My Aunt Arlene :)

Last week my dad contacted me to share that the health of his dear younger sister Arlene had taken a turn for the worse.  Later in the week I found out that Arlene had passed on to be with her Lord and Savior.  This brought back a flood of memories for me about Arlene.

I have many wonderful aunts who have touched and blessed my life, but Arlene has done so in a different way.  Let me tell you about Arlene...

Arlene grew up in a family of 10 (my dad’s family) and she was the 3rd from the youngest.  Arlene had a learning disability and this affected her entire life.  Life was not full of victories for Arlene, such as graduating from school, having children, a good marriage and so much more.  In spite of this, if you talked to her you would never hear failure in her voice, only joy, especially for others.

About 5 years ago Arlene was attending a strong Christian Church in Minneapolis and the Pastor there preached about being “all in for Jesus”.  Arlene had always loved the Lord but she realized she never was “all in”.  Arlene decided right there that she wanted to rededicate her life to Jesus so she could be “all in”.  She even got baptized.  Wow what a change happened in her life!!  Arlene always was a super loving person, but now that love went through the roof and she was always ready to share about her Jesus.  What an example to us!

Whenever Diane and I visited her when we were in the states Arlene always grabbed our hands and told us firmly, “I am praying for you guys in Brazil” and then she would tell everyone “here is my niece and nephew the missionaries”.  This humbled us greatly as we saw that Arlene was every bit the missionary we were, and that her love for others was unequaled.

Arlene lived her last years in a nursing home where she touched many lives, both the workers and fellow residents.  At Arlene’s funeral many of the staff of the nursing home wept over her passing.  With all the death that these people face it’s hard to imagine them getting this emotional over a person unless they were super special.

Through the years when something special was about to happen she always exclaimed “oh goody”.  So last week when I heard of Arlene going to Heaven I could just see her stepping into the arms of Jesus and shouting out “oh goody”!

May we all have the simple joy and love that Aunt Arlene had!!

Jeff

UPDATE on Last Night...

Jeff and I came home last night, walking from our Small Group meeting and Jeff decided to take Moses, our dog, for a short walk.

He quickly returned the dog and informed me that 5 or 6 policemen were surrounding the open lot 1 house away from our house.

They told him they were looking for a robber and they were NOT looking to just capture him….

5 minutes later, a loud shot rang out and we hunkered down and began to pray….we prayed that this person who was making bad choices in his life would not be killed, but have time in his life to hear the gospel and turn from his dark life and into the light of a life with Christ.

Today we have learned that a group of 6 men were on the road in front of our house, Avenida dos Americas, stopping vehicles and robbing people.  The police put up a road blitz (where they stop all the cars, one-by-one) and captured all but 1 man who ran into our neighborhood.

We don’t know yet what ultimately happened, whether he was apprehended or killed after that shot rang out.  We  continue to lift him up in prayer and  pray that if he was not killed, that he hears the Good News and chooses to follow Christ.

Lovingly sharing the gospel in Rio,

Diane and Jeff

2 Peter 3:9
 
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Another Opportunity to Take the Gospel to the Streets!

I arrived home in Rio on Saturday at noon after the blessing of taking care of our granddaughter for 6 weeks so that our daughter could go back to work and not put such a small infant in daycare.  Marissa is now smiling, cooing and supporting her own head much of the time.  She is starting to roll-over already!  What a blessing to be able to serve our daughter and son-in-law.

Saturday afternoon I was able to attend the baby shower of a sister-in-Christ who sang at Drew and Ellen’s beach wedding here in Rio.  I’m still learning much about Brazilian culture.  At a Brazilian baby shower, you bring diapers!

Sunday morning it was awesome to be back at church and reunite with the body-of-Christ!

Sunday evening we met with our Small Group and it was so wonderful to be back in the midst of these beautiful followers of Jesus Christ.  We reviewed the morning message that Pastor Frido gave, in English, and spent time in prayer and fellowship.

We have one new attendee that is just beginning to learn English.  He is a talented musician named Jon who is playing on the worship team.

The group had a new desire to take our meetings out into places in the city to evangelize.  This is music to OUR ears as we have a passion for evangelism!  They want to hold our English Meetings at such places as the beach, outside cafes, anywhere out in public where there are people around that would be attracted to the English so that we can invite them to join us and ultimately hear the gospel.

Please pray for our English Small Group.  Pray that we have countless opportunities and divine appointments as we “take it to the streets”!

Reaching the Lost in Rio,

Diane and Jeff

Please Pray for.....a robber?

Jeff and I just returned home on foot from our Small Group to find 5 police surrounding the empty lot near our house.  Apparently they are looking for a robber in the area.  As I am typing this, I hear a loud gunshot and it is our hope that he has not been killed and still may have a chance to hear the gospel!

 

We covet your prayers!

 

Standing in the Gap in Rio,

 

Jeff and Diane