Newsletter 136, August 2010

Dear family and friends,


"Is God asking the impossible of you?" asked the English pastor during our weekly Thursday evening service on our YWAM base in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The question touched me. Yes, it actually felt as if God asked too much... I looked around me. The hall was crowded with staff and children from all our eight different homes, with volunteers who had given up their holidays to come and help us, and with guests from the local churches.

Johan was not in the service, as he had gone to Haiti this week to prepare for a school we will be running from October 2 to December 25 to train local young people and empower local communities for transformation. And that was what was troubling me a little; I had no doubt that God had led us together to offer help after the earthquake in Haiti, especially to train people to reach out to the children in need. But even after seeing God do so many miracles, directing us to the right people, opening doors, confirming it over and over again that these were His plans for us, we were still worried how to combine this with leading the YWAM base in Belo Horizonte, with around 100 full time staff, plus leading the Children at Risk School in Belo, which will start late August. How could we do all of this? Was God asking the impossible? Well, yes, it sure felt like it!

Impossible to do in our own strength, impossible to do with our own resources, impossible to manage everything... but then I found out that this is exactly the place where God wants me, where He says: "Trust me, with me it is possible!” We are going to do this together with God; scary and exciting at the same time! Will you pray for us?

Naiomi, Eva and Davi

In early April, our granddaughter Naiomi was born. She is the sister of Iara and the daughter of Johanneke and Jonathan, who are on staff here on the base. What a wonderful experience to be at her birth, and what a darling little child with long, dark blond hair and big blue eyes. And then in June, our sixth grandchild, Eva, was born on the day we returned from our trip to India and Australia. So I went directly from the airport to the hospital. She is the sister of Igor and the daughter of Michele and Romeu, who are also missionaries, living and working one hour away from Belo Horizonte. She has pitch black hair and a complexion as if she has been sunbathing; a lovely child. What a joy and what a blessing! To top it off Davi came to visit us for a month. He is our youngest son, who is physically and mentally challenged and lives in a Christian residential community in Holland. What a wonderful family time we had!

Iara, Jonathan, Johanneke and Naiomi

Igor, Romeu, Michele and Eva

Davi, busy with handicraft.

We want to thank you all who support us through prayer, encouragements by email, and financial gifts. Without such support we could not do all the work we are doing!

We wish you God's abundant blessings!

Johan and Jeannette Lukasse

Prayer Point :

• Thank God for His faithfulness; He can be trusted with all our needs. Pray that in all impossible situations, we will hold onto Him.