Wednesday, September 10, 2008

New lives on the path to restoration!

When you ask a question of God, do you expect a quick answer? Well, with Paulinho studying in Norway - (speaking English already and having settled in well) we began as a team to pray and prepare to receive new boys here on the farm.

We have been using the open house again with groups of kids from the Bus Terminal called 'Parangaba' , and we have been more and more present on the streets . It has been such a blessing to us because the boys here; Paulo, Mardônio, Hemerson and Claudio have really embraced the challenge; their prayers are real, their ideas and insights realistic, and they have seen Paulinho's going as a real victory for all of us!

Then 2 days ago the city's child protection authorities picked up 2 kids on the streets and threatened to put them in a home if the family did not take care of them. Well, the Gran said that they had no way of taking care of them as they are already involved in life and 'crack' on the streets. Their mothers have abondoned them. Edward is 13 and David 11 (not their real names). The gran said that she saw only one hope for these boys and said 'I'm going to take them to that place where Paulo is - if they can't help there's no hope'. They are not brothers, but they are both cousins of our Paulo; more of his family living on the streets.

They arrived here after hitch hiking from the city. We prayed together as a team and felt sure that God had answered our prayers- today is the day that we should receive new boys! God even brought them here! We have begun the process of helping them adjust and they have 1 week to prove that they deserve the opportunity to stay here- we call it our Triagem week. It will be a difficult week for them as they will have to work, study (neither can write or read), wash dishes, pray,worship and learn to respect and accept the love God has to give them through us.

Will you pray for them and for us? Of course our life changes drastically when we bring in new boys- we have to give them 24 hour care until they calm down, and of course we have to keep on with our other tasks.
But one thing we are sure of: Our God is a God of transformation and restoration!

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