Through the Eyes of a Son (by Naaman Jeffery Renard)

If any of you have been following my blogs, and it doesn't look like too many have, you would know that one of the first entries was a note about our friend and fellow missionary, Elaine Lambach. The death of Elaine had a strong impact on our second son, Naaman.

God touched his heart and he wrote the following song as a dedication to Elaine. My prayer for Naaman is that he will always have a sensitive heart for those who are hurting or in need. Jesus said, "for as much as you did it unto even the least of these, you did it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Naaman, may you always be sensitive to "the least of these".

Through the Eyes of a Son (by Naaman Jeffery Renard):

Today, I woke up kinda sad,
Remembering all the, times that we spent together,
You were there seemed like forever, and now
You're gone in such a flash,
No time to react, I wish I could go back.
I'm stuck here, can anybody hear me?

Feels like, I can't take it,
Seems like, I won't make it,
I know, you're with me anyway

I know, I did all I could do,
I sat and prayed for you with our family,
For mercy and for healing, but still,
These feelings I can't hide,
They're tearing my inside,
Mom I need you.
Shedding tears, God can you hear me?

And then, God you stepped right in,
You simply said, Son have no worries,
Your mom has been made perfect here with me.
Peaceful heart, God you make me

Feel like, I can take it,
Seem like, I'm gonna make it,
I know, You're with me anyway
And it feels like, I'm gonna take it,
It seems like, I'm gonna make it,
And I know, You're with me everyday.

In Memory of Elaine Lambach - IMB missionary to Brazil

To see Naaman singing this song, go to:

YouTube http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=L-L5ctY31sQ

Silver, Golden, Diamond or Platinum?

This coming Wednesday (Nov. 12) I turn 50 years old. I never really thought that I would make it this far. I'm not complaining. It's just when I was a teen, I did most everything I could it seems to prevent "getting older" from happening. Now that the big 5-0 is just around the corner, I thought that I would do a bit of waxing on my blog and not my legs.

In a marriage, when a couple share their 25th wedding anniversary, it's called their "Silver Anniversary". When they share their 50th, it's called their "Golden Anniversary". Now, depending upon your source, when a couple is celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, it is their "Diamond" or "Yellow Diamond" Anniversary and with 70 years of marriage, the couple arrive at their "Diamond Anniversary" as well. Maybe the couple aren't expected to remember that they celebrated a "Diamond Anniversary" ten years prior? Anyway, in researching for this blog, I was disappointed to find out that Platinum has become the modern celebration name for only 20 YEARS of marriage! Now, wait a minute! Does that mean that marriages should get all worked up for 20 years and celebrate a "Platinum" anniversary, but fall short in celebrating their "Silver"? Or is it that "modern" marriages aren't expected to last any longer than 20 years, therefore spend the money now, 'cause it'll all be over by the next five! (That's food for thought on another blogging day.)

Well, I'm about to turn fifty. Therefore, I've already celebrated my "Silver" and I guess that the "Platinum" has already gone by the way side. So. I'm coming up on my "Gold". I don't really feel like I'm 50. I guess I always thought that "those" people who have hit the "Fifty Something" category were somehow pushing the envelope towards meeting The Maker. In fact, a younger friend of ours' told Sharon today that I was not old, just "much closer to God". Well, bring it on!

I kind of like that. I certainly hope that after fifty years I would be closer to God. I hope that my life demonstrates that my walk with Him is a walk of closeness. I'm no Enoch (see Genesis 5:24), but I like the idea of walking closer with my Creator. I accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior when I was 13 years old. I didn't walk very well with God the first 10 or so years of my Christianity. I learned to walk with Him since then and I kind of like it!

I think that I like the suggestions for birthday gifts are a bit better. The various sites suggest that the order of gifts for birthdays should be; 25 years Silver, 50 years Gold, 60 Diamond and 75 Platinum. Platinum at 75, I say, bring it on!

One last thought, I am NOT turning a half a century old. I am becoming one twentieth of a millennium!

Do You Believe in The Power of Prayer?

I want to tell you a story:

On Wednesday, October 29, 1996 at 3:05am our youngest daughter came into this world via an emergency C-section. Sharon and I were just a few months out of language school and were still very limited on our communication skills. We felt completely powerless as we watched our extremely little girl (she was less than 4 lbs) struggle for every once of weight gain and loss. We were praying daily for Priscila to gain the weight of about a handful of paper clips (about 5 grams). She would gain a few grams and lose even more. We would go to the hospital each day and they would tell us what her daily weight was from the day before. In reality, she was NOT doing well.

Back in those days (before 9/11) our Mission used to print the missionary's name and country of service. Also, back in the day, many Southern Baptist churches had Wednesday night prayer meetings where they would often pray for the missionary and his/her family. My birthday falls exactly two weeks after Priscila's. Southern Baptist churches, not knowing that Jeff Renard serving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil had a very sick and dying little girl who was in a neo-natal unit in Niterói. Faithful Baptist prayed! They prayed for Jeff Renard, they prayed for his family and the family's welfare. God heard and responded to these prayers! The day after my 38th birthday, Sharon and I went to the hospital to see our little girl. Where we had been begging God for "just 5 grams", God gave Priscila 40! It was an answer to the power of prayer, not just our prayers, but the prayers of those faithful Southern Baptist in the churches around the USA and even the world.

One other part of this story that needs to be shared. Southern Baptist support their missionaries through various means, but primarily through two methods (Cooperative Program and The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering). The first method (Cooperative Program) the IMB receives a percentage of the total funds. The second method, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offer, 100% of these moneys go directly overseas to support the over 5,000 missionaries. IMB missionaries don't really have health insurance. When a situation like Priscila's birth takes place, the missionaries inform the Mission treasurer and either moneys are deposited into the missionary's account or accounts are settled directly with the hospital (or wherever). In our case, Priscila's hospital bill totalled US$43,000.00. When I went to "Accounting" to try to figure out how much was owed and how I should pay this, I was informed that the bill was already "Paid in Full". It is because of faithful Southern Baptist giving of their tithes and offerings that Priscila's account was taken car of. The words "Thank You" no where comes close enough.

For those of you reading this who are Southern Baptist, the simple truth is that we couldn’t be here without your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Those gifts are the means by which we devote ourselves to full-time ministry, providing us with a place to call home, food, medical care — even schooling for our children.

Christmas is once again coming around the corner and will be here before we know it. I know that right now the United States is in a financial roller coaster. I won't burden you with a "hard sell" to give this Christmas season. I would like to say that you honor God in you faithfulness. For, as a missionary serving with the IMB, it is both a humbling and exhilarating experience to live life dependent on the faithfulness and generosity of Southern Baptists. Thank you! Please know that many people around the world are truly celebrating Christmas for the first time this year because of your sacrifice for God’s Kingdom.

How's Your House, Jack?

As children, lots of us who grew in the United States or England (possibly others areas as well) grew up with nursery rhymes. We either had them read to us or we read them ourselves when we were in grade school. Honestly, a lot of them I don't completely understand, they were just rhymes, poems or songs that I learned as child.

Having four children, Sharon and I have passed some of these nursery rhymes down to our children. Since Sharon was the home school teacher for all of our children at least through the sixth grade, I guarantee you that our kids were exposed to some of these nursery rhymes too.

Today, during our worship time at the Orla Sul Baptist Church (Leblon-Rio de Janeiro), our Minister of Music, Fabiano, shared with us a verse that most of us also know and grew up with, Psalm 127:1

"Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain. " (NIV)

This got my ole' brain to thinking. I started wondering about what do I use to "build" my house? What type of a foundation do I have? What are the walls made of? Did I use quality products or did I try to cut corners? Would the Lord be pleased with the house that I have built, or would He be ashamed of the lack of craftsmanship, time and effort that I have put into the house that I've built for the Lord?

OK, so my analogy is a bit thin here, but hear me out. I started thinking about what do I use to "build" my house? For example, is my foundation built on (1) the Word of God (the Bible) or on the superficial material that the world has to offer; (2) is it built on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or on my attempt to be a religious person; (3) is it built on salvation through grace, that is that there is NOTHING that I can do to earn or deserve God's favor or love for me or do think that somehow I've earned or deserve God's love through my attempts of good works or being a good person; (4) is it built on faith alone that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior or through or do I somehow think that my intellectual understanding of God and religion is enough; (5) is it built on traditions that are comfortable because I'm used to them or maybe it's the way that I do "church" but it's not necessarily biblical or based on a the truth of God's Word; (6) is it built on my trying to rush through a five minute "hurry up, I'm busy" quiet time with God, or am I enjoying my daily Bible reading and prayer time with Him? What have I been using to build my house? How about you?

Just some food for thought!

Hey, if no one has told you today that they love you, remember that Jesus loves you and that you are very special to Him.

Until next time.

Jeff Renard - Rio

(Note: for a good site on nursery rhymes and their histories, go to http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/)

"This is the house that Jack built"

This is the cat
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the
crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the farmer sowing the corn,
That kept the the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

Missed it by that much!

I've not yet seen the recently released movie, "Get Smart". My children have all seen it and said that they loved the movie. However, I remember as a child the television version of that the show and Maxwell Smart always saying, "missed it by that much!" This phase came to me the other day and my mind started pondering the power of that comical phrase.

As a missionary here in Brazil I found that if you ask a Brazilian if they believe in God, most of them would say, "of course I believe in God!". One of the things that I quickly do is to open my Bible to the book of James and I read to them James 2:19 where James ask the readers a very important question, he writes: "You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." (NASB) In the Portuguese, the word "[to] believe" is the word "crer". I always ask the Brazilian, does that mean that demons will also one day be with God in heaven (after all, the same word that the Brazilian used is the same word that I show them from the book of James)? Of which, I always get the same response, "of couse not!".

However, if you ask them do they "know" God, the answer may be different. In the Portuguese language, there are two words used of our one English word, "know", those words are "saber" and "conhecer". A basic understanding of these two words goes like this; the word, "saber" means to know about someone or something (for example, I know about President Bush, however, he never calls me to ask me of my opinion), the other word "conhecer" means to know intimately about someone or something (for example, I know my wife and children, they too know me as a husband and father). So, if you ask a Brazilian do they "saber" or "conhecer" God, especially to know Him in His fullness through a personal relationship through God's One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, the answer that you may get could be various.

My question to you is this, do you know Jesus? That is, do you recognize His historical reality (that He really was a person in history), or maybe His place of birth in Bethlehem, or His being a being a good teacher, or a leader of a movement within the Jewish culture of His time, etc.? Or, do you know Him as your Savior and Lord of your life? Jesus is quoted as saying in the book of Mark (8:36) "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (NKJV) What if you're like ole Maxwell Smart and you know many things about Jesus, but don't really know Him? What if you "missed it by that much!"? What if you've been doing the things of Christ (being kind to your neighbor, not gossiping, volunteering at your favorite charity, not robbing any banks, going to church, etc.), but don't know who He really is? Jesus said, (Matthew 7:21-23 NASB):

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'"

I would hate for ANY of us reading or writing this blog to be doing great things for Jesus, but not knowing Jesus personally. I would hate for any of us to miss it "by that much!"

Get out there!

As you know, my wife and I are missionaries serving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am, without shame, an American citizen. That is where God chose to have me be reared and I accept that fact. Our family lived across the bay in Niterói when the attacks on our country happened on September 11, 2001. My family and I watched in horror as we saw our country under attack. I remember clearly my feelings of powerlessness as I grieved over our nation and the strong desire that I had to return immediately to the States.

Well, we're 55 days away until our country will be voting for the next president. I am not going to tell you how you should vote, only that YOU SHOULD VOTE!!! I have been told more than once, "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him". My comeback is, but, did you vote?!? Here in Brazil they have what I call a "forced democracy", that is, voting is mandatory. If someone here does not vote, they can NEVER run for public office, they run the risk of being fined, they could even face jail time. In the States too many people complain about their situation, but never do anything about it. My thoughts, VOTE! Use your right as an American citizen to mark your opinion. If you didn't vote, please don't complain about how bad the government is because you did nothing to change it.

There are two strong candidates out there running for the office of the President. It is your civil responsibility to see that the right one gets into office. Find out what each of them stand for. Find out about their histories. Where are they really on the issues facing America's future, where do stand regarding our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, where are they regarding our economy, etc.?

Both Sharon and I are registered voters. We will soon be receiving our absentee ballots, we will complete them and mail them in right away. If you're not registered, get registered. It's a painless process and in most states an easy thing to do. So, get out there and make your country happen.

May God bless America!

Jeff Renard - Rio

Blessings

Last week, we had the opportunity to have a couple of different people stay in our house. The first was a young married couple, he's an American and she's a Brazilian. They stayed with us during the week because she was trying to obtain a visa so that they could move to the States. The second person stayed with us a couple of days because he missed his return flight to the States, was stranded at the airport and couldn't book a new flight until a couple of days later.

The married couple were needing a place to stay while they went to and from the American consulate. As I'm sure that you know, staying in Rio hotels are very expensive and we were happy to be able to help this young couple save some money. The young husband's parents are new friends of ours' and are from Cushing, Oklahoma. Obviously we wouldn't open our house to just anyone. So, please don't go calling us up saying that you're wanting several days of vacation and are needing a place to hang out while you do tourism. However, we would love to fellowship with you if you are passing through Rio. The second guy had been working this summer in Rio on his practicum for his Masters and was a participant in out Small Group. He was at the airport returning to the States when he discovered that he had read his ticket wrong. It was never a question with Sharon and I if we should invite him to stay at our house while he purchased his new ticket and then had a couple day lay-over until his next flight out.

All three of these people expressed gratitude for us allowing them to stay with us. Honestly, we didn't think too much about it. We've always felt that the house that we stay in is itself a ministry since it's not really "ours" but IMB property. God has been good to us and we feel that it is only natural to pass this blessing onto others by sharing what great things He has given to us.

One of the interesting things to me is that doing things like opening our house for someone to stay as they obtain their visa, giving a ride to the airport for someone so that they don't have to take a taxi, or offering a meal to someone who has really just come over for fellowship, time has gotten away from them and they find that they are at our house when a meal is placed before them, these are normal events which become a blessings. Being a blessing to others is itself a blessing. When we open our homes and hearts to other we find that God always gives us more than we could give away. I must admit however that it is still sometimes easier to give than to receive. I still struggle at times with allowing others to bless me or my family. Giving is natural for Sharon and I, receiving some times take some effort. I was once told by a colleague, "don't rob someone of their joy when they're trying to bless you".

I guess what I'm trying to share is not a pat on my own back for opening up our home, but uplifted hands in praise to a God who loved us so much that He gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be IMB missionaries. We are blessed to have a house that Southern Baptist provided for us. We are blessed because we have a mission vehicle that can carry someone to the airport, hospital or to a new church start. We are blessed because you are giving to us every day that we are here in Brazil. So, I want to write and say to you, "thank you" for being such a blessing to us!

Your fellow servant,

Jeff Renard - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Are You Content?

Last Thursday (August 7, 2008) our Small Group celebrated two years of meeting weekly in our house. Our Small Group, or SG, is called "Brownies, Cookies e Presença de Deus" (meaning; "Brownies, Cookies and the Presence of God"). By request of our SG leader, I Bar-B-Qued three racks of ribs and three pork shoulders. It was a great time of the "Three F's" (food, fun and fellowship). I would love to be able to show you a photo, but the camera and the computer are having a dispute right now and I think that the computer has lost!

Anyway, the subject of gratitude came up and our pastor made the comment that whenever he has someone from the church come to his office for counseling, the first question that he asks the person is if they are participating in a Small Group? His observation was that many times when a person is actively participating in a SG, then the SG usually helps the person through their difficulty, thus there is usually no need of counseling from our pastor.

This caused me to remember the times in our family's life when we've gone through difficult and joyous time, it's been the support and the fellowship of either our Sunday School (SS) or Small Group that walked with us through these life events.

I guess that this then leads me to ask the question that is in my title, "Are you content?" If you're not, then maybe it's because you don't feel that you have the support of your SG or SS. If that's the case, then ask yourself, "what do I need to do to gain this support?" Prior to coming to Brazil, it was the support of the Young Adult Sunday School class of the First Baptist Church of Cushing, Oklahoma. Now, we get this same support (love, fellowship, feedback, etc.) in our weekly Small Group. Where is your's coming from?

One thing is for certain - Change Always Happens

It's been almost two weeks since my last post. Since that time there have been a lot of things that have occurred. In just the past week, we were informed of friends who's daughter has a baby in the Neonatal ICU because she was born over two months premature, another friend has been diagnosed with "Clear Cell Epithelial Ovarian Cancer", our son Wesley returned the States to return to college (KU-Lawrence), I had a special meeting with Pr. Davi (co-pastor), Joana D'Arc (psychologist), and Luis (layman) all from the First Baptist Church of Vista Alegre (São Gonçalo-Rio de Janeiro) about their intentions to begin Celebrando a Recuperação (Celebrate Recovery) in their church this coming Friday, and our colleagues Guy and Elena Key, my wife Sharon, our daughters Willa-Ann and Priscila and I met the Lambach family as they returned to Brazil after going to the States to have a funeral service for Elaine (see previous posts).

Change is inevitable. Whether we like it, or not, it's going to happen. As much as I wish that things (life) could remain the same, that's just not reality. Not only is that not reality, it's also not healthy. Think about it, as cute as a baby is (I know, we've had four of them and ALL of them have been the most beautiful creations in all the world), the precious time that we have with our children, watching them grow, all of the "firsts", as great and wonderful as that is, I don't think that any of us would really want our children to stay forever a baby, a toddler, a child, an adolescent, and so on. In reality Sharon and I are looking forward to the day when our children marry and have children. We're looking forward to the day that we can spoil the grandkids and send them home. All of that having been said (or typed), there is yet still a part of me that wants some things to stay the same.

One of the things that I do as a missionary here in Brazil is teach churches how to do Celebrate Recovery (see the link on this page). When invited to train one of these churches, one of the key phases that I teach is this, "We live by two rules of thumbs; (1) there is a God, and (2) I am not Him." Over this past week, several things have happened that if I had the power to change, I would have. But, guess what? There is a God and Jeff isn't Him (and aren't we ALL grateful for that)! I trust God completely! That being said, I also trust Him that He knows what He's doing, that He's still on the throne and still in control. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, the Apostle Paul writes; "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ". (NASB) I trust God that even when things don't go as I think that they ought to go, He still knows what's best.

I remember when I was first in recovery. I was very ignorant and in denial of the severity of my chemical dependency. Although I admitted that I had had a problem with alcohol and drugs, in my denial I was convinced that I was not like "those" people. I was working at a psychiatric hospital and a co-worker who had lost my copy of the "Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book" had bought me a new one. On the inside cover she encouraged me to read page 449. That page has helped a lot over the years, especially when I find myself not content with my reality and I find myself complaining to God for the way He's letting life happen. The page reads like this:

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation – some fact of my life – unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."

Alcoholics Anonymous 3rd. Ed., 1976, Alcoholic Anonymous World Services, Inc., (page 449)

I totally recognize that the AA Big Book is not the Bible, not even close! I also recognize that there are a lot of people who are in our circle of friends and contacts that suffer from the "if only this" or "if only that", or the "I should have . . .", "I would have . . .", or the "I could have . . ." of life. My prayer for me and for all of us is that when we experience life, both in it's good and it's bad, that we accept it for what it is, a precious gift from God. One that is neither earned or deserved, but daily given to us as a present of God's grace.

Saying "good bye" to a good friend

Our home church, Agulha Baptist, was packed with people in the back and standing outside - such a moving tribute to a marvelous life!! I so appreciated the moving sermon of our Pastor about Elaine. Especially moving was the choreography of a group, three of the girls who were discipled by Elaine - as they presented through tears, sobbing, and broken hearts!! A little boy, Artur - rejected and misunderstood by many but loved and taught by Elaine, came up front by himself to look at Elaine's body in the coffin. David stood by my side with his arm around me as I testified of her life - and then he gave the final tribute

This afternoon our IMB family fed us lunch and loved on us as they honored Elaine. Many were deeply impressed to see and experience the depth of her ministry in our church. One reminded us of her always calm word and looking at the longer term. Another shared how Elaine encouraged her in her frustration in potty training her two year old - we have not met a college MK in diapers. She also shared how she noticed her love for me when last month as I arrived late to a fellowship and how her face light up as I walked in.

I was a blessed man who had a wife far about rubies and a marriage in which we two truly became one!! Everything good I have accomplished was because of my foundational confidence, trust, and support that she gave me. Hebrews 12.1-2 is especially precious to me now. Elaine is in that cloud of witnessed watching and cheering especially as I and our children run our race!! BABY - YOU RAN GREAT AND FINISHED WELL!! HELP ME TO CONTINUE KEEPING ON AND FINISH AS WELL!!!

In the grace and peace of Christ our Lord

Paul Lambach

Part of the Mission Family

I remember when Sharon and I were in the process of becoming appointed as missionaries, with what was then called the Foreign Mission Board, and how a fellow missionary presented us with a South Brazil Mission Directory. With great pride, this representative shared how these missionaries would become our second family.

Over these past couple of days we have felt the closeness of what it means to be an IMB missionary. Some of you know that we just returned from our AGM (Annual General Meeting, aka Mission Meeting). On our return home to Rio we were accompanied by our friends, the Lambachs, who serve in Belém. Many of us left AGM feeling like we were catching a cold or flu. I myself spent several days in bed with a low grade fever. The Lambachs stayed in Rio for a couple of days. They wanted to let their son David see Rio before he heads off to college in a couple of weeks. On the Fourth of July, while I was stuck in bed, we had the Lambachs and the Rio Missionary family over for hamburgers to celebrate the Fourth. The wife and mother, Elaine Lambach, shared that she was not feeling well and everyone thought that she was suffering from a cold or from allergies. Upon returning to Belém Elaine began feeling worse. Yesterday she entered the hospital, her condition worsened and she went to be with the Lord at around 11:00pm Monday, July 14, 2008.

Tonight, those of us from the Rio mission who were able to get together had a time of prayer for the Lambachs. We would ask that you remember in prayer Elaine's husband, Paul, their three sons Joseph, Johnathan and David, and their two young daughters, Rachael and Hannah. Please pray for Paul as he will have many decisions to make in the future regarding how to be a single parent, what to do regarding ministry (return to Brazil or seek other ministry options, etc.), how to best support his children, both the young adult sons and the two young daughters. Our hearts grieve and ache for Paul and the children. If we could, we would go up to Belém to hold their hands and hug their necks. We will miss Elaine, her sweet quiet spirit, her contagious smile, and her godly presence. We are confident that she is healed and whole in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We hurt today, but one day we will rejoice with her in the presence of our King! We love you Elaine and we look forward to seeing you again some day.

Being led in Worship

For those of you who are reading this, please bear with Sharon and I. We are new to the whole idea of blogging. So, for the next few entries things may seem a bit chaotic because we are trying to share with you some of the recent events in our lives.

The included photo is a dream that neither Sharon, nor I ever thought would come to a realization. It has always been important for us to lead our children in worship. We had always hoped that one day our children would desire to lead others in worship as well. However, we never imagined that our children would lead our church in worship! The whole thing began several months ago as a desire of our pastor to begin training the Youth Group of our church to lead worship for what will later become service for a younger audience. The youth took this task very serious and after several months they were ready to lead in their first morning service. WOW, what an experience! They did a great job and gave Christ all of the credit and glory. Our hearts were thrilled! Since that time both Naaman and Willa-Ann have led worship during our Annual General Meeting (AGM) of our Area, the Youth MKs (Missionary Kids) and the youth during MK night.

Entering the 21st Century

Communicating to the world on the web is a somewhat intimidating thing. For the past several years, Sharon and I have discussed the idea of creating (or have created for us) a web page. We even had a non-profit group volunteer to create a page for us. Prior to our last STAS (previously called "furlough") we had a "trial" page made, but, as happens in life, our direction of ministry changed and the trail page became instantly obsolete.

Well, this evening everything has changed. Right now in our house we have some colleagues with us and we've been chewing around various ideas about lots of things. The subject of a blog site came up and with the help of our friends, we now have entered the 21st century. WOW, that was easy!

Who are the Renards? Sharon and I (Jeff) were both reared in Wichita, Kansas. We were married on July 21, 1981 and immediately moved to Southwest Baptist University to start college. After four years Sharon graduated with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and I a B.S. in Psychology. From there we moved to New Orleans so that I could attend seminary at New Oreans Baptist Theological Seminary, while Sharon taught at a private Christian school. After graduating from NOBTS with a M.Div. we moved to Norton, Kansas where I began working as a Drug and Alcohol counselor for a non-profit in-patient clinic. I worked with this facility for six years when God called us to the mission field. We have been missionaries here in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for 13 years now, serving with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. We have four children (Wesley, Naaman, Willa-Ann and Priscila).