An Update from the Medeiros Family…
Dear friends,
Happy New Year! We enjoyed celebrating New Year in the most incredible location this year, Ushuaia, the most Southern point of Argentina, known as ‘the end of the world’. Sarah and Daniel were part of shaping the first CMS Latin American conference in Ushuaia, called Refresh (based on the verses in Matthew 11:28,29) and it really was a time of great blessing. CMS mission partners, local partners and mission associates serving in Latin America came together to seek refreshment and inspiration in the Lord.
Daniel and Sophie were involved in leading worship. Sarah led a couple of seminars on Dance and Soaking prayer, where by coming to Jesus we are truly refreshed. We also set up a 24/7 prayer room. It was wonderful to be so involved as a family. We also took some holiday time to see penguins in the wild, hike to a glacier, and go to the local museum which features the story of the first SAMS missionaries (now CMS) coming to Ushuaia 170 years ago, when only original peoples lived there. Eventually missionaries founded a farm living alongside the indigenous people. Now there is a vibrant and growing indigenous church throughout Latin America, so it was a very inspiring place to visit.
In September 2022 Dança Água Viva started in the community Aguazinha. Thirty women registered and there are about fifteen ladies who come twice a week. God is meeting the women with his presence and setting them free to worship Him in sprit and in truth. There is a mix of Christians, non-Christians, back-slidden Christians and pastors coming to the sessions! We always have a time at the end of the session to minister to each other with the flags and rest in God’s presence. Often the women share that they experienced God’s peace. For example, one lady said she had big problems at home and didn’t want to come to dance but her grand-daughter encouraged her to go. She said her heart was full of anguish but after spending time meeting with Jesus through dance, she was leaving full of peace. The women are sharing on a deeper level and learning to receive from God and enjoy His presence as the Holy Spirit ministers to their hearts.
On Christmas day, Sarah was overwhelmed when she was given a beautiful work of fuxico art that some of the women had hand-made for her. It signified how the women are valuing what they are receiving from God in dance. Pray for Sarah as she considers offering sessions to the children in the community this year.
Daniel has been busy networking with local leaders and pastors. He was invited to a Pastors breakfast once a month and he has had opportunities there to build relationships and advocate for Revive and the fostering service. At the last Shine network meeting of 2022, we had 2 new ministries visiting (Christ for all Nations and Agape Love ministries) who shared a vision of Revival coming to Recife. It was very encouraging as what they shared confirmed words and visions that we have heard over many years. They have started a new ministry called “Revive Recife” and Daniel and Sarah will be involved by leading a weekly prayer meeting in their area with local leaders to seek God’s face together in unity, repent and pray for revival to come. Daniel’s many connections with leaders across the city has helped in getting pastors involved. His heart has always been for unity so it is great to see churches across the denominations coming on board to pray for Revival and the crusade that is being planned for in Recife in Jan 2024.
Daniel has also been supporting the different Revive ministries, including the food market while Rose and Stu have been in the UK. During the school holidays he has had the pleasure of Sophie and Ana accompanying him; Sophie even joined him on the early morning run to collect food for the food market at 5am!
Please pray for Daniel as he continues as an assistant counsellor for Journey UK, helping men on their inner healing journey, through a course called “A Journey of Grace” and for the development of this ministry in Brazil.
As a family we have moved from River Church (Igreja Rio) to be part of the congregation of Living Waters Church (Igreja Anglicana Agua Viva) in Aguazinha. Although it was hard to leave Rio church, we sensed it was the right time to move churches. We were warmly welcomed and Daniel and Sophie have been helping out a lot with the children’s work and Sarah and Ana have had various opportunities to dance in the church. It would be great to build a dance ministry team in the church so please pray for that!
Ana continues to love her ballet and gymnastics at school and she won the gold medal in her first gymnastics competition and she shone in her ballet show last term. Sophie is a great singer and is concerned with caring for the environment. Please pray for them as they start school on the 1st Feb and for the continuation of the Conscience Club at Revive that Sophie started.
In November we also had Sarah’s brother come to stay for a week which was wonderful and Sarah’s parents are now booked to come in April. It is the first time they have visited us since we have lived in Brazil and so we would really value your prayers for their visit.
Thank you so much! May God bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and give you His peace.
With every blessing,
Sarah, Daniel, Sophie and Ana