Prayer Requests

The PETI children (those I got to know through the Paudalho Living Stones, who are continuing through the government program) are doing well, and meeting in the covered space for the feira (open market). The government is reorganizing once again, but the good news is that the new person in charge is someone with much more experience and competence. Patricia and Cacau (two wonderful women who help run the program) are very optimistic about the changes.

Though not connected with the church any longer, these ladies have been asked to continue teaching the children Bible/character, and to train the rest of the government workers how to as well. The good they have been planting at the church for over four years has grown into a wonderful testimony to the community.

Please pray for Patricia and Cacau as they work to implement and train others in the Bible/character program, and that they will find an official meeting place that has a kitchen, so the children can receive lunch.

Alexandria is six months pregnant, and is either 14 or 15 years old. She (and her brother Alexandro) have been living on the streets or in abandoned houses since she was little and her drunk father left for one town, and her prostitute mother moved to another town. She did not want this baby, and tried various self-abortions without success (abortion is illegal in Brazil), but is now (basically) ok with the idea of having the baby, and then giving the baby away to someone. Please pray for Alexandria and this special baby.

The good thing that has come from this situation is that for the first time, Alexandria has a home with the baby's father's family. She looks healthier (and cleaner) than ever before. Please pray for this family as they have these three younger children (in the picture), while the older children are very active in drugs, gangs, and violence. The guy in the picture is not the baby's dad, but his brother, who recently escaped from prison in Recife where he was serving time for drugs.

The last prayer request is for Stephanie. She is nine years old, and has one of the most beautiful smiles ever (her picture was posted previously on this blog). Last Sunday she was playing in the river with a group of her friends (the same age), when a man came and took her. The rest of her friends ran and got Stephanie's mother, who was able to get Stephanie back, but not before he harmed her physically and sexually. She was taken to the hospital, but we have not had any further updates. Please keep the whole situation before the throne of God.