This past week we had the pleasure of spending 4 days with two CENA missionaries, Edileuza and Monica, as they took part in Pathways, a biblical training program that we offer to our Brazilian partners.
Saturday morning after delivering Edileuza and Monica safely to the bus station for their 6-hour ride back to Sao Paulo, Jeff, Leah (one of our 6-month interns) and I stopped at the Teleferico for a ride up to the top station in Complexo do Alemao (German Complex) for a bird's-eye view of the seven communities that converge together.
During our ride up, the gondolas paused for some time to let on a
handicapped person and so I was provided some extra time to start a
conversation and share the Evange-Cube with a woman named Aline.
At the top, Leah, Jeff and I chatted with a couple of young boys who were asking for money to buy bread.
We are careful not to give out money to people on the streets as we don't know what they will buy. Instead, we keep crackers or baby food with us with our local church flyer attached.
We found out that they lived in the neighborhood with their mom and dad and their mom had bread at home. I reminded them that Jesus teaches that He is the bread of life. They shared that they knew who Jesus is and that they go to church.
Always ready to share the hope of Christ,
Diane and Jeff
Every morning there is a long line of ants on the street in front of our house.
Above we captured a photo of just one, carrying a huge berry!
Several days ago, I grabbed my bible and went out to the read God's Word with our intern, Leah and visitor, Ali Gunderson about these little insects that are so intent on storing up their food. Their strength and determination is amazing to watch! As you watch them, you can't help but be amazed at the detail of creation! Our God is so creative to create such a little insect as this!
Proverbs 30: 24-48 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
As we begin our 6-month intern program, I imagine at times we'll be busy like these ants running here and there in this chaotic city! However, we'll not be busy storing up food, but storing up heavenly treasures!
Pray for us as we go here and there, sharing the light of Christ!
Diane and Jeff
Wednesday we received Leah, one of the two 6-month interns that will be serving here with us in Rio.
Leah has a desire to work in the area of sex trafficking, which is an area we are anxious to get involved in for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. I love how God provides exactly what (and who) we need when we need it (them)!
Leah is from Kirkland, Washington and just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Bassoon Performance and a certificate in business.
She has already been blessing us with her energy and enthusiasm to serve the Lord with us here!
Yesterday she had a two-hour Portuguese language class and is already chatting and asking questions to Brazilians in Portuguese!
We are anxious to receive Lacey, our second 6-month intern on Thursday of next week and begin serving together as a team, as well as start our training and mentoring program.
Please pray for Lacey, as she is flying stand-by :)
Working together to bring the light to this nation,
Diane and Jeff
Friday evening we received ReachGlobal Missionary Jonathan Shoemaker from Lisbon, Portugal for 2 nights.
Approximately 8 years ago we went through the ReachGlobal approval process in Minneapolis with Jonathan and his wife Tracy and have enjoyed keeping in touch with them on occasion and hearing what God is doing in Portugal.
Jonathan's City Team in Lisbon has the desire to begin receiving Brazilian missionaries and sending us Portuguese missionaries.
Please be in prayer for God's clear direction as we consider these possibilities.
Serving our "sending" God here in Rio,
Diane and Jeff
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