Wednesday, March 3, 2010, Brazil
Dear Prayer Warrior,
CLM ENTRE
RIOS:
I am a day late this week since we
got back from Foz do Iquaçu late and there was no more brain cells awake that
were available to write the Prayer Warrior. So here I go to get you caught up
on our fast moving week. Fran and Nanette´s visit came and went. It was fast,
but it was very precious. Talissa, Lizena, Fran, Nanette, and I left for Foz do
Iquaçu after lunch on Sunday and did the usual spots including Paraguay, the
Bird Park, the gift shops, and the Falls. The weather was great and everything
went very smooth. They left at 3:45 and we headed home. Once again, we praise
the Lord for His protection and provision to bring us home safely. We praise
God for Fran and Nanette´s trip, too.
School seems to be rolling along and
we are trying to move into the routine of things. There are some that haven´t
caught onto the bus schedule yet and have missed the bus, but we trust that
having an extra chore at night will remind them to move a little faster in the
morning. The Imperatriz kids who studied there last year, seem much more secure
this year, both socially and academically. Aline and Francielle, being new
there, still seem overwhelmed with the academic part, but seem to be doing good
socially. They feel accepted and everyone has been very friendly to them. I
was able to secure 2 more scholarships to English classes at the Fisk English
School. Geovane already went last Saturday and we are still trying to determine
who else would be appropriate to send and who would have the time. The schedule
gets more and more complicated with more and more activities. Continue to pray
for all of our students, please.
It is hard to believe that 6 weeks
can be coming to an end, but it is true that Zsuzsa, Viktória´s sister will be
leaving CLM on Saturday. She seems like such a part of CLM and the everyday
routine. For sure the hallways, bathrooms, and kids´ rooms are cleaner and more
orderly. Her magic cream that soothes every scraped knee and bruised arm became
an expected remedy to every cry. Her chocolate treats that she would pop out
just when needed, always brought smiles. Then there were the feet manicures for
the weary. What a servant´s heart Zsuzsa has and what a blessing she has been.
We will miss her so much and hope that she will return someday and bring others
from her family with her. May the Lord bless her trip to São Paulo with
Viktória and then the one back to Hungary.
Today, I took Rita to her first
ballet lesson. She has an amazing knowledge of it already without ever having
taken lessons. I took Hellen along too to see how she would do. At not quite 3
years old, she was definitely the youngest in the class. She did amazingly well
and followed everything the teacher did. She lasted a solid half hour and then
she was done. I want to take her back a couple times to see if she keeps up
with it and progresses. May this be a blessing in both of their
lives.
Yesterday, was Elielton´s 11th
birthday. He came to CLM when he was two years old along with his sisters,
Bernadete (no longer at CLM), Lucilene (14), and Janete (12). They were from
the city of Turvo and from a very deprived and violate home situation. They
literally ran for their lives the night they were removed from the family.
Elielton was especially mal-nutritioned and had a cast on his foot that we
eventually discovered was from a cyst that had been removed. He also had an
incredible case of worms. Without a doubt, if he had survived another couple of
weeks, it would have been a lot. In spite of all that he had gone through in
his short 2 years of life, as he got healthier, he became a very happy little
boy. He is the sunshine spreader of our house. He is friendly and good at
welcoming visitors. He likes to meet new people and he makes it obvious that
people are important to him. Elielton is in the 5th grade which means that he
moved to the other school this year. He is not an outstanding student, but does
his best. Elielton is a natural with animals, especially dogs. They sense that
and will allow him to do anything that needs to be done. I think he is an
upcoming Vet. He has a very sensitive heart and is sensitive to the ways of
God. Please pray for Elielton and the special future that God has for
him.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Nanette and Fran - praise God for
a safe arrival, may God help them with their readjustment back home and their
reflection on their trip, may He heal the swollen ankles and infected bug bites,
may He record all of the memories deeply in their hearts.
2) All the CLM Students - that the
Lord would help each of our students to grow in independence and responsibility
for their studies, that they may have a vision for their futures and the role
their education will play, that the extra curriculum activities would be a
growing experience for them and a fun time, for good grades and good
behavior.
3) Elielton - that his bubbling and
friendly personality would always be used by the Lord to reach out to others
especially those in need, that he will reach his full potential academically,
that he will draw closer to God through reading His Word and seeking His face,
that he will have a bright future.
4) Zsuzsa - God´s blessings on the
last couple days of her stay at CLM, for a fun and memorable trip to São Paulo
with Viktória, for safety on her trip back to Hungary and readjustment to her
life there, for sharing of all of her experiences and her new-found love with a
special family in southern Brazil.
5) Colds - on returning from Foz, I
came back to a houseful of coughs, running noses, fevers, and sore throats.
Viktória and Donei seem to be hit the worse right now, but there are many others
that have this flu to varying degrees. May God be merciful and bring healing
and recuperation to all.
CLM
TURVO:
Damares, our friend from Germany that
spent several weeks at CLM Turvo with Rebeca from Curitiba is back. She came
for another 2 weeks to help out and spend time with those that she has come to
love so much. Pray that the Lord would continue to bless her and teach her
through her experiences.
Manuel was 12 years old on the 17th
of February. What an exciting day for him to celebrate his birthday. He
arrived at CLM Turvo in December of last year along with his older sister,
Adriana. They are orphans and had no one able to care for them. Manuel is
fascinated with his new world and family. He is very affectionate and loving
and needy. He enjoys participating in anything that is happening around him.
He loves to play any sports or games, whether it is playing ball or riding bikes
or swimming, or whatever, he enjoys it all. He is in the 4th grade and is a
very dedicated student, although he is weak because of his delay and a lack of
most of the basics. His smile could warm anyone´s heart. Pray for Manuel that
he will continue to learn and grow academically and spiritually and for
emotional healing.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Damares - that God would continue
to enrich her life through her time at CLM.
2) Manuel - may the Lord continue to
help him to adjust and grow through all that he is learning, for the building of
relationships with the other children and staff, that he may do well in
school making up for what he is lacking, that Jesus would become his Lord and
Savior and his very best friend.
3) Church Plant in Turvo - that the
Lord would open all of the doors necessary for this project to go forward and be
realized, for Pastor Ariel and his wife that they may come for a visit very soon
and be undoubtedly convicted of God´s calling, for the financial support and
help that is needed for their salary and for the building of a house and
church.
4) CLM Family - that the Lord would
help them to grow in love and understanding, in a single heartedness to glorify
and serve God, for God´s blessings in all areas of need.
5) Tainara - the Judge has
determined and the process has begun for her to be released for adoption. May
the Lord choose and prepare a very special family for her with much patience and
energy and understanding of her need for deep inner healing, may it all take
place in God´s timing.
6) Aninha´s brother, Wilson (Didi)
- has atrophy in his legs causing his legs to be permanently crossed. He will
be having surgery to attempt to correct this problem on March 10th. Please pray
for him.
7) Swimming Pool - for a donation
for the installation of the swimming pool that was donated and all else
necessary, including a fence.
8) Andy and Katie - that the Lord
would bless them with the ability and the enjoyment to learn Portuguese, for
their pregnancy, for the birth of a healthy child, for the opportunity to meet
lots of people and use their Portuguese, for discernment as to which Home they
should serve at.
We do appreciate your prayers and
support. This ministry is very demanding, emotionally, physically, and
spiritually. The enemy does not want us to continue on. He does not want
victory in our lives or in our children´s lives. Your prayers are as an umbrella
of protection over us. They are like the lifting up of Moses´arms during the
battle. Please continue with us in fervent prayer.
not giving up the fight,
Mary
