Alternative Sunday Morning
An Alternative Sunday Morning… While the world is immersed in discussions about global events, AI, and social media, there is a reality in the slums of Fortaleza, far removed from media attention.
This is Marc’s story of an experience he had one Sunday, in the community around CBC.
“I drove carefully around safer areas of the slum and the first thing I noticed is that there is no investment in the peripheral areas of the city. People living here come from outside of the city in a desperate search for work and food.
Conditions are as bad now as they were 20 years ago. Trash, sewage, disease, and terrible public services. The children pictured below were returning from church all by themselves.
school in Brazil
A school, falling apart and decrepit, that the children living in this area are obliged to attend. If they don’t, their parents receive no welfare. Public school or private school are the only options in Brazil. I could have just walked in. The gates were broken and wide open, windows were smashed, and the building is falling apart. There is no dignity for children here and little chance of education.
It was not long before I was confronted with poverty at the most intimate level. A half dressed woman with malnourished child staring into my car… the feelings were overwhelming.
This lady told me she was begging because the welfare payment ran out this month. She said that her house was down a small alleyway near Habibs (a fast-food restaurant). She was breastfeeding a hungry toddler and looked exhausted.
Sunday ministry
I invited her to walk to the supermarket so I could buy her some food. She accepted and humbly told me what she wanted. I bought rice, beans, salt, milk powder and a few other items for her. Many of the people in the shop were staring at us.
Of course, her boys found the candy and at first, I said no, but with that face looking up at me I relented (see image below)!
I offered to take her to her home, and that’s when she admitted she was living on the street. How are you going to cook? I asked, and she told me she had a charcoal stove.
I said goodbye and was left wondering about the conditions she was returning to. Her children clinging to her for security and survival. These are the families that CBC is commissioned by God to reach.
This whole experience has refreshed my sense of urgency to help those who have no other means of support.
We have 34 out of 100 new givers in our Dreambuilder 100 campaign. We desperately need another 66 monthly donors to reach these children.
Many thanks for your continued support and prayers for Ruth and I, and the whole team here in Brazil.”
