Most Precious Ones

How could you not love them?

For many people, children, at best are a nuisance. For too many others, they are like trash –unwanted, disposable, and easy targets of violence and abuse of every kind. Many of the over two hundred children who live in Cidade dos Meninos, a loving Christian community just outside of Campinas, SP, that provides loving homes, school, social activities, church, vocational training and “hope without limits,” were at-risk children rescued from societies’ discard heap.

Several Intercultural Studies students from Mount Vernon Nazarene University were privileged to do their Intercultural Practicum in this environment. It is hard to imagine any ministry closer to the heart of God than caring for and educating children who have been rescued from violence, abandonment, and hopelessness. Helping to prepare meals, or serving at meal time, or playing with the children after class may hardly seem like significant mission activities. At such times, Jesus’ words “whatever you did for the least of these you have done to me,” reminds us that a smile, an English lesson, a romp on the playground, a stern no to misbehavior, a hug, anything done for these precious ones is ministering to Jesus himself.

On Wednesday, May 7, I had the privilege of getting up before 5:30 AM to catch the local bus to get into the city in time to ride the workers’ bus to Cidade dos Meninos with MVNU students, Laura Erskine, Miranda Stull, Deirdre Mc Cord, Chase Penix, and Scott Brubaker. What a day! It was long, it was tiring, it was mostly non-stop busy. When we came back into the city after dark, my heart got left behind. No, the kids didn’t steal it, I gladly gave it to them. You see I got to play with some of the kids. I tasted the meal several of the teen boys had proudly prepared in their cooking class. I took dozens of pictures of precious little ones, they took our pictures with them, and they posed, smiled, and soaked up the love that we gladly shared with them. We didn’t get to sing and dance with them in chapel because it was held on Friday, but we have been told that as young as they are, many of them have already learned to love and worship God.

In a very profound way, Wednesday was a day of worship for me. Throughout the day I often prayed for the children, I thanked God for the men and women who have understood the significance of their gift to God by taking care of, teaching, and serving the children. No missionary calling could ever be any more important or have any longer lasting results than the investment in the lives of hundreds of children who now have “hope without limits.”

You are never too old to accept Jesus into your life!

I spent this weekend with my family here in Brazil working with the SOPAO ministry. Friday night we spent time in fellowship and worship together. They asked me to sing a song, so I began with “All for Love.” Then I sang a song that I wrote called “Proverbs 28:12.” A member of our group has been sick, so on Saturday we decided to visit her and her community. When we arrived, we held a prayer meeting right there in front of her store. Oh how wonderful it was to see the young and old come out to this meeting! As the leader of our group, Vera, began to share the gospel, I began to listen and watch the faces of those around become attentive to what she had to say.

Vera’s husband, Luis, began closing this meeting with a prayer and asked the people who wanted to know Christ to step into the middle of our circle and we would pray with them. Three ladies, all probably over 50 years of age, responded. The joy that was beaming inside them could be seen as we began praying with them and you could see tears filling their eyes as they asked Jesus into their lives. Praise God! To close our time together, Vera asked me to sing so I sang the song that I had written. My song had never been as real to me as it was this past Saturday because the words were just what I was experiencing that very day. Here are the words:

People in the world today are seeking your way.
Lord you see the tears they cry and say,
“Don’t fear my child because I am here with you now.”

Chorus:
When the Godly succeed, everyone is glad.
When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.
When the Godly succeed, love is shown to the world.
And the faith of those will grow.

When we worship you in all that we do;
Showing love to the world everyday.
Friendships are made when we worship you.

Praise God that we can share His word throughout the world. Even though most of these people didn’t understand what I was saying, we were in a time of praising our Heavenly Father and Worshipping Him. Remember that no one is too old to become a Christian. God works through the young and through the old. As the song says, “When the Godly succeed, everyone is glad.”

Leah Barker 26/4/08

ORDEM E PROGRESSO

Andréa Woods

Having been here for two months, the novelty of being in a new country has worn off. That doesn’t mean I don’t still get excited about eating fresh mango and not having to wear a coat when I go outside, but at the same time I’m getting used to things that one can only get accustomed to through time. For example, I don’t expect to walk into a room and be able to speak to someone in English. I’m also familiar now with the social norms of using public transportation, like how far in advance to stand before my stop comes and whether or not to take a seat at all. Beyond these superficial things, the extended amount of time here has helped me to learn that the Brazilian people are fun-loving, hospitable people that truly look to progress as their motto says “Ordem e Progresso.”

Not everything about being here is smooth sailing. But when things are getting tough and it feels like I’m banging my head against the wall trying to speak Portuguese, and it would just be easier to pack up and go home where everyone speaks the same language, God steps in and reminds me that He is with me, loves me and has a plan for me here. God’s obvious faithfulness to me inspires me to serve Him and share His love with those around me, particularly the kids that I work with at ANA (a before and after school program for shanty town children.)

God gave me one of those reminders at the evening service on Easter. I went to church that evening missing my family and being frustrated with my Portuguese progress, but during the praise and worship time I came to the realization that I understood nearly all of the worship songs. I’m still not thrilled with my Portuguese but I was overjoyed that after almost 2 months of being here I could wholeheartedly participate in the worship music. I am so thankful for times like this that are so encouraging. It helps make the hard parts of being here not so bad.

Taking a trip to the beach and Rio de Janeiro wasn’t bad either. Although we missed Miranda terribly, we all had a great time of fun in the sun! We stayed in a couple of apartments in a little tourist town called Arraial do Cabo. We had some good times hanging out on white sandy beaches, making brigadeiro, and seeing “Big Jesus.” It was a great week and I can’t wait to go back to share it with Miranda, but I’m really excited to get back to learning Portuguese and working with the kids at ANA.