Walking Where Jesus Would Walk....

Jeff and I returned to the streets late last evening to reconnect with our new friends that we made during the World Cup.  We spent some time talking to Rianna, Bianca, Kelly, and two new friends, Baby and Michelle (not their real names).

While speaking with these men and looking deep into their eyes we can't help but see a sadness and despair that is indescribable.  They don't yet know of the grace and mercy that Christ offers---that we ALL, in our brokenness, need!

As we move forward with faith in Him---who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine---through these relationships with these men, we realize the amount of prayer, perseverance and patience that it will require.  It will be a long road ahead.  We are encouraged by the brothers-in-Christ that we know that have come out of this world of transvestite prostitution and today are disciples of Jesus Christ!  Nothing is impossible with God!

Matthew 9:11-13 says, "When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Please pray with us for these precious lives that have been rejected by men.

Walking by faith,

Diane and Jeff

Jeff and Rianna, August 29, 2014

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore..."

 The TREK7er's prepared us a beautiful candlelit dinner for their appreciation!

Jeff and I arrived home yesterday morning from attending the Latin America/Caribbean Missionary Conference in Costa Rica and spending a little time catching up with our family in Minnesota.  It was cheaper to fly to Costa Rica from the US rather than Rio and we thank the Lord for this blessing!  We left the day after our TREK7er's had departed Rio after their 6-1/2 weeks serving with us.

Upon landing at the Rio airport yesterday, we made a quick stop at the Federal Police, which is located in the airport, and we were ecstatic to receive our Identity Cards (our permanent visas)!!!  How wonderful to actually have these little plastic cards in our hands!  To Him be the glory!

Everything is well at the mission house, although we were told that the wild cats that live in the vacant lot next to the house have been getting very brave in the absence of Moses our dog and have been coming into the house if the doors are left open!   Sadly, Moses  passed away a few days after the arrival of our June/July TREK7 team.  We miss his faithfulness to us and his added protection here! 

We're praying for God to provide the resources for another 4-legged family member to chase out those unwanted guests!  They are diseased and can bring fleas and other unwanted intruders into the house :(

We will receive a 5-person team from Johnston Evangelical Free Church this Sunday and are busy preparing for their arrival.

Friday evening, we will again return to the streets near our home to converse with the group of transvestite prostitutes that we began befriending during the World Cup.  Please pray for these friendships to be furthered!  We were blessed to share a little about this work in a break-out session at our Missionary Conference in Costa Rica.

....as I was writing this, my thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang out in the street in front of our home that sounded a little more serious than just a fire cracker.  That well-known line from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" came to my mind...."Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore..."  So, when you think of us, please remember to pray for our safety, as well!  We covet your prayers! 

Humble servants of the Lord Most High,

Diane and Jeff

Delighting in Weaknesses!

Jeff and I are currently in Costa Rica at our triennial Latin America/Caribbean missionary conference.

Yesterday was set aside for prayer and fasting and I spent time reflecting on the last 8 1/2 years we've spent in Brazil.

God has walked with us through some major hardships during these years on the field including a major car accident, being sued by the Brazilian government and being given 8 days to leave the country with visa problems. 

We look back and delight in Him for these things:

• We are completely healed---our bones are stronger than before the accident! 

• God provided a competent lawyer and He quickly raised up the funds needed to pay off our debt!

• We have permanent visas!

God directed me to the verses in 2 Corinthians 12: 9 & 10, "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We boast gladly about our weaknesses, depending on His help every step of the way.  We know that everything we witness Him doing through and around us is Christ's power alone and we're looking forward to the next chapter of this very exciting God story!

Resting in His power and provision,

Diane and Jeff

Proverbs 16:9, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."

The Mission House in Rio was extremely quiet last Tuesday evening upon our return from delivering the TREK7 team to the airport!  We'll miss these six young people who served God so beautifully and tirelessly!

The day that they returned to the USA, a man was killed at the beach very close to our home in Recreio.  As well, the home next to ours has recent gun shots on the front wall that surrounds this home.  We praise God that He protected this team of young people during their 6 weeks with us!  Thank you for your prayers!

The countless ways that God worked during the World Cup was amazing!

Although our focus was to fight against human trafficking in Vila Mimosa, Rio's first red light district, God directed and used this team in so many more ways! 

This team led a children's program every Saturday at Celivre, the  local evangelical free church, where they reached out and invited children from the neighborhood.

Each TREK7er also initiated many spiritual conversations on the buses and subway!  They sharpened their evangelism skills and shared the gospel over and over again! God blessed us with the privilege of being used to lead a young man to Christ!

We joined Exodus Cry across the city in Vila Mimosa to pray, worship and reach out to the prostitutes there and God brought us relationships with 6 transvestite prostitutes only 3 blocks from our home in Recreio!   

During our 5 years of walking alongside the full-time missionaries in Sao Paulo at CENA, we have learned a lot about working with transvestite prostitutes and have so much more yet to learn!  We are excited about the possibility to begin to work in this area, should God continue to guide and direct us to do so!  Please pray for us, as we further these relationships!  Pray for God's continued guidance and for fruit that remains!

Jeff and I are now on our way to our triennial missions conference and have stopped in the USA to visit supporters and family. We'll be able to celebrate our granddaughter's 2nd birthday with her!

Every three years all of the ReachGlobal missionaries serving in Latin America and the Caribbean come together for a conference.  We will be meeting in Costa Rica August 7 through 17.  

Please pray for us to be renewed and encouraged as we take this time to be spiritually and physically refreshed as we share and learn with other missionaries.

Celebrating Christ and His work on the cross,

Diane and Jeff