Paulo Roberto has been a faithful servant with our ministry to the homeless. He initially joined us as a volunteer on Sundays but now handles the organization of all our volunteers, many of whom he encouraged to join the ministry. Paulo teaches in two public schools here in the greater Recife area and also volunteers one day a week at a shelter for abandoned and at risk children.
Last year Paulo became aware that one of the staff members was struggling with an addiction to crack. The situation became so bad that Artur (the staff member) and his wife lost guardianship of their children. There house was literally empty, they’d sold everything they had to pay for their addiction.
Ironically, Artur and Vanessa’s three boys had to be placed in the same shelter where Artur had formerly worked. But all was not lost. Counseling with Artur and Vanessa, Paulo persuaded them to enter the Christland center for Christian transformation we partner with.
Thank the Lord, though there’s a waiting list to get in we were able to place Vanessa in the women’s shelter and Artur in the men’s and they are both now on the road to recovery. Please keep Artur and Vanessa in your prayers. The path to recovery from any kind of addiction is a long uphill process, and crack is one of the worst.
Paulo with Artur and Vanessa
Vanessa in Bible study at the women’s center
Artur with his brother and uncle at the men’s shelter
Because Christland’s focus is on Christian transformation, not just getting free from chemical dependency, but finding transformation in Christ, we trust that Artur and Vanessa will make it. Your prayers mean more than we can tell you.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support for this ministry to the least and the lost, all those who Jesus came for, all those He wants to take home. To our true Home.