Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - March 2020
Dears Friends,
Greetings once again! One could say quite alot has happened since our last news!
Thankyou to all for your support, prayers, and messages of encouragement, we
appreciate this. In spite of everything that is happening, we are well.
First of all, many of you may not have heard but the Police in Ceara went on strike
13 - 14 days and ended at the end of February. President Bolsanario sent the army...but it was not the same as having the police.....There was a lot of violence, raids and murders...the statistics were difficult to comprehend. I think it was mentioned 380 murders in 14 days for Ceara.
The carnival period there was only the civil police coping. and the army I think, still
finding their feet as it were. During the Police strike, one Friday we closed the school, we were warned schools are being invaded by armed gangs. The bandits were driving around freely in the roads everywhere ...I can not remember another time like this since I came to Brazil....but we are so thankful the police went back to work. Some years ago we hear some where else in Brazil the Police went on strike and that one did not end quickly.....
Now we have a Global Pandemic - Coronavirus which arrived in Brazil too and a
number of cases have been reported in Ceara…...reading and watching the news from Europe, it looks very harrowing indeed. Regarding the health Crisis, since I made the video above the governing authorities here made statements about health precautions, and closures of public places including schools and Universities and non essential business. So our School closed. I don't think will be opening again any time soon….of course our teachers depend on wages, and the school depends on school fees…..And parents depend on wages...but if everyone is in isolation in their homes for a prolonged period of time…. things are going to become very difficult for all. It doesn't look like the government of Brazil has a plan for this eventuality - citizens don't have reserves of finance and money to stock up on food etc. And Brazil is about two weeks behind the UK as far as the pandemic goes. What I may add is the health service struggles here without a pandemic….So I am apprehensive about what will happen when it arrives. All I can say is most people in Ceara wont be able to isolate long, most have to work to find their daily bread on low wages, have no reserve finance to isolate for months or stock up on food. Many queue for hours in long lines for basic bank service and pay bills...Hospital treatment is the same - The whole infrastructure of Brazil is going to be in break down if a prolonged isolation is in place and people have no way to find finance to buy food. …..it doesn't bear thinking about. Of course for the elderly and vulnerable and those with health issues.....only the Lord knows the outcome with what may happen.  I believe God is speaking to the whole world, and given a window of opportunity for millions to seek His face during a time of isolation. What concerns me - If people and nations do not humble themselves before God during this time. If the lawlessness and wickedness continues to harden and increase as it has done the past two decades - then the Bible makes very clear what will happen. If we do not see revival - we will see judgement. The Stone Prayer Rail
Earlier this month I woke one morning......
dreaming of a man who was weeping at a prayer rail made of stone.... On the old stone rail covered in moss and lichen were the words "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. " 2 Chronicles 7:14. Then I awoke…to read more please follow the link
Taxi to Fortaleza - Another Day in Paradise.
 in Caucaia and so I decided to take a taxi to Fortaleza, at least the queues to pay bills should not take hours.. The taxi was a good one, nice air conditioning... and sound system.......and so settling down for the journey, my thoughts once again returned to the health crisis engulfing the world.....and certainly apprehension for Brazil, for friends, neighbors and the vulnerable ....But just as we are driving along The taxi driver reaches for another music disc to put in the player. Deep in thought, I am not paying much attention...but then begins a familiar sound I have not heard in years, its one of Phil Collins - As I listen ....its as though I had never listened to the words before, and somehow I was transfixed by what was sung. I could see a scene being played out, a scene which must have been played out a million times before in Brazil...It was as though God showed me In all this world crisis.....What He sees everyday.......The poor and forgotten, the street kids, the street dwellers and the marginalized. There in that taxi...I was shocked. When we arrived at Fortaleza.....What was I going to do about what I saw. The song - Another Day in Paradise - (In the picture I made a few changes to the words of the song).
I told Josi what happened with the Taxi and the song …… Josi said for the poor,
life is dangerous anyway, life is like facing a coronavirus everyday………. Please pray for Brazil.
Construction
Construction started again getting ready for 3 new classrooms. The flooring has
been concreted and ready for floor paint, but still need to complete stairs and access. Our aim is to make the new classrooms usable, but still need to raise the finance to complete plastering on the outside and guttering. Due to the current health crisis work has stopped temporarily until things improve and the government gives the all clear for Ceara. Will the world return to the way things were before the pandemic? Reading people's posts on social media, it would appear many want to, even the religious….But I am quite sure God does not want the world to go back to the way it was on it's downward spiral...the only remedy for change - Repentance and to walk in the fear of the Lord.  Life in Iparana
Like many we are not prepared for a pandemic,
we never had means to stock up on food and necessities for a long isolation….We cannot afford a health plan…….But God has a better plan for us! So we pray for His will to be done in our lives. The current pandemic is ringing the bell of Eternity very loudly in the ears of the whole world! - The most important thing, are we ready to meet the Lord of Eternity if we depart sooner than expected?…..By the grace of God we are….And what a wonderful hope we have in Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life! And so as we prepare to face down what could be a very challenging few months……..please pray and of course especially for Dorothy. Prayer and Thanks!
Praise the Lord! Josi has had a successful minor operation on her leg.
Please keep praying for the Art Gallery and Art competition ……. But we do need to find
partners able to help. Also for old evangelical prints and creating exhibitions for churches to reach their neighbourhoods.
Please pray the Lord will raise up more regular support. We know the School and Project
Crianças do Rei needs a lot of help - or falls on our shoulders bearing the burden providing Christian Education in a very poor area.
Please pray for YWAM - Educating for Life. We are still in the process of revision and
correction and raising funds to complete the Curriculum translated into Portuguese.
We give thanks and praise God for the work on construction already completed for the
3 new classrooms.
Please pray we might quickly raise the necessary finance to complete
With our best wishes and prayers for all of you too
With our love - Peter, Josi and Dorothy
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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. https://www.facebook.com/escolacristaaguaviva |
Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Peter and Josi's Newsletter - March 2020
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