Responding to God's Call

We’re in the beginning of our tenth year as missionaries here in Rio de Janeiro and we could write a book telling of all the wondrous ways that God has worked!  We love to tell these “God stories”!  

Recently, God has been working in an amazing way in our lives and we want to share with you this new story.

Four weeks ago Diane and I were finishing up our time in the USA with a visit to California, where we were meeting with a partner church and also spending time with some dear friends of ours.  

After our time there, we were at the airport (Los Angeles) sitting at the gate, ready to return to Minneapolis and prepare to return to Rio in 3 days.  At the gate, we sat and prayed intensely, seeking His direction for the coming year.

We arrived into Minneapolis after midnight and Jeff glanced at his emails.  He saw one from a dear pastor friend and the subject line said, “before you say no”.  He waited until morning, as it seemed serious and he needed to sleep.  

In the morning we read the email and the pastor shared with us that he is planting a church and has been seeking another pastor to come alongside him.  He then shared how he also had a "shalom" time of prayer the day before and during this time God spoke to him clearly saying, "ASK JEFF".  

We were stunned!  This led us on a 2-week journey of seeking the Lord’s confirmation whether or not this was His will for our lives.  God spoke in extremely clear and amazing ways to confirm that yes it was!!  So we said, “Yes, God, we will go” and accepted this offer to help plant a church in Grimes, Iowa. 

From a human point of view this opportunity made no sense.  Our work in Rio was effective and bearing fruit, our financial support was at 100%, God had removed our obstacles (visa, big fine mess, etc.) and the dollar has never been stronger.  

Then we looked at the opportunity to help plant a church.  The finances will need to be raised, we have never planted a church in the USA, and it will take a huge amount of energy and on and on.  

However, we know that God calls us to do hard things for Him and to completely depend on Him so He may show His power!

We have many details to attend to as we transition back to the USA.  Leaving will be very difficult, as we will always love and cherish the Brazilian people and this country!  We need to say our goodbyes to both friends and places and celebrate what God has done these past almost 10 years!

Please pray for us as we transition back to the USA!

Responding to His call,

Jeff and Diane

There are no Coincidences with God!!!!

Recently, Jeff and I called for a taxi here in Rio.

When the driver arrived, Antonio, he was nervous and talkative.  He explained that we were his first clients since his car had been carjacked four days earlier.  He said, "Do you KNOW how dangerous this place is?"  We told him, yes, Rio is extremely dangerous.  He replied, "NO! I mean RIGHT HERE!  THIS STREET!"  

He went on to explain that four days earlier at the apartment building 50 feet from our home here in Rio, a group of three young men put a gun to his head, carjacked his taxi and drove him over to Caju, driving over 120 mph!  They were obviously on drugs and told him that they had killed a police officer by shooting him in the face 5 times.  They talked about killing the taxi driver, but one of them said no, to not do it!

We spent our hour-long ride in the taxi comforting this man, knowing that it was not a coincidence that God orchestrated us being his first clients since this traumatic experience and that our house was only 50 feet from where the whole thing took place!

While we were praying for him, his phone rang and it was his wife calling to see how his first day back on the job was.  He told her that his first clients lived next door to the place where his car was hijacked, but that it was okay, because we were pastors and were praying for him!

When we asked him if he believed in God and in Jesus, he went on to share that his neighbor was a pastor from a church that believed in Jesus Christ and had been sharing a lot with him about Jesus. 

We all agreed that God had spared his life and given him a second chance.  He shared he would speak more to this neighbor who is a pastor about trusting in Christ as his Lord and Savior!

When we arrived at our destination, Antonio hugged us, thanked us and said it was not a coincidence that we were his first clients since he had returned to drive his taxi!

Humble servants of the Lord Most High,

Diane and Jeff

Keeping it "Real" Because Jesus is REAL!

We've recently been reflecting on those times in our lives and in ministry when God seems to be using us the most and these things are so clear to us:

• His power and might are not evident unless we are completely depending on Him. 
• We get to see more of His power and might when we are taking risks for Him.
• We need to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations, trusting 100% that He can and will move.
• God presents us opportunities to impact lives when we are intentionally looking for them and ready to act.

When we have become too comfortable and do not take risks for the gospel, then we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in and through us.

How good it is to serve a god that wants to use each one of us...a god that gives us the ultimate blessing of being fruitful for His kingdom!

These thoughts encourage us to be more real, risky and radical for Him and to be willing go wherever He may call us so that He may show His awesome power and might!

100% In with Jesus,

Diane and Jeff

We're Back!

We want to thank everyone of you for your generosity and encouragement while we were in the United States!  You all blessed us with kind words, hugs, housing, stories of God's hand at work while you've served with us here in Brazil, and so many other ways!  

So much of what we do here in the field is encouraging Brazilians and affirming the ministries they are called to.  Quite often we, too, need to be encouraged and God used many of you to fill up our cups during our time in the States!  Thank you!

We were able to visit our friends Al and Carolyn in California and celebrate 3 years of Al being cancer-free with them!!!  PTL!  

While in California, we were also able to visit Pastor Mike and Karyn and see the incredible ministry where they pastor at the Green Oak Ranch.

However, while we were in California, we saw the enemy at work in so many ways and sensed a decline in the American church and have spent a lot of time praying for our country, the USA.  People all over the world need Jesus!

While speaking at one of our supporting churches, one of you passed us this encouraging note after we spoke and we've shed many tears together because of it!  We humbly thank you!

We arrived home here in Rio yesterday.  The day before we were scheduled to travel back, Jeff had difficulties getting out of bed.  He was having great pains in his back and we thought we wouldn't be able to return to Rio!

After he went to the doctor, it was decided that he possibly had twisted his back and caused some swelling.  The doctor gave him a cortisone injection, anti-inflammatory medication and a pain killer so that we were able to take our three flights home, praise the Lord!

Upon arriving at our home here, it was discovered that our cistern was almost empty and water had not been coming in.  This morning we turned on the pump and as I type this, it continues to pour in for almost 7 hours now....again---Praise the Lord!  As well, we are having a torrential rain!

We have arrived back at the end of Carnaval and we can feel the heavy spiritual oppression that is upon the city. 

Please pray for us as we readjust to being back and begin to re-engage in ministry after 2 months stateside.  Pray for continued direction from the Lord as we serve to make His name known among the beautiful people of Brazil.

Blessed to be sent,

Diane and Jeff