German missionary Irene Menzel works in Brazilian cities, where life is hard. In one issue of "DMG informiert" ('German Missionary Fellowship Reports'), she writes "Manoel was in jail for drug-related crimes. During one visit, he listened attentively to God's word, and later completed a Bible study correspondence course. Following his release, he was tired and discouraged. One day, youths accused Manoel of having stolen a bicycle. 'If you don't give it back, we'll kill you!' The threat was real. Manoel wanted to go directly to the police to protest his innocence, but that was not as easy as it sounds. A police car soon stopped outside my door, with four armed policemen and the girl whose bicycle was stolen. I tried to convince policemen that they were on the wrong track, without success. They raced off, with me in hot pursuit. Arrests are not exactly gentle here. They had soon almost caught up with Manoel, but he kept running. They shot in the air a few times and continued their chase, but soon gave up. Later, Manoel's wife Railene came, weeping, because the young girl's relatives had threatened her, too. Back in their house, I prayed with her. Manoel had gone into hiding, but we found him and together called on God for help.
Manoel ate lunch at his mother-in-law's house. Suddenly, the house was surrounded, and the police burst in, searching every room. Everyone screamed, his mother-in-law fainted, and Manoel was handcuffed and dragged off to jail. 'Now they will beat him,' said Railene, desperate. We prayed, and a neighbour, a pensioned judge and lawyer, took up Manoel's case. At the identity parade, the young girl became nervous and contradicted herself. Manoel had a good alibi, and was finally released. He had not been beaten. It's definitely worth praying in desperate situations, and trusting God completely."
Source: Irene Menzel, Brazil, in "DMG informiert", the newsletter of the German Missionary Fellowship
