I am making final preparations for my trip to Brazil. There are 10 of us from EVC who will be spending 10 days in three cities doing short term mission work. We are looking forward to spending time with our missionary Philip Smith and the organization he founded called Hope Unlimited for Children.
Brazil is a beautiful and wealthy nation but many of its children are begging on the streets. It’s estimated that approximately 20 million children live at or below the poverty level in Brazil. Many choose to live in poverty rather than face abuse from family members. Others live on the streets because they have been abandoned by their parents. Hope’s vision for Brazil was launched in 1991 when thousands of vulnerable street children were being systematically killed by gunmen largely hired by local business leaders. Their purpose for these killings was to eradicate a “public nuisance”— street children. Hope Unlimited is reaching out and saving many of these children. The mission of Hope is to shelter and love these children. They provide education and job skills. But as Philip Smith says, “The greatest thing we provide is the love and grace of Jesus Christ to these kids.” Spiritual transformation is first and foremost to fulfilling the mission of Hope. Last year 31 kids graduated from the four year program and are now productive members of society. Lives that were thought to be a nuisance are now being transformed for the glory of God.
Our team will be serving alongside Hope’s staff in two of their orphanages. We will be doing some re-modeling of dorm rooms, playing games with the children, listening to and praying with the kids and staff and getting a better vision of how God is using Hope Unlimited for His glory. Please be praying for our team while we are away. Here’s how you can pray:
Pray that God will provide His protection over us while we travel.
Pray that all the supplies we are bringing will make it safely through customs.
Pray that God will use us to be a blessing to the staff and children of Hope Unlimited.
Pray that our eyes will be opened to see what God sees and to feel what God feels.
Pray that God will give us opportunities to share His grace and goodness with others.
Pray that Matthew 25:40 will be real to us, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for Me.”
To learn more about Hope Unlimited visit their website at http://www.hopeunlimited.org/
Thanks for praying.
Pastor Tim

# posted by Pastor Tim @ 2:57 PM