Peter and Josi`s Newsletter - November 2023

                                                     

At a local church in Fortaleza earlier this year

JOCUM PRAIA

Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - November 2023

Dears Friends,

Greetings once again from Iparana, Brazil! 

Thankyou once again to all who kindly send support, pray for us, and for messages and encouragements too. We appreciate it and give thanks to God for you all!

Building work - We give thanks to God for the recent repairs and new roof

Before and after - The above photo showing the start of renovations some months ago

After Renovation - A new roof, replastered walls, floor tiles.

We give thanks to God for the recent repairs and new roof. What a difference it makes! We are now working on raising the roof on another part of the school. We give thanks to the Lord for financial provision to make all this possible…. We have a long way to go, but we are on our way step by step fixing the most needy areas!. The bricklayer, Desano, had been unemployed for months, and was unable to find work. As one can see from the photo, he has done an excellent job. Please pray for Desano and his helpers, Flavio and Carlinho. For safety and for them to come to faith in Christ. I made a short video update about the building work at the link, https://youtu.be/ux9S8no-CG0 I was also working digging holes, to try and speed up the work, fencing was my old job back in the UK so that was bit of deja vu….. Although a bit too hot here in the sun!  Please excuse my video skills, I am having to learn new video software. 

Escola Cristã Água Viva

        

Escola Cristã Água Viva - Celebrating Independence day - 7th September. A day to celebrate and to pray for Brazil. Brazil's independence took place on September 7, 1822. Our Christmas End of Term presentation at the link below https://youtu.be/Rc0mebfK7WY

       Crianças do Rei project

Children from the project Criancas do Rei finished making their Christmas cards. The children are from some of the neediest families in Ipanana and live in the mangroves. We are grateful to all who help support this project. Some of the biggest needs are trying to help their parents who are very needy themselves. 

JOCUM PRAIA

Together with a YWAM base in Nicaragua, YWAM Diriamba, we completed running an online school, Teachers for the Nations school which started at the beginning of August and finished October. Over 60 students were enrolled online. Josi helped to lead the school alongside Yahoska from YWAM Diriamba base in Nicarágua.

Dorothy at the Van Gogh Exhibition

Bible Museum and Art Gallery

For some time we have been asking prayer about creating a Bible Museum. The newly renovated space is suitable, but for now we will use it for the children while their classrooms are rebuilt and a new storey added. But I have been thinking and praying about an Art gallery too with different exhibitions of other artists' work, not just my own. 

                                                

Please pray. We are in a poor area, but that's fine..We want to create an Art gallery that has the same level of quality and presentation as the ones that are in the richer areas. I think creating a beautiful space in an area of poverty is a good way to reach out to the community.  Some months ago I took my family to see the Van Gogh Immersive experience. I had been encouraging my family, as it was shortly to close, and we went before the very last day in Fortaleza. As we walked around and stood at various places, it was an amazing experience..... unforgettable, music, visual, atmosphere,  Josi and Dorothy loved it!   I was studying it closely to see how it was created.    It got me thinking about the potential this could be if we could develop something similar,  but focused on the Bible, a theme could be the Pilgrim's Progress.   So this got me thinking, with similar technology could be feasible to create an Immersive Bible experience! We have the space I think to make a smaller one.  I have quite a bit of antique art which could be utilised too, and videos which I sometimes share in our newsletters.  Something else with a Bible Museum would be special themed immersive experiences based around testimonies of Christians and how the Bible changed their lives. The challenge is to raise the finance, but the first step is to pray. 

Loren Cunningham

1935 – 2023. 88 years.

Our mission leader and the founder of Youth With A Mission went to his eternal reward on 6th October. He had been ill for some while. We are grateful for his life. What an amazing testimony and man of God, consistent, unwavering, a visionary who inspired thousands to go into missions. He will be sorely missed but what a legacy he left for us. He leaves his dear wife Darlene, daughter Karen and son David and three grandchildren. Please pray for YWAM at this time.

For Remembrance Sunday

A poem by a mother, Elizabeth Owen whose son died during the 1914-18 war.  

My heart is filled with longing

For my beloved boy.

My Benjamin of the family

He was my help and joy.

Yes Harcourt was well loved by all

So full of life and fun

Just nineteen years scarce saw he

Before his task was done.

Who nobly laid his young life down

Willing to do his share.

He counted not the awful cost

His country for to spare.

And now he is with Jesus

His life’s sand quickly run

Just help me from my heart to say

Dear Lord thy will be done.

Mother

Life’s course nobly run

Last task nobly done.

_________________________

The above poem was found written inside a presentation book - A Dictionary Of Eminent Welshmen 1700-1900, presented to Harcourt Owen in 1911 at Glandwr CE School, Llanidloes, Wales.  Sadly, Harcourt was later to die in what became known as the Great War, 20 June 1918, France, he was just 19 years of age. The very beautiful and poignant epitaph, was indeed surprising to find........may well have been unseen for years. A mother's grief buried in her son`s school presentation book... I wonder if the family knew of this? ....when older people pass away, their books can hold so much - as in this case. Elisabeth Owen must have kept that book by her when she had the difficult task of going through her deceased son's belongings. - the book must have meant so much, and most likely she sat during the book presentation at school, and of course we can only imagine all the memories that accompany this.  So for this year's Remembrance Sunday, I decided to make a picture about this as it sums up so much.  There is very little information and no photos of Harcourt, although Harcourt does have a service record, his regiment was the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. There are no known living relatives, but maybe the poem and picture will find a connection and jog someone's memory.

Prayer and Thanks!

We continue to give thanks and praise to God for provision and help which will resolve many structural problems for the school and needs we have.  Please pray for safety for workmen and wisdom about which jobs need fixing first, also provision to complete all the areas and items needing to be repaired. 

Praise the Lord for successfully completing the Teachers for the Nations online school.

Praise the Lord for health and pray we might get past safely all the illnesses going around!

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. 

With our love - Peter, Josi and Dorothy

A word from UCB

Sunday 26 November 2023 United Christian Broadcasters

“Two elements are at work in your life today. First, God is teaching you to lean on Him instead of on yourself. Second, people around you are being strengthened and encouraged as they see the grace of God at work in your life.”   https://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today/130131

Christian Artist - Paul Hobbs

May I recommend inviting to your church or fellowship of a very good artist friend I have known for years, Paul Hobbs who makes both celebratory abstract paintings, and painting and sculpture that consider contemporary social issues in the light of biblical values. He exhibits frequently, and gives workshops and talks about his artwork, its themes and his method of working. Please visit his website for more information www.arthobbs.com

We are very 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.

​For those who have a Wise bank account. I also have a Wise Bank account which can receive donations.

Giving through Stewardship

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.

Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - August 2023

 

 Art classes with children from the Criancas do Rei project - It's Harvest time in Brazil so our theme was - The Harvest Lion - the Lion of Judah!

 JOCUM PRAIA Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - August 2023 

Dears Friends, Greetings from Iparana, Brazil! 

We trust you are well and enjoying the Summer, wherever you may be. Once again thank you to all who helped with our recent Barclays Bank problems. What a relief that is over, I now have a Wise account, a Resolut account and a Brazilian Nu Account. And so far everything is functioning well. Praise the Lord! I still have the Barclays account too. 

Healthwise, Josi was diagnosed with Covid in May and has since recovered. Praise the Lord! Covid is still very much around and people are still catching it in Brazil. We heard in the South of Brazil at the border of another country, (I forget the name) many hospitals are overflowing with sick children with what is believed to be a variant of covid. And parents are being advised to keep children at home. Please pray. 

Since the start of 2023, we have had to close the school for a short period because of the local gangs fighting for control in the area, the public schools all close, so it is wise for us to also close until things settle down. Please pray as the scriptures teach - For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:2. 

 Escola Cristã Água Viva - Encouragement.

Josi recently was encouraged to hear what one of her pupils told her from Infants 5 class - “Whenever I go to Yasmin's classroom, she comes close to me and says: "Aunt Josi, when I grow up I'm going to be a teacher." She speaks with such joy and with such a beautiful sparkle in her eyes. Josi told her she would write about itt, so we don't forget what she said”. It ministered to Josi’s heart. Another student, Enzo, arrived at school one morning with two little flowers. He said to Josi, "Aunt Josi, thank you so much for this school, I'm so happy here!." It's little encouragement like this which makes all the difference.  And helps us to see from a Heavenly perspective. 

 

                   Blessings

 We give thanks and praise to the Lord for a recent donation kindly given to help with building repairs and needs, It's just in time as the parts of the roof of the school were very badly rusted and needed fixing urgently. The builders in the photo are removing the old rusted roof, which will be replaced with termite proof timber and traditional roof tiles. We have a very long list of building repairs and a to do list. Much of the time we make the most of what we have until it breaks or wears out, so we are very glad and praise the Lord for His provision. The Lord knows our needs. Please pray for the workman for their safety and for wisdom as we embark on this new building phase, improvements and repairs. We were recently able to buy three ice water dispensers which are very much needed with the hot weather here.

Crianças do Rei project Art Studio - Children are busy painting their pictures to make presents, for fathers day in Brazil recently. We now have a permanent space for the Art studio which we can leave ready with art equipment and materials for Art activities, which makes a big difference. as we can leave the Art room ready for activities. 

 

 June we had the Harvest Festival celebration at Escola Cristã Água Viva. We are making the most of the new wall as a backdrop, that was built last year with the help of friends who kindly donated. It's the end of the rainy season when farmers harvest in Brazil, and is a time of celebration. 

 JOCUM PRAIA Together with a YWAM base in Nicaragua, YWAM Diriamba, we are running an online school, Teachers for the Nations school which started at the beginning of August and runs through till October. Over 60 students are enrolled online. Josi is helping to lead the school alongside, Yahoska from YWAM Diriamba base in Nicarágua. Photo Right Yohaska and daughter Linn with Josi.

French Broad and Narrow Way - We are grateful to Lucie Regard who visited a few years ago, who also kindly translated the Broad and Narrow Way Picture into French translation. Since then it has done really well, 34 copies have been sold since I uploaded it to my Redbubble Gallery. That means it's potentially in 34 homes, hanging on walls being a witness and a valuable conversation starter about the Bible and spiritual matters.. So with this encouragement I decided to translate into other languages, so far I translated into Polish, Hungarian, Chinese...and now working on Italian. Already I have German copies of the picture.  https://pictureswithamessage.com/Languages.htm So I just need to translate the picture into the remaining languages available at Google Translator. It's very useful, along with the Bible already translated into these languages, also AI I find very useful to sort out the text in the picture. We are talking about 100 scripture texts in the picture, plus other words in the picture to translate. 

 Prayer and Thanks!

 We give thanks and praise to God for provision and help which will resolve many structural problems for the school and needs we have. 

Please pray for safety for workmen and wisdom about which jobs need fixing first. Praise the Lord for a successful start to the Teachers for the Nations online school. 

Praise the Lord for health and pray we might get past safely all the illnesses going around! 

Praise the Lord for replacements for broken electricals. 

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. 

With our love - Peter, Josi and Dorothy 

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. 

For those who would like to help financially please contact me ​. For those who would like to help financially.

Giving through Stewardship 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 Peter and Josi Millward, Rua Pintor J. Figueiredo No. 805. Praia Iparana. Caucaia, Ceara. CEP. 61.627-250. Brazil. https://www.facebook.com/escolacristaaguaviva ​

Peter and Josi's March Newsletter 2023

 

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. 

I wanted to produce a picture to inspire the kids and so shared a story about Loren, how as a child he would look up to the moon at night and wonder how he could make known to the whole world God's great love. He imagined if he could just go in a space rocket and place rocks, large enough on the surface of the moon, spelling "God is love" all the people in the whole world would be able to see...I then recounted how God spoke to Loren when he was in his twenties with a Vision of Waves of young people going through all the continents of the world to preach the Gospel and how God fulfilled the childhood dream, Loren had for reaching the world for Christ. Loren Cunningham Loren and Darlene Cunningham.They are such a great blessing to many people. 

I need to share some sad news. Loren has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and the prognosis is terminal. Loren is 87 years of age. In spite of this, Loren continues to be full of the joy of the Lord and encouraging everyone….. still sharing his vision to reach a lost world for Christ!  Please pray for Loren and Darlene and all their family. 

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!  

A picture from 1879, a word of encouragement from the Bible.

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

Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - December 2022

 

Peter and Josi’s Newsletter - December 2022

Dears Friends,

Greetings again from Iparana, Brazil! We sent our last newsletter out in September. We are grateful for the messages of encouragement, gifts and donations that come through and prayers on our behalf. God is faithful and we praise Him for all His blessings and for good  friends He gives to us!. We certainly could not do this by ourselves.  Please note this is a public Newsletter, readers wishing to recieve the full unedited version please contact me.

Escola Cristã Água Viva 

Maintenance for the school. We give thanks to the Lord that we are making good progress through the to-do list! I think I mentioned in previous newsletters challenges we have with our roofs for the school.  So it was indeed a great blessing, friends kindly offered to donate to help fix part of the roof. It was a complex challenge as we didnt want to remove the existing rusty steelwork and roof without taking it all down - So we built a wall beside it and then extended the roof to the new wall. When complete we removed the old rusty steelwork. The photo below is from about two weeks ago. We thank the Lord for the roof and help kindly sent to us. What a blessing to have these roofs which offer so much needed shade and shelter for the children in school. We are in a tropical climate, so both sun and rain are often extreme.

Crianças do Rei

In October we celebrated Children's day at our project - Crianças do Rei. For the devotional I painted a picture about Mary Jones and her Bible, and shared the story with the children and adults. I wanted to show the inestimable value  Mary Jones had placed upon possessing a Bible ........and how much more valuable the Bible was compared to any earthly treasure....  The painting was of Mary Jones holding her new Bible, she had walked nearly 26 miles to purchase. I asked the children about what is precious to them.  For Childrens day many children in Brazil want a cel phone or a new bicycle.......But for Mary Jones 220 years ago, she had set her heart on possessing her own Bible and saved up 6 years to purchase one. I shared how Mary Jones' story inspired a group of Christians to start the Bible Society. Full story can be read here at the Bible Society website Later one of the children, Vitoria, won the picture.

The Holy Bible is of so much value, that at the coronation of our late Queen Elisabeth the second, the Bible was carried before her with such reverence. And the Archbishop said to her when presenting the Bible to her majesty...."Our gracious Queen: to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords." And the Moderator shall continue: Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God."   

If people regard diamonds as precious, then how much more precious is the Holy Bible. What do we hold in our lives as precious?  We know from the story of Mary Jones, just how much value she placed on owning a Bible.  Photo left. - One of the children, Vitoria, who won the picture about Mary Jones.  

 Jocum Praia

On the 5th of December we will be helping to run a Workshop online for Teachers for the Nations.

    

The picture above left is remembrance of the word Tom Bloomer gave at the JOCUM in Family Reunion 2017 about Education.  Since then Christian Teachers and Educators in YWAM have been mobilising.   When we heard Tom Bloomer at the reunion we realised how important that word was….How are we doing? If we believe this is from God then  we better act upon this. That was 5 years ago…. At the time Josi called a meeting of teachers and educators at the YWAM family reunion 2017.and so since then we are still pursuing this. It is so important these days for Christian teachers to receive encouragement, support, prayers and network together.  When we see what is happening in the world today. When we see the enemy coming in like a flood everywhere, we need to hear God, He has the only strategy that will work for reaching the nations for such an time like this…. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19.     

"Just as I am" 

Our Latest edition to the  online gallery shop

Latest edition to the  online gallery shop 

An old picture, faded and forgotten from 1876, what a joy to restore this! - It illustrates the text of the famous hymn "Just as I am" by Charlotte Elliott. (1789 - 1871) with scripture -"Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37  Charlotte Elliott's background was of a wealthy evangelical family, and was highly educated and refined.  Her maternal grandfather was the Rev. Henry Venn of the famous evangelical Clapham Sect. Even growing up with such a background...as an adult she had become a popular member of a social circle where religion was not mentioned. She was a writer of humorous verse and a gifted portrait artist.  But at 32 years of age her health broke down so severely, she faced a very different future. Now distant from worldly friends and influence,  faced with the challenges of her health - the need of the Saviour and the Gospel came into sharp focus.   During this time a Rev. Dr Cesar Malan of Geneva, came to visit her father's home, and while there Charlotte met Dr Cesar Malan, and during conversation the Dr asked her whether she was at peace with God?" The story goes she was not too pleased with this line of questioning and resented it.  But some days later Charlotte returned to Dr Cesar Malan, and apologised, she had wanted to make her life clean first before becoming a Christian. At which Dr Malan replied  "Come just as you are," and that day Charlotte committed her life to Christ.  The story of how Charlotte came to Christ, later resulted in this amazing Hymn being written. and the rest as one would say - is history.  Translated into many languages it has gone throughout the world, and when Charlotte Elliott passed away a great many letters were found in her home, which had been sent from those who over the years had gratefully acknowledged how the words of this hymn was instrumental in their own profession of faith and coming to Christ. Her illness and physical weakness continued throughout her life, which prevented her from doing much more than staying home......but Charlotte was a prolific writer and wrote many poems and hymns....it was through her pen she was to reach the world for Christ. But it was for the hymn "Just as I am" Charlotte Elliott is remembered.  Dr Billy Graham wrote that during evangelistic crusades when they called people to come forward to commit to Jesus Christ it was invariably this hymn "Just as I am" they would use since it presented " the strongest possible Biblical basis for the call of Christ"  Isn't this such an amazing story how God would use Charlotte, in spite of her illness and limitations of health, to reach the world for Christ!  "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" 1 Corinthians 1:27.  Don't ever think you are too weak, frail or insignificant to be used by God....According to the Bible you are well qualified for His service!  As it is written by the Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 12 : 9 - "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

  

Prayer and Thanks!

Praise the Lord for roof repairs! - Thank You to those who kindly helped to make this possible….What a difference it will make! 

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, new white boards. Certainly running a school is not for the faint hearted!  Please pray.

Please pray we might be able to purchase a new laptop computer. 

Please pray for the Bible Museum and for partners. If anyone has suggestions or thoughts please contact us. We still keep praying knowing that God hears and answers in His good time… and His timing is perfect! Praise the Lord!

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. 

I hope to send a Christmas Newsletter When it is closer to Christmas, and will write more. Please pray for Brazil, the elections have been controversial and difficult to understand and many people are upset about what is happening.  For the moment the World Cup is occupying a lot of minds and hearts.

Thankyou to all of you who remember us, in prayer and support us in various ways. We appreciate this very much.  Please do visit our online gallery shop  this Christmas - lots of unusual gifts, ranging from mugs, floor cushions, tapestries, prints, cards and much more. Can also be posted directly to friends and loved ones.. 

With our love - Peter, Josi and Dorothy

Giving through Stewardship

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  ​