Mission Focus | Brazil
Missionaries | Don & Maria Friesen
Don and Maria Friesen are International Mission Board missionaries to the “M people” in the eastern Amazon region of South America, where they lived more than a decade on a floating house in order to reach an Indigenous tribe along the rivers.
Through the Friesens’ outreach efforts to meet spiritual as well as physical needs, God has opened doors for Don and Maria and multiple teams of churches and individuals to gain access to the M. people. The Friesens, with the help of volunteer teams, have been able to drill wells for clean drinking water. Providing clean water as well as medical and dental care has opened doors to build relationships with the local chiefs.
5 Fun Facts about the Special Workers
Don and Maria Friesen have a boat nicknamed “Lottie” because the boat was purchased with funds from the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
The M people speak Portuguese, so the Friesens learned Portuguese to communicate with them.
The Friesens knew they were accepted by the M people when a woman sniffed their necks. M people know their family by smell.
When invited to eat with the M people, the Friesens may be served fried ants or firefly larvae. They report they prefer the larvae.
The Friesens miss being near their two grown daughters and grandchildren who live in the United States.
Prayer Requests
Pray that church members of the church the Friesens lead would grow into leadership roles within the church.
Pray that God’s Word would overcome the strong cultural ties that keep the M people from following Jesus.
Pray for the Friesens as they miss their grandchildren and that they would have strong long-distance relationships with them.
Pray for safe travel on the Amazon River.
Pray that a nearby group designated the J people would be open to hearing about Jesus and for church members who travel to their villages to tell Bible stories.
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