So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8: 36
I have been thinking today about the 12 million slaves that were brought to the Americas between the 17-19th centuries. Most of these Africans had no choice about their slavery. It was cruel and a sad testimony to man's depravity. I am thankful that our country struggled through and overcame such an unjust institution as slavery. Yet as I walk the dirt paths of Dondo I see another kind of slavery that is just as cruel. It is called poverty. Poverty of the mind, poverty of the spirit, poverty of the soul. It manifested itself cruelly this week in Dondo as another baby died from AIDS, robbers shot a motorcyclist near the commercial truck checkpoint we call the "balança," and a woman insisted on having 25% interest from a family who was trying to buy a casket in order to bury their small son.
So many tighten their shackles and ignore the freedom that is calling them. Once again, we come to this country because of slavery, but not to bind but to set free. Project Life and our Dondo Baptist church, the Mafarinha church, and the other church plants offer freedom from spiritual darkness and witchcraft through our redeemer, Jesus Christ. El Shaddai and the preschools offer freedom from ignorance and a hope for the future. The clinic and Tessa Grace nutrition center offer freedom from sickness and an education to remain healthy. The Green Door offers freedom from the rains, mosquitoes and robbers and a safe haven for a family. The Spark program offers young men the freedom from peer pressure and hopelessness and a place to feel encouraged and challenged in their Christian walk.
All of these programs happen because those that have received freedom in Christ, freely give. Together we are taking steps to abolish slavery here in Dondo.
Remember when we used to see how many people we could squish in a VW car? Well, when it is raining in Dondo, we try and see how many we can squish in a mud house. How many people do you think that Caetano is teaching in this picture? (Answer at the bottom of blog.)
Right after I took the picture of Caetano teaching, I turned 90 degrees and took this picture so you can understand why we aren't sitting outside. We would be swimming in this newly formed lake and I expect few would be listening to the lesson! :-)
This road was a river a few minutes prior this picture. Amazing how quickly the water comes and equally how quickly it can disappear.
We have had 45-60 people at our Bible studies this week in the different bairros. This is Mafarinha.
We prayed for this little one in the hospital this week. It takes my breath away when I see a little one suffering so much. We can help so many in the Tessa Grace nutrition program but we lose battles sometimes because AIDS is such a terrible enemy of children.
This is adorable little Ana. I went to check on her mama today in Project Life because I hadn't seen her since I returned two weeks ago. Many people suffer illnesses during the rainy season and this year has brought a lot of rain. The good news is that the rice is looking good in the fields.
When I first met Ana's mama several years ago, she had lost her baby and everything she owned. She had accepted Jesus as her Savior after we met and continued to come to the Bible studies in PL. Now she has three adorable children, and a safe house to live in. How can anyone resist such cute faces?
This is little Emmanuel. He is Maria Verniz's youngest son. I am thankful that God blessed her with this new little one. He will never of course replace her oldest son that died but having little Emmanuel helps remind her that God is indeed "with us." Keep praying for this family as they sort through the logistics of the aftermath of their son's murder. They received word this week of a clue that might help them find their son's killer. Please pray for God's good and perfect guidance in how to respond to all of this.
And pray as we work on the Green Door houses - we are struggling to get sand for the blocks so we have not been able to start a house yet. We have a lead on where we can get sand and are hoping it will arrive today! Thanks for your prayers....
*answer to the number of people in the house...25!
