Greeting from Brazil!

Well, the year 2020 has proven itself to be chaotic, to say the least. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down to where there seems to be no more “normal”. With this came mistrust, misinformation, desperation, fear and hopelessness. THANKFULLY we have a good, good Father at whose feet we can lay our burdens and trust that HE IS IN CONTROL!  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Here in Brazil we have been taking preventative measures against COVID since March. Now we are in August and large groups, including Church services, are still not fully allowed. That has not stopped our ministry! We upload, twice weekly, full church services including worship, preaching, and monthly the Lord’s Supper online. Our Children’s ministry was posting weekly Bible Stories up until last month. A few of our team members have personal, online bible studies with church members. Almost everyone involved in our regular ministry locations have access to watch and submit prayer requests. It has been a new experience for us all and our team has grown through it all. In the next two weeks we hope, Lord willing,  to restart limited church services in the favelas again, following all the requirements of the city.

Winter is upon us now and many favela people have a hard time keeping warm at night. We had some families ask us for blankets and, through generous offerings, were able to get many warm, cozy blankets for the children! Also with this funding we were able to purchase sewing materials and supplies to make hundreds of masks for adults and children. What a wonderful surprise it was for them to receive such warm, practical, and colorful gifts!

Produce from our gardens is being given out in the favelas as well and visits are being made to three poor communities twice weekly; we are actively looking for a piece of property in one community to start a new ministry center and church; many projects on our main campus have been worked on these past few months such as teaching from home the three favela children who live here, pouring the foundation and installing three new entrance gates, sewing masks, making bricks to use in the construction of a kiosk, pouring the foundation and laying block for the walls in the vocational center, drilling a new well to supply all our water needs, construction on one of the homes, and so much more…..

Thank you so much for your prayers and faithful contributions! We are so blessed to be a blessing to others through your giving.

In His service,   Pete and Jodi

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6