Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - October 2017
Dear friends,
Greetings once again! Thankyou to all who pray and support us here in Brazil.
I better start off with a new development which has been a wonderful encouragement. Since last August I have been painting at different churches in Fortaleza and Caucaia. Pastor Roberto who I met on Facebook invited us to one of the churches where he was preaching - and since then every Sunday I have been painting while Pr Roberto preaches. At the end of the service the finished picture is given as a gift to the church. It has also been a valuable opportunity for Josi to share about YWAM and our base here in Iparana.
We are very grateful to the Lord for our friend Pr Roberto for giving us this opportunity. Roberto will be leaving for the USA in November to Pastor a church. May God richly bless Roberto. He has been a great blessing to us.
An interesting story how one of the pictures came about…...One morning I had a dream I saw the Titanic Violin in a painting….as I woke up! I was thinking about this that I should paint it at church the following sunday…..So I started researching and read the story of the final moments of the Titanic. I mentioned this to Pr Roberto about the dream. Those familiar with the story of the Titanic will remember the band bravely played as the ship went down.....many survivors remember hearing the hymn "Nearer my God to thee" being played......It happened to be the bandmaster, Wallace Hartley's favorite hymn, it was noted by his family as being the one he would have wanted played at his funeral. A poignant story - The violin was given to him by his fiancée on the celebration of their engagement a while before. Many stories are told of that fateful night....the panic and desperation...but Wallace Hartley and his band went into eternity with the hymn “Nearer my God to Thee” The last music they would play on earth. I didn't know why I should paint this…I was puzzled but I thought I better obey and so prepared sketches. During the service at the church that Sunday, the Pastor of the church said there had been a funeral of a teenager who had been murdered that week in the district and he had been asked to lead the funeral service. He asked the group of young people who attended if they had ever watched the film “The Titanic” and so told them the story of the Titanic going down and the Band playing the hymn - “Nearer my God to Thee” The Pastor had sung the hymn at the funeral.
Escola Crista Agua Viva School
Please continue prayers for the school. Many challenges for children these days - and teachers too! Josi commented the other day it seems the Arts and Education are the two biggest areas the enemy seems to be attacking these days. Both these areas mould the minds of children. Children need affirming with traditional Bible teaching for them to grow into well adjusted adults. Sadly the adult world seems to want to create so much confusion and doubt in minds of children. This is very serious, and we must not remain silent.
News in Brazil - extremely unpleasant
I don't know everything that is happening in the world of the Arts around the world. But in a three week period here in Brazil recently. A wave of outrageous leftist propaganda and the "freedom for kids to choose their gender" ideology hit the news also shocking Art exhibitions!
Santander Bank in Brazil sponsored a horrible art exhibition, simply depraved and awful….to vile to describe. And invited scores of elementary school classes to bring field trips there to see and analyze the exhibit.
Another museum in Porto Alegre shortly afterward opened another "art" display which also invited elementary schools to bring their children. This time, a completely naked man - an “actor” was paid a great deal of money to be an "exhibit" kids and moms were invited to interact with him! It has been outrageous!
Growing lawlessness
I don’t know why the police were not called in to lock up this man for exposing himself and the museum for child abuse.......in fact out in the street he would have been so why does it make it right inside an art gallery? Its totally wrong....As you can imagine many are outraged by this. Christians and churches are deeply upset.
The Arts and Education are two major areas influencing the world today..…In an age when the church is increasingly being marginalised we the Church need to find ways to be the salt and light in these areas. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”. Proverbs 29:18 Let’s make sure the world knows the vision God has for their lives before it is too late!
Art events for churches
We are developing Bible based art activities for children - We have developed the Lion and the Lamb art event.. Plus developing a similar one based on the story of Mary Jones and her Bible. There will be more to come all being well. What we hope to do is make Art events which can be tailored for children's programs at churches and events in communities….. Art is wonderful way to explore and learn the Bible. If we recruit enough churches to sponsor us we could even organise a tour in the UK and the United States during summer months - Why not sign up indicating interest. Please share with your church!
Crianças do Rei - Art Festa for the children last week for Children's day festivities! They learned about the Lion and the Lamb and then painted what they heard!
Please pray….we still need to reach the target for covering all expenses for the Project. If we just raised 20 more supporters at 25 pounds regular support each month it would make a great difference!
Art Festa for Escola Crista Agua Viva
Thank you to all who help us through prayer and help financially. Your messages mean so much!
I just want to explain I am not able to see my bank account online or bank statements at the moment. If you have donated one off gifts - Thankyou! But please be aware I will not be able to know until I can see statements again. The one off gifts really help as often in the middle of a month things get tight financially.
Please Pray
Please pray in agreement with us as we make plans and raise finance.. This is really important. We are planning to attend the YWAM Brazil Family Reunion in Caldas Novas in December…. 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. Praise the Lord - We give thanks to The Lord we gained one new supporter since our last newsletter!
An encouraging word!
"It is in the quiet crucible of your personal, private sufferings, that your noblest dreams are born, and God's greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you've been through." Wintley Phipps
With love and best wishes
Peter, Josi and Dorothy
Giving through Stewardship
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. Brazil.
