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.
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.
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