Valley of Blessing

DAY CARE CENTRE (April)

If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)

João Marcos started coming to the Valley of Blessing’s Day Care Centre in October 2003, he was only four years old. At the time his parents worked on a small farm, they also had three other children.

João Marcos came to our attention because he was a very quiet child he almost never talked. In the beginning, we thought it was possible that he had hearing difficulties, and because he could not hear well he could not talk. We did some simple tests such as calling him with a whisper or asking him to pass some objects, this he did without difficulties, but he continued to be very withdrawn and passive.

After talking with his mother, we realised that João Marcos had been malnourished as a baby. His mother told us that she had used enriched food, according to medical advice, but thought that her son’s behaviour was normal, as there had already been a similar case in the family. We then realised that besides malnutrition, João Marcos had not received any stimulus to help his development.

Six months after he came to the Day Care Centre, his parents lost their jobs and had to live in two rooms with four children. This was one more difficult situation that this family had to face.

We decided to give closer attention to this family helping them with food and clothing, João Marcos’ sister also started coming to the Day Care Centre.

Today their father is employed and is in a better financial situation, but the most important thing is to see João Marcos playing with his friends, his favourite place in the Day Care Centre is the toy room. This is João Marcos’ last year with us because he is starting school next February.

He has changed into a normal child, when he was with us we did the best we could to make him a happy child, and he is! This story is very similar with that of millions of Brazilian children and families, families who leave their home city in search of a better life and suffer unemployment, hunger, malnutrition etc. We are thankful to God because we could help João Marcos and his family.

In the Day Care Centre we care for 125 (one hundred and twenty five) children and their families. For this we count on the collaboration of various people, we have six teachers, five classroom assistants and two cooks. Daily they work together caring for the children, with the support of volunteers.

We actually care for approximately 550 (five hundred and fifty) children and adolescents in three shelters and two Assisted Liberty Programs.

We want to continue our work, because TO GIVE A CUP OF COLD WATER can be very significant in the lives of these children and adolescents, as well as their families. This can demonstrate that OUR GOD who is rich in mercy is interested in each one of these little ones.

Continue with us! Continue with our children!


Gary Thompson

p/p Pastor Jonathan Santos

posted by gary @ 6:49 pm