Peter and Josi's Newsletter August 2017
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Brazil! Thank You for your prayers, messages and support.
Last month we had the joy of celebrating Dorothy’s 9th birthday and a wonderful answer to prayer! Nearly two years ago Dorothy encountered an adorable Yorkshire terrier at the YWAM base at Contagem. October 2015. Of course it made a big impact upon her.....and she asked if she could have one too. We visited a local dog breeder who had some Yorkshire terriers but later we explained to Dorothy we couldn't afford to buy one. But we encouraged Dorothy to pray for a Yorkshire Terrier. Dorothy has indeed prayed a long time - but a few weeks ago we visited the local dog breeder again with a friend who wanted to visit. The owner knew Dorothy would like a dog…..and a week before Dorothy’s birthday the owner gave Dorothy a Yorkshire terrier! Of course Dorothy is over the moon knowing God answered her prayers! It's wonderful to see this blessing - Praise the Lord! It certainly is a great blessing to share this!
Escola Crista Agua Viva School
Our end of term June Harvest Festival for Escola Crista Agua Viva - Classes 7 - 10 years, and Dorothy’s Class.
The school has started back again after the school holidays in July. We have over 50 pupils enrolled approximately 42 whose parents pay for their child's education. We have 10 who are receiving financial help either from us or are sponsored. We trust God to pour out His blessing as we seek to faithfully disciple the children and families in the community.
A little about what we are up to in YWAM in Brazil. Way back in 1997 I had the privilege of being a student at the School of Illustration at YWAMs University of the Nations, Kona, Hawaii. During the school I produced an illustrated book in Collage called the Lion and the Lamb.....For a long time it has been stored away but recently we had an art themed event for our children’s saturday morning club based on the theme and illustrations from the book to teach this amazing verse of scripture Revelation 5:5. Josi did a short introduction to the significance of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Lamb who was slain before the creation of the world. After this I produced a speed picture performed to music to inspire the children. Even though it puts me through my paces to paint the picture within 6-7 minutes I enjoy the challenge! Afterwards the children got the chance to paint the story of the Lion and Lamb themed panel on the wall....a bit like the famous Bayeux Tapestry. But ours tells the amazing victory of the Lion and the Lamb in scripture.
Please visit the link to see a short film presenting the Lion and the Lamb event.
Crianças do Rei
We also had school holidays for Crianças do Rei project. And will be commencing shortly, the challenges of finding staff isn't easy. Please pray. Here in the photo above is Josi with Marli and her daughter Jessica. Marli brought her two children to stay with us not so long ago - Marli came at 11.00 o'clock at night! She was having difficulties so we let her stay for about ten days to get her life on track again. Marli no longer lives in the Mangroves but lives on the property of her family now….we are trying to organise construction material so she can have a small house to live with her children. Please pray for the many families we seek to help here in Iparana especially the Mangroves. The photo on the right are some of the mothers and children who come to Crianças do Rei project. Please pray we need to raise funds to cover all the expenses.
Based on a sketch during the 4th YWAM BRAZIL ARTS Conference YWAM Contagem. Wonderful teaching by guest speaker Veteran YWAMer Isabel Zwahlen, Whose teaching on the Garden of Eden and cultivating our own Garden - Spending time with God.
I have been developing the sketch into colour with some reflections of my own - Isabel's teaching spoke deeply - Working on the picture I couldn't help but think of all the things the Garden of Eden means. The flag of Brazil is a beautiful flag.... the colours make one think of the hope of paradise - The flowers and flags in the picture - precious symbols of all God intended for us in the Garden of God. Our hopes and longings for all that is pure, innocent, holy, integrity, beauty, tenderness and truth. This crazy, confused world wants to obliterate all the memory of these precious truths yet the world so desperately needs to return to this garden, remembering the paradise which was lost........ I sense God calling Brazil to return to Him. So much ails this great country......no amount of human power or strength can resolve - it can only ever hope to be restored and healed through coming back to God. Return to the precious values and truths God intended for mankind. Paradise was lost.....but we can return if we go by the way of the empty garden tomb...and believe the incredible message it contains. The Lord Himself awaits us......
Other news for prayer
We give thanks to God for all the blessing He bestows on us and answers to pray. Our printer broke recently and we were able to buy a new one with the help of friends. May God bless them richly for their help.
Art Gallery - Not started yet…...but let's keep praying!
We are praying and planning to attend the YWAM Brazil Family Reunion in Caldas Novas in December….Please pray in agreement with us as we make plans and raise finance.. It is very important we attend. We will need to raise approximately R$3.500 for flights Including Return Flights. Approximately 850 UK Pounds
R$1.576,66 to stay for the YWAM Brazil Family Reunion Approximately 382,45 UK Pounds
R$1.187,90 to attend the Reunion of YWAM Brazil Leaders (This is obligatory for leaders) Approximately 288,05 UK Pounds
Please pray in agreement for new supporters.
The level of our regular support has fallen sharply - Crianças do Rei is making steady and gradual progress and support for Crianças do Rei since it started has reached something in the region of 200 uk pounds per month. But since the second half of last year support started faltering by about 200 UK pounds - Some months support did not come through. Now it is every month. A fall of approximately 40% We bless those who have so generously supported us for a number of years. Economic times are hard in Brazil. There are good times and bad times…...But God is always good no matter what!
With our love and thanks
Peter, Josi and Dorothy
For those who would like to help financially my bank details are as follows.
An update - For those who kindly wish to support us in missions with YWAM Brazil. We are registered with give net - Stewardship Services in the UK. Monthly and one-off donations can be easily processed with Debit and Credit cards - please visit the link below to see our giving page. Give net has made some recent updates which should make this easier - for those who wish to remain anonymous, give net makes this provision. For people outside the UK who wish to give - the payment process allows International donors to opt out of UK Gift Aid system. Stewardship Services are a Christian organisation serving charities and missionaries from the UK
For those who wish to pay through STEWARDSHIP We have an account at https://www.give.net/20089559 Before confirming any gift on give.net you will be asked whether you wish to remain anonymous. If you choose this option your personal details will be will not be made known. If you have any questions please ask for details
Donations may also be sent via Western Union which we are able to receive here.
Peter and Josi Millward, Rua Pintor J. Figueiredo No. 805. Praia Iparana. Caucaia, Ceara. CEP. 61.627-250.
God in the Rock
by Derek Prince.
Psalm 105:41
“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.”
That’s a picture of God’s provision for His people, Israel. In the forty years of their wandering through the wilderness, a dry and barren land where there were no pools, no rivers, no streams, where water was almost non-existent. God provided water for them in abundance. He provided it in a most unlikely way. He provided it out of a rock.
When you look at a rock in the desert as I’ve looked at it countless times, it seems so hard, so unyielding, so little good could come out of it. But in the disguise of the rock we understand that God Himself was with the people. God Himself was the rock and out of Himself there came His provision for His people in abundance.
It was important that Israel knew how to approach the rock. At one time Moses was commanded to strike it. At another time he was commanded to speak to it, and when he approached the rock in faith and obedience, out of that seemingly hard and unyielding rock there came an abundance of water that flowed like a river in the desert.
It’s often so in our lives, where in a time of barrenness when provision seems lacking, but God is there. He’s there in the form of a rock. He’s there in a form of something that seems hard and unyielding, something that we could complain about. But when we recognize God in it and approach Him in faith and obedience, then the rock becomes the source of our provision.
