Maddie has been the one to keep this updated. We wrote one together, but I have yet to write a full blog post about what we've been doing since being here. So here it goes!
Thursday marked 2 weeks of being here, today marks the beginning of the 2 weeks that we have left. Which makes me sad and I'm praying it goes by as slowly as possible!! I think we've already said this, but it feels like we have been here for a long time. This place feels like home. I'm so in love with Brazil, with the girls at Betania and with everyone at Shores of Grace and all of the work they're doing. I've absolutely loved getting to hang out with the Billman's and their kiddos. I think that's why it feels like home, because they feel just like family to me and I have 7 little siblings to play with!
I feel like our blog posts are and will be somewhat repetitive, talking about the girls struggles and praising their improvements and accomplishments and comparing it to the Father's love for us. But it is so true and, for us, it creates this beautiful hands on parallel. It is something we get to see and experience every day that we're here. I guess we knew what we were gonna see, we were "prepared". I guess I just didn't realize how eye opening it would be. I'm experiencing love on such a deeper level. Giving and receiving.
It's not my place to share with you their life stories. But they all have come from a place of verbal, physical and or sexual abuse. From ages 5-15 these girls have all been through something horribly dark and disgusting. Something that no one should ever have to go through. As I look into their lives, my own life and the lives of my sisters who are the same ages, my heart breaks for them. There have been several nights here that I lay in bed praying for them and crying for them. The big sister in me wants to take away all of the hurt and the pain.
Besides being at Betania from day to day, going to street church on Tuesday nights has been really eye opening too. I love that everyone there recognizes the Shores of Grace team! They're not some church group that drops off some food and leaves and then maybe shows up the next week. They are the ones who sit down and color with the kids and paint the nails of the women and girls that are there. The smell of glue is pretty strong. A majority of them sniff it. Some people are so completely high at times that they just sort of look right past you. You can't help but wonder what sort of hurt they have been through that puts them there.
When you sing or pray the words "God, break my heart for what breaks yours. Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me" You better get ready for what it really means. I've only seen and felt a fraction of it here. It's incredible.
One night - a while ago, way before Maddie and I showed up - Nic had a vision and a word from the Lord and He told Nic that the holes in his hands were big enough to swallow all the hurt on these streets. In the vision, Jesus held up his hand and Nic looked through the nail scars and saw doctors, lawyers, dancers, cures for diseases, etc. When we look at people the way Jesus sees them and we change our perspective, we can see so much more beauty around us.
Obviously, the language barrier stinks. I understand what people are saying a little bit better, but I don't know how to reply so trying to find someone to translate every time somebody asks me a question gets a little annoying. I'll learn in time.
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| Kaline, she ran away from the house. Keep her in your prayers. |
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| Painting nails |
So Thursday, I took my camera over to Betania. (I'm trying to get as many non-iPhone photos of them and with them as possible haha!)
A friend of one of the girls that works for Shores came to visit and talk with the girls (I'll have to ask for more info on who she is then I'll update this!) She shared her testimony and from the few words I know and from what someone translated for me, she struggled with drugs and sex. Her father didn't like her and so she sought that attention else where. Then God got a hold of her. Now she's married and she is a ballerina!
After she shared with them, she played a game. She had some encouraging words written on a piece of paper. They each got one, then rolled it up real tiny and stuck it in a balloon. Then they all threw the balloons up in the air and had to keep them off the ground. After a few minuets, they each grabbed one and popped it and read whatever that piece of paper said. Then she taught the girls some stretches and positions and then she danced for them. It was so beautiful. I think it was really good for the girls to meet her and hear what she had to say! It was so cute to see them all dancing around and trying to do some of the stretches.
And I got to show off my ballet skills. I took classes for a few years forever ago and still remembered the basics and I'm still flexible enough to do the stretches haha. I think they were impressed...
- Mallory
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You can also check out the Shores Of Grace website to find out more about the mission here in Recife.
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