Brazil mission 2007

In the dark world of Brazilian street children, toddlers and teenagers search trash cans for food, steal knives to protect themselves at night, and live in fear of being beaten or even killed by other street children, the public or the police.

20 years later…the following shelters have been set up by a team that are part of YWAM; Youth with a Mission …

• Rescue House - Open House for street kids
• Restoration House - Shelter for 25 boys from the streets
• Recanto House - Shelter for 18 girls from the streets
• Reborn Hope House - Shelter for 10 pregnant girls and/or teenage mothers and their babies from the streets.
• Refuge House - Shelter for 18 children with HIV/AIDS
• Renew House - Family home in the city for 12 kids

Last year, around 100 of my music pupils three primary schools in Cambridge and raised over £2000 to send to the rescue homes by recording a CD and also taking part in a ‘Sponsored Playathon’ in the Grafton shopping centre. But more importantly than the money they raised awareness of what is going on over in Brazil and in many other countries around the world…

The children and shoppers watching, Declan introducing all of the acts!

Many other friends and family contributed to the cause as well, of which I am very grateful!

THEN CAME THE TRIP!… I was privileged to work in two homes, the first two weeks in the rescue home where we went out onto the streets and talked to homeless children, let them know they are valued and there is a safe place.

The rescue home was a place that the children could come, be safe, have a bed to sleep in, wash, eat, play, have someone to talk to.

This was the view from the top of the house in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (3rd largest city after Rio and Sao Paulo)…

Meet the team…people from Brazil, UK, Holland, America etc!The rescue bus…here’s jo and Paulo Sila’s…a man who works full time with the organisation who was once a street child and now helps show kids living on the streets that there’s hope…
Out on the streets….
A YWAM team out with the kids…giving them their time, support and encouragement when others might be afraid of them or not be interested…

They appreciate food, clothing but most of all company...an acknowledgement that they’re there and no more or less human than people with material things.

In the slums…
Below is an example of a house in the slums…on the left is a bathroom being built to help the family living here…
Here’s the kitchen!
This is a girl who lives in the slums. We’re in a house on the edge of the slum that is open for children to come play, get off the streets, out of danger etc.
Below is a lady from Holland who lives and works in the house. She and her husband were buying a house in the slum (behind us in the photo) to set up home and their lives there.

Reaching out to the community and
making life long relationships…livingout their lives as a witness of making the best of what you have, being a good wife and husband rather than abusive, being good parents, keeping good hygiene etc they also plan to use part of the house as a nursery for the very small children that would otherwise be left to their own devices.

Rio…a few hours away by coach…there’s a huge rich / poor divide in Brazil.

The second house I went to was the Refuge house where there were 15 children living there, they all had HIV. All houses rely on donations.

They were from 3 to 18 years old and

the children that were your age where

just like your kids! They loved to play

outside all day, they loved music and

singing and riding their bikes and

climbing trees and flying kites

The money we raised went to the homes and they were able to pay for their bills like water and electricity, buy some food, buy a freezer and so much more!!!

Remember that we know about these children now and even if we can’t go all the way to Brazil to help them there are other ways, like the playathon to raise money or pray for them.

Above is Igor, His mother was a prostitute who contracted HIV and later died, before she died she kept Igor in a room locked up, telling him, he had this ‘terrible disease’ too and that no one would want him.

He’s so happy now in the refuge house with children just like him as his new brothers and sisters.

Thanks again everyone for all of your prayers, finances and encouragement! Will keep you informed!!

Homeless

Born to a mother who was hooked on heroin, living in a squat with an abusive step dad.



never enough food, school is a joke, mum goes into mental health hospital by the time the child is eight.



The child is abused mentally and physically by his step father...never told he is loved, worth anything, never given any hope.



After years of abuse the child, who is now a teenager and hooked on herion himself, takes revenge on his abuser as he tries to abuse for the last time...the knife goes in...although it doesn't kill him, it's enough to get the boy sent to jail for a few years...



By the time he's out, there's no where to go...no one will employ him, no one will gift him shelter...he ends up at a shelter...



this is great..but remember there's years and years of rejection, hopelessness and abuse to work through...



------------------------------------------



Some people have asked me 'Why do you help out at the homeless shelter? People on the streets chose to be there, it's their fault, they're just drunks...etc'



I hope this explains how, many, many, many times it's simply someone who's been born into a very tricky situation like the boy above who literally has no hope.



If you see a homeless person on the street..i'm not even saying you have to give...but acknowledge them, smile at them, give them an encouraging or uplifting word...it may not seem much but it's a case of you're a human, they're a human...equally so, you know?



:)

Where it all began...

where it all began...hmm, i'd say from birth!

I was always known as the 'thinker', the observer...i watched the world as a child, deep in thought, taking things in...don't get me wrong, i had fun (my many cousin's can back me up on that one!). But i believe, even as a young child, where i saw injustic, it would resonate in me and did not sit well.

My childhood was pretty normal, teens slightly crazy with family troubles and me falling head over heals (as they say) for the first time!

Little did i know, God was calling me throughout the years, slowly but surely, just like a gentleman wooing a lady, until i finally reached london, from living in cambridge, and learnt that this man Jesus, who i only knew of as 'son of God', had done some pretty amazing things, taught the best way to live and paid an ultimate price just for me!

My previous knowledge of God was things like memories of my grandmother, who was greek orthodox, directing all of us as children to the statue of Jesus on the crucifix that she had on the wall and we would all kiss the feet of the statue, just as she said. I only knew of God then as someone to be feared and not to know personally.

Over the past few years, i've learnt that Jesus was so much more than that, and that He had given me this heart, that cared for those who didn't have a voice or a chance in life.

At first, it was overwhelming, i wanted to help everywhere! And people would say to me 'Lisa, you can't change the world', and they are right! What i realised a few years on is that i can change someone's world, who in turn could change someone else's world and so on...a bit like that film 'pay it forward'.

I learnt how the smallest things are the most powerful; a smile, a hug, acknowledgement, your time, a listening ear, a word of encouragement.

Words are so powerful, the domino effect of positive words go beyond what we can ever imagine...
Just as important is to know how powerful negative words are and how they can be detrimental to others as ourselves...the effects may not even be seen by the person that speaks them, but guaranteed, there will be an effect.

So when i heard of the sufferings and injustice in and out of the UK i joined a missions school that was part of my church. They taught me valuable lessons in preparing to serve others in our own culture as well as completely different ones! I remember learning that in some countries, smiling at the camera is thought of as rude! And nodding your head means no and shaking your head means yes! lol

The school took me to places in Holland, Malta, London and eventually Brazil last year with a new organisation; YWAM.

This was a complete eye opener for me and confirmation that helping does make a difference, it really does.