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!!