The pandemic has restricted our ability to travel to Brazil and Thailand. However, Bárbara was able to visit Brazil for three weeks at the end of February. During her visit, she met with the leadership of Living Bread Brazil and visited most of our church planting efforts in southern Brazil. While visiting the church plants in and around the city of Torres, she participated in the distribution of school and hygiene supplies as well as toys for children in the community as part of our annual Share Christmas ministry. The church also distributed clothing and food.
She was able to spend time with the pastors, their families, and members of our other church plants, too. She also participated in the annual team meeting with all of the Brazilian leadership. They discussed partnerships in Brazil, the 2021 budget and plans for three new church planting efforts in southern Brazil.
Bárbara also spent time doing research for her PhD. She is working to develop a cultural understanding of the residents of the communities we are engaging in southern Brazil. She spent several days interviewing church members and community residents. Once she analyzes and compiles her research, she hopes it will benefit churches in Brazil who desire to minister among the urban poor. By providing cultural insights on this population, her work will help others better engage these communities.
We would appreciate your prayers for our work in Brazil and for Bárbara’s efforts with her PhD. We believe her research will benefit the work of Living Bread and perhaps encourage others to engage the urban poor throughout Brazil.