November, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thanksgiving!  What does it really mean to us?  Turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course we can't forget the pumpkin and pecan pie.  That is wonderful food and we are glad God has provided that for our pleasures, but that is only the 1% of Thanksgiving Day.  Have you stopped to think how a bunch of bones, meat, and fat can stand, walk, sit and run?  How your brain works and controls your body?  That is only a little of all God's wonders and marvels.  Seeing God work in the smallest things and in the things that are most likely not to work is reason to give thanks to God for His love and mercy.  God is so wonderful that words cannot express what He really is.

God has been great to us.  We have had many difficult moments in our lives and ministry, when we could feel the enemy wanting to destroy the work that God has called us to do.  God didn't promise that we would be free of problems, but He did promise to be there for us and takes us through the valleys up to the plains and mountain tops.  God did keep His promise.  Many people thought we were crazy to raise our children in the middle of those "bad kids".  We were blessed with our biological kids.  They did well in school and were ready to go to college at 16 years of age.  They are all serving God and not rebellious towards God for us working with kids in need.  With the kids from the home, that is a different story.  We have many at the age of 14 and 15 in 1st and 2nd grade.  They had no one in their homes to encourage them to study and the public schools really don't care.  Therefore they are already convinced that they won't be anything in life.  So drugs and prostitution are the options.  Our purpose is to show them that those options are from the devil and that there are other options.  God's options!  First of all He gives us salvation.  Thank God, 90% of the kids have made professions of faith.  Second, even though they come to us without any family values, they can learn and teach their families.  That is why it is so important to us to have a family atmosphere with biblical family values.  Third, show them they can be somebody.  Last year we had the privilege to see one of our boys from the home go to college.  He is 21 years old now.  He came to live with us when he was 13 years old and in 2nd grade.  We worked hard and got him caught up and on track.  If we were excited last year, this year we are really excited and thankful to God that next year we have eight from the home going to college.  In the picture there are four of the eight going to college next year.  Going from left to right, Luiz Antonio - his father was a drunkard who has been saved in the last few years.  Marcia - her mother is a prostitute and her dad a drug addict.  Lillian - her father is dead but was a drunkard and her mother lived on the streets and was also a drunkard.  Alexandre, his mother was killed by his father, who is now in jail.  He was 10 years old when his mother was stabbed to death.  That is just a little of their lives.  Please pray for them.

We are thankful that God called us to do this work and we are inviting you to join us.  You can join us through prayer, support, and visiting us at the home.  We would love to hear from you!  You can contact us at the above address and e-mail.

Love,

Odali, Kathy, Titus, Jonas and Gabriel

New college students.  From left to right:  Luiz, Marcia, Lilian, and Alexandre.