Last month, as in all the past six months, we actively preached the Gospel – in church, in prison, in remote villages, at markets, in the shade of trees, and from house to house. Many people accepted Christ, a peace treaty was signed between two warring tribes, and many also responded to the call to renew their relationship with God.
Also, in January, we expect a team of five brothers who will work for a week in three of our other campuses in camp ministry. Two of these villages are very remote, several hours on foot to the very center of “nowhere,” please pray for the three camps that will take place soon. We expect 150+ children and teenagers in each village, a total of around 400 people will be able to hear the Gospel.
And our “D” groups of discipleship continue to develop and multiply, we are grateful to the Lord that He gave us the command (1) to preach the Gospel and (2) to make disciples. Our goal is for every member of our church to be in a group of discipleship, and over time, to lead their own D group – step by step we are moving towards this. Our youngest D group members (including our Miroslava) – the girls’ age is from 10 to 14 years old, were able to serve with us in the remote village of Asas, creatively preaching the Gospel with skits, games, and visual examples.
Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Amazon jungle? Travel along the world’s windiest river, sleep in a boat in the jungle surrounded by wild animals? Get to know representatives of different cultures and indigenous people of the Purus, Rio Negro, and Juruá rivers, spreading the Gospel? You will see the work of God among people living in the forest, far from civilization. You will have an unusual adventure during a boat trip, sleeping in a hammock, a multi-hour trip, listening only to the boat engine and occasional wild animals. You will also go fishing in a place where exotic fish live. So, are you ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure, traveling on a Mennonite church missionary ship in Brazil, learning a bit about the work done by missionaries, immersing yourself in the Amazonian culture, and experiencing a time of renewal of your relationship with God?
Our requirements: If you are a Christian, have medical insurance, are at least 18 years old, and are willing to testify and help with any challenges that arise. You are not spoiled and can sleep in a hammock, where there are many mosquitoes, unusual food, bathing in river water, heat, limited electricity and internet, then this trip is for you!
Your expenses:
A ticket from the US to Brazil! Plus $725 per person, including a boat, food, bus rides, and fishing gear!
We offer: A boat with a crew and a team that accompanies and translates, unforgettable adventures, jungle hikes, fishing, visiting remote villages, and conducting day camps with children!
Please contact us at info (at) newfields.org if interested.
Our team experienced significant blessings during the Christmas holiday! We greeted about 500 children in various places, including orphanages, hospitals, and hospices. Particularly valuable was our venture this year with a puppet theater, allowing children to see a Christmas story performance of this kind for the first time. It was thrilling; the entire medical staff watched along with the children, holding their breath! Then we gave gifts to everyone, which led to many questions and conversations.
God opened another door for us in the hospital’s endocrinology department, where children with diabetes are treated. Every Wednesday, we meet with fifteen teenagers, spend time with them, and invite them to continue to connect and socialize in our loft space and at our venues. The children gladly agree, and already 8 teenagers regularly meet with us. Christmas is always a precious time for people, with hearts open and receptive.
There are also needs and requests. Two girls, Lisa (7 years old) and Dasha (9 years old), need an urgent bone marrow transplant and must fly to St. Petersburg. We need to help them prepare and buy tickets soon. The girls are raised by single mothers who cannot afford the tickets and medication for their children!
We heartily thank you for your open hearts and help. And we ask you to participate and share the blessing!
It has been more than 10 years since God led us to Thailand. Reflecting on this journey, I have learned several profound lessons. Missionary work is a long-term ministry, where short-term contributions from each one of us wield significant influence in bringing people closer to Christ. Whether engaged in construction, playing with children, offering haircuts, teaching financial principles, sharing Bible stories, or simply visiting homes – each of these small acts can be used by God for His great purposes. The little girl you played with and sang songs to, the boys who seemed disinterested during your English lessons – today, they stand as leaders in children’s and worship ministries within the Church and among their peers!
Last month, alongside our brothers, we had the privilege of visiting our Avoda projects in other locations. Among them were our children from Myanmar, where we conducted children’s programs and taught English many years ago. Familiar faces abounded! A teenage girl approached me with joy and said, “I am so happy today that I can come to church. Yesterday I was sick and very sad that I couldn’t help in the ministry. I prayed, and I feel much better! I am glad to be here and teach children about God!” This girl comes from a strong Muslim family, sharing, “My brother and I are ‘secret believers’; our parents still don’t know that we come to church and do ministry for God.” Over a decade ago, this beautiful girl, like many others, learned on the floor, coloring, drawing, and writing, enjoying being in a safe place without hearing the sounds of war. Today, we witness her and a few others as leaders, sharing the Word of God with little children and teaching them to worship wholeheartedly. A few young believers like her are staying at the pastor’s place and can’t go home.
Praise the Lord for everyone who served these people through being here, through prayers, and through financial support for those who came. We are grateful to all who collected glasses and sent them here; through the ministry with glasses and giving haircuts, we reached people from eight different villages, including tribes residing in the mountains and refugee families from Myanmar. God provided miraculously just in time a donation, and we were able to purchase warm clothes and prepare some gifts for the people we visited! Thank God for His amazing work!
Please continue to pray for our children’s ministry, ministry with ladies through the “5 Loaves” bakery, and ministry with the elderly! Also, please keep us in your prayers as the leaders here, for God’s wisdom and continued guidance!
We returned from a trip to Laos, where we sowed the Word of God and met with brothers and sisters in Christ. We prepared for the trip for two months and constantly faced trials. Initially, there was one team, but participants changed, and in the end, those who wanted to go didn’t, but other brothers and sisters did: “Many plans are in a person’s heart, but only what the Lord determines will happen” (Proverbs 19:21).
We bought food and gifts on the border, printed calendars and brochures, and crossed the pedestrian border with this baggage. Laos is the poorest country with a Communist-type People’s Revolutionary Party. In some districts, celebrating Christmas is prohibited this year. For this reason, we secretly put on masks in certain churches. The first church greeted us with a song, but we didn’t see joy because life in Laos is poor, people are exhausted (skinny), and it was very difficult to share His Word, knowing that they were all hungry. Giving gifts and food while looking at their faces, we rarely saw joy. In another area, it was a bit easier. The house of prayer was festively decorated, and it was clear that the brothers and sisters were preparing to celebrate. We could bless a particularly needy part of the church with you. We then arrived in one village where they had just started holding meetings, blessed them, and shared His Word. Finally, the Lord blessed us with a church full of joy and celebration. We shared our testimony, sang, prayed, and distributed food packages and gifts to those in need. Thank you for supporting us in this ministry!
