Josi and Teachers - Escola Crista Água Viva
Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - September 2020
Dears Friends,
Greetings Once again! Thank you to all of you who remember us in your prayers, messages and support, Since our last Newsletter in July, we have been thinking and praying about when schools will reopen here. Public schools will be closed till next year. Private schools have been allowed to reopen now. But capacity for school is restricted to just 50% of pupils for the Infants school. And 35% of pupils for Junior school ages 7-8 years. older pupils not allowed to go back yet.
This is going to be quite challenging, as we try to look at the feasibility of reopening with these measures. Please pray, Already over 180 private schools have now closed in the state of Ceara, and teachers made redundant. Our school is still providing online classes to pupils.. A little bit of how we are at this time: Our Christian School, Escola Cristã Água Viva, has suffered from the effects of the pandemic. We are living difficult times with families in general, many have lost their wages, with many unemployed parents of pupils affected, which affects the school directly, because of the lost school fees. We made a group on whatsapp to keep our students together and try to overcome it, even without monthly fees. Teachers continue to give their classes even without receiving their salaries, we have been looking for help, talking to friends to get help for our teachers. Everyone in common decided to continue with online classes even without their salary. They have also lived with great difficulty, some need to pay rent, very difficult. The government have been providing some finance to help the needy who are registered, but the amount is being reduced. We are feeling if we stay together we can overcome this year of 2020 and we much hope that we will succeed.
In the Criança do Rei project we have much more difficult situations, social isolation, quarantine and other protocols as well as increased violence, in the Mangue community, some get government assistance, others not. Social inequality has only increased. We have kept in touch with the families of our children in the project and helped as much as possible, but their situation is very difficult.
The finishing of the new classrooms is still on hold. We still need to raise 5,000 reais to hopefully complete it. Please pray. At least if we have finished them it will mean when school starts again more space for pupils to meet Covid requirements for schools.
YWAM Brasil
What would we do without the technology for zoom meeting! Josi has been busy networking with other YWAMers in Brasil involved in Education. It's been very important to stay in touch, and have input and encouragement from the University of the Nations, College of Education, while everyone is going through times quite unlike any other. YWAM this year celebrated its 60 year birthday celebrations and so we were able to join in with the celebrations, reminiscing and teaching. Loren and Darlene Cunningham are still going strong and are inspirational as ever.
Restoring and Republishing Gospel Pictures
To enjoy your work is a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 5:19 it's true! I really enjoy being a picture detective, and finding some long forgotten work of art. And I really do think God wants us to enjoy the service He gives us. It should not be a drudgery, .it should be a pleasure. Recently I digitally restored a Chart called The World View of Baptist History. 1928 The unusual chart below, shows the key moments in Baptist history through from the Life of Christ and upto 1928 when the Chart was published. Please click the link to find out more.
The next picture below is also extremely interesting and much older…..
“Bunyan's Pilgrim” by Hammatt Billings. The black and white engraving was first published in the USA 1853. (24" x 30") The engraving based on John Bunyan's "Pilgrims Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come". Portrays the whole of the Pilgrims Progress. The original source image can be seen at the blog link along with its history. Digitally colouring the picture was abit like climbing the Eiger mountain of engravings...a daunting task! but very happy how it turned out. If anyone is thinking about what to buy children or young adults that may keep them fascinated while learning Pilgrim's Progress and following Christian's route to the Heavenly City. The picture comes in various sizes and even Jigsaws available. Also for anyone needing a visual aid teaching the Pilgrim's Progress the picture is ideal.
At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:26-29
Verses of scripture which seem to be appropriate for these days.
. Prayer and Thanks!
Praise the Lord for continued health and strength!
Praise the Lord for His provision. And for all who help and pray for us!. As we pass through uncertain times and the world in so much turmoil. For the school and project, the need for safety, health and quarantine and conscious of the needs of our teachers.
Please continue 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
For those who would like to help financially my bank details are as follows.
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 