Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - May 2020

Josi's Birthday 30th April 2020

Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - May 2020

Dears Friends,

Greetings!   Thank you to all for your support, prayers, and messages of encouragement, we thank God for you all, and pray God’s blessing and keep you safe!  

The pandemic here is advancing, but difficult to see where it will go.  Everywhere is in quarantine and isolation. Only the most needed shops and services are open. Our school is still closed…..and looks like the authorities will keep schools closed though the month of May too. Thankfully enough school fees came in at the beginning of April to pay our teachers salaries. Please pray our teachers will be able to secure government benefits.   But of course the longer schools remain closed the likelihood parents will take their children out from the school will increase.  And we do understand, it's very difficult to expect parents to pay when the school remains shut. At the same time it's very difficult for us, as we have no government subsidies. Please pray, because if the school has to remain closed past May it will be difficult -  We need to prepare and  organise online classes, the logistics involved...we need a projector to help the teachers with school workbooks. We need to look at what we can offer as regards online classes.    Please pray, 

The Pandemic, we are hoping and praying will fizzle out......but it could be just the start here the way the statistics are.   This video at the link below shows the challenge Brazil faces. So many poor people who rely on a daily wage (They rely on money earned during a day to be able to eat) The link below is a video showing how long queues are outside Caixa Economica Bank,, Caucaia and going around the block. Dozens of people registered on the morning of Tuesday April 14th.  

Most were looking for information about the emergency aid of the federal government. So many needy people who have no option but stand in long queues close to each other for hours. Not all people wear masks as you can see if you watch the video at the Link

We are living in very challenging times, and very harrowing to see the news from the UK and many other places...it is so sad.   I don't think it has sunk in here yet for many, what is happening.  Brazil has had some time to prepare....but if people are standing in queues outside of banks and lotericas...then the idea of isolation is a bit of a myth. The authorities have no way of implementing isolation measures effectively…  and it only takes one infected person to infect many.  It really will be the grace and mercy of God, if the pandemic stays away, because if it gets into the population like we see multitudes in the video...it will be a disaster.

Josi keeps in touch with the families in the mangue...many are not eligible for government help......Their documents are not regularised.  Josi has helped one mother to get her documents in order...but it is very challenging...so much bureaucracy and many people with little education get disillusioned and then live on the margins of society like they do in the Mangue.

In spite of everything. We try in our small corner to hopefully make a difference, We have been helping  those who are needy, preparing activity kits for children for this time of Lockdown. Also some food for families who live in the mangue. There must be at least 30 families we know of, but some more were arriving because there is so much need. Please pray
Meantime, I have been only too aware of the need for a transparent face mask - So I made one!  If you don't have a transparent mask for the pandemic or know those who do not have access. You may like to watch the video  -  the importance of wearing face masks not only for the nose and mouth, but also for the eyes..... the virus can enter. This mask can be made in just a few minutes with a stapler, a hat and an empty bottle of coke! Even though the video is in Portuguese it should be easy to follow.

  

Dorothy has been busy in lockdown too! And has made a picture of her Kitten,  Fumaçinha /Smokey...So I put her design up  at my online gallery at Redbubble. I made a place to have her own collection available. Recently, Dorothy has been getting sales for her artwork on products, so Dorothy is very excited! Please visit the link to see this and Dorothy’s products with artwork!

Time is Short - I wrote to a friend in  2017 - sharing something which was significant to me about three years previously....Which now would be about 6 years ago.  I thought it worth sharing now at my blog - Time is Short                                  

Prayer and Thanks!

Praise the Lord for His provision.  And for all who help and pray for us!.  As we pass through this uncertain time with the school and project, the need for safety, health and quarantine and conscious of the needs of our teachers.

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 neighborhoods.

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

While looking through old sketches and photocopies of sketches....I came across one I did years ago as a commission..... Somehow it seemed appropriate to look at it again and make it into colour.....I sketched a young woman walking through a forest full of scary trees next to a cemetery, and a freshly dug grave nearby with arrows in various places which had missed along the path. At the foot of the sketch is  written the words from Psalm 91:4-6.."He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday." 

Picture also available with text from the Hymn “Trust and Obey”  In the picture at the link, I placed words from the old hymn Trust and Obey.....Some how it sums up the life of a believer and all who would embrace the words and promises of God in Psalm 91.......Trust and Obey

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​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.  Brazil. https://www.facebook.com/escolacristaaguaviva  ​