Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Giving Tuesday is Now!

Today is Giving Tuesday Now. Today is a new global day of giving and unity in addition to the regularly scheduled Giving Tuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Many people around the world are suffering as a result of COVID-19. Those we serve unfortunately do not have the luxury to be out of work. With decreased giving, we have taken measures to save costs on our end but our girls at Bethany and Hadassah still need care and the needs of those we serve haven’t changed either. If you would like to join us to become a monthly sponsor, give a one-time donation, or be a part of our crowdfunding effort, please follow the link below.

GIVE NOW / HELP US RAISE FUNDS!

We decided to move all the Recife functions from our old base, and the cafe, to our new base. It was all hands on deck as we moved, painted, and prepared the old base along with the cafe to be given back to the owners. While COVID-19 was not the deciding factor, it did help the process move along more quickly. We had been discussing our dreams, hopes, vision, and future for the ministry and decided to repurpose some of our major overhead costs, the rent and associated costs of these two buildings. Our team worked together and this time was cherished as we had fun, remembered lost memories, and also found forgotten things.

We are nearing completion on the renovations on the new base as well. We had purchased containers to turn into offices, which will allow us the flexibility for any future moves or restructuring. Shores Cafe will now be a part of the base which allows for flexibility in having available missionaries to take shifts until the time we can have local workers that need employment. Shores will now also have acai (Brazilian ice Cream)! To see the new base come together and to see all the possibilities and dreams that are going to be made possible in Recife is amazing and a real blessing in this time. We know that we are in a time of preparation and we are excited to find out what is coming next!

A year ago, one of the babies from Bethany was adopted. We have been getting a daily report from her new family with pictures and videos of her development and she is doing so well! One of our other little ones just got the news that he will get to live with his still very young grandmother and grow up with his relatives. Another one of our babies had been adopted a little while back by a really sweet couple! It is amazing to see how God is working and how He is using Vila Betania as a place for restoring and creating families!

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, while all the other organizations that normally hand out food and supplies in Hope Park have stopped doing so due to COVID-19, we decided to reach out. We are making sandwiches and premade meals, decorating the boxes with scripture, and then placing them a safe distance away while the people come on Sunday afternoon to get some. Most people on the street have masks but cannot use them properly, often using them for two weeks straight. The people on the street are solely focused on surviving which is why they can't handle another stressor. If you're addicted, you only focus on getting your next drug. All the other things are not important. They also do not have the technology to see everything and worry about it. We love to build relationships with these people like the one in the photo below. He made sure to let us know that he wanted to be known as Power! We might not know anything about his story, but we had the privilege to meet him and he got to meet us and hopefully a lot more about God through that!

There has been an increase in the number of homeless people in our section of Philadelphia. We have not been able to do our Thursday night Family meals as usual because of the COVID restrictions. The people that normally come to these meals have been sharing with us how they miss the interaction. During this time, they came to the realization that they felt different when they came to our house. It was not just for fun. They realize they are missing the presence of God. This has been motivating us to continue investing in those who come and what we are doing. Furthermore, we have been giving out care packages. People who are really desperate stop by our house and ask for help, but it is difficult to find a way to hand out food and be there for people. Our house is now known to be open and available to help people. This has been a blessing, because people know where to find us now!

Over in Fortaleza, the Molotov Team project has been serving the children of the community through jiu-jitsu training, but also through walking alongside family members. A social worker is present during the trainings to develop relationships with the children's parents. As families' needs are identified, we are able to intervene positively in the difficult circumstances that they are facing whether through basic food baskets or other contributions. We counsel both the children and their families and continue to monitor their attendance so we can reach out or visit when children are absent from the trainings. When one of the children is sick, we are able to demonstrate the care of God through our actions in reaching out to them to help meet the needs of not just the child but to the family.

We ask you to keep all of us in your prayers.

Smooth finish of all the construction and moving projects
Our finances to be able to continue to be a light for everyone around us
His grace over Vila Betania and the girls at Hadassah House during this season of staying inside.
For our leaders and all of our missionaries who are constantly trying to balance safety, work, health, future and family.

Please note:

For USA Donors, the CARES ACT provides for Charitable Contribution Deductions.

For those who do not itemize:

$300 Universal Charitable Deduction permits individuals to deduct up to $300 of cash contributions to most charities in 2020 for those who do not itemize their deductions.

For those who do itemize:

Changes to limitations on charitable contribution suspends the limitation on deductions for cash contributions to most charities for individuals who itemize. Increases the limitation on deductions for similar contributions by corporations from 10% to 25% of taxable income. It also increases the limitation on deductions from 15% to 25% for contributions of food inventory.