On the Streets of Belo Horizonte

On Friday night the Rescue House team went to the streets to sing, talk, play games and hang out with the children and people who live in this area of Belo Horizonte. The Rescue House team has been visiting this area of the city for over 10 years now. This was my first time visiting and I loved talking with the kids in my broken Portuguese and singing in the streets. Please pray that the LOVE of the Lord would flow through our lives during our time on the streets and that God would impact lives of both children and street people in a powerful way.

These two girls are about 15 years old and they both live on the streets. In this photo the girls have their hands drawn to their mouth because they are actually inhaling paint thinner to get high...

Many street children and street people hold a small balled-up piece of material of some type that is drenched in paint thinner. They constantly inhale the paint thinner to stay high. It is so sad to see such young children and teens high on the paint thinner. Please pray for these children.

How precious are these boys... Both of these boys play on the streets at night and they live in a fevela in Belo Horizonte. Pray protection over their lives, that they would not turn to a lifestyle of living on the streets.

Kids on the streets of Belo Horizonte. Some of these kids live on the streets and others live in a nearby fevela (slum) and often come and hang out in this area of the city. Pray that the children still living with their families would not be drawn to the streets through their interaction with the street children.

This week I spent a lot of time playing UNO with several different street children, some teenagers and some younger. The street children LOVE to play this game and have their own special way of playing. By playing games and spending time on the streets, we make relationships with the children and talk with them. My Portuguese is limited, but the kids enjoy hearing me speak English. By visiting the kids and talking to them we can share the LOVE and HOPE of Jesus and let them know how they can get off the streets. Throughout the week, our team also visits some of the families of the children and try to get the children reconnected with their families.

My life in Belo Horizone, Brazil so far...

This is a photo taken from the front courtyard area of the house where I am living. The city of Belo Horizonte is surrounded by beautiful mountains! The streets of the city actually remind me of San Francisco! There are many steep hills and walking around the city is great exercise. After being here a week I am starting to walk places and take the bus by myself. It is so neat because whenever I have a problem or need help with directions or which bus to take, God always provides a person to help me at just the right moment. God truly has been with me every step of the way. I am so thankful!

Here is picture of my room-I am on the top bunk! I share a room with two other staff workers. One girl is from Brazil (Jeanete) and the other one is from Holland (Mariska). They are great and have been so welcoming to me! I am so thankful that the girl from Holland speaks English and the Brazilian girl is very patient with my Portuguese.



This is the place I am taking my Portuguese course at! On Wednesday I started my Portuguese class through a local university here in Belo Horizonte. I will go to class two days a week. In this class there are about 12 people from many different countries. I am very thankful for the opportunity to study in a classroom setting. I know it will help me progress more quickly in my language skills!

This is the Rescue team-minus one guy who is taking the photo! Also the two boys on the right are street boys who just completed a two week trial period in the house. They just moved into the home for boys- Restoration House- this past Tuesday. Please pray for a good transition into their new life there.

On Monday we begin the regular schedule of opening the house to people and children in need, and then we will also go out on the streets every day throughout the week to reach out to children and families living in the slums (in Portuguese- fevelas). We will also be building relationships with many of the street kids too. Through getting to know the street kids, we will see if they would potentially want to come and live in one of the YWAM shelters. The Rescue team literally does what the name of the team is called- we will go to the streets and RESCUE children who are in great need.

I am in Brazil!

I am now in Beo Horizonte, Brazil! I am so thankful!

I am working at the Rescue house and so far my transition here has been good! Currently we have two boys staying at the Rescue House and today they are moving into a permenant home for street boys- called Restoration House. We are about to take them over this afternoon. They have been living here for 2 weeks, as a transition time and to prepare for life at the house. This trial period is a good way to ease them into a new lifestyle. Living on the streets is very different. The boys must know they are expected to behave, help do chores, and participate in bible studies and prayer times. The two boys are a little nervous about going over, but they are excited too.

After we take the boys over I am going to a local univerisity to sign up for a Portuguese class. I will go to this class every Tues. and Thurs. from 4:00-5:30. I am VERY excited about this because I know it will be very helpful in learning the language. I am SO thankful that there are 2 people in the house that I am in living in that speak English. I am not totally lost, thanks to them. They have been so helpful to me!

I will try to write more later... Wanted to post a little update.

FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions...

Where are you going?
Belo Horizonte, Brazil ~ The translation of this city’s name means beautiful horizon. Belo Horizonte is located northwest of Rio de Janeiro and has a population of over three million people. It is the third largest metropolitan area in Brazil and has a high level of urban poverty, with many children and adults living on the streets.

What missions organization are you serving with?
Youth With A Mission, also known as YWAM. It is one of the largest and most respected missions organizations in the world. To learn more about YWAM and the Belo Horizonte YWAM base, visit these sites: www.ywam.org. www.bhcentro.ywambrazil.org

How long will you be in Brazil?
I have a two year commitment to serve on staff with YWAM Belo Horizonte. If the Lord calls me to stay longer, I am very open to it.

What language do they speak in Brazil?
Portuguese ~ The first three months I am in Brazil I will spend half of my day studying Portuguese and the other half of my day serving in some capacity. I am very excited about this special time of language learning. I know it will be very beneficial!

What will you be doing in Brazil?
I will live and work at a ministry called the Rescue House (in Portuguese, Casa Resgate). Several days throughout the week, street children and teens are invited to come to the Rescue House to take showers, eat hot meals, play games, and learn about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

At the Rescue House, the children also undergo a special time of counseling and prayer. The Rescue team makes contact with the child’s family (if the child has a family) and then helps reintegrate the child back into his/her home.

Some children cannot return home due to abusive parents, broken homes, and/or parents addicted to drugs and alcohol. These children are invited to stay at the Rescue House to participate in a two week trial period where they are prepared to enter a (long term) YWAM home to be cared for.

In the city of Belo Horizonte, YWAM reaches out to many children through various shelters and outreach centers. These ministries are changing lives as staff workers love the children with God’s heart and share the healing message of Jesus Christ! I am privileged and excited to become one of those staff workers!

Rescue House

When I first arrive in Brazil, I will be living and working at a ministry of Youth With A Mission called Rescue House. Click on this link to see pictures and read all about it!
www.bhcentro.ywambrazil.org/en/index.php?shelters:rescue_house

I got my visa!

Today, March 5th I finally received my visa!

I can now go to Brazil! Thank you Lord!

This has been such a journey. In February of 2006, the Lord clearly showed me I was to go to Brazil to serve with YWAM. I started the visa process April of 2006 and finally almost a year later I am going to go! I plan to fly out some time in the beginning of April.

Throughout this whole process the Lord continued to tell me to trust Him and to keep moving forward, by faith. There were times I wanted to give up and just stop pursuing going to Brazil, but the dream and the Lord calling me to this could not be denied. There were many problems and disappointments along the way, but the Lord continued to speak, "Don't give up. Perservere. Have faith. I am with you. Dare to believe I am going to do this. Dare to believe my words to you!"

His faithfulness is amazing! Today I finally got to see and hold my passport with the visa stamped inside. It is funny that this little piece of paper has effected my life so much in the past year.

In spite of it all, this delay has been such a gift to me. The Lord has taught me so much and blessed me with many beautiful relationships.

The Lord has been teaching me patience, and has been equipping and preparing me so that I will be complete and lacking nothing... He has confirmed and assured me over and over that this is the way He desires me to walk. This path of missions... of being Jesus to the hurting and sharing His saving truth and love... I have much to learn, but I am willing!

God is SO faithful!

I am so THANKFUL!

Moving Forward; thoughts on my heart

Waiting to go to Brazil has been a test of my faith. Yet, I continue to feel the Lord leading me to move forward.

I see myself as a small child on a long walk with this great man, named Jesus. His legs are long and strong; mine so short and weary. I must walk quickly to keep up with His long stride. I feel so safe next to Him, yet I am becoming tired and my mind is full of many questions. His hand is holding tightly, securely to mine. As my pace begins to slow, Jesus speaks, “Come on Laura, let’s keep walking.” He continues to lead me forward. He speaks His love to me and encourages me to keep going. I pause and cry out to Him, “But Lord, we have been walking for so long now. What is going on? Shouldn’t we be there by now?”

He simply speaks, “Trust Me.”

TRUST
“O’ for grace to trust Him more,” my heart cries…

Suddenly, truths from the Word, flood my mind,

“He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps. I have kept to His ways without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread." ~ Job 23:10-12 ~

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." ~ Prov. 3:5-6 ~

He continues to speak with His loving voice, “Move forward, My child. Do not fear, trust Me. I am with you.”

I listen to His words of life. I respond in obedience. I hold tightly to His hand. I step out, following His lead. With my eyes and heart set on Him alone, I am moving forward…by faith.

Prayer

During this season of waiting, I have really been praying about how I can better prepare for the soon coming season of serving with YWAM in Brazil.

Through my times of prayer, I feel like the Lord really wants me to also have a small core group of people who:
1. Will commit to pray for me on a weekly basis.
2. I can turn to for counsel and encouragement when needed.
3. I can share more personal prayer needs and struggles.

Please pray and ask the Lord if He would want you to be a part of this small group of people. I simply want those who feel purposed by the Holy Spirit to respond to this call. No pressure from me at all, please just ask the Lord. If you would like to be a part of this core group, just let me know and we will go from there! :+)

Please email me at: laurabookout@yahoo.com

Waiting

I am in a waiting season... Waiting for my visa to come through so I can go to Brazil.

Originally I was scheduled to depart September 7th, and that has been postponed until my visa is approved. I am thankful for this extra time at home to rest and prepare, to spend precious time with friends and family, and to work a little more too! I know the Lord is ordering my steps. He is leading the way, and all He asks is that I follow Him.

"All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am." John 12:26 NLT

Lately, I have been feeling like a small child who is following after and calling out to this big man up ahead of me named Jesus.

I cry out to Him, "Hey Jesus, where are you going?"

I run to try to keep up... I am not sure exactly what's going on or even where we are going. Those details really don't matter. All I know is that I want to follow Jesus. I want to be with Him. I want to go where He goes and do what He does. He is my hero. I just have to keep my eyes on Him and keep moving forward, following His leading.

That truly is my desire to follow Him like a child full of faith, adoration, and trust.
O' for grace to trust Him more...

This is a photo taken in the summer of 2000. I went to Brazil for three months with a team of five students from Lee University. While in Brazil we primarily worked in a home for street children called 'City of Refuge'. These girls were all admitted to the home while we were working there. During this trip the Lord placed a desire to work with hurting children in my heart. There is so much need all over the world, but in Brazil alone there are over 17 million children living on the streets.

I love this photo because it shows so much... You can see so much in the faces of these children who have experienced so much at such a young age. And yes, the baby I am holding was rescued from living on the streets too.

These are the kind of children I will get to know, love, care for, and invest in when I go to Brazil.
Their lives are worth so much!

He is a Father to the Fatherless...

Currently I am getting ready for my 15 months in Brazil! There is so much to do before I leave and so many precious people to see and spend time with. I am very excited about this adventure the Lord is leading me in. I am stepping out in faith. I am taking a risk that is very scary at times, but I know He is with me.

Just this afternoon the Lord has been confirming even more that working with street children and orphans is what He desires me to do....

I randomly flipped on the TV today and turned right to a documentary on street children in Peru. As I was watching the documentary, my heart broke as I listened to the stories of the children who sleep on the streets night after night. The documentary also showed interviews of these kids sharing their hopes, dreams, sorrows, and fears. The things they said struck my heart and were hard to listen to. The children in this documentary have experienced much pain and abuse living on the streets.

I was really struck by one 18 year old young man who was interviewed. He has been living on the streets since he was 6 years old and has been through much pain and sorrow as a result of being abandoned by his parents.

During the interview he was asked the question, "If you could say anything to your parents, what would you say?" He simply responded, "I want to see you, and get to know you, and know how you are doing." The pain and loneliness in his eyes was heart breaking. The longing for a mother and a father was so apparent.

Still....at 18 years old. All this young man wants is to know his mother and father. To be with them, to talk with them, to be LOVED by them. In his face you could see such a longing for LOVE and a longing to BELONG to a family.

Imagine your child or yourself as a child. You have no home. No parents. No warm bed to sleep in at night. No appropriate clothing or shoes to cover you. Little food. No protection. No safety. No comfort. No tangible love. Fear crowds around on every side. Life is about survival. That is reality to millions of street children all over the world.

But Jesus comes and HE GIVES....... to these precious ones.
He is a Father to the Fatherless.
He heals their hearts and holds them safely in His arms.
He puts clothes on their bodies.
He puts food in their bellies.
He offers protection and safety from the storm.
He GIVES of Himself and LOVES....

I so humbled and privileged to partner with Jesus... and to be able to GO and LOVE these hurting ones.