Re: Prayer and Praise

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The Headlines of all the morning papers read,

´The Pacification Begins in Manguinhos and Jacarenzinho´

Dear Praying Friends,

I pause today to write this email asking you to pray for our city.  Tomorrow the government plans to pacify three more neighborhoods that are controlled by drug traffickers.  The have pacified 17 already and have a goal of 40 by the time the World cup arrives in 2014.  These three neighborhoods are where the heart of all the drugs are sold by the Red Command Faction.

We have many dear friends that live in and around these neighborhoods.  Our ministry partners Fabio and Lia planted churches in Caju and Benfica.  All of these neighborhoods basically connect and are only separated by a physical barrier such as creek, rail road tracks or a highway.  Our friends from Rio de Paz (River of Peace) is working in the neighborhood of Mandela, one of the poorest and most violent areas in the whole city.  I took these pictures two years ago while working with one of their campaigns.  The sign says,  Promise of Housing for the Poor:  When? Where? And How?

This is when my colleague, Jeff and I had the opportunity to meet Marcelo the "Pilot" the Boss of Manguinhos and Mandela.  We were with Pastor Antonio Carlos, the founder of the River of Peace organization.  We had just completed a visit to the neighborhood and the sun had gone down and most everybody had left when one of our hosts asked Pastor Antonio if he would like to meet the Boss.  Marcelo met us in a lit square where for two hours as he told us his life story and how he came to be the Boss of Manguinhos.  One of the things he told us came to my mind now- he said, "I know the day is coming (pacification- which means tanks, soldiers and helicopters) I just don't know when".  That night Pastor Antonio Carlos clearly preached the Gospel to Marcelo.  He is among the top Most Wanted list in the city.  He was the one the special forces were after the night we were caught in the cross fire in Arará, Benfica.  He was there but escaped. 

Most likely Marcelo will not be there tomorrow when the troops go in.  The State announces the arrival of the pacification force about a week in advance.  The goal of the pacification is for the state to take back control of the neighborhood and to remove war grade weapons off the street.   (Jeff found this interesting paper written about the Pacification Movement of Rio de Janeiro if you would like to know more about that:  http://iis-db.stanford.edu/evnts/6716/Stahlberg,_Stephanie_-_Pacification_of_Favelas_in_Rio_de_Janeiro_%28Work_in_Progress%29.pdf)

·    
 Please pray for Marcelo´s salvation.  He is a lost man and has been on the run for a long time.  I pray that Pastor Antonio´s words will have not been spoken in vain.  "Lord may the conviction of the Holy Spirit- of all that is Holy and of sin and of righteousness- come upon this man for your glory and for his salvation- Amen. 

·         Pray for the safety of the thousands of working class people living in these neighborhoods as the troops invade their streets and homes.   Pray for the safety of our ministry partners and their churches. 

·         Pray for better times!  Statistics show that crime in generally and homicides are down as much as 80 percent in some of the worst neighborhoods that have been pacified.  There is a new freedom for the residence and the government can provide needed services like policing, trash removal, electricity, water, sewage, health clinics and recreation. 

·         There is a new freedom for churches!  Reaching the poor inside neighborhoods governed by drug traffickers is risky business for outsiders coming in.  Now there will be many open doors for churches outside to come in to help.  

·         "Lord we pray that you will bless the efforts of the Government to restore order to the poor communities of Rio de Janeiro.  We pray for an advancement of the Gospel and Thy kingdom Come!"

Delighting In Him,

Craig and Alessandra

FINANCIAL DONATIONS:

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Make checks out to:                            EFCA ReachGlobal

Attach a note that says:                  I am supporting the ReachGlobal work in Brazil by Craig Weyandt, Account 1409 

                                                                        Or

                                                            One Time Gift for Craig Weyandt's, Car Fund

Please Mail Check to:                     EFCA ReachGlobal

                                                            901 East 78^th Street

                                                            Minneapolis , MN 55420-1300

                                                            952-854-1300

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August Highlights

                                                                                                        October

Dear Praying  Friends,

A couple of weeks ago we were running from bullets at midnight on the urban streets of Rio de Janeiro.  This week my colleague, Jeff and I traveled to The CENA Farm, Nova Aurora, with two Agriculture students, Jose Claudio and his wife, Susana.  We went there to conclude our studies and prepare for the production of Honey, fish and agriculture.

It was an amazing weekend.  We visited three different fish and Bee producers, Anderson, Nelson and Raul.  These were people we found on the Internet, but our visits to each of their homes and farms confirmed that God was leading us. 

Nelson, a committed believer, is an experienced farmer with a passion for Brazilian Sting-less Bees.  He not only confirmed the therapeutic nature of working with Bees but also the good character of these other men.  Each one was not only enthusiastic about our project at CENA and encouraged our ventures, but  offers needed resources and a valuable network as well. They were glad to meet the CENA missionaries Cido and Ismael. 



Today we hear much talk about sustainability.  This simple means, "Just show me the triple bottom line".  We want to be(1) profitable in what we do and (2) we want to develop people while(3) caring for and managing God's creation in a way that is honoring to the Creator.  Pictured below is Paul.  Paul was our Guide as we searched the forest for sources of Pollen that will impact the Honey that the Bees make. He was twenty pounds lighter wearing a beard down to his belly and wild hair on his head when he arrived at the Farm six months earlier.  The others at the Farm said he looked like the angel of Death.   As he shared his story  he told us about the unswerving love of the of the CENA missionaries  at stage one-Rescue- located in Crackland down town Sao Paulo. 

They visited him on the streets day after day- everyday.  It was on one of those visits that Paul decided to make a change and leave the streets.  He has come a long way in six months and describes his spiritual journey as one in process. 

Many of the men and woman who leave the streets give their lives to the Lord while at the Farm.  Here they have daily bible study and quiet time and weekly corporate worship. I encouraged Paul to follow Jesus.  Paul took a great interest in our projects.  He is quite taken by the beauty of the forest and was amazed by the intricacies of the Bees. The One who has created all this is the One who seeks Paul and is the One who loves Paul and gave Himself up for Paul. 

Our goal at the farm is restoration. We want to restore all that sin has broken.  That is what Jesus did.  Please pray for Paul as he continues his spiritual journey.  Pray that he comes to know Jesus  not only as the One who forgives his sins but as the one that leads him to green pastures as well.  It has been years since Paul has worked.   CENA's goal for these new projects is to restore the broken relationship between man and creation so that he can work and receive fruit from his labors and in doing this glorify His Creator. 

Thank the Lord for Jose Claudio and his wife Susana, two believers that are so excited to use their talents and passions to further the Kingdom.  We are praying that they may become part of the CENA Farm team for several months of the year after they graduate in April! 

Delighting in Him,

Craig and Alessandra

FINANCIAL DONATIONS:

On Line Donations: Copy and Paste the following link or click on ON-Line

https://my.efca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=359&des=WEYANDT-M1409

 

ON-Line

 

 

Or

Make checks out to:                            EFCA ReachGlobal

Attach a note that says:                  I am supporting the ReachGlobal work in Brazil by Craig Weyandt, Account 1409 

                                                                        Or

                                                            One Time Gift for Craig Weyandt's, Car Fund

Please Mail Check to:                     EFCA ReachGlobal

                                                            901 East 78^th Street

                                                            Minneapolis , MN 55420-1300

                                                            952-854-1300

Thanks for providing. 

To start Automatic withdrawals from your bank account, send a voided check from that account to the above address.