Our November Newsletter 2024

 

When we returned to Brazil, Dorothy and myself performed a drama about Mary Jones and her Bible in school. After our time at the Mary Jones Museum at Bala…We wanted to make a drama about Mary Jones.   So while we were in the UK, we made the most of the charity shops, and were able to buy an old Welsh Bible which was falling apart and fixed it when we returned to Brazil. And so we developed a drama about the story of Mary Jones and her Bible. 

A link to the video below of the drama in Portuguese, there are English subtitles available but the translation is not brilliant. 

https://youtu.be/XiC_eO7yt58?si=H1O4buzGLUL_oFsf

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Peter and Josi`s Newsletter November 2024

Dear Friends,

Our first update since returning to Brazil. 

It's well over a month now since we left the UK on the 15th of October. Yet it seems like an age ago. We are grateful to all who prayed and helped with our journey back to the UK and all who helped with accommodation and support in various ways for our stay.

This was the second time in 17 years visiting the UK, and friends did express a desire to see us more often. And yes, we would like to visit more regularly, and see family too, so maybe next year we will look at visiting again at the start of summer for a few months God willing.

School continued while we were away and Josi was able to keep in touch via Whatsapp with staff day to day.  

Since arriving back we have continued with construction and made a video of the latest phase - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H5lHAk87xk

Protestant Reformation Day 31st October.

 

In spite of all the halloween advertising going on in shops, TV and everywhere etc - We refuse to celebrate halloween, instead we prefer our school celebrates Protestant Reformation Day 31st October.  When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517, and ignited the Protestant Reformation. The children learn all about the truth that transformed Martin Luther and would eventually transform the world. “The just shall live by faith.” and that God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace are not for sale. They are free gifts, grounded in the boundless love of God through Jesus Christ.

Books

Since arriving back I published a few books on Amazon. One is a children's book, Dorothy created and illustrated, called “The Little Boat”.  A heartwarming story about perseverance, a touching tale that encourages children to keep trying, learning from failure, and trusting in those who love us most.

A short while ago a visitor to my website was asking after the booklet of the Worldview of Baptist History, a diagram published in 1928 by Rev Samuel J, Ford. As far as I know it's the only copy in existence. Because of its age it's public domain, so I went ahead digitised and published it. Also published an explanation for the picture - “The Gospel Target for Soldiers and Volunteers”, But I never did find what was called a descriptive outline advertised with the Victorian picture, so I decided to make one instead.  Also published a full colour book of the “A True Story of New Zealand” it's the same story I created a video of a while ago. 

 

All are available at Amazon, and made a page for them at the link below for books available. 

https://pictureswithamessage.com/books.htm

Two photos of the sunset Dorothy took as we landed back in Fortaleza - Amazing! Surely - “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork”.  Psalm 19:1

Paul Hobbs

Artist Paul Hobbs, a good friend, has an amazing art ministry for many years in the UK.  If your church or fellowship would like Paul to visit and give a talk, run workshops or present an exhibition. Please visit Pauls website to find out more  www.arthobbs.com

Scrooge Gravestone St Chad’s Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

This morning, 25/11/2024, I learned about Scrooge's gravestone in St Chad’s churchyard, Shrewsbury, UK.  It has been vandalised over the weekend, someone smashed it, it's difficult to believe why anyone would want to do that. It's been in the churchyard for 40 years undisturbed. But it's just another sign of how things are these days. When we visited Shrewsbury, one of the highlights for us was to visit this famous tombstone, a landmark of Shrewsbury.  It was originally just a film prop for the 1984 film A Christmas Carol, but was left in the churchyard, and has since become a tourist attraction with many visitors - Including ourselves!  I even made a video when we visited https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Q8wcVDwGo

Prayer 

Thankyou for prayers for our family and my brother Christopher's family. We wish we could have returned to the UK in different circumstances, sadly it was not to be. We thank all who have prayed and for support during this difficult time.

An update on the cards and artwork - After much prayer and wondering what to do about prints and cards I had in storage in the UK for years. Before we left for Brazil in October, I was asking the Lord about what to do - I certainly didn't want to throw them away, and much better to give them to a Christian book shop.  So we give thanks to the Lord, Illuminate Christian bookshop in Shrewsbury were willing to take them on, it was 2007 when I put them in storage, rather a long time, but now thankfully are now available for sale again.  In the past, I had a lot of good feedback from the cards how people sent them to friends and family. 

In our last newsletter I asked for prayer for a Secretary and address in the UK, a base to distribute cards and possibly we could be based from each summer…..so in some way Illuminate was the answer to prayer.  Regarding returning to the UK each summer for two months, we will continue to seek the Lord, at least pray things can be set up with accommodation etc. Friends have expressed it would be good for us to visit more, and yes it would be good for Dorothy. Education wise, I am trying to improve Dorothy’s level of English and making lessons for her. Please pray.

Please pray as we continue construction, we give thanks to the Lord for donations which came through which made so many improvements possible to the school. For us it's like a miracle to see these changes take place.  And we look to the Lord for continued provision as we seek to finish phase 3 and then hopefully start phase 4.  

We give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and mercy, and all who help and give cheerfully in so many ways.  

It was so good to see so many friends, while in the UK, but sorry we didn't get round to meeting everyone. We kind of concentrated in the Shropshire area, but God willing next time we shall try and meet up with those we didn't see this time in the UK.

With our love - Peter, Josi and Dorothy

The world seems to have many problems, and news gets more difficult each day ... But in spite of all this - A hymn came to mind the other day  “Rejoice, the Lord is King” By Charles Wesley.

1 Rejoice, the Lord is King:

Your Lord and King adore!

Rejoice, give thanks and sing,

And triumph evermore.

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

2 Jesus, the Savior, reigns,

The God of truth and love;

When He has purged our stains,

He took his seat above;

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

3 His kingdom cannot fail,

He rules o'er earth and heav'n;

The keys of death and hell

Are to our Jesus giv'n:

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

4 Rejoice in glorious hope!

Our Lord and judge shall come

And take His servants up

To their eternal home:

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Peter and Josi Millward, Rua Pintor J. Figueiredo No. 805. Praia Iparana. Caucaia, Ceara.  CEP. 61.627-250.  Brazil.