenham-se firmes, e que nada os abale.  Sejam sempre dedicados à obra do Senhor, pois voces sabem que, no Senhor, o trabalho de vocês nao será inútil.”

I love the Word of God!

Remembering that the battle belongs to the Lord,

Diane

Multiplying His Kingdom!

 Provérbios 27:17, " Assim como o ferro afia o ferro, o homem afia o seu companheiro."

Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

This morning we entered into an unpacified neighborhood here in Rio alongside one of our Brazilian partners, Atuacao Voluntaria, to support a local Christ-centered church body.  As such, we observed the presence of guns and drug lords.  We celebrate with this body-of-Christ that this neighborhood will soon be pacified and have a daily "peace police" presence.

We enjoyed teaching and interacting with the children and then discussing with the leaders how we can work together more in the future, as iron sharpens iron. 

It always amazes me how quickly our hearts are united with leaders as we work together to further God's kingdom.  I am constantly reminded in these situations that we are to pray for workers into His harvest field. 

Matthew 9:38 says, "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  It is our job to go, to work together.  It is the job of the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts for us to reap a harvest.

Please join with us, praying for more workers here in Rio!

Privileged to be the hands and feet of Christ here in Rio,

Diane and Jeff,