Hebrews 10:35-39

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For in just a very little while, 

"He who is coming will come and will not delay.  But my righteous one will live by faith.  And if he shrinks back I will not be pleased with him."  

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Missao CENA---A Beautiful Example!

Mark 10:35-45

The Request of James and John

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  “We can,” they answered.  Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

******************************************************************************

Jeff recently had the privilege to travel again to Sao Paulo and serve at one of our amazing partners, Missao CENA. Visit their website to learn more about this amazing mission! http://www.alvissaras.net/cena/

One of the reasons we appreciate CENA so much is that we see so many Christ Followers with so many different gifts coming together to serve one common goal---offering the hope of Christ to the lost.  A beautiful example of the body-of-Christ working together with the unique gifting that God has given each one!

Jeff’s heart was touched by a man he met and talked with named Paulo, who has lived on the streets of Sao Paulo for almost 20 years.  Paulo has not seen his family in all this time and doesn’t know how to perform the simple tasks of life. Paulo is now learning about Jesus Christ and studying God’s Word.  He is learning how to work with his hands and be productive.  He is learning that he has extreme value and that God has created him with gifts to use to glorify his Creator!

I must admit that when I have visited CENA, I have wished that I had other gifting, as the needs are SO great there!  I have wished that I had the ability to counsel or teach---in Portuguese!  But it is not so. It reminds me of James and John in the book of Mark. And I am reminded once again that it’s not about me, but the body-of-Christ working together to further HIS kingdom, using the gifting that HE has given each of us!

Striving to work together with Kingdom-mindedness,

Diane

People Need the Lord!

I recently had an opportunity to share of the hope that I have in Jesus Christ with a young woman in a thrift  store.

Mary (not her real name) and I began chatting as I was browsing in the store.  As I continued to browse, she returned to me several times to chat as she worked.  She seemed interested in the fact that I am an overseas missionary and wanted to know more and so I was able to share with her about my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I noticed she was wearing a back brace and she began to tell me of the pain she suffers daily. I asked her if I could pray for her and she began to weep.  After praying for her she asked me if I would please return the next day.  I have returned twice but have been unable to find her again.
Please pray for Mary.  

Pray that God continues to put Christ followers in her path and that soon she will put her faith and hope in Jesus Christ.
Sharing the Good News,

Diane

Matthew 4:19, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Every day in Brazil we have countless opportunities to serve our Lord and proclaim the Good News!

Because we are empty nesters and live 6,000 miles away from our family, it's not often that we have the opportunity to serve our biological family.  So we are thrilled and delighted to be able to serve our daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Steven, with the caregiving of our beautiful 6-week old granddaughter, Marissa for the next six weeks!  Diane arrived in Minneapolis yesterday to care for her so that Jessica may return to work and Jeff remains serving in Rio.

We were both a little disappointed that for the first time in Rio, our car wouldn't start and Jeff couldn't go to the airport to send off Diane.  We will be apart from each other for six weeks.

On the way to the airport, Diane was delighted to sense a very comfortable rapport with the taxi driver, Leandro, and her disappointment quickly turned into joy as she realized that she had a divine appointment from the Lord!

She was able to share the gospel with Leandro and he told her that 4 other people had shared this same message with him in the past week.  His curiosity was now whetted and he said that when he got home that night, he would take his wife's bible and start reading the book of John!  Diane left him with a Evangecube to remind him to seek Christ.

Please join us in praying for Leandro and that soon he will be a new follower of Jesus Christ!

Blessed to be serving,

Diane and Jeff