Dorothy 's class - Praying for Turkey - Escola Cristã Água Viva.
Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - March 2023
Dears Friends,
Greetings from Iparana, Brazil!
Thankyou to all who sent us Christmas Greetings, gifts and encouraging words. Where would we be without brothers and sisters in Christ who God raised up to help us here in various ways, means and prayers.
We are indeed grateful to the Lord for all of you who support us through prayer, finance or both. We pray for you all and give thanks for you! New supporters - For those wishing to support us regularly or with one off donations please contact me.
Since the last newsletter, we have had to deal with sickness. I (Peter) started just before December. I started with something I thought I could shake off. It lasted a month and a half! Thankfully during Christmas it eased off, but then came back. I had a Covid test but the results were negative. Physical weakness, sore throat etc. Then over a week ago I had another bout of sickness, a heavy cold and cough…..which Josi had too. But it seems everywhere at the moment lots of people are suffering with coughs, colds and such, and particularly children. Now School started back in January, a number of pupils and teachers also have sickness. Please pray for health. Thankfully Dorothy has not had any illness.
Economically, these are challenging times for Brazil with inflation for basic commodities. But watching the news it seems to be the case for so many nations around the world and even worse situations like earthquakes and wars. Over the recent years it is as though the world has been turned on its head. This is no longer 1989 and the fall of the Iron Curtain that so many longed and prayed for decades. The world has changed completely in so many ways since those days, and not for the better. One cannot help but reflect on the scripture.
“Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” Hebrews 12:27
Escola Cristã Água Viva and Crianças do Rei project
A recent event with the children from Criancas do Rei. Peter telling a story of the founder of YWAM, Loren Cunningham.
Watching Loren Cunningham live on Vimeo TV a few days ago. Even sick Loren is such a great encouragement for a new generation of missionaries, Josi took this photo of Dorothy in front of the TV screen with Loren. Only the Lord knows how long Loren really has left, could be days, weeks or months. But here Loren is with a big smile on his face sharing about making the Gospel known……We give thanks to God for the life of Loren Cunningham!.
Jocum Praia
In the next few months we shall be busy with various events, hosting a church group for Easter. Also we need to attend a YWAM Leaders Brazil reunion in May. We need to raise finance for this. In June we have a YWAM group who will be with us for 3 months making an Christian education course Teachers for the Nations. Please pray for us as we prepare and organise.
Banking Challenges
A few days ago I had money stolen from my Barclays bank account by someone unknown. I informed my bank and so they blocked my bank card. They are sending a new card out and will reimburse the loss, not a great deal…but it is quite alarming to know someone can just take money without my knowledge.
We are going to be struggling somewhat as we wait for a replacement card to arrive from the UK, the only UK bank I have is Barclays bank. Banking has become really difficult to navigate these last few years, and I can't really use Paypal any longer (It's a long story) and it's difficult to organise a secondary bank to help when things like this happen. Trying to figure out banking now is so very complicated. The closure of so many high street banks in the UK is only part of the problem and the drive to a cashless society. The much vaunted Barclays banking app doesn't work outside the British Isles. I found out as I bought a smartphone to keep up with all these banking changes. Thankfully Barclays fraud line was very prompt when I informed about money being stolen from my account. Please pray we are able to figure out banking, better than what we are doing….It really isn't my area of expertise!
If God be for us, who can be against us. Romans 8:31
Prayer and Thanks!
Praise the Lord for health and pray we might get past safely all the illnesses going around!
Please pray for electrical items, our microwave has broken and the fridge is on the blink! Also the school electrics need a bit of an upgrade too, rewiring.
Please continue to pray for the school and project, safety and maintenance etc is an ongoing task.
Realistically, to keep pace with maintenance etc, we need to raise significant finance to cover costs….the school roofs have other areas they need looking at, the play area needs reconcreting, some classrooms need floor tiles installed. Certainly running a school is not for the faint hearted! Please pray.
Praise the Lord for a new laptop! An answer to prayer!
Please continue to pray for more volunteer staff and for evangelism. And Praise the Lord for answered prayers! We still need to pray very much for staff to join us as part of YWAM.
Please pray for a return visit to the UK, hopefully we can stay longer next time. Dorothy enjoyed it very much and we feel it particularly important for her when we visited in 2018/19. We don't want to leave it another 11 years to pass by! We know it's a challenge to raise finance...but ask for prayer and trust in the Lord to make a way.
With our love - Peter, Josi and Dorothy
*Email: jocumpraia@gmail.com *Please note the email address is the current one I use.
For those who would like to help financially please contact me
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 *Email: jocumpraia@gmail.com *Please note the email address is the current one I use
