This past week we had the pleasure of spending 4 days with two CENA missionaries, Edileuza and Monica, as they took part in Pathways, a biblical training program that we offer to our Brazilian partners.

 Saturday morning after delivering Edileuza and Monica safely to the bus station for their 6-hour ride back to Sao Paulo, Jeff, Leah (one of our 6-month interns) and I stopped at the Teleferico for a ride up to the top station in Complexo do Alemao (German Complex) for a bird's-eye view of the seven communities that converge together.

During our ride up, the gondolas paused for some time to let on a handicapped person and so I was provided some extra time to start a conversation and share the Evange-Cube with a woman named Aline.

At the top, Leah, Jeff and I chatted with a couple of young boys who were asking for money to buy bread.  

We are careful not to give out money to people on the streets as we  don't know what they will buy.  Instead, we keep crackers or baby food with us with our local church flyer attached.

We found out that they lived in the neighborhood with their mom and dad and their mom had bread at home.  I reminded them that Jesus teaches that He is the bread of life.  They shared that they knew who Jesus is and that they go to church.

Always ready to share the hope of Christ,

Diane and Jeff

The Wisdom of an Ant

Every morning there is a long line of ants on the street in front of our house.

Above we captured a photo of just one, carrying a huge berry!

Several days ago, I grabbed my bible and went out to the read God's Word with our intern, Leah and visitor, Ali Gunderson about these little insects that are so intent on storing up their food.  Their strength and determination is amazing to watch!  As you watch them, you can't help but be amazed at the detail of creation!  Our God is so creative to create such a little insect as this!

Proverbs 30: 24-48 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:  Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

As we begin our 6-month intern program, I imagine at times we'll be busy like these ants running here and there in this chaotic city!  However, we'll not be busy storing up food, but storing up heavenly treasures!

Pray for us as we go here and there, sharing the light of Christ!

Diane and Jeff

Let Me Introduce You to Our New Intern!

Wednesday we received Leah, one of the two 6-month interns that will be serving here with us in Rio.  

Leah has a desire to work in the area of sex trafficking, which is an area we are anxious to get involved in for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.  I love how God provides exactly what (and who) we need when we need it (them)!

Leah is from Kirkland, Washington and just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Bassoon Performance and a certificate in business.

She has already been blessing us with her energy and enthusiasm to serve the Lord with us here!

Yesterday she had a two-hour Portuguese language class and is already chatting and asking questions to Brazilians in Portuguese!

We are anxious to receive Lacey, our second 6-month intern on Thursday of next week and begin serving together as a team, as well as start our training and mentoring program.

Please pray for Lacey, as she is flying stand-by :)

Working together to bring the light to this nation,

Diane and Jeff

Friday evening we received ReachGlobal Missionary Jonathan Shoemaker from Lisbon, Portugal for 2 nights.

Approximately 8 years ago we went through the ReachGlobal approval process in Minneapolis with Jonathan and his wife Tracy and have enjoyed keeping in touch with them on occasion and hearing what God is doing in Portugal.

Jonathan's City Team in Lisbon has the desire to begin receiving Brazilian missionaries and sending us Portuguese missionaries.

Please be in prayer for God's clear direction as we consider these possibilities.

Serving our "sending" God here in Rio,

Diane and Jeff

You're The Lord of This Nation....

We are praising God for answering our prayers of raising up interns for the field here in Rio!  Thank you for joining us in prayer!!!

In less than a week, we will be receiving two 6-month interns to serve alongside of us here.  We're thrilled they're coming to help!

All the details that have fallen into place could not have ever happened without the hand of the Lord!  

As we begin to put our hearts and efforts into the area of human trafficking and the exploitation of children in tourism before the World Cup and the Olympic Games we see how God is providing workers!

As well, we have a commitment from a church that would like to partner with us the next few years!

We are in awe of His hand at work.  As usual, He is ahead of us working in ways that we can't even imagine!

Celebrating what God is doing amongst us and confident that "greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city."

Because He alone is worthy,


Diane and Jeff

1 Corinthians 9:24,"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

My Dad – The Shortstop

My dad, Stan Droogsma, is still playing softball at 81 years of age.  He plays about 100 games a year and travels around the USA competing.  This is so amazing and so indicative of his spiritual life.  Let me share with you why.

Dad always seems to play the critical positions, like shortstop in softball.  In his life he has always been willing to take on the things God has put in front of him.  He has taught the Bible in many settings, from Sunday School classes to preaching from the pulpit when called on.  He has been in many leadership positions too, when God called him to them.  He is always willing to serve.

Dad is always ready to swing the bat.  Late in life, God has brought dad many opportunities to share the hope of Jesus with other men who didn’t yet know of that hope.  God used dad to love on those guys and tell them about Jesus.  Several have made decisions to become Christ followers.  Now God is using dad to mentor men and couples who are in crisis.  Dad doesn’t have all the answers for them, but he knows who to point them to for the answers!

Dad always runs hard to first base.  In life, like in softball, we don't always hit the ball hard.  Sometimes, in fact, we hit the ball softly.  Dad has had many such times where he did not hit the ball hard, but he always runs hard to first base.  This means taking responsibility for his mistakes, loving others no matter what and always staying strong in the Lord.

Dad always is running for home plate.  Dad knows what his main goal in life is, running for God and his eternal reward of Heaven.  Dad never loses sight of why he is here on earth---to bring glory to God, to love God and love others, and one day worship God in eternity.

My crazy and amazing father, still in the game at 81years of age and still playing softball, too!   

I love you dad,

 Jeff

Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

Daniel, Diane, Luan and Jeff

We want to thank you all for blessing us while we've been Stateside for a month!  We're ready to go "home" to Rio!

Thank you for opening your homes to us, for cooking meals for us, housing us, taking us out for coffee and a bite to eat, for receiving us so well while we've been here!  Thank you for letting us share from the pulpit, around your kitchen table or in your living rooms!

We couldn't do the work that God has called us to in Brazil without your prayers, your support, your love and encouragement...AND your sacrificial and consistent giving! So again, THANK YOU!!!

Tomorrow morning we return home to Rio.  We have had a little time to rest, to reflect, to soak up the Word of God and to meet with so many people!  We have met many new friends and been able to catch-up with "old"  friends and our family!

We've been affirmed and encouraged in our work!  Thank you so much!  

One very important thing that we have learned the past 7 1/2 years living in a different country as aliens and foreigners is that we NEED your love and commitment---it sustains us, especially in the difficult times!

May He bless you for blessing us---this is our daily prayer!

Humble servants of our Lord Most High,

Diane and Jeff