Sao Paulo Team Update

Here is an update from our Sao Paulo Team leaders. Be in prayer for them as they finish their ministry in Brazil!

Dear all,

This is our trip report just before departing to come home. Rio was awesome. The first day, we rode the train up to the mountain to the statue of Jesus. After the mountain we went to the Copacabana beach area and ate lunch then we went to the beach. At the church we met Pastor Wilber and he told us his church's vision. He is truly an awesome person and man of God, I think he and Juca will do outstanding things in Rio.

The next day we visited a technical school just down the road and our team got to visit most of the classrooms. Durring lunch the Christian students hold church which was a blessing to see 16 & 17 year-old youth gathering to praise God on their own. The leader was a student himself. The team did 2 testimonies and the creation pantomime. After that Juca led the invitation and six youth were saved. It is truly amazing how wonderful God is! We also visited another school where Brother Wilber went as a kid.

We went to Pastor Wilber's father's church and we were able to tell Bible stories and testimonies. While at Pastor Wilber's church we did the same and Sunday helped with OANSE. His church is soooooooooooo awesome it is hard to tell in words but let me try: his church is all about loving God and His children. It felt like we were part of a large family. They took such good care of us and, boy, the food was out of this world.

Brasil is absolutely a beautiful country and the people are so loving and caring.

See everyone soon, God Bless,

Brad and Becky Keough

Sao Paulo team leaders

New Sao Paulo Team Update!

Hey all,

Well, it seems the leaders have been able to access the internet and have emailed YMI a direct update. Here is the latest:

Hey everyone,

We have had a wonderful time of ministry here with the Cerpe family. We have helped with the youth group at PIBAI church (the small church) and did a few songs, a testimony and Bible story then the team played soccer with the youth there. This was on Saturday night, our first night here. On Sunday we went to PIBA (the big church) they had the team all come up front and sing "Amazing Grace", and afterward they had a Brasilian B-B-Q. It was so good.

We did ministry at an International school, went to two public schools to invite kids to the sports clinic we were helping with, did a radio broadcast, and then ran the two day sports clinic with two progams each day. We have seen around 50 salvations, which has been such a blessing to us all.

Everyone that we are working with has been so kind, we feel like family and all of us love it here. Everything here in the Rio area is going well. The people here are treating us so well, the food has been great, and the ministries are going very well. All of the team are good and trying to get enough sleep.

All in all we are all doing great and loving it here. We cannot believe the time has gone by so quickly and are sad to be leaving here so soon.

God Bless,

Brad and Becky Keough

YMI Sao Paulo Team Leaders

Sao Paulo Team Update

Hey all,

YMI has received word from the missionary, Juca Cerpe, that the team is in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at "Niteroi Igreja Barreto" or Barreto Church of Niteroi. This is the main church YMI Brasil (our sister organization) is working with in the Rio de Janeiro area.

Prior to this the team had been working with a church in the town of Bom Jesus dos Perdoes, 45 minutes outside Sao Paulo. This ministry concluded a few days ago and they headed for the church near Rio where they are now. Here are some pictures from their ministry. In the final picture one of our team members is sharing about Jesus through his interpreter YMI Brasil's National Director, Juca Cerpe. They were teaching baseball and futsal (mini soccer) while telling children about Jesus!

That's all for the current update. We will see if we are able to get an update directly from the team to everyone here via email, but it seems that the current site they are at has limited internet access at the moment. Keep praying with us as the team continues their mission in Brazil!

YMI Staff

Northern Ireland Team Update!

Hey All,

Here is the latest from the Northern Ireland Team...they have three ministries as part of their schedule now after beginning with two. Praise the Lord for opening new avenues for ministry! Please continue to pray for the team as they tell people there about Jesus:

Hi everyone,

We have added a third ministry to our ministries during the week. With this third ministry, we literally have no time during the day. We wake up, eat, rush off to the ministry site, rush back, sometimes coming in late for lunch....rush back out for the second ministry site, usually late getting there, come back for tea time, and we usually have about a half hour before we have to eat. And then we eat and have about a half hour before our evening ministry.

The ministry that God provided in addition to the scheduled ministry is to some rougher, more difficult kids. Yesterday in particular we saw a lot of opposition, and we were being made fun of a bit, and there were lots of distractions while we were presenting the Gospel. We prayed lots about today's ministry, and it was much better. Some of the same trouble makers were there, but for some reason they sat quiet and listened intently, and even got involved with the illusion. Praise God for answered prayers. We even had several professions of faith today!

We are having a Bar-B-Q with the group that we have been spending the most time with. Hopefully the parents will come out for it, and we will be able to share the Gospel with all of them.

Thank you for sending us here. It has been very good for all of us!

Philip and Anna Ahrens

YMI Northern Ireland Team Leaders

Sao Paulo Team Arrives

The Sao Paulo Team arrived in Brazil. Here is a quick note from the team:

We wanted to let you know we arrived safe and sound. The flights all left on time and there was no trouble getting through customs. Everyone is doing well. We will be going to youth group to night and starting ministries tomorrow. The team is excited to get started.

God Bless,

Brad Keough

Sao Paulo Team Leader

P.S. It is soooooooooooooooooooooooo beautiful down here.

Northern Ireland Team Arrives!

Hey all,

The Northern Ireland YMI Team has arrived safely at the Murlough House in Dundrum, Northern Ireland. Here is the email we received from the team leaders this morning:

Hey everyone,

We arrived safely and have met up with 3 of the 5 from Chicago (a group the YMI team will be working with from Midwest Bible Church). By the way, the Awana Club in their church is #002. They were the second Awana club ever! We will meet the other two members of their group soon.

Biggest prayer request is that the team will spend the time studying to be prepared for the VBS.

In Christ,

Philip and Anna Ahrens

YMI Northern Ireland Team Leaders