Trying Times in Cruzeiro do Sul
Dear Brethren,
Grace and peace to all of you. The Creiglow crew is all in good health. I have been encouraged to see that the pandemic numbers have been dropping rapidly in the United States. The opposite is happening here.
This letter will be short. Why? There is not much positive to report. This is a new experience for me. I have had my share of difficult times, but this letter will be hard to write.
The second wave of the virus has hit Cruzeiro do Sul and all of Brazil for that matter. The numbers are alarming. Yesterday Brazil had 30,000 more new cases than the US and 250 more deaths with 120 million fewer people! We lost 2 more members last week. Then we had a border crisis, with 400 Haitians trying to cross the Peruvian border. On top of that we had a historic flood. 10 of the 22 cities of the Acre were under water. We had several families housed in our school buildings.
You, too, have had to deal with the pandemic, major winter storms and unbelievable flooding. We have been praying for you and hope that you will do the same for us.
We are under lockdown and had to stop our services for now. We do livestream 3 services every week. Our musicians, praise groups, the pastor and media folks are the only ones in the building. I also record short lessons that go on our FaceBook and YouTube channels 2 or 3 times a week. We are taking care of our members primarily through our small groups, even though they are not allowed to meet in person.
Since I can’t get out I have also been working on building my new shop. It is almost finished. My tools were scattered in 3 locations and I had no real place to work. Now everything including the boats and motors will all be in the same location.
Well I am sorry to not have much to report to you right now, but I hope you understand.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you during these trying times.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
CONTACT INFO
Mike & Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
69980 Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre
Brasil, SA
mdcreig@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
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Depending on God in Trying Times
Odali and Kathy Barros served the Lord in Sao Paulo, Brazil together from 1987-2013. In late 2013, they transitioned to Manaus in Northern Brazil to start sharing the Gospel and planting churches in villages along the river.
February 16, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope all are doing well. We are doing well and being cared for by our Lord and Savior. So many times God protects us without us realizing how much. Our son Jonas and his wife were sick with some symptoms of Covid. So we decided to have them tested and we also decided to be tested to see if we had had it. Well, to our surprise, our son and his wife tested negative, and me and Kathy tested that we had been infected and were in the 2nd stage. We had felt no symptoms at all in the last 5 weeks. We praise God for His care and protection.
We had been without services since the last week of December. There had been lots of problems in the community around the church. We started back this last Sunday. We told the members that those who felt comfortable in coming to come. We had about 20-25 to come. Things in Manaus are really bad and many people are dying. Several people that we know have died. God, help us to be wise in doing our part and helping others. The real truth is that we depend on the Lord.
Kathy has not been going to the community of Ubim. Since she works with the children, she decided to wait until the situation in the village gets better. The virus had increased there and some people died. The Lord willing, she will start back next week. Kathy had planned on starting a project with the mothers of the kids that come to the kids’ ministry. That’s when the Covid virus broke out there. Pray that things will get better so that they can start this program with the mothers.
One of our new projects that we are doing with a pastor friend is drilling wells in communities where the people have no water. Where we live, there are many communities with that problem. The first one we did was at the church in Ubim. Now we are starting one in a village called Christ King. There are 40 families that live in this village. A pastor friend has a work there and his wife has a kids program she does there also.
We want to thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray for God’s protection and for Him to give us the wisdom we need to do the ministry in the midst of all these difficult times. Thanks for your support. Things would be difficult if we didn’t have your help. We are helping a Venezuelan family that has 5 kids and 2 of them have physical problems.
Thank God for each of you!
Love in our Lord and Savior,
Odali and Kathy Barros
Drill for the well 
Kids in Christ King Community 
Church in Christ King Community
Contact Info:
Odali & Kathy Barros
Iranduba, Amazonas
Brasil, SA
odali_kathy@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
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Ministry Continues Amidst COVID-19
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser have served the Lord as church planters in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, since 1985.
January 1, 2021
Dear Friends,
Last month I mentioned that a new wave of the COVID-19 virus was passing through our area. Well, it certainly did and Charlene and I were caught by it. To God’s praise, we both have fully recovered, but our youth minister is still in the Intensive Care Unit four weeks after contracting the virus. This is that same youth minister, Cledson, that had gone through several trials unrelated to health before. Our church people are praying earnestly for him and have seen much improvement in his condition.
Our Uber driver ministers continue to report many opportunities for sharing the gospel and praying for their customers. There are 5 or 6 members of our church who earn their income as Uber drivers. As a church we try to teach our people that they are all ambassadors for the Lord wherever they may be. These Uber drivers started out just trying to make a living for their families, but each one discovered that the Lord would open up opportunities for them to share God’s love with their customers. Sometimes it’s just an encouraging word to a fellow Christian, but on many occasions, they have been able to fully share the gospel with a customer and have the customer surrender to Christ right there in their car. It has been very encouraging to hear their testimonies. They all meet once a month to share their experiences, pray for one another and discuss strategies for how to better serve the Lord through this medium.
In a few weeks we are going to be hosting our first Missions Training Seminar of the new year. We are praying that the crest of the COVID wave will have passed by then so that our volunteers who have to travel from out of state will be free to come. We will be prepared to host the seminar online, if necessary, but we hope that we can have the trainees actually come and participate in our evangelistic workshops and outreach events. I will keep you posted on how these plans develop.
I am excited about what the Lord has in store for us to do in 2021! We know that the challenges can be even greater than they were last year, but we also know that the Lord will be with us through them and that He will provide the grace, the strength and the resources to accomplish everything that is His will.
We ask that you remember to pray for us. We daily need His guidance and strength to serve Him faithfully.
In Christ’s love,
Bobby and Charlene Wacaser
Contact Info:
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Rua Laudelino Ferreira Lopes, 279
Sobrado 1, Novo Mundo
81050-310 Curitiba, PR. Brasil
Phone: 55-41-99899-2333
bobbymichael_1@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online
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Recovering from Covid-19
December 14, 2020
Dear Brethren,
Greetings from “I don’t even know how to describe this place anymore.” Cruzeiro is well in to its second wave of Covid-19, yet there is all kinds of construction going on, schools are closed (all year), restaurants are open and business seems to be booming.
As many of you already know, the Creiglow family is going through the virus phase. We are not sure how many of us have had it, but it seems to be somewhere between 8 and 10 of the 14 family members. It looks now like Bev may have been the first. Her test was the first to show antibodies. Now Andrew’s 2 oldest have it. I was the only one hospitalized. As it turns out I had the coronavirus and dengue fever at the same time. Recovery has been slow, but steady.
First Baptist was forced to halt services back on March 18th. We started back in September with one service and at only 50% of our normal attendance. It grew gradually in size and number of services per week. Then the second wave hit. We dropped 20%. Now we are back up to where we were before the second wave. The drop, by the way, coincided with our election frenzy here. Lots of big rallies every day for 2 months. This down period was also when I was out of commission.
Bev and I got to go back to church yesterday, December 13th. We had good crowds morning and evening. 624 for the day. I was surprised to see so many visitors. There was a young mom who came back into fellowship after being away for 6 years. There were also 2 professions of faith. Although Dauro and I are not preaching just yet, we were at the doors to dismiss the crowd in the evening service. It is so strange to just have to stand there smiling and speaking to folks, but not knowing if a person wants to shake your hand or get a hug. Many do, but some just walk by with a sheepish smile. Awkward!
Construction at Jordão
Continue to pray for us and for Cruzeiro do Sul. Many friends have left this earth during this year.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
CONTACT INFO
Mike & Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
69980 Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre
Brasil, SA
mdcreig@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
In Isolation with Covid
November 19, 2020
Good afternoon,
Time for me to report to you on some new health issues. 11 days ago I fell ill and had to stop all my work. The suspicion was Covid-19. Here in this part of the world they will not even test until you have 8 days of symptoms. For that reason, I have held off on what was happening. My doctor and a lab technician started caring for me until time for the test. The doctor got me on medication. On Tuesday she had me go to the hospital to run several tests. She kept me for 2 days. The state built a brand new wing on our hospital for Covid patients and treatment. After a cat scan, blood work and the swab test, they discovered that I do have Covid-19, plus dengue fever and an enlarged aorta. Bev was also tested and they discovered that she is positive and has antibodies. A full week before I got sick Bev had just one symptom that did not trigger any suspicion. At the same time my grandson Caleb had all the tell-tale symptoms including loss of smell and taste. Then my daughter Crissy and her husband Dauro also got it. So, we don’t know who got it first or where it came from. Anyway, I am home now. My treatment for the 2 diseases continues. It is challenging. For now, I seem to be recovering. Of course, the rumor mill is cranking out fake news. Bev just got a call from a friend in another city in Brazil who had heard that I am on my last leg in the ICU!
Bev and I are now in total isolation for the next 14 days. We are not allowed out and nobody is allowed in here. We would like for you to pray for our family. I felt like I needed to let you know about all of this. Sorry I had to wait this long, but now you know. Thanks to all of you.
In Christ,
Mike Creiglow
CONTACT INFO
Mike & Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
69980 Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre
Brasil, SA
mdcreig@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Prayer Requests for Furlough
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone and we are now nearly at the end of 2020. Where has the year gone? As I look back, it seems to have flown by. 2020 was such a stressful and challenging year, with the coronavirus. I am sure it was for many of you all in the States as well. God was so faithful, and kept us safe and healthy. This update will share current updates as well as give our plans for our time of furlough.
We praise the Lord that we are all safe and sound on American soil at this time. We are looking forward to our time of furlough and seeing many of you all. This time of coronavirus was challenging to say the least. It seemed the cases were always a concern, and which parts of Kenya there were impacting.
The cases were climbing as the year went on, even in Kitale. We were very vigilant and did our best to take all the safety precautions, such as staying out of town as much as possible, avoiding large crowds, wearing face masks in public, sanitizing whenever in town, etc. We praise the Lord that none in our family contracted the virus and we are praying for those still in Kitale, as well as around the world, for their safety and health.
Please continue to pray for Kenya and the spread of the virus. The government has extended the curfew hours until January, as well as closing all big political gatherings, in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Also, there are issues with children being in school, and an effort to help in that situation. Our prayer is that a vaccine will be developed soon and the fear of the virus would be reduced, as a treatment becomes available.
Please pray for me as I (Nathan) have much to do in the days ahead. I need to work on our family prayer card, getting our mission dvd done, and trying to secure housing in WV. At this time we don’t have housing in WV, so would you please pray with us that God would provide it soon, at a reasonable price? Furlough is always expensive and our prayer is that God would provide good housing for us in WV at an affordable price.
Please pray for my wife Carrie as she continues to homeschool our daughters. My wife loves homeschooling and does a great job at it. Her education is in teaching, so this is exactly what she is trained for. God has blessed me so much having her with me all these years on the mission field.
In regards to the uncertainty in the days ahead with the virus, I am reminded of a famous quote “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.” Amen. Also, a few verses to encourage us: Psalm 112:7 “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” Finally, Psalm 62:7 “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” May we trust Him in these uncertain days, knowing He will be with us, and faithful each step of the way.
Serving in Kenya,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
315 College Street
Youngsville, PA 16371
naterad@yahoo.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Renewing Work Permits & Planning for Furlough
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are entering the last part of 2020. Time really does pass so quickly, and may we be busy serving where the Lord has us. This update will share current prayer requests as well as current updates.
This past month has been very busy. So many things to do. We made a big “to do” list, and you never really realize what a job it is until you start shutting down for furlough. Various insurances to be paid, trying to find someone to stay in our house while we are away, arranging for paying bills here while we are in America, and the list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming and you have to take one thing at a time. We are thankful to have neighbors now so if there are any urgent matters, they can inform and assist us.
We also were working on our work permits that expire next April. We did get the documentation done, and there are just a few minor items to send in soon. We are thankful for the progress that we made on the permits, and ask that you would pray with us that they will be renewed without any issues.
In health news, I (Nathan) had to see a dermatologist recently and she recommended the removal of seven different moles. There is a history of melanoma in the family, so I need to be seen regularly and need to be careful with sun exposure. I did have all seven moles removed and have been able to recover well, for which I am thankful. The sun is strong here in Kenya and you need to take precautions. Thanks for your prayers in regards to not only my health, but the health of the entire family.
We appreciate each of you so much. Thanks so much for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. You are such a blessing.
Contact Info:
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
naterad@yahoo.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Getting Back to Normal
June 22, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hope that all is well with each one of you dear friends and supporters. Praise God we are all well here. Things have been so different with what you can do and what you can’t do. But slowly, things are going back to normal. Almost all the services are back to normal. This week, two of the missions will start back. While we could not have services, we maintained contact with as many as we could through internet, and for those who don’t have internet, we made quick visits. We tried to help as many as we could by giving food and taking fish to various families. Also, some food was donated by a family in the church to help other families in need. We are doing some remodeling at the church at Iranduba to solve some problems. There is a big problem with water there, so we need to build a tank to reserve water. The water only comes once a day and is very weak. At the church at the community of Cacau, we are still working fixing the church building. It was in poor condition when we took over the church.
Ubim 
Cleaning Ubim 
Pedras Vivas 
Sunday School & Snack Area
Kathy went to Ubim today and washed the church building and cut the grass. Everything is ready for next week. Kathy visited around the community and talked to the people from the Indian tribe. She loved seeing all of them and they had fun seeing Kathy. Kathy talked to the leaders there and everything is ok to start next Monday.
For us that have so much freedom, it was kind of hard not to go to church and other places. Hopefully through this we can remember those in others places of the world that can’t do what they want when they want to—especially when it comes to the gospel. Our prayer is that all of us come out of this situation stronger in the Lord!
Since there was not much we could do outside our home, we took advantage and are working on our house doing some remodeling. Things are looking good!
We thank you for your prayers and your support. May God richly bless each one of you. Pray that as the ministries get back into the swing that we can reach more people and that they may see their need for the Lord in their lives.
In Christ,
Odali & Kathy
Contact Info:
Iranduba, Amazonas
Brasil, SA
odali_kathy@hotmail.com
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
