Look to Jesus!

The following is an excerpt from our most recent prayer letter:
I wish I could transmit to you the beautiful scene I witnessed at the cemetery on Wednesday. After the short devotional the casket containing Pastor Francisco’s mortal remains was wheeled out of the little chapel and towards the grave site. The crowd (and it was a large crowd–two buses and about twenty cars accompanied the hearse from the church to the cemetery) followed close behind…singing. First they sang “It is Well With My Soul”, then an old Brazilian hymn imploring sinners to trust in Christ. Finally, as they approached the open grave, they broke out into a chorus that is very popular in churches here which echoes, almost verbatim, the words of Romans 8: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
After a few short words from the pastor’s brother, the casket was lowered into the ground, and the cemetery workers began to pile the dirt on top. (Unlike Americans, Brazilians stick around for this part.) Suddenly Pastor Francisco’s aged mother, Dona Terezinha, spoke up through her tears, in a voice so loud and clear all could hear it:
“People, look to Jesus!” she exclaimed. “Look to Jesus! Look to Jesus!”
The next months are apt to be some of the most challenging of our ministry…but with God’s help, and with Dona Terezinha’s words echoing in our ears, we will look to Jesus.