Dear Praying Friends,                                                                                                                                       
It is with GREAT joy that we share with you two items concerning our participation in our individual missionary ministry as well as our church plant here in Lages!

• First, Sheri and I are going to be traveling to a new area of the Amazon next month October 7-13th on a mission’s trip to help a young pastor that we met years ago during our time as missionaries in that region.  He is currently on a tributary of the main Amazon river and has planted a small church in the remote community of Beruri. I will be preaching and soul winning during our few days there. Sheri will be accompanying me, taking along a large bag full of clothing that the ladies at Teays Valley Baptist (our sending church) sewed for the children. We are excited to help this national pastor and his community and are praying about this becoming a regular outreach that we personally support.

• Secondly, we are starting our own missions’ program here at Igreja Batista Biblica Internacional in Lages. I have scheduled a long time, faithful, national missionary, Pastor Valcides and his wife to come share about their ministry in the Amazon with our church in February. This dear friend was the missionary that took me up the tributaries back in the late 90’s when I first arrived in Brazil. He has faithfully preached the Gospel, planted churches, and consistently trained nationals for many years, and I am thrilled our people here will be able to have the pleasure of meeting him and learning about Faith Promise Giving.

Currently our church is looking for a new building to rent. The men and I are searching in a neighborhood centrally located to our members.  I have been so encouraged by the participation in the services online during this pandemic. Everyone has remained faithful and we praise the Lord for that! Now that our restrictions are being lifted locally, we need a permanent place to meet that not only holds our membership, but a place where we can grow. Pray with us as we search that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as we evaluate different locations.

One last bit of exciting news, Sheri’s children’s book, “I Want To Be A Missionary” has been published! Get your copy today at www.delightinhim.net/edwards. Sheri wrote and illustrated this book and we hope to see children have a desire to serve the Lord on the mission field after reading it. The Gospel is in the back of each book so that children can share Christ with their friends.
Sheri and I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for how you have maintained our support during this time of Covid-19.  We commend you and your churches on your faithfulness even when your doors had to close, and attendance had to be restricted.  You continued to send your financial support, and this amazed us personally. Thank you for being faithful. May God bless your churches and families
In the Service of the Savior,
Mark and Sheri Edwards
 

Our work must not stop!
Dear Praying Friends,                                                                                                       
 
The mission field is still white already to harvest, Covid-19 or not. There is really no time to waste and no reason not to be seeking out anyone and everyone in order to witness to someone, encourage a saint, or bless someone in need. Brazil has upwards of 98,000 deaths from Covid right now and cases are still soaring.  Here in Lages we have gone back into lockdown with fines being imposed if you are caught in the street without a mask.  Our hospitals are at max capacity. Churches have closed their doors once again and no public gatherings are allowed. But did the devil suddenly stop prowling around like a roaring lion? Did Calvary stop being the cure for sin? Did the Bible get any less powerful? NO, a resounding NO! So, can missionaries stop working? ABSOLUTELY NOT! We must press on, we must continue fighting the good fight, and we must tell others the Good News of Salvation.  Here is what we are doing:
 
Sheri and I are holding online services with our current church as well as recording and sending out weekly Bible studies.  I am even finding myself being invited to preach in churches for larger congregations online in order to reach more people with the Gospel as well as meeting with individuals on a one on one basis to answer questions, discuss theology and why God is allowing this change in our current world.  Sheri was also able to talk at length with our elderly neighbor today.  He lost his wife about a year ago after 40 years of marriage. He said he was at home today reading a book about prayer when something told him to come see about his farm next door to ours.  Sheri saw him and struck up a conversation about the Lord.  He is such a kind person and we sure would love to see him come to know the Savior. He agreed to come to lunch next week, so would you please pray for Mr. Branco?  Also, in just a few months I am scheduled to preach at a Bible conference in the Amazon Region on a brand new (to me) river system.  A young man reached years ago during our ministry in the Amazon has since been called to preach and finished Bible school.  He has been pastoring for a while now and invited me to come for his annual Bible conference.  We are waiting to see where the virus lockdown leaves us, but we plan on holding services in any format we can in order to get the Gospel out to his community.  In other words, The Edwards are staying busy at our task of reaching Brazil.  Virus or no virus.  We don’t know how to sit still for very long anyways, so we actively seek new ways of doing our job. And praise the Lord He has protected our health thus far.

On the home front, we are now officially an empty nest.  Amelia moved to Texas two weeks ago and we are so grateful for all her hard work in getting us settled back here on the farm.  We couldn't have accomplished so much without the extra set of hands working with us. It's kind of sad not seeing her at the table for lunch or sitting beside me at night discussing the Bible together though. Sheri hasn't even been able to go upstairs and look at her room. It is quiet around here but we know Amelia will do great in whatever God has for her.  Pray for her as she seeks God's will.  She is working at a new job right now and praying for God to open doors to what He has for her.  Sam moved to Japan last month and after quarantine time ended he started his new job in the Marines as an admin.  His girlfriend, Destiny also just graduated Boot Camp.  She has a fractured tibia but is tough as nails and pressing onward. Wyatt is gassing Marines in Hawaii and instructing courses in his job as a Chemical Specialist. Katie started her 4th year of teaching grade school yesterday.  Her husband Justin was accepted into the Police Academy last week and starts in September.  We are so proud of all of them and covet your prayers for their individual lives. We sure do miss them.
 
Keep praying for us and keep spreading the Gospel!  Sheri and I are thankful for all of you and your constant support of our ministry here in Brazil.  We love each of you.

For the past several years we have been praying for a little boy in our church named Miguel.  He was born with abnormally large adenoids and tonsils.  This has caused him to have terrible breathing problems as well as speech delay.  Because Brazil has socialized medicine, the doctors put Miguel on a waiting list.  He is now 3 years old and has struggled continuously, BUT this past week God opened the doors for him to have surgery.  His mom was so happy that God provided this miracle and we were able to pray with her by phone as her son recovered.  Praise the LORD for His goodness!

We have several families with young children in our church who are seeking alternative education for their little ones.  Because of this and her years of teaching, Sheri has been asked to participate in the organization of a private school in Lages.  Please be in prayer as we seek direction about this matter and for God's will concerning these families and any future ministry opportunities we may have. ​