Dear Eric and Hannah,
I am pastor Carlos B., from Igreja Betesda de Serviluz, in Fortaleza--Ceara, Brazil at the Projecto Social Esapaco Viva Vida a Vida Child Development Center that assists Gizelle and Estela, your sponsored children.
I write this letter to put into words our gratitude for your sponsorship and assistance to Gizelle and Estela. Your help and your love are essential to our center. Our community, on a very poor periphery of Fortaleza, faces many social challenges in various spheres, such as violence, poverty, drugs and poor education. We still face and I believe that it is one of the most serious of all problems the ineffectiveness of a government mostly blind to these ills.
The Bethesda Church, in partnership with Compassion and motivated by love in Christ Jesus, has as its mission to present the Good News with the goal that all may know Christ's lordship. It is through the actions of our center within this often-overlooked social circle that we do everything possible to change the future of these young people, among them your sponsored children.
As pastor, my vision for the Espaco Viva a Vida center, as well as for our church in this community, is quite positive, despite the difficulties presented. And this vision becomes positive mainly because of the social changes that occur with these young people assisted by our center.
In our social interactions with these children and teenagers and their families, we realize that the children assisted by the center show significant changes in attitude, as well as in social relationships with other young people. This is due to the center, in partnership with Compassion Brazil, addressing the areas of physical, cognitive, social-emotional and spiritual health through various related activities, such as dance, music, and other arts; Christian education classes; sports like swimming; and social and educational lectures, among others.
In addition to this support, there is also a very important spiritual accompaniment to the emotional development of these children and teenagers, giving these young people and their families a new world view. We state this because many of our young people recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives, and many of these families are members of our church. Besides being socially assisted, they are also spiritually assisted, which is even more important.
I want to express the great importance of the sponsor-child relationship. Unfortunately, there are children who do not receive letters. They get sad and sometimes lose motivation to continue the activities. The exchange of letters makes this relationship even more beneficial for the development of these young people. The relationship gives the child possibility of knowing that someone somewhere, even though physically and geographically distant, cares for them and loves them. Love like this can change the world! This contact, this exchange of information, makes a differences to the child. Your effort and help is not and will never be in vain! Your love and affection are not and never will be lost feelings!
The love of Christ, today represented by your help, makes us able to go on. Maybe we do seem like a drop in the bucket, compared to what needs to be done. But the ocean would be less without that one drop! Day after day, we humbly ask God to continue to bless you and your family more and more.
On behalf of our church, community, and center, we send our eternal gratitude. Thank you very much!
The peace of Christ be with you,
Carlos B.
If you would like to sponsor child from Brazil, there are many kids waiting from this project, BR-417. You can view all the waiting children here.
I am also advocating for Gabriel from this project. Gabriel is 10-years-old and his birthday is July 25. He lives with his parents and 3 siblings. Gabriel enjoys soccer, playing with cars and marbles!
If you would like to know more about Gabriel, please email me at berry31(at)gmail.com!
