News from the Field - February 2024

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Mark 16:15

A New Base of Operations for Open Arms – Pantanal

As you may know, in 2023 we broke ground on a new base of operations for reaching the Pantanal region of Brazil, and a stepping stone to establishing ministry in Bolivia and Paraguay. This new base will be home to our current Aquidauana Neighborhood Mission, as well as our Open Arms Pantanal Headquarters which will house a new missionary training school, COOP, and more.

In February a team from our headquarters in Assis, São Paulo made the 10 hour trek back to Aquidauana to join with our local team to continue the work.

In scorching temps, some days reaching as high as 110 F, they were able to finish raising the walls on the first of three structures on the property. This building will house a commercial kitchen that will be used for events, culinary classes, and daily preparation of food for the children who attend Open Arms programs. There will also be a counseling room where our missionaries and child psychologists will meet with children and teens, as well as a large classroom for training new volunteers and missionaries, and people from the local community.

Before

After

Thanks to partners like Brush Arbor Homes and many faithful individual donors, we have been able to keep this project moving forward. In April this first structure will have its roof and be one step closer to realizing it’s purpose as a launching pad for taking the gospel to more children and teens who have yet to hear!

Of course we can’t pass up a chance to do what we do, share the love and truth of Jesus with kids. Our team was able to share Christ in the local neighborhood as well as in a nearby indigenous village of the Terena indians. All in all, a very successful mission!