One Small Reason

We recently received a short-term team here in Rio from Valley Southview in south Des Moines.  The time we spent with them was wonderful!  We enjoyed their passion.  We enjoyed the comradery.  We enjoyed showing them the ministries we are involved in.  But mostly, we enjoy what a short-term creates for us---ministry-wise. 

Let me share.....

One of the nights we traveled with Valley Southview to a neighborhood where our Brazilian partner, Caju, desires to soon plant a church.  We were enjoying an evening event at which many non-believers were in attendance.  We worshiped, we enjoyed an evangelistic skit (performed by Valley Southview), and discussed it in small groups, and we broke bread together.

God always works in ways we don't expect!  I had promised the women on the team that I would be there for them that evening to help translate if they needed me.  However, halfway through the evening, the wife of the pastor asked me if I would go over to the neighbors house with her and meet with this woman. 

This neighbor had heard English worship music and called the home at which we were meeting to inquire what was going on.  Soon, three of us were on our way next door to meet with this neighbor.  We spent time talking, encouraging and praying with a woman that was seeking after Christ.

What a joy it was for me Sunday evening to see this neighbor worshiping with the body of believers at the Caju church!

We never know exactly how God will use a short-term team.  He uses them all is many different ways.  And this is only one way He used this team.  There are numerous other ways!

I just wanted to share this one, as I was so happy to see this woman at church because of Valley Southview's trip to Rio.

Pray for this woman to know the true Christ!

Blessings,

Diane

Staying the Course when Things Get Tough....

Sunday evening we will receive our three interns that have been serving so faithfully at CENA in Sao Paulo, here in Rio.

We're soooo excited to see them face-to-face and to have some time listening to what God has been doing as they have served first at the "casa amarela" (yellow house) in downtown Sao Paulo for a month and then at the recovery farm in Juquitiba for a month.

These three young interns came for 3 months to serve the Lord with their whole hearts.  As our family has learned first-hand here in Brazil these last 8 years, especially after a serious car accident that broke 18 bones in the three of us that were in our car, following Him may mean we suffer physically, lose relationships, dreams, material things, or even our lives.  Those who are following Jesus for "prosperity" reasons won't stay strong and stay with Him when the going gets tough!

For one of our interns, Jake, it has gotten a bit tougher recently...

Almost two weeks ago, Jake was hit in the eye by a machete at the recovery farm.  His cornea was cut and his vision was blurred.  We praise God for the excellent medical care that is available in Sao Paulo.  We praise God that He protected Jake from this accident being much, much worse, especially because Jake plans to continue playing quarterback for his collage football team this Fall!  We praise God for our teams of prayer warriors who pray for us all daily here in Brazil!

What we've seen in Jake is not simply a shallow, me-first faith!  We've seen a man-of-God that wanted to stay the course, that wanted to finish the work to which God has called him to here in Brazil!  

Jake understands that giving up everything may mean we give up something physically, but when we become a disciple of His, we cannot continue to belong to this world.  We make a choice because we cannot serve both God and man and when we choose to follow Christ, we are releasing control of our lives.

Please join us in praying for complete healing for Jake's eyesight!

Luke 14:33 says, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. 

Blessed to see such Godly maturity in such a young Christ-follower,

Diane and Jeff

Luke 9:23, "Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

This past week, we've been serving with a 8-person team from Iowa.  What wonderful things we have seen God doing!  We've had opportunities to encourage believers and to share Christ with non-believers.  The pictures below capture some of our work this past week.

Gathering to pray before going out to Crackland in Rio

Encouraging a new believer and her non-believing mother

We had the opportunity to go to a retreat with Life Church and visit several areas that they have Life Groups with the hope of planting churches.  They currently have Life Groups in 11 different neighborhoods in Rio, with the dream of reaching all 33 regions of Rio de Janeiro.

 Encouraging a dear sister-in-Christ, Simone!

Sharing Christ with a non-believer, Leila

Valley Southview performed a beautiful evangelistic skit!

Christina shared scripture with Evelyn that touched her heart and brought her to tears!

Visiting a soon-to-be new church plant!

We've had an absolutely wonderful week ministering with Valley Southview!  

Please pray that those seeds we've planted have fallen on good soil and produce fruit that remains!

We're gonna miss this team of 8 that so beautifully served with Caju Life Church and will continue praying for them as they return to their mission field in south Des Moines!  We pray that they bear much fruit and have been encouraged to continue fighting the good fight!

Blessings,

Diane and Jeff

Walking to our parked car in Crackland last evening after a wedding reception of one of the full-time missionaries, I began a conversation with a homeless woman that was using the tinted window of our car like a mirror to fix her hair.

Jeff began a conversation, as well, with her husband and we quickly found out that she desires to go back to the "Yellow House", on Tuesday of this week to gain information about the recuperation farm (where our three interns are serving).

This will be difficult for Edimara and her husband, as he is not ready to take the steps necessary to make life changes.  They may be separated for 9 months or more.

Edimara shared that she once followed Christ and that she badly needed to get off the streets.  Jeff and I prayed for them, encouraged them, and hugged on them.  But the work is the work of the Holy Spirit.  We covet your prayers!

Please pray that Edimara and her husband return to the "Casa Amarela" on Tuesday and that God works a miracle in their lives!

Praying for them and fruit that REMAINS!

Diane and Jeff