Mission Partner Update - The Costas, February 2025
MISSION TRIP OF CAMILA AND MARIANA TO AFRICA
Camila and Mariana had a tremendous trip to Guinea-Bissau, Africa! They worked with three different ethnic groups in remote places where AMIDE (a Brazilian mission organization) is based. AMIDE was the organization that led this trip. These people groups are totally Muslims. Because of the schools and health assistance that AMIDE provides, the Muslims leaders allow the ministry to stay, but with many restrictions on sharing the Gospel. In one of these groups, the Muslims have never permitted the missionaries to establish a church over the 27 years that AMIDE is working there. However, through the schools, the missionaries have always shared the Gospel in a very strategic way. Moreover, while all this time, the missionaries were translating the Bible into their language (they have already translated the book of Genesis and all the New Testament – they are finishing Revelation). Nevertheless, in the last two years, AMIDE has understood that it is time to start Christian services. They knew that they were going to face many challenges from the Muslims leaders, which really happened. The Muslims tried to stop them, but they continued. So, the Muslim leader of the mosque of the capital city of Guinea-Bissau called the missionaries and asked them to stop, or they were going to have problems. Anyway, over the last year, the missionaries have been meeting as a church every week.
One of the leaders of AMIDE in Brazil (the one who led the team), said that this team was very important in the establishment of this church there since it was the first time ever that the Gospel was publicly proclaimed in the village! God used the team wonderfully to proclaim the Good News. Mariana led the team in the outreaches. They used drama (The Redeemer), sketch board messages, “chemical cross” (a method that uses chemicals), and “missionary dolls” (dolls that tell the Gospel through colors, similar to the “wordless book”).
In one outreach, the team gave the missionary dolls to the children, but a little bit later, the Muslims burned them. Only God knows, but it may mark even more powerfully the lives of the children in a positive way! The Church always grows powerfully under persecution!
After making skin care with the local women, Camila used the Chemical Cross to share the Gospel. When she raised the cross with her hand, the women turned their faces to not see it. Camila kept preaching and shared her testimony. The women got very touched. We know that the Word of God will not return empty (Isaiah 55:11); And “it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Therefore, please, keep praying for this people group and for the local missionaries who are doing a tremendous job there on planting this church.
We praise the Lord for His work in us and through us as His church! You and we are one in Christ doing the work of His Kingdom!
WP BRAZIL MISSION CONTROL PROJECT
Dear friends, we are excited about the Mission Control Project! It will represent a tremendous step to facilitate and improve our work. As the ministry is growing in Brazil, and we are developing many projects, the place where the ministry is based today (our home) is becoming smaller. The Be Amazing growth has been another thing that makes the need of a mission base even more. It will help a lot in the management of our ministry and in the development of our projects. See the brochure attached to this newsletter to find out more details about it.
Thank you very much for each one of you who has already contributed – may God bless you very much! Please, let us know if you have any questions concerning it! We trust the Lord for a miracle to do it. Please, pray with us for the provision of this project.
LAUSANNE CONGRESS
Dear friends, the Lausanne Congress was tremendous! Thank you very much to each one of you who trusted and invested in me, Bruno, to be able to go there. It happened at the end of September in Seoul, South Korea. What a privilege and honor! May God bless you for being so generous. We had more than 5000 people from more than 200 countries! More nations than Olympics and the United Nations were represented in this congress, making it the largest representation of nations ever in human history.
It was an incredible time of encouragement for global evangelization. All areas of ministry were accomplished. They worked greatly on the way to promote unity to conclude the missionary task. We were challenged in many ways.
We all were at discussion tables throughout the congress. Those who belonged to some Lausanne particular network, which was my case, also had specific meetings. I believe that there will be much fruit from this congress.
May God lead us in the next steps in the direction to take the Gospel of the Kingdom “to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
MISSION TRIP TO THE BRAZILIAN NORTHEAST
In November, we went to the Brazilian Northeast to evangelize small villages in very remote parts. Our team was composed of five Americans and seven Brazilians – what a great team God gave us! After arriving in the city of Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, we drove 600 miles to the city of Corrente, in the State of Piauí. In this area, people suffer not only from lack of water, but from lack of food as well. Starvation is another big challenge there. In addition, there are a high level of child abuse, prostitution, and human traffic. It is a very sad reality.
We worked preaching the Gospel in the schools and through open air. We praise the Lord for the incredible school meetings He gave us! The local pastor and the principals of the schools were very concern about the behavior of the students since they were very undisciplined. Many times, they mentioned for us to be ready for that. Anyway, thank God, the students were incredibly amazing! The Holy Spirit worked powerfully; they were so attentive to the message of the Gospel! We could see clearly how they received it so well. The principals and the teachers were in shock to see how they behaved so greatly.
It was a time for celebration! It was a privilege to serve the local workers and the community.
We worked in partnership with an incredible local pastor, who has a heart for evangelism. He raises 2000 food packs every month to help the communities. He also helps local pastors and missionaries who work very forsaken in these places. Because of the problem of lack of water, he was facing many other challenges; that’s why we made the water well for him – by the way, it was the deepest one we have ever made – 660 feet!
On the first day, the machine drilled 620 feet, and we could not see the water. However, we were able to see wet earth coming out. Therefore, the owner of the company said that in this area, since they never get a very powerful water volume, the air pressure of the machine (while it is drilling) expels the water. So, he told us to wait until the next day as probably the well would be full of water. He also mentioned that if it gets full of water, based in his experience in the region, it is going to produce about 2,400 gallons a day, which would be more than enough for the development of the Pastor’s projects to serve the community. So, on the next day, we went to the well in the morning to see if there was water or not. We got around the well and when the drill started moving, praise the Lord, the water came out powerfully! The well was full of water!
MISSION TRIP TO INDIAN TRIBES
We thank the Lord for the mission trip we had in August to reach Indian tribes in partnership with a local mission in the extreme west of Brazil (very close to Bolivia). Our team from Bolivia also came to work alongside us. Many were reached! It was tremendous to see how these people were thirsty for the Gospel. Even the cold nights we had were not enough to stop the locals participating!
In one of the villages where the climate became so cold, the Indians stayed all the time (two and a half hours) watching the Jesus film in their language so attentively and in complete silence. The meeting we had in Bolivia was very special as well. Many people came from other villages around to participate. All of us were very impressive about how they were so open to receive the Gospel.
The local pastor was rejoicing with all that the Lord has done there. He always shares with us how these missions teams help his ministry. Thank God!
VISIT OF CHIP WELTON
In October, we had the privilege of having the visit of Chip Welton, our Director from WP USA. We worked in schools and juvenile prisons. God gave us wonderful meetings. The places where we worked were so open and grateful for our ministry. Praise God for these amazing opportunities!
WP TRAINING
We had a great WP Training. We taught how to evangelize in public schools. We praise the Lord for all the strategies that He has been giving to us to get into schools over the years. Pray for fruit from this training!
BE AMAZING BRAZIL
Ten days after Camila arrived from Africa, she also went to the Brazilian Northeast with a group of women. She visited rural villages and towns where groups of women were studying the Be Amazing book. It was a 10-day trip to 4 different towns. They were surprised to see how the Be Amazing Bible study has reached such distant places! Seeing the testimony of churches on how the material has helped them was incredible! There are now 200 women in this region studying the Be Amazing book. Praise the Lord!
PRAY FOR POSSIBLE NEW STAFF MEMBERS
There are two couples who are praying about joining WP Brazil as staff members. Please, pray for the Lord about that! May the WP family grow!
Thank you very much for being with us in this ministry through your prayers and support. May He give you a tremendous 2025 in His presence!
We praise the Lord for you!
In His Love,
Bruno, Camila, and Mariana.
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