Lyon in Brasil '09: July 2009

Wellington's Funeral and Burial

I had thought that I was going to a meeting to help Celso plan a funeral for our brother Wellington but showed up to a room full of family members, and church family members, and the battered body of our brother in a simple box in the middle of the room. It was the most simple funeral I have ever seen, and maybe the most beautiful. After some worship, a few simple comments from Celso and myself, and some prayer, a lot of time was given for people simply standing around the casket, comforting Wellington's family as best they could. After about 2 hours, the top was put on the simple casket, and the emotions peeked as it was the final time they would see their son, brother, friend. A pick-up truck backed up to the door and his casket was loaded in the back, and a couple hundred people walked behind in the pouring rain to a cemetary where Wellington was to be entombed in a cement mausoleum. The rain began to fall even harder and a young man from the church handed Karen and I his umbrella. Many people got soaked by the rain. For some reason I kept thinking about Jesus weeping as he witnessed the sorrow of so many of his friends.

Pastor Celso paid with a credit card for Wellington's body to be prepared and for the cost's of the funeral including his simple tomb in the back corner of the graveyard. I was touched by the Lord when I heard that the total cost for everything was $R2,000. It was the exact amount I had talked with Gene Stokes about on Sunday morning to see if we could add it to our normal deposit for Celso and the Sao Vicente church. My thought was to help the church finish some expenses associated with their building. That happened about 12 hours before Wellington died. Now I realize that God in his sovereignty was providing for his beloved disciple even before the tragedy happened.

Celso, Tati and Larry

We had planned to fellowship and play some games but somehow we just didn't feel like it today. I think we were all still feeling a little melancholy and somber, We ended up having an interesting discussion about death, customs and cultural differences. I think some of the shock is still hanging around....and I know that everyone is pretty exhausted. I will always be thankful that we have those last pictures of Wellington in our minds; laughing over the play at the Anniversary celebration, and a special memory for Kelly; Wellington laughing with her at Larry's jokes and antics just before the last pictures were taken and everyone departed, going there seperate ways... When I think of Wellington in heaven I see a different picture than any I have pictured there before him. I see him laughing boisterously, tears streaming down his face with so much joy in the presence of our Almighty God!

Juliah Diane Lyon

It is true...these little precious lambs are a huge joy in my life. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to take part in their first big adventure seeing life in a new culture and a different part of the world. We get so caught up in our own little space we don't always remember that God's view takes it all in; every country, every city, every home, every lifestyle and most important, every human being alive on this planet. And I need to remember, He isn't viewing it from the United States looking out to other places. We aren't the center of it all. He is seeing us all from His throne! KL

Home away from home...

Moving day came and went (again!) as we have settled into Tim and Talisa's home for the next 12 or so days. Our first night here has been another adventure. Larry was extremely sick when we arrived. I found some sheets, made the bed for him and walked up to the store to find something to eat. I came home with some banana's, bread and for Larry, the closest thing to 7up that I could find. After eating half a banana and some dry cheerios I did a little work on the blog and settled in for the night. KL

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Little Lambs

It is true...these little precious lambs are a huge joy in my life. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to take part in their first big adventure seeing life in a new culture and a different part of the world. We get so caught up in our own little space we don't always remember that God's view takes it all in; every country, every city, every home, every lifestyle and most important...every human being alive on this planet. And I need to remember, He isn't viewing it from the United States looking out to other places. We aren't the center of it all. He is seeing us all from His throne!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

We will be in our third week of our six week adventure in Brasil starting tomorrow but decided it was time to get a blog started. (Not all of our friends are Karen's facebook pals). It would be too hard to catch up everything so we will just post our past "pictures of the day" and a small caption that I think will give you the flavor of our pleasant journey. And then we'll keep up a little better from here on out. LL