18/04/2023
Brazil 🇧🇷 Prayer Letter Feb- April 2023
Dear Church and prayer partners,
We sure thank you for your love and prayers over these last few months. We have returned home on a furlough and to renew documents. We wanted to tell our churches in advance of our trip but we were adviced to stay quiet and not risk trouble with immigration when departing. With the new communist government in power now, we were being censored and recorded and being warned not to share anything of what was really happening in Brazil. We would be flagged and possibly arrested if we said anything about the elections, or the vaccine. there was much protesting and many were being arrested and put into camps, documents taken from them and forced to receive the vaccine . Many died in all of this.
Persecution of the churches has started and pastors will be held responsible if every person in their church is not vaccinated and for the new government. We can’t do anything about all that is going on in Brazil but we can prepare the people to not be afraid and to continue to stand. And we can preach the gospel until they don’t allow it.
This year has been busy with encouraging the people and helping them to grow in the Lord. We spent much time in disciplining , training , preparing for baptism and new leaders. And they now continue forward in our absence.
We also worked in the construction of our mission house. That will be used as our home away from home, and a place for pastors, and groups to come and stay , and we also have the medical clinic too.
There were many obstacles during construction. With it came accidents. I started out with my front teeth being knocked out and busted from a bull dozer injury. I spent the next three months in dental work. Praise the Lord for His provision and protection. Then my back began to give me much trouble. I’m thankful for acupuncture treatments to help keep me on my feet.
At the end before furlough the rains came and many places were being flooded, washed out and buried in mudslides., all the rain caused problems with the construction. we were pouring cement on the roof, and the braces were so wet that they buckled and the roof collapsed. We had just passed up underneath seconds before it fell. We are thankful He watches of us! The heavy lifting of cement, metal, and stone finished my back off, and put me in the bed. This was days before we were to fly out. My wife was left with moving everything into storage and cleaning the land and packing. She injured her shoulder in the process and I came home in a wheelchair. But day by I’m getting my strength back and I’m up on my feet again.
Continue to pray for the work as they continue forward, with all the chaos around them. Brazils future is changing and the people are in fear. Their is much uncertainty but we know who’s in control and we can continue to hold to His promises and continue teaching preaching and training in Brazil. And one day we will understand all better by and by.
Continue to pray for us as we report back to our churches while here, and to recuperate from our injuries.
Led by the Master,
Bro. Carmelo and Sis. Shannon Martinez
Your missionaries to Brazil.
