"Disaster" Relief?

Some of you have met, via Skype, a young missionary couple named Anna and Josh that Jeff and I have been spending time with to encourage and walk along side. She is Brazilian and he is North American.

Last Wednesday, we had the opportunity to walk with them through the community in which they work, praying for and with the people who live there. The community is called Cidade de Deus, made famous by the movie with the same name. Josh and Anna are leading a new church plant, along with a Brazilian pastor in an area called "Sitio", in Cidade de Deus.

After almost 5 years here in Brazil, I am STILL shocked from what I saw. It was far worse than anything I have seen here yet. After 3 days of processing and prayer I am still asking God how to respond to this. As followers of Jesus Christ, HOW do we respond to this "disaster"?!!!

Here in the midst of a beautiful city that is preparing to host the Olympics in 2016, exists a community that is in disaster and crisis! It is a crisis----without the hurricane or tsunami! The people are living in garbage, carrying water up a long muddy path by buckets, are needing food, bedding, clean water to drink, bathrooms. But most importantly, they need to know Jesus Christ, the Son of God and that they were created to have abundant life in Him! Only He can make a difference in Cidade de Deus!

During devotional time together, Jeff and I read from "My Utmost for His Highest". Matthew 5:3. I was reminded that we are all "paupers" until we receive from Him.

Allow me to quote, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit...." This is the first principle in the kingdom of God. The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ's kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, "Lord, I cannot even begin to do it." Then Jesus says, "Blessed are you...." (5:11). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.""

Will we bring food? Definitely. Will we provide clothing? Definitely. Will we bring the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ? ABSOLUTELY!!!! I am no longer feeling overwhelmed, for I was reminded that I can only point to the doorway to the Kingdom and let the Holy Spirit do the work!

Serving together,

Di (for the fam)

How wonderful is the body of Christ!!!

It's been really difficult living 6,000 miles away from Drew since he graduated from the International Christian School of Rio de Janeiro two years ago, or so!

July 11 was his 21st birthday and it was kind of a tough day for us here!!!

How wonderful it was to receive pictures of him at his surprise birthday party given by the Tometich family! To see him laughing and enjoying the day really gave us comfort and joy!

Thanks to everyone who helped to not only celebrate with him, but to comfort his family in his absence!

Love you guys!

Serving together,

Di (for the fam)

Walking where Jesus would walk....

June brought us the excitement of watching our 2nd World Cup from Brazil! And in 2014 the World Cup will come here to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!!!!

The city will host people from all over the world, and we are praying and seeking God's will on how we can minister and evangelize in the midst of the excitement and chaos!

Along with all the World Cup excitement in June, came a short-term team from Iowa. This team included people from 2 different churches in Iowa.

Ryan arrived 3 days before the rest of the team to see the different ministries here in Rio. He was able to speak at the youth at Recreio Celivre and to jump in and teach a little English at a local school here in a community called Cesar Maia where Jeff and I are teaching English with Atuacao Voluntaria (mobilizing professional volunteers) alongside Celivre Recreio.

This relationship with Cesar Maia was a result of Celivre Recreio reaching out to a community after the torrential rains we experienced here in April. God continues to grow these connections and many Brazilian churches are beginning to network and get involved here in Rio.

The Iowa team's mission was to encourage the missionaries at CENA in Sao Paulo. They accomplished this goal beautifully AND SO MUCH MORE!

They touched the lives of so many homeless, hurting and lost people of Sao Paulo! They performed skits, cooked meals for the homeless, shared the Gospel and had a children's program for the street children! They preached, they cleaned matresses, hosted a woman's tea for prostitutes, delivered a sewing machine for sewing classes for prostitutes (a special thanks to Jackie Passer!) delivered beautifully-sewn baby quilts to the daycare (a special thanks to the women at JEFC!) and made a taco feast for the staff at CENA!!! They prayed with the prostitutes, drug addicts, transvestites and CENA staff!

Take a look HERE!

God used this team to be the hands and feet of Jesus!!!

Serving together,

Di

Many cultures, one God....

What a privilege it was in May to receive 10 brothers- and sisters-in-Christ from Carver College in Atlanta, Georgia! Countries represented included Jamaica, Philipines, North America, and Guatemala! Different cultures.....yet united in Christ!

This vision trip began with visiting our churches we have here in Rio. We were able to visit all three CELivre (Community Evangelical Free) churches, including Niteroi, Campo Grande and Recreio.

We also traveled to Sao Paulo, where we ministered alongside of the full-time missionaries at CENA (Community Evangelical New Aurora). Aurora is the name of a street in downtown Sao Paulo that is known for the homeless, drug-addicted, prostitutes and transvestites.

Traveling with us to Sao Paulo were Frido (the Brazilian pastor from Celivre Recreio) and Sonia (a member of Celivre Recreio). Sonia is praying and seeking God's direction to possibly return to CENA for a longer period of time to serve. Pray for her as she seeks His will!

Ate mais, (until later),

Serving together,

Di (for the fam)