Monique

A really sad story from 2020, but a really cool ending for Milena:

Monique is one of our kids from Living Stones Cajueiro Claro. She is full of energy and love and curiosity, as well as pain over a hard life where she hardly gets to see her mom and often lives with her grandmother.

Monique's uncle was shot and killed the end of January 2020 in his home at Cajueiro Claro. He was once also a child running around Living Stones, laughing and asking to play soccer for just a little longer. His choices took him to sad, lonely places, and we weep with his family and this community that is hurting, and (some) looking for revenge.

We know that God is working to bring about His glory, and delights in helping people find hope in the midst of pain and anger. We pray for His transforming power to shine through this hard time.

Carnaval in Brazil is celebrated around February 22-26th, and is a general time for drinking and drunken activities in small areas like Cajueiro Claro. Living Stones always finds a safe alternative for the children, and Carnaval Camp is an exciting and anticipated event all year long.

This year, we feel the tension in the community after this tragety, and want to make sure to enable as many kids as possible to have somewhere fun and safe to go for Carnaval. It is around $30 to provide a scholarship for one of the kids to go, and we would like to take at least 10 children. Can you help us raise this $300? We want to bring this hope for Monique, and her family.

Milena grew up at the house right across from the church in Cajueiro Claro. When the church was open, she was running over to join, even while wearing diapers. Her family moved to a larger city where her mom could find work, but after 6 years, they have returned.
Milena is almost 11, quick to learn, and trying to figure out growing up. Some scary things happened in her community recently, and it really shook her up. In Cajueiro Claro around Carnaval, everyone either leaves to celebrate in a larger town, or sits around drinking. There are no positive options.
Milena and 20 other kids were able to go to Carnaval camp through some camp scholarships and the hard work of five local leaders who cooked, cleaned, played, and served these kids for 4 days. After camp, for Portuguese class at Living Stones, they wrote about their experience. Milena closed her two page report with, "Thank you for this opportunity." The teacher replied, "Just know this was an opportunity given by God."