New Life!

There is just NOTHING better than a new life!  The hope that it brings for the future and the exciting "firsts" along life's path.  The first breath, the first cry, the first bath, the first suckling at a mother's breast...so precious!

So much preparation goes into the planning of that anticipated new life!  The calculating of dates, the progress and watchfulness of the physician to make sure all is going well, the careful nutrition to feed and nurture that growing tiny body!

Jeff and I became grandparents for the first time 2 days ago.  I can't stop thinking about the similarities of seeing our beautiful granddaughter, Marissa, for the first time and seeing that beautiful face of a new follower of Jesus Christ for the first time!

It makes me stop and think of the ways we prepare for that new life in Christ, as well.  Are we evangelizing enough?  Are we often and openly sharing about the blessings of the life we have in Christ, using every opportunity? 

A few weeks ago, as we were street evangelizing with a team from Johnston Evangelical Free church in a community several blocks from our home in Rio, I had a conversation with a woman that I often see and chat with.  At the end of our conversation, she asked me why I was so sure I would spend eternity with Christ.

I was able to give her a Portuguese bible and share with her 1 John 5:11-13, that says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Please pray for this woman.  Pray that when I return to Rio in 4 weeks, she too, is living in the assurance of His salvation!

After having the blessing to see the face of Marissa as she took her first breath of life, I am encouraged for the future and the possibility of seeing many more people take their "first breath of life", should God choose to continue to use me in that way!

Celebrating the precious new life of Marissa and "Grandmahood" for the first time,

Diane

Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

 Jeff's Parents, Stan and Eleanor Droogsma

We've been blessed to be able to come back to the USA for a month and a half to be here for the last several weeks of our oldest daughter, Jessica's pregnancy. Her baby is due on August 13th.

Not only will we be here for the birth of our first grandchild, but we will also have the privilege to celebrate Jeff's parents 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary.  We are planning a dinner celebration for these very special occasions for friends and family!

Then we return to Rio in mid-September for ReachGlobal meetings  that we are hosting and participating in.

We've been here  only 1-1/2 weeks, based out of Minnesota, and have already been able to connect with many people!  

We look forward to visiting some of our churches, including a new church in the Midwest where we don't know anyone----yet!  We look forward to sharing with this new supporting body-of-believers the work that God has given us in Brazil!


Last Saturday we were at a second baby shower for our daughter, Jessica where "Vovó" (Grandma in Portuguese) Diane was blessed to be able to give the devotions.  What a shower of love both Jessica and Grandma received at this shower!  Thank you to all the dear sisters-in-Christ in attendance! 


Blessings,


Jeff and Diane

Walking Where Jesus Would Walk.....

Recently we have been walking alongside one of our partners here in Rio in a neighborhood just a few blocks from our home.  They are "mapping" the neighborhood, introducing themselves to the residents, meeting the families and offering various forms of help to these needy people. 


Families are offered help in obtaining documentation for their children as there have been cases where the government has taken children away from their families for not having the proper identification.  Many of the single mothers here have many children, each one having a different father.

We pray for them and offer food, clothing and diapers where there is immediate need.  We also invite them to church and invite the children to the children's program where they can hear the gospel clearly presented.

This neighborhood is well hidden and many people don't know that it exists.  Some Brazilian brothers- and sisters-in-Christ that we have invited to go in this neighborhood with us have wept and said that they never knew it was there that there was so much need in this area.  

Please pray for us as we minister in this spiritually dark place.


Offering eternal hope,


Jeff and Diane

Proverbs 19:17, " Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

Recently Jeff and I had the joy of visiting a christian day care at the Community Church of Peace, which is located next to City of God, a Brazilian community made famous by the movie of the same name.


This church is providing free day care to families in need from City of God and the surrounding area.  Many of these children come from families that practice spiritism.

We had the joy of sharing the Gospel with 20 children, ages 2 to 6.  We sang the song,  "God is so Good"  in Portuguese, English and Czech.  We also read a children's book and spent  time talking to the teachers and staff of their difficulties, joys, hopes and dreams as they minister to these children in this area of Rio de Janeiro.   

Along with us were 2 college students from the Czech Republic who have come to Brazil for several months to learn about missions with us.  They hope to take back some fresh ideas on missions to move from old traditional strategies to newer, more creative mission strategies. 

I had the opportunity to speak with several teachers and learned that they have volunteered at this day care for years and just now have started to receive a salary.  

Proverbs 19:17 says, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."  May God bless Livia, Diane and the other teachers for their beautiful work in this difficult community!

Serving joyfully,


Diane and Jeff