The remote Brazilian village where Marinalva grew up was so undeveloped that no one had telephones in their homes. Marinalva was completely unaccustomed to big-city life, but in 1994 she had to make the difficult journey to São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. Marinalva’s 19-year-old sister Marlene developed cancer in her leg, and she needed treatment that only a major city could provide. Marinalva traveled to the city to be with Marlene. Their father came when he could.
In God’s providence, missionaries Nathan and Dawn Patefield and Penni Bresson-Burckhart learned about Marlene and visited with her and Marinalva. They took them to Good News Baptist Church, which they were establishing with veteran missionaries John and Karen Swedberg. The two sisters were very insecure, but both finally trusted Christ as their Savior.
Sadly, Marlene’s health deteriorated, and the medical team gave up hope for her recovery. Her father wanted her buried near their home, but the cost was prohibitive. Seeing their need, John Swedberg offered to drive them all home. Marlene was extremely frail, but by God’s grace she survived the arduous trip.
The night before he returned home, John held a preaching service. The family and neighbors came to hear the Word. A younger brother was very interested in the Bible, and John gave him a spare copy. He mailed another to a cousin who wanted one too.
Two months after Marlene returned home, the Lord took her to heaven. Looking back, the missionaries see how God used her illness to reach her family in a very remote area. Marinalva is now married, and her husband is the one who received the Bible through the mail. They live in São José do Rio Preto and are active in the Good News Baptist Church, which has a national pastor. Marlene’s little brother, who was learning to read when John visited, lives with them and is faithfully serving the Lord. Eleven family members are now saved.
Even though the family lived in a remote place, God was faithful to bring the gospel to them. He knows no impediment to reaching the lost.