God gave a vision to the leader of the shelter to host a weekend camp for some of the last boys who passed through the house. With the few remaining staff from the restoration house and those from the rescue house we decided to do the camp. We have been blessed this year in YWAM with 8 brazilian students on our DTS (Discipleship training school) who were willing to serve. They hosted all the activities, workships times, ministry times etc and this left the staff with the freedom for 'one-to-ones' with the boys.
Ten boys, 13 and 20 years old, came to the weekend. I can sum up the weekend in one word = AWESOME and one phrase = GOD IS GOOD!!
Each of these boys have their own story of why they needed to come to the Restoration House in the first place, and each them have their own story of where they were before the weekend; some had returned to their families, two live in a rented house together, some live in other shelters in the city and one boy was on the streets.
The joy of everyone arriving together on the Saturday morning was that Christmas Day feeling for me... when the scattered family all come together again for the Christmas season, arriving all smiles, joy... returning home!! It wasn't only me who had this feeling but the boys felt it too. Ramon, one of the boys I picked up in the kombi from a shelter, he kept telling me "drive faster... I can't wait to get back home!"
The weekend was full of games, laughter, chats, video games and of course FOOTBALL!!! It was so nice to watch the boys play together and eat together, just like a big family.
Our focus of the weekend was obviously to minister to the boys, see how they were doing and see what they are struggling with and then encourage them. A lot of the activities were Bible based with encouraging words, testimonies, thoughts etc. Amazing times:
It was a very powerful weekend in general, but Sunday morning, for me, was the best. We had our very own church service in the house, with worship, a testimony and a sermon; led by an ex-boy from the house who is now a missionary with YWAM (and has travelled all over the world). He gave a very powerful sermon to the boys about 'walking in Gods way - his plan for their lives.' After he asked them to come forward if they wanted prayer, all went forward, then he asked them to come further forward if they wanted to make a commitment to seek Gods plan for their lives. They all went forward again. During this time the staff and students of the DTS went around praying for the boys, many many shed tears. God's presence was felt among us and in the lives of these 10 boys. I was so encouraged that despite the circumstances of life, God still calls each of us and has a plan for each life. He has called these 10 boys away from a life on the streets to be his sons, walking in the plans He made for them.
Each of the boys went home back to their lives again on Sunday evening, but I don't believe they went back the same way they came in, remember Moses' face when he met with God; it was shining. The same happened to these boys. The one boy who was on the streets, has not returned to the streets, myself and Helen brought him to a government shelter where one of the other boys is staying. We have already visited him there and although he is staying there is already struggling with the temptations of the world: the biggest for these boys is drugs. Please pray for each and every one of them as this world is not an easy place to live. The devil doesn't want to lose them so he will fight. Pray for strength for each boy. Encouragment that it is possible to succeed with God on their side.
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| From left to right: back row: Alex, Henrique, Hudson, Ramon, Diego, Johnatan From left to right: front row: Igor, Mateus, Jonatas and David |