This blog will ultimately become a book – my tribute to a godly wife, constant companion, the perfect match who God used to smooth off so many rough edges and become the principal human instrument in God’s Hands to mold me more into His image.
I want you that knew Elaine to help me write her tribute. God-willing, I will spend through December of 2008 writing and collecting – receiving tens and even hundreds of testimonies from you who knew her – at any point in her life. I will continue to post to this blog, which will then form the basis for my book, God-willing in English at FBC Morristown by May 31, 2008, and shortly afterwards in Portuguese at our home church, Agulha BC.
PLEASE HELP ME WRITE HER STORY. I believe God wants to use this unplanned homecoming so I can do the following:
· PRAISE - Give my tribute - rise up and call her “blessed” – and declare how blessed I was of the Lord for these 23+ years.
· PRESERVE – write about this marvelous wife and mother who for over 23 years loved and served her Lord and invested in her husband, her children, and her ministry within her limits – especially her final six years in our Brazilian home church - Agulha Baptist. I want this book to be a way to present and introduce Elaine (outside of Joseph’s fiancé Jessica) to our sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, their children and grandchildren, indeed our descendants until Jesus returns.
· AFFIRM – applaud woman like Elaine – missionary, wife of pastor or minister, or just a godly wife who has these same priorities. Keep it up – you are doing well and will finish “approved unto God”. Elaine did not only fly, she soared and finished well, as the 500 present at her Memorial Service affirmed on July 15th at Agulha Baptist and then again on July 26th at FBC, Morristown, TN
· CHALLENGE – HUSBANDS: be sensitive to her struggles and perceived “what am I doing? How is God using me?” when she is the quiet and behind-the-scenes like Elaine. HUSBANDS: God wants her to soar and you both to soar together. You are the head, the responsible one. You take the lead, accept responsibility, and she will follow your leadership.
· CHILDREN – honor and respects your parents that you may rise up like David did on July 15th and all three on July 26th at your Mom’s funeral call her blessed!
By sending me your testimony, you are giving me the right to use it, either in the body or at the end.
If you have pictures, please send those also.
Email address to send testimonies: tributetoelainelambach@gmail.com
Thank you for helping me to write her story.
Paul Lambach, Ananindeua-Para, August 3, 2008.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
THIS BLOG WILL BECOME A WRITTEN TRIBUTE AND PUBLISHED BOOK, TO ELAINE; NARRATED BY PAUL AND FILLED IN BY THOSE WHO KNEW HER
THE UNGIVEN GIFT
THE UNGIVEN GIFT
During our 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Brazilian Baptist Mission of International Mission Board missionaries and their families in Atibaia, Sao Paulo, June 29-July 2, 2008, I wanted to surprise my bride of 23+ years, Elaine Lambach, and also buy my two daughters, Rachel (12) and Hannah (9) early matching Christmas presents. After I had picked out the two matching sets of earrings for the girls and the slightly different pair for Elaine and was finalizing the purchase, Elaine walked up, visiting with another wife. After pausing momentarily wondering how I could still surprise her, I instead decided to let her help me pick out her pair because she would know better than me if I was duplicating or buying a set similar to what she already had. So she did, picking out a pair with modest yellow-orange stones. Both of us were delighted with the purchase. Because I initiated the purchase, the earrings would still express my love for Elaine when I gave to her for her October 20 birthday or for Christmas.
We took our first ever family vacation in Rio de Janeiro July 2-4, spending a special three days with fellow IMB missionaries Jeff and Sharon Renard and their children and sharing in a July 4th luncheon with our extended IMB family in Rio. We then traveled on to Petropolis, RJ, where we spent three days with Pr Juracy Carlos Baia and his wonderful family, special friends from our ministry in Goiania (1999-2001). We started from home on the late morning of Monday, July 7. After three nights on the road, and stopping just outside of the city of Castanhal for a first-ever family visit and light meal in the restaurant “O Celeiro”, where we strolled hand-in-hand as we visited the hydroponic gardens. We arrived home around 6 pm on Thursday, July 10. I noticed that on the trip home she appeared to be more tired than normal, attributing it to four days on the road.
Friday morning, July 11th at around 5 a.m., we made the first of three visits to the Emergency Room at the Adventist Hospital in Belem. Elaine was admitted the third time around 3:15 a.m. on Monday, July 14th – and eighteen hours later, officially at 11:10 p.m. – our Loving Heavenly Father called Elaine to her eternal home and reward.
After her Memorial Service in our Brazilian Church, Agulha Baptist, on Tuesday, July 15th, I saw my backpack – and remembered her gift. Elaine knew about the gift, and was content to wait. Certainly when we entered the hospital that final time, I thought we might be in ICU a day or two, then on to a regular room, then back home again. Never in my worst nightmare could I have imagined saying goodbye to my darling, sweetheart, best friend, constant companion, and apple of my eye before that day was over.
Her earrings remain THE UNGIVEN-GIFT. Husbands – please don’t ever join me in this club. While you can, big or small, intricate or simple, expensive or economical, GIVE HER GIFTS – OFTEN.
During our 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Brazilian Baptist Mission of International Mission Board missionaries and their families in Atibaia, Sao Paulo, June 29-July 2, 2008, I wanted to surprise my bride of 23+ years, Elaine Lambach, and also buy my two daughters, Rachel (12) and Hannah (9) early matching Christmas presents. After I had picked out the two matching sets of earrings for the girls and the slightly different pair for Elaine and was finalizing the purchase, Elaine walked up, visiting with another wife. After pausing momentarily wondering how I could still surprise her, I instead decided to let her help me pick out her pair because she would know better than me if I was duplicating or buying a set similar to what she already had. So she did, picking out a pair with modest yellow-orange stones. Both of us were delighted with the purchase. Because I initiated the purchase, the earrings would still express my love for Elaine when I gave to her for her October 20 birthday or for Christmas.
We took our first ever family vacation in Rio de Janeiro July 2-4, spending a special three days with fellow IMB missionaries Jeff and Sharon Renard and their children and sharing in a July 4th luncheon with our extended IMB family in Rio. We then traveled on to Petropolis, RJ, where we spent three days with Pr Juracy Carlos Baia and his wonderful family, special friends from our ministry in Goiania (1999-2001). We started from home on the late morning of Monday, July 7. After three nights on the road, and stopping just outside of the city of Castanhal for a first-ever family visit and light meal in the restaurant “O Celeiro”, where we strolled hand-in-hand as we visited the hydroponic gardens. We arrived home around 6 pm on Thursday, July 10. I noticed that on the trip home she appeared to be more tired than normal, attributing it to four days on the road.
Friday morning, July 11th at around 5 a.m., we made the first of three visits to the Emergency Room at the Adventist Hospital in Belem. Elaine was admitted the third time around 3:15 a.m. on Monday, July 14th – and eighteen hours later, officially at 11:10 p.m. – our Loving Heavenly Father called Elaine to her eternal home and reward.
After her Memorial Service in our Brazilian Church, Agulha Baptist, on Tuesday, July 15th, I saw my backpack – and remembered her gift. Elaine knew about the gift, and was content to wait. Certainly when we entered the hospital that final time, I thought we might be in ICU a day or two, then on to a regular room, then back home again. Never in my worst nightmare could I have imagined saying goodbye to my darling, sweetheart, best friend, constant companion, and apple of my eye before that day was over.
Her earrings remain THE UNGIVEN-GIFT. Husbands – please don’t ever join me in this club. While you can, big or small, intricate or simple, expensive or economical, GIVE HER GIFTS – OFTEN.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
picture of Elaine at David's graduation May 30, 2008
This photo was taken on May 30th, 2008 at our son David Lambach's graduation..
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