Tragedy has hit the missionary family, but through all things God is our peace and strength. Phillipans 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We ask you to join us in praying for the Lambach family upon the loss of wife and mother Elaine. Elaine was only 49 years old and passed away earlier this month due to a sudden illness. She was a missionary who served her Lord in Belém, Pará. She was wife to Paul and mother to five children, Joseph (a Marine), Jonathan (a Union University senior), David (a freshman at Lincoln Memorial University), Rachel (12 years old) and Hannah (9 years old).

There was a celebration of Elaine's life at her funeral among her Brazilian church family and brothers and sisters from many other churches. Her mission family was also there and testimonies were given of how she served her Lord well and faithfully. They buried Elaine in Tennessee on July 26. Paul returned to Brazil with his family on July 29th. David will pack up his things to go to college and Paul and the girls will begin this new phase of their lives. They will be in Brazil until December when their stateside assignment begins. Please keep them all in your prayers.

In Paul Lambach's words:

"Please thank all who have prayed!! We have really sensed the outpouring of God's grace and peace during these intervening days. We will bury Elaine in Morristown, TN following a service in FBC Morristown.

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!!!"

A team of 20 people with World Wide Church Planters, led by Dr. Mark Davis, worked with a team of Brazilians and IMB missionaries to reach river villages on the Amazon River in June, 2008. Many people came to know Jesus as their Savior during this evangelism trip. One couple, Harrison and Francisca Netiana were convicted that they should be married and asked one of the pastors to marry him.  She has called the translator since that trip and shared that everything is different and that they are happy. We do not have missionaries working in this area, only teams that go out once or twice a year. For more details and pictures go to http://www.brazil.faith2live.com/3.html .

Someone needs to return to the communities to encourage the new believers. We have a project starting in January, 2009, called Amazon R.A.C.E. that will be sending out teams of 2, made up of an IMB Journeyman and Brazilians, that will go to communities to evangelize, disciple and start new churches. The goal for 2009 is 5 teams and we have thousands of people and villages needing to hear the gospel, be disciples and have a church accessible to them. Visit the website or write us at info@amazonrace.org for more info about Amazon R.A.C.E..

I am working on the plane Tuesday thru Saturday, sort of treating it like a regular job.  I have at least one volunteer helping almost every day (usually different ones on different days) and several volunteers come out on Saturday's.  We have over 20 men (and on elderly lady) involved with this project.  The Lord has blessed, there has been a lot of excitement over the project and it is going well.  

I take Sunday and Monday off.  I hope to be finished and ready to fly in about another month to six weeks.  I will then go back to working on my PhD dissertation about 30 hours a week (mostly while the kids are in school) and spend the rest of the time with the family. 

 The work is physically exhausting (squeezing, pounding, or bucking tens of thousands of rivets) and pretty mentally challenging as well (reading blueprint type instructions, figuring out the details and actually making it happen).  I have a great help with our professional builder assistant and he has two planes (one finished and one a few weeks ahead of ours) in his hangar that I can look at as models for how to do ours.  He is by my side within minutes when I have a question or problem.  That has saved us hours and hours of pondering, wondering, calling the factory, etc.  We also have an outstanding set up for work in a climate controlled hangar with all the special tools we need.  I also have some great volunteers with two Airframe and Powerplant mechanics, engineers, etc.