From the Newsletter

Children are the future - the living stones that build what tomorrow’s foundation will be.  Many children in Northeast Brazil have little or no hope for a future.  They are considered to be “at-risk” as they must live and/or work on the streets begging for enough money just to have an occasional meal.  They cannot attend school because they must beg daily just to survive.  Poverty abounds and the only answers seem to be drugs, crime and prostitution as a way to cope with their immense hopelessness and despair.  Brazilian society considers these children trash, treating them as disposable - depriving them of opportunity, education, and basic necessity.  They are vulnerable and all alone.

But World Renewal Brazil seeks to change all of that.  Our Living Stones Ministry takes literally Jesus’ command to “let the little children come to me,” striving to foster change in the lives of these young kids, ages 6-16, through education and the hope of Jesus Christ.  Living Stones, an extension of our church planting efforts, is a child outreach program that provides the poorest, most at-risk children in the community with education, nutrition, hygiene, character development and most importantly, the love of Jesus.  By focusing on the whole child’s well being - mental, physical, spiritual and emotional - healing and restoration can occur.  The program serves two groups of children each day - a morning group and an afternoon group, with an midday meal provided for all of the children.  Often, this is the only meal the children receive that day. 

The government has looked with favor on our program because it provides an alternative lifestyle to the challenges and hardships the children face every day.  In the last 13 years, the Living Stones Program has served over 700 children in Northeast Brazil and has been an integral catalyst for extensive church growth.  Where Living Stones Programs exist, there is remarkable community transformation - less crime, less drugs, less prostitution.  Our goal is to implement a total of ten Living Stones Programs in ten cities in ten years.  By serving the children with the love of Christ, we will reach their families as well - transforming a culture and a nation.  But we can not do it alone.

We depend on your faithful support and our staff’s faithful efforts.  “Patricia has worked with Living Stones from the very beginning and eventually, she became a full time employee.  She is so passionate about serving children through Living Stones and teaching them about Jesus.  When asked what she would share if she could speak in America, Patricia offered these words,

        ‘It is not just the kids that are here, needy and needing.  It is the whole family.  And even if you don’t help us, do something.  Anything.  God is always showing us something we can do for someone else.  Take the step in front of you, and see where it takes you...But don’t stand still.  We are working with those who are considered and treated as the trash of the world.  The unwanted.  The child that is dirty and strikes his hand in your face and asks for money, making you feel uncomfortable...those everyone else has thrown out - of mind and heart.  It is not about money, it is about action.  Doing what you can where you are.  Do whatever comes to your mind when you ask God honestly, What would you have me do?’” (Winzeler 2010)

Would you prayerfully consider how God may be calling you to take action so that the children the world considers trash can realize their worth in their Creator, Jesus Christ?  If 60 people pledged $30 each month to sponsor a child, it would enable us to start and continue other Living Stones Programs throughout our region - sharing the love of Christ with those who have never heard the good news.  We are grateful for your ongoing prayers and support.

In Christ,

Tele Moraes

World Renewal Brazil

P.S. Your gift of $30, $300, or even $3000 will enable us to reach more at-risk children and their families through our Living Stones Program with the love and hope of Christ.  Thank you for your partnership.

Winzeler, Rachel. Steps to Nowhere. Blurb Inc., 2010.

About Rachel Winzeler

My journey in becoming a missionary hasn’t been traditional. When I was 16, I went on a short term missions trip to Brazil for two weeks and soon after knew that Brazil had a place in my heart and life. Five years later, I stayed with Tele Moraes and his family, missionaries with World Renewal International, for a three month internship. After that, they asked me to return and teach English at an International school they were beginning. Now, after eight years, I have lived in Brazil over three years, going back and forth because a tourist visa only allows a six month a year stay. I have taught English, learned Portuguese, and had experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Since 2008, I have been working with the Living Stones program. This is where my heart is, and my vision is to assist/start 10 Living Stones in 10 towns in 10 years. Living Stones is the outreach and church planting ministry in progress in Northeast Brazil. The mission of Living Stones is two-fold: meeting the needs of the children within the community, while planting/being a part of a growing church plant that is reaching out to the whole family. Living Stones helps L-E-N-D: L: Love, E: Education, N: Nutrition, D: Direction.

Being young and single, I have been able to keep my expenses very low: living with family while in the USA and working to cover costs, and minimal expenses in Brazil (plane ticket/visa costs about $2000 a trip, while food, housing, and other expenses being about $350 a month). While I have never had a problem asking anyone for donations for my kids at Living Stones, asking for myself has always created a hole in my throat. The other problem is that the US dollar is also worth much less than it was in the past—meaning the same expenses cost much more.

It has been a struggle for me to trust God to creatively work together the desires He has given me: for Living Stones, and having a family. Putting down roots and making solid, permanent decisions scares the brave out of me, but I need to have a complete budget that truly has my needs and future in mind. While I do not know my exact plan for the future, I know that Brazil is a permanent part of it. My position/amount of time in Brazil may fluctuate, but wherever I am, I will continue to represent and advocate for the Living Stones program and the children that it serves.

My monthly budget  is $850 a month ($200 Food/Transportation, $150 House/rent, $150 Other expenses/Savings/Emergency, $100 Health insurance, $150 Ministry Expenses ,$100 Taxes). By having these guidelines, I am saving for tomorrow, as well as having more opportunities to give. I am not a traditional missionary—but this is what God has called me to. Thank you for your support throughout all of these changes. If you would like to help support me, you can donate online at http://www.wribrazil.com/rachel.html or contact me at amobrasil99@hotmail.com for other options.

2011 Review

This year Living Stones has gone through many changes. In January the program was put on hold at Paudalho, due to construction and changes. The new Living Stones curriculum needed to be tested and translated into Portuguese, because some ideas just didn’t work in another country and culture.

While putting together this ministry website, updating, and organizing our missions statement, objectives, and general information (www.wribrazil.com/livingstones.html), Rachel was able to begin talking with other churches interested in beginning a Living Stones program, and putting all the information into Portuguese.

A second Living Stones project began last year in Cajueiro Claro. It is a small community of 1000 people, about two miles off the main road, in the middle of nowhere. Rachel began walking there with Flavio (the church planter/pastor/Living Stones worker) a couple times a week, and soon found these children holding a special place in her heart. The rural needs are different and sometimes complex, but it has been a rewarding time in Cajueiro Claro (even with the frogs, bats, lizards, scorpions, and snails that are weekly cleaned out of the classrooms).

Living Stones Paudalho is hoping to reopen in August, but in the meantime, the workers have been able to keep in contact with the kids through home visitation and special activities, like our Easter program. These past months have been a big transition for Rachel, as she has gone from assisting/observing to teaching/running the character and Bible program for Living Stones (in Portuguese).

Rachel will be returning to the United States because her tourist visa has expired. She has been accepted into the post-grad program at FALUB, a university in Brazil, to study educational psychology, and hopes to return with a student visa in August. Please keep her trip in your prayers, as she spends time with family, speaking and sharing about Living Stones, and a unique teaching opportunity in Hong Kong for the month of July.

Traveling

Frank Penna has said goodbye and headed home, and Rachel Winzeler is soon to follow. Cajueiro Claro had a special goodbye party, as Brazilians do so well.

After the Easter party in Paudalho, we were able to do home visits, passing out toys and Mother's day gifts to some of the families.

Please continue to pray for these children and the daily needs that they face, especially during Brazil's rainy season, and the problem with flooding the past couple weeks.

Easter at Living Stones Paudalho

The Living Stones project in Paudalho has been on hold because of construction projects (four new classrooms and two bathrooms--this will triple what we previously had) and redesign, so we have not had contact with many of the children since the end of January, when we had our Christmas party for Jesus.

Since the decision was made to end the connection between Living Stones and PETI (the government program), some of the children have continued to meet under the PETI program. The leaders, Patricia and Cacau, were employed by PETI, and so they were still able to implement the Bible/character program, and be there for the children. But there have been many difficulties and neither Patricia nor Cacau are able to work with the children anymore, and their section of PETI has closed down. It is unknown when it will reopen. All of these factors made it even more important to have a special time with the children for Easter.

For the past three years, Living Stones Paudalho has had an Easter Celebration with fresh grapes, bread, and grape soda in commemoration of the first passover, as well as the meal shared with the disciples. For many of the children, this is the only time they have ever had (or ever get) to eat grapes, as they are a more expensive fruit in Brazil. This year, more than ever, we wanted them to know that they are loved, cared for, and celebrated--by us, and by our heavenly Father.

Cacau was amazing in making sure we had all of the supplies we needed!

A very special thank you to the Feldmans, Dong Hui, and John Winzeler who contributed extra for the children to also receive a goody bag of chocolate to take home

Raissa, Cacau, Rachel, and Gabi (Frank also helped--and did a great job taking pictures for us!)

It had been raining hard all week, but thankfully stopped in time for the children to be able to come. We had everything read by 10am to begin--but no children!

By 10:10, Zilma came.

By 10:40, we had a full house and began. A little late--Brazilian style--but by the time everything started we had about 90 children and mothers. (This is Pastor Celso and Frank)

Pastor Celso told of the first passover: Easter in Portuguese is "Pascoa," which is "Passover," rather than "Easter" when translated literally. The word has its roots in the meaning "Freedom" and "Liberation," and he shared about finding true freedom in Christ.

Rachel, Raissa, and Frank sang songs with the children

And then the fun part--passing out the food

And the goody bags (with the mad rush to find out what was inside them)

This is Frank with one of the families involved in Living Stones (the mother, middle, has eight children, and then the cousins are also involved with the Living Stones program, with their grandmother, on the right). It has been a blessing to see God work and move in this family during the time they have been a part of the program!

Thank you for your prayers and support for this special Easter party!

Happy Easter and God bless!

Cajueiro's Special Day

on April 16, Living Stones Cajueiro Claro had a day of swimming, eating, playing, and enjoying time together at the Alcance (also the International school and Seminary). It was a day the children will never forget--for many of them, the first time they have been able to go to an activity like this.

We played soccer and baskeball

Went swimming

Ate hotdogs and snacks

Played Uno and relaxed

Thank you to everyone who has been giving and praying for the Living Stones program!

A Day at Cajueiro

Frank Penna (http://www.fpenna.blogspot.com/) has been with us for April, and has taken some wonderful pictures of our daily activities in Cajueiro:

First we walk about a mile downhill,

And then about a mile uphill.

And arrive at the church, normally greeted by the kids,

Sometimes greeted by mud (with all the rain we have been getting, some days it is impossible--or nearly--to get there)

We sit under the tree and have devotions in the shade

Flavio reads and shares and then we pray and sing.

And then Rachel does a Bible/character lesson

Each week is a new character quality

Then are activities, such as making jewelry (the guys liked it as much as the girls)

And of course, soccer.

Sometimes we visit the families of the children in this small town

This is Edivaldo, infront of his house made of brick, tin, and tarp.

One day Frank brought snacks and we had a little party.

But the children's favorite part is coming to church on Friday nights.

L to R: Victor, Rachel, Lucas, Ivanilson's brother, Flavio, Paulo, and Ivanilson