Favela life is cruel; it’s made up of filth and violence, drugs and gangs, shootings and abuse of every kind. Sandra lost her husband to all of the above, a couple weeks ago.
Paulinho was a decent guy. Sandra says he didn’t use drugs. He worked very hard to support her and the five kids. When the 10 year old came home from school with crack in his backpack, Paulinho went to Alexandre, a local trafficker, and told him to leave his son alone. Alexandre replied, “I’ll get you for that.”
So, on a Sunday night Alexandre and two other kids broke into their shack and fired 2 shots into Paulinho’s head. The three year old, Gustavo, tried to catch his dad, as he fell. Biel, the 10 year old, ran to help Gustavo. Alexandre fired again and hit Paulinho’s hand. The children were covered in blood.
Friday, we were there, in Monte Celeste, with sandwiches and juice, and the Word. When Sandra told us her story, we listened and hugged her and prayed with her. She questions God. She is both angry and lost. She has no means to provide for the five children.
We don’t have answers, but God does. Like so many other times here, we can only do the practical. We use our hands and our feet to show His love. So, yesterday Andrew and Stephanie, Mark and I brought her groceries and stayed a while. We can listen. We can hug those children. We can pray with them. Please pray with us for Sandra, left alone with five children: Biel, Clara Eliane, Raíssa, Valesca, and Gustavo.
Pray that Gustavo and Sandra will be able to sleep at night. Pray that Biel will stop feeling guilty that he caused his dad’s death. Pray that they will be safe, with Alexandre still living nearby. Pray that Sandra will be able to find work and move the children to another school.
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