A knock on the door is so much more than a knock on the door at times!!!

It was about 3pm on a wednesday afternoon, I was in the house alone doing my afternoon chore (the dishes and cleaning the kitchen), the door bell rings. No!! could it be? would it be? Noooo! I spoke on the intercom "Quem é?" (Who's there?) IT was.... it was Erick!

Erick is a street boy we have been working closely with.. over the last months he has shown real signs of a desire for change in his life. As he is 18 years old, he is the age to go to an adult rehab. We visited one with him and then we challenged him. "There is a place for you, but you need to show us you want it. If we just pick you up from the street and take you this doesn't show a real desire. So you must come to our house knock on the door and tell us you want to go." He had promised many times he would come, always 'tomorrow.' But today was today and Erick was at the door!!

Let me tell you a little about the destruction that is his life. Erick has three brothers, two older and one younger. His older two brothers just got out of prison about two months ago. The oldest brother was there because he murdered their father. In March they also lost their mother to cancer in the throat.

Not only has Erick lost both parents, because of the trouble the older brothers entered straight back into when they got out of prison, Ericks oldest brother was shot dead about about a month ago. And his other older brother since leaving prison has spent two more short spells in prison. And even though he is out at the moment he is hiding, afraid for his life as there are gang members from his community searching to kill him. This has also put Ericks life and his younger brothers life at risk. And Marlon, the younger brother (who is someone I asked the kids in Junior Church to pray for in 2010) is still on the streets, takes a lot of drugs, and the lastest news is he too has gone to prison (this is more than likely for stealing and he will stay in prison for about 40 days).

Marlon sleeping on the streets

Erick (black tshirt) and Marlon (red tshirt) went on the first trip to the adventure camp, outside Belo Horizonte 

When I said 'destruction' of a life, I am sure you weren't expecting that!! Erick started to realise this is not the life he wants to live anymore, he not only wants to change his life for himself, but he has a real desire to take care of his younger brother too.

So when I heard his voice on the other end of the intercom, I ... did a little dance!! I was so pleased. He entered the house and s pent the night in our house as we gathered together all the things he needed - clothes, soap, tooth brush etc. We went shopping in town for a few of these things, including searching for a brand new bible. Erick had a smile on his face all day.

Then after lunch the following day, myself, Helen and Paulo Silas another worker in our house took him to the rehab. It is about 50 minutes from our house, so handy enough to visit. We are allowed to visit every other Sunday, and Erick has marked these visits on a calendar that I printed out for him.

praying for Erick just before we left

most of our team with, so pleased with the decision he made

We already made a visit there, and he is doing really well. Seems happy and settled. The staff have called him a 'Blessing.' So that's good news. Please pray for Erick. It's not easy to leave behind your old life, as awful as it was. He doesn't get to see his brothers or his 'friends.' Pray that he makes new friends, and feels 'at home' in the rehab - it is called 'Comunidade El Shaday.' Pray that he really has an encounter with God there because only this can really change a heart, heal the hurt and break the chains of addiction in his life.

Pray also, that we as a team will meet the challenge to continue supporting him in prayer, visits and supplying his needs (monthly offering and basic needs such as hygiene products etc).  Thank you for your continued support in the work I am doing here, I couldn't do it without each of you.