Tuesday, March 9, 2010, Brazil
Dear Prayer Warrior,
CLM ENTRE
RIOS:
I had a real surprise last night.
Yesterday was International Women´s Day. I don´t really know how much it is
celebrated in the United States, but here in Brazil many organizations take the
opportunity to honor certain women. Last week, I got an invitation to go to the
City Council of Guarapuava for such an occasion. I really didn´t know what it
was all about, but figured out that I needed to dress up. Three prominent women
from our community picked me up. I really thought that all 4 of us were going
to receive a little recognition for Women´s Day. When we got to the Courthouse,
one of the women presented me as their "chosen candidate" and I was taken into
another room with another 8 women who were also "chosen". I was trying to put
all the pieces together and figure out what was going on. Lots of pictures were
taken and we were lead to our seats of honor in an assembly of lots of people
and several councilmen and councilwomen. As I looked around, I saw Bethany,
Amanda, Lucilene, and Janete! I couldn´t believe it. When I left, they were
all at home. As I looked in other sections of the room I saw my friend, Ruth
and many others from Entre Rios. I think by then, I had gotten the picture. It
was indeed an honor. People, even officials in Guarapuava, who I didn´t
think even knew our work existed were wishing me well and telling me that the
honor received was well deserved. Afterwards, the entire group from the
colonies went to a reception for me at a place near CLM. It all was heart
warming.
When Matheus arrived at CLM, it was
necessary to have a medical evaluation done. The X-ray showed an enlarged heart
and the blood work revealed slight anemia. We were able to have him seen by the
doctor who works at the Mal-nutrition Center. She said that he does not present
with any other signs of heart distress, such as shortness of breath or
palpitations, but made an urgent referral for him to a cardiologist. He went
today, but the results won´t be back until next month (4/11) - what happened to
the urgency? Matheus is adjusting well and seems happier every day, however, he
is also showing his stubborn and disobedient side. Pray for us that we may have
stern and gentle patience as we teach him what is right and what is wrong. Pray
for any health issues he might have.
The doctor who examined Matheus at
the Mal-nutrition Center commented that most of the children from the
Government Nursery are anemic. That was surprising and disturbing, when in most
cases, diet can easily correct that. It does not seem to be right that infants
and young children continue to be undernourished even once they are removed from
a neglectful and dysfunctional family. I have been praying for direction as to
my responsibility in passing this information on to the right people. Besides
the anemia, Matheus is also very under stimulated for his age. He has been
learning so fast since he came with just the slightest stimulation. Please pray
for God´s leading as to how we can be an instrument in correcting this situation
so that the children sheltered by the government will not be suffering more
neglect causing long term negative effects in their lives.
We are swamped with extra curriculum
activities. Kids are coming and going all the time. It is all good stuff for
them to be involved in - English, German, soccer, theater, ballet, ambiente
awareness, etc., but our work force at home is greatly reduced. It gets harder
and harder to coordinate it all. May God help us to maintain some sense of
order, while the kids benefit from these activities.
We have had several of our children
desire discipleship and are taking their walk with the Lord seriously. We have
talked this week about Job 42:5 which says "I have heard of thee by the hearing
of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee." It is important that we personally
and intimately know God. It is not enough to just know about Him. Geovane,
Janete, Lucilene, Lucas Ramos, Cristiane, Donei, Aline, and Francielle have all
voiced their interest. This is an answer to our long standing prayers. Please
pray for each one of them and for those who will be disciplining
them.
Tomorrow will be Vera´s 28th
birthday. She came to CLM when she was 2 years old. Her mother had abandoned
the family and her father felt incapable of taking care of an infant girl. Her
older brother, David was enough. Neighbors had been taking care of her, but
were not willing to take her with them when they needed to move. Her father had
decided that the best for Vera was for her to be adopted. The Social Worker
told him that that was not necessary, if he was interested in keeping contact
with her. She came to CLM and her father did come to visit at least once a
year. As she got older, she started visiting him. He always believed that she
was better off and would have a better future if she continued at CLM and has
been very grateful for the upbringing she has received. He is very proud of his
daughter. Vera is a dedicated and hard worker in all that she does and never
gives up no matter how rough the going gets. She graduated from High School and
moved to Curitiba to the CLM Plus apartment. She took a vocational course in
Hotel Services. When she had no success in moving into that field, she started
working at MacDonald´s. From there she took the risk to go to a new company
opening in Curitiba. She learned so much and had a great boss that invested in
her. From there she had several other jobs and decided to go to college for
Executive Secretary. It was a struggle, but in January of this year, she
graduated. She is looking for a job right now. She sent 1000 curriculums
out by internet and delivered 20 personally. She has had some interviews and is
waiting for some responses. She has also discovered that she makes a pretty
good salesman and helps one of her roommates sell various products. Vera has
the gift of making lasting friendships and is cherished by many. Pray for this
new phase of her life, for finding a job and for continual emotional and
spiritual growth.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Women´s Day - I thank the Lord
for the recognition of our work and for the testimony that this whole
experience can be to others.
2) Zsuzsa and Viktória - Zsuzsa is
leaving tonight for Hungary and Viktória will be coming back to CLM. Pray for
their safe travels and for Zsuzsa´s readjustment and the opportunity to share
all of her experiences at CLM.
3) Matheus - that any health
problems can be revealed and resolved, for his continual adjustment to CLM, for
obedience and independence, for learning of new skills and concepts, for his
relationships with the other children and staff.
4) Government Nursery - that the
Lord will reveal any action that I should take to improve the situation at the
Government home for infants.
5) Discipleship - that the Lord
would select the right people to disciple our children whether they are from the
church or from CLM, for a consistency and building of a strong relationship, for
spiritual growth and understanding for each of our adolescents, praise God for
His moving in their hearts.
6) Vera - that the Lord would
continue to work a mighty work in her life, that she could find a good job in
her field, praise God for the good relationships she has with her roommates, for
Michele that she would make a decision for Jesus in her life, that God would
bring the right godly man into her life.
7) Diogo - that he would completely
overcome the bedwetting, for growth in confidence and security, for good
choices, for making of good friendships, that he will learn easily and enjoy it,
that God may lead his future.
8) Rita - that her needs can be met,
that she would respect and love and learn to get along with the others, that
ballet will be a therapy for her, for good grades and learning.
9) Lucilene - that the Lord can
emotionally and physically prepare Lucilene for her surgery on April 8th, that
all of the necessary exams will be ready, that the Lord will guide the surgery
and that it will be a complete success.
10) Mike and Mary - that God would
continue to rest them, renew them, direct them, teach them, and prepare them for
their return to CLM, that their permanent visas would be approved and in their
hands soon.
11) Julio (Elisabete´s husband) - is
having a birthday today. Pray for his spiritual growth and understanding, for
God´s blessings over his business, family, and all relationships, that he can
shine for Jesus.
CLM
TURVO:
CLM Turvo has a birthday this week.
Paulo will be 16 on Thursday, March 11th. He came to CLM in September of 2006
with his sister, Suelen. They were being very neglected and heading more and
more to the streets. Paulo has turned into a very handsome and strong young
man, who is very dedicated in all he does. He is a big help and likes to work
hard. As an adolescent, he enjoys music and playing ball and having the
latest. Aninha gets a chuckle when he is playing soccer and yells over to her
to come and join them. He is a good student and is in the 6th grade. Pray for
his spiritual and emotional growth and the future the Lord has for him. Paulo
and Suelen are free for adoption.
Aninha is excited to have received
hearing aids through the government health service. She will be getting used to
them yet, but has decided that the world is really louder than she thought. She
continues to ask for prayers for her brother who will be operating on his legs
tomorrow. Luiz and Aninha are wanting to take a couple´s course (It is a course
that Lobinho and Joanna have already taken). Luiz is also taking an electrical
course. Allan has been called for an interview at a nearby company called
Ibema. He will be taking further tests and hopefully will be called for a job.
We ask for your prayers for Letricia,
especially for her health. Her electro has shown some cerebral irregularities.
Edit was to meet with the doctor today. Her vision is also a major problem for
her.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Paulo - pray for his studies, his
future, his continual growth and development and building of character, for his
spiritual life and salvation.
2) Luiz and Aninha - praise God
for Aninha´s hearing aids and for the continual support for her health
insurance, that they can consistently participate in the couple´s course, for
Luiz´s electrical course and his interest in learning, for strength and renewal
each day, for Aninha´s brother who will have surgery tomorrow.
3) Allan - that he would be able to
get the job at Ibema and grow in maturity and independence, for moving out on
his own, for spiritual growth, for using of his talents, especially
musically.
4) Letricia - for her health issues
that they can be diagnosed and treated, that she can show further growth and
development and learning, for improvement of her vision problems, for God´s
protection over her at all times.
5) Fabio and Edit - that the Lord
would renew their strength and vision of the ministry everyday, that God would
fill them with joy and love, for their continual adjustment and understanding of
what the Lord desires to do in them and through them, for all of their
relationships.
6) Loren and Joan Bunney - they will
be arriving on March 19th and staying until the 27th. May God bless their
preparations for this trip, their travels, and their time at CLM Turvo, for the
renewing and the development of new relationships.
7) Tainara - that the Lord would
select a new mother and father for her who would have the wisdom and patience
needed to guide Tainara in her growth and development and help her with inner
healing.
8) Financial and Physical Needs -
that the Lord would provide for all of the needs of this ministry including more
missionaries.
Good things are happening. God has
plans to prosper and bless CLM and each of our children. What a privilege and
honor to participate in this ministry. Thank you for your
participation.
trusting, help my lack of
trust,
Mary
