News from Gary and Ellen Sweetman June 2026.

Hello Everyone, trust you are keeping well in this season. This is our last newsletter from Ireland. There has been a lot happening, from training, to planning, to visiting churches, to getting a visa story. We would appreciate it if you would take five minutes to read over our last Irish newsletter.

What's been happening

The last couple of months have been very busy. We attended the residential training in Malvern in April as part of our missions training. We were blessed, encouraged, and equipped for the mission field. One highlight was getting insight from different missionaries, past and present.

We have continued to visit churches in Ireland to share our vision for Elim Brazil. Again, thank you to everyone who has welcomed us, prayed with us and for us, and who has supported us.

Visa Story

After Royal Mail sent our documents halfway around the world and to the wrong place, we are somewhat finally on the correct path to getting our paperwork sorted. This won't hold us back from leaving on the 26th of June. It is quicker than we can get this arrangement in Ireland; if not, we can go through the process in Brazil. This can take time, so please pray that this comes together in good time.

Family News

Sophia and Asher are fully aware that we are moving to Brazil, well, Sophia anyway. They have been great as we have been preparing and travelling around Ireland to visit churches. Sophia’s new saying is “We Are Brazil”. We have been encouraging them, explaining things as we go along, and being patient with them as we start to make changes to move.

Ministry Plans

Once we get to Brazil in June, we will be serving in a church in the state of Brasília. We will be placed in an area called Ceilândia do Norte. This is an Elim church and part of the Elim Global Network. We have been asking God to reveal a ministry that is suited to our giftings. After conversations with the team already there and chance meetings in Ireland with people from Brasília, God is putting on our hearts a ministry of intercity work.

Ceilândia Norte is a city that has many social, family, and substance abuse issues, and we believe God is calling us to minister in this area. We have many plans for how we can impact the area with the love of the Gospel of Jesus. This is a planned undertaking. Please join us in prayer as we navigate this calling.

Things Are Starting to Get Real

As we prepared to leave on the 26th of June, things are starting to get very real. We have started to sell our stuff, organising shipping of some personal belongings and cancelling things we will no longer require in Ireland. We also had a leaving service in Markethill Elim. The Realisation of the “last times” is starting to sink in also. That this is the last time we will be in our house, the last time we will see certain people, the last time driving our cars (before we sell them) etc; but also the excitement that there is a lot of firsts to come.

Blog

God has put on our hearts to blog once we get to Brazil. This is for people who wish to follow us in a bigger context than our newsletters. Once we get settled, we will have more information. 

Next Newsletter

Our next newsletter and update will come from Brazil. But we wish to thank everyone who has been part of our journey with us in Ireland. To each person who has sowed into our lives, disciplined us, loved us, and who has played a big part in our lives. From our home church, Monaghan Elim, to our church family of Markethill Elim, thank you, we love you, and we will be praying for you. But this is not goodbye, just two disciples going to expand the harvest of God, which you have all played a part in. Most of which was unseen but is for His glory.

Reflection

These last couple of months have been one of realisation of how big our God is. We have seen support and encouragement come from the least likely place we would have thought. This has shown us there is something special about being in the body of Christ with our brothers and sisters. Once again, thank you to everyone for your generosity.

Prayer Request

• Travels to Brazil and Brasilia, please pray for travelling mercies, especially Sophia and Asher. This will be a big undertaking for them. That we will get to our destinations safe and without issue.
• Please pray for church where we will be placed. That once we start our work, that there will be boldness and wisdom in the work we are about to undertake. Also, safety for where we will be serving

Support

As self-financing volunteers or missionaries, we are required to raise our own support. We thank everyone who has joined us and agreed to partner with us. We appreciate everyone who has generously given so far. Once we go to the field, we would appreciate your prayers in this. One area which we require support is monthly giving. This can be as small as £5 per month. If you wish to give, use the link below.

  Donate Now