Kitchen for the Kids

In the rural town of Cajueiro Claro, many of the families do not have indoor kitchens, regularly running water, or consistent food for their children.

Dream with us again, as we prepare to build a full-size kitchen, a cafeteria, full-sized bathrooms/showers, and in the future, a place for workers to stay.

Click here to donate and learn more!

Computer Classroom Completed

This past summer we dreamed big, about bringing computer to the small, rural community of Cajueiro Claro. That required a lot of cleaning, organizing, construction, and even rewiring (there weren't enough/safe outlets), but we are pleased to announce that Computer classes have started this week!

Our youth room also looks incredible, with great resources!

Special thanks to Shelbyville, for their help, and to the kids from Brookville Road, who gave so generously this summer at VBS to make this happen. 

Update on Mercia

This past September, Mercia (Pastor Flavio's wife) suddenly had horrible abdominal pain and was hospitalized. After many tests (and stress-filled weeks), it was discovered that she needed gallbladder surgery. It was a relief to identify the problem, but then began more issues. The public health system in Brazil is a mess, and after going to various hospitals in various towns, she was told that she couldn't even make an appointment for surgery until 2016!
Unfortunately, her gallstones were growing so quickly that she was in danger of her gallbladder bursting. She immediately had gone on a strict diet, and lost over 25 pounds, but the gall stones still grew. With much praying, she and Flavio began to save for private treatment--something that would cost them thousands of dollars (that they didn't have). At one random (not so random to Jesus!) hospital visit, they ran into an old friend of Flavios who just *happened* to be involved with the surgery process at a different hospital in Recife.

Mercia was immediately seen and tested, confirmed that she needed surgery right away, and put on the fast waiting list. November 30th Mercia had a successful gallbladder surgery, and is now at home, recuperating quickly! She, Pastor Flavio, and their young daughter thank you for your continued prayers and rejoicing with us!

 

Five Years of Cajueiro Claro

November is our celebration of when it all began--Pastor Flavio walking over half an hour each way each day to come minister to the children, and then inviting the families to come for church on the weekend. To start off our month of celebration, with the money raised on Independence Day

Cajueiro Claro was able to buy the paint to make the church look all pretty. This had happened since painting it last year:

And now:

Pastor Flavio and Mercia's daughter Heloise is 10 months old already

Please keep Mercia in your prayers, as she has been having serious issues with her gallbladder. She needs surgery, but the public hospitals will only allow her to schedule it next year. Flavio and Merica are seeking out other options, as she has serious pain if she eats anything fatty, or does anything strenuous. Private hospital surgery would be very expensive. 

Children's Day 2015

We had the largest celebration ever at Cajueiro Claro for Children's day!

It was also Mission's Sunday, so we had a wonderful message from Pastor Assuerio, who is being sent to Africa, where his heart has been for over 20 years. The Kombe was a blessing as always, as we were able to bring children from Belem and Mussurepe to join with us: we even ran out of chairs for people to sit!

After church, and a wonderful lunch for everyone, some of Flavio's friends passed out presents for all of the kids.

The kids loved the trampoline, ball pit, cotton candy, and popcorn, and enjoyed them all afternoon.

A different day, the kids from the International school also came to help Living Stones celebrate Children's day--and had a reading class:

It has certainly been an unforgettable time! 

Independence Day and Worship Teams

Meet the kids from Cajueiro Claro this semester! We are so excited to see the older kids step up and put together a wonderful worship team. God has used the team to lead Paulo to rededicating his life to Jesus. Please pray for him, as God has great things planned.

September 7th was Independence Day in Brazil, and like every year, Living Stones and the Cajueiro Church put together a food tent (Barraca) to raise funds to paint the church. Everyone had a wonderful time, the money was raised, and many people were blessed and shown the love of Jesus. 

Father's Day

Especially in rural areas of Brazil, it is common to see a church full of children and mothers and the only man there being the pastor. Hard lives and often wrong choices have led to high drug and alcoholic rates—especially among the men. Northeast Brazil leads the country in violence, and these children are paying for it.
Father’s Day in Brazil was the second Sunday of August. I remembered why Living Stones never really celebrated Father's Day all the past years while in the middle of our lesson. The angry little face looked at me through eyes of pain:  “I am not making this card!”  He said, “My father doesn't even know me.”

I had made sure our activity was "all appropriate" as we made "superman" cards. I didn't write "dad" on it anywhere: they could make it for their grandfather, uncle, neighbor, pastor ... any superman in their life. Even with all that, it was still difficult.

This was the first Sunday in the history of Cajueiro Claro that we had that same amount of fathers as mothers in church. And before the preaching even started- when it was time to share and say thank you for the week- we already had smiles and tears, that incredible mix of emotions that only something really important can bring out: our fathers.

We celebrated the first Father's Day for Caid and pastor Flávio. We rejoice in Mercia's father coming, and victories over drinking in the lives of multiple fathers. And we cried for the fathers not preset- those passed on, and those who were invited but refused to come.
It is a battle, this celebration of Father's Day.