How we rejoice when we hear and see young people and teenagers committed to being the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus, telling and making visible the Good News to children growing up in difficult circumstances.
A Lamalma Mega Camp
We saw an example of this when we were able to join Michele and Romeu in Brazil at the mega Lamalma children's camp they organized for over 40 children. It was an amazing event! The kids came from a large slum and had been attending an after-school program run by an evangelical church for the past year. As a "reward" for their faithful attendance, they were now allowed to attend the Lamalma camp for free, along with the after-school staff.
But first some hard work!
What a celebration when their buses arrived. But there had been a lot of ground work. Michele and Romeu had already worked hard: preparing dormitories, outdoor games, Bible studies. But it was so special to see that their teenage children, Igor and Eva, with the help of friends from the church, also were helping wholeheartedly to make this weekend a great success.
Tears of joy
On Sunday afternoon, at the end of the program, as Michele challenged the children to give their lives to the Lord Jesus, the children rushed to the front and Eva and her teenage friends burst into sobs: this was what they had prayed for, while working hard all weekend to help clean, cook, bake, serve, lead the outdoor games, and lead worship in the Bible studies.
A life-changing weekend
As the children crowded around Michele for prayer, the teens saw that the children had gotten the message: God loves them, He is their Father, and they could now come to Him, receive forgiveness, and begin a new life in His Kingdom. What a wonderful end to the weekend, even the after-school supervisors were in tears, they had been praying for this for so long!
Grateful reactions from the mothers
But that was not all, in the following days Michele received many emails from grateful mothers who wrote how their children were changed, came home radiant and immediately told them that they had chosen to follow the Lord Jesus. There were also mothers who wrote how special it was that these camps were free for their children because they were sponsored by other Christians: "We could never afford something like this, my children told me about the good food, the games and the pool, but the most priceless thing was that they now have the Lord Jesus in their lives!
New Young Leaders for Children at Risk
We are also welcoming new courageous young people who are leading new Children at Risk Schools (a three-month training program for missionaries working with children in need) in new places and countries. For example, a CAR school is now underway in Lonavula, India, led by Gabrielle from Brazil, and there are advanced plans by Rajel to start the school in Colombia, where it will be taught in English and Spanish.
New third(!) online module
Meanwhile, Johan and I are busy setting up the third Children at Risk online module, and we have already found a good group of experienced Children at Risk school leaders to help us as online facilitators. Like last time, we will offer the online course in English and Portuguese, and registrations are already pouring in for both groups.
Especially students from the Global South
It is again quite a challenge, but it makes us especially happy when we see that students from "Global South" countries participate very enthusiastically and are very grateful for all the lessons and materials. It is often very difficult for them to travel to another country where the three-month Children at Risk School is taught, often they cannot get visas or there is no money. But with these online courses, which cost only $5 per module, they can still learn a lot and also receive a diploma from the University of the Nations after each module.
Brain Exercise
For ourselves, we find that it is good brain exercise 😊: the classes are held every Monday and Wednesday in English, Tuesday and Thursday in Portuguese. It is also very special to prepare and lead two very different language groups.
More information about the online course and the children's camps in Lamalma
If you are interested in doing this online course starting March 31st, or know someone who would benefit from it, there is more information on this website.
For more information about Romeu and Michele's work with the children's camps in Lamalma, click here.
Prayer
We would like to thank everyone who has been praying for us, it is so special to have such faithful intercessors! Johan and I have recently read a great new book on prayer:
"Praying Like a Monk Living Like a Fool, written by Tyler Staton. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much!
And thanks to all of you who have encouraged us financially or with practical gifts, cards and emails. This is so wonderful! Thank you so much! We pray God's rich blessings upon you!
Heartfelt greetings!
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for the efforts of the teenagers and young adults to reach children with the Gospel.
- Pray for blessings for the Lamalma camps, there are many planned for this year.
- Pray for the children who will come to know God's love for them through these camps. Pray that they will grow in their faith and walk with the Lord Jesus.
- Pray also for their families and the underprivileged neighborhoods where they live.
- Give thanks for the new Children at Risk Schools in India and Colombia and pray that they will train many new missionaries to minister to children in need.
- Pray for blessings for the online courses.
