Subj: CLM Prayer Warrior and Pictures - 12-24-02

Date: 12/26/02 3:43:48 PM Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, December 24, 2002, Brazil

Dear Prayer Warrior,

The month of December never seems to fail to be a month of changes and happenings that come rushing in at CLM. This year is no different. I will try to put the week in order of it's happenings. At the beginning of the week, I was at the beach with the high school graduates. We left on Monday to take Doug, Amanda, and Amy to Curitiba, pick up Elisabete, and go on to the beach. We usually get to the beach in time to take advantage of that first day but no one seemed in a hurry to leave Doug, Amanda, and Amy, so we ended up not getting to the beach until early evening. We caught heavy rain on the way down, but the rest of the time the weather was good. We managed to get burned but enjoyed the beach and the pool. On Wednesday, we headed up to Curitiba to pick up the CLM Plus girls to bring them home for Christmas. The whole family is home now. It is a full house but great to have everyone together. We pray for a wonderful family Christmas celebration.

On Thursday, the Judge's office called and asked us to take Gelson there that afternoon. Viktoria took him and was informed that the Judge had given the order for Gelson to return to his parents. Talk about shock, even for Gelson. The District Attorney that works with the Judge had told me a year and half or so ago that the boys would not be returning to their parents and that I could tell them that. I have reinforced with them that returning to their parents was not an option. The Social Workers have put in their reports that after working with their mother for over 10 years that in their opinion she has no conditions to take care of the boys due to her mental imbalance. The only attempt to try and understand this decision brings us to conclude that the Judge wants Gelson to see what it is really like, so that he might see that that is not really what he wanted. Unfortunately, I think it would be very hard for Gelson to admit that. The news was very hard on João Nelson and Susana. Many a bitter tear was cried by both of them. João Nelson felt that the Judge was very injust to him because he too wants to return home. He is not to have any contact with the mother or with Gelson. We were very concerned that there would be a plunge into deep depression for João Nelson. He took it very hard, but has come back up and seems to be doing well. Please pray for all three of them. There is a possibility of Gelson coming back, but I would only accept him if he really wanted to be here. I put it in God's hands.

God didn't wait long to send another child. On Friday morning, we received little Anderson (we are calling him Andy). Andy is 7 months old and was abandoned by his mother who is an alcoholic. He came to us from the Center for Mal-Nutrition. The interesting part is that he is Donei's brother! As Donei was abandoned, so was Andy. Donei was so puzzled when he found out that Andy was his brother. He said, "But I didn't have a brother!" That's right, when he came here over a year ago, he didn't. Andy is a cute little guy. He is happy, except for the 30% of the time when he is crying. He went to the doctor's yesterday and was diagnosed with anemia, bronchitis, and worms. Resolving those problems, should help reduce the crying. He is a very stiff baby and is not very used to cuddling (quite the opposite of Paulinho). The first three nights, he woke up once during the night and then early morning. Last night, he slept through the night until 6:30 this morning. Please pray for his adjustment and for us to understand his needs. May the love of God penetrate his life and bring peace and joy to his inner being.

On Saturday, Carlos, Dulce, and their two children, Ana Luiza (12) and Anderson (15) arrived from São Paulo. They will be spending about 3 weeks with us. When they arrived everyone was really excited and were all around them greetings them. Juracy had been sitting out front. She got angry that everyone was around her and took off. Not thinking what she was doing or where she was going, she tried to go down a steep bank where there was wet grass. She fell and twisted her ankle. It swelled, got extremely black and blue, and she couldn't walk on it. We treated it with ice and kept her leg raised. By Monday, it had not improved at all so Edit took her to the hospital for an X-ray. She had to take her to Guarapuava and ended up going to three different hospitals until she finally got attended. They had left at 2:00 in the afternoon and got home at 9:30 at night. Juracy is now in a short-leg walking cast having broken her bone just above the ankle in two places. Normally, surgery would be recommended, but in her case, they felt that the cast would best resolve the problem. I hope that Juracy and Aninha are not starting a new style! Please pray for Juracy that she would have complete healing with no remaining difficulties, and that we can manage her well with the cast.

The news report on the college entrance exams: Neusa passed in Psychology and Ivone passed, too. Ivone was taking the exam for Physical Education, but that course was canceled so they offered her her second choice which was Physical Therapy. Actually, Ivone was happy about the change and seemed more excited with Physical Therapy. As an ex-Physical Therapist, I'm excited that one of the kids will be pursueing that profession. Etienne did not pass for the Medicine course, the openings were very limited and the candidates were excessive. She will be taking the Nursing Assistent course with Luciana in Curitiba. Elenize will be taking the entrance exam for the University here in Guarapuava for Art and Education in January. May the Lord continue to lead and open the appropriate doors for each one.

Three birthdays this week besides Jesus'. Natalia was 16 and Vivien was 28 yesterday, December 23rd. Natalia is the second daugther of Luiz and Aninha. She is going into her last year of high school. I haven't heard what she wants to do after high school yet. I guess the only way to describe Natalia is a character. She is loud, funny, and always creating some action wherever she is. If Natalia is around, you know it. If you have ever come to CLM, most likely one person you will remember for sure is Natalia. She takes after her father because all little kids gravitate to her and after her mother, because she likes to cook, actually she prefers baking. She likes music and likes to play the piano. She has a sensitive and tender heart. Pray for Natalia for her spiritual growth and a firm commitment to the Lord, maturity growth, and development of her talents.

Vivien is Rogerio's wife and mother of Joshua (3) and Zachary (1). She is originally from Bahia but now, after 5 years at CLM, can be considered from Paraná. Vivien has a very discerning heart and is a very hard worker. She is organized and efficient. Her main responsibilities include working with the CLM children on their chores, homework, and personal hygiene. She is a great wife, mother, and a great example of a Christian woman dedicated to serving the Lord. Vivien, along with Rogerio, is taking a teacher's course two nights a week in order to help her with her ministry. Pray for her continued spiritual growth and help with her responsibilities - wife, mother, missionary, student.

Izaél will be 14 years old the day after Christmas. He came to CLM when he was 4 years old along with his sister, Ana Maria. They had been living on the streets with their mother who had just come to our community. His sister ended up leaving CLM and returning to the mother. Izaél was very decisive in his decision that he was not returning. He has always shown a tremendous fear of his mother and has not had contact with her during the last 10 years. Izaél will be going into the 7th grade next year. He has tremendous struggles in school because of learning disabilities. It is very difficult for him at times to keep up his motivation and good attitude towards his studies when the results are not very positive. Izaél likes music and especially likes to sing. He is also an artist and likes to draw. He is very good in English and is the official CLM translator when English speaking visitors come. His strongest point is his friendly personality. He is another one that leaves a strong impression on visitors. Pray for Izaél for spiritual growth and help with his studies.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) Izaél - spiritual awakening and growth, help with the discouragement that comes over him with his studies, that his studies might become easier for him, further development of his talents, direction for his future.

2) Vivien - setting of priorities in her life, growth in all areas, further development of her ministry and spiritual growth, physical and emotional refreshing while they are in Curitiba from Friday until Tuesday.

3) Natalia - development of all of her talents, development in maturity and spiritual commitment, direction for her future.

4) Juracy - complete healing of her broken leg, tolerance during the time she is with a cast, strength and patience for those taking care of her.

5) Gelson, João Nelson, Susana - that the Lord would bring Gelson to a rapid evaluation of his situation and where it would be best for him to be, that the Lord would give Joào Nelson and Susana understanding of the un-understandable and consolation.

6) Andy - adjustment to CLM and new food, new people, new routine, physical health, development in all areas, God's determination of his future.

7) CLM Plus - preparations for those entering the CLM Plus program, continued strength, growth, and direction for all of them. There will be 10 young people in the CLM Plus program next year.

8) Elenize - continued growth and stability, God's help with the college entrance exam, opening of the right doors for her future.

9) Joanna and Lobinho - adjustment to their new living situation, financial help, continued spiritual growth and in their relationship.

10) Carlos, Dulce, and family - God's blessings on their time at CLM, good health and protection.

11) Donei - is officially freed for adoption. We ask that God would place him in the family of His choice and in His timing.

12) Jacqueline (Rogerio's sister that has been at CLM for a year) - She is leaving on Friday to return to Bahia. We ask for travel safety and continued growth and direction in her life.

13) Danielle (Alex's sister) - She will be staying with us for about a month. That the Lord may bless her time at CLM giving spiritual growth and vision.

14) CLM Christmas celebration - that the Spirit of Jesus' birth may be in all of our hearts radiating humbleness, love, and peace.

We thank you for your powerful ministry in prayer for CLM and desire that God would continue to be mightily present with you through the Christmas season and in the coming year. God bless you.

Jesus is born,

Mary