A COLLISION … and Thanksgiving

It happened five years ago …

only two months before Thanksgiving. Renaissance Man and I experienced a collision from which we’ve never really recovered. I pray we never do.
 
We made our first trip to Brazil. The comfortable life of a college administration career we’d been living for 17 years had recently been turned upside down, and we felt God leading us in a different direction … but we were still reeling from the sudden changes. What we thought was a world of increased opportunity and hospitality had turned overnight into one of shock and searching.  COLLISION   What now?
 
In Brazil, we saw poverty beyond anything either of us had seen in Mexico, our closest point of comparison. We heard story after story of children abandoned, abused, trafficked by their own family members. We saw scars from knives and cigarette butts and hot grease on the bodies of teenagers. Smiling teenagers. Smiling?   COLLISION
 
How can that be?  We listened as a job opportunity — ministry opportunity — was laid out before us.
 
After several days of observing the clash of poverty and smiles, we found ourselves standing in agreement … and nervous excitement … with the “still, small voice” leading us away from all that was familiar. We flew back to the U.S. and our comfortable home, our full pantry, our overflowing closets … and left behind the plywood shacks, the hungry faces, the scantily-clad children. Or so we thought.  COLLISION
 
There was something we couldn’t get out of our minds. How is it possible for a child to move so completely from tragic reality to smiles? True, joy-behind-the-eyes smiles. As far back as either of us could remember, Renaissance Man and I had spoken truth: ALL things are possible with God. We still believed that … but how?  HOW had God worked such transformation in the lives of so many once-desperate children? How is it that children once considered “mortally at risk” … some of them now young adults … were actually thriving?
 

I’m certain God could have accomplished that miracle on His own had He wanted to.

But, as is so often the case, He gives people like you and me a chance to share in the accomplishment. Three men who, 21 years ago, went to Brazil to try to do something about the massacre of innocent street children. Would they be successful? Only God knew … but they left their comfortable homes behind and stepped into a world of poverty and evil.  COLLISION
 

An interesting thing happened.

Over time, while enlisting Brazilians to help them, they learned the best way to care for children with such tragic and overwhelming pasts. They learned what worked … and what didn’t. The step of faith taken by three men over two decades ago has evolved into the award-winning orphan care ministry known as Hope Unlimited for Children. Five years ago, my husband and I joined the team when he took on the job as president of the organization.   COLLISION   The world as we knew it changed forever … and I am so very thankful.
 
Today, during this week of Thanksgiving, I am also thankful for something else. It’s something we at Hope have been wanting to do for a long time … and now we can … and so can you.
 

 
Take a look at the Thrive Team logo.  It symbolizes all that we strive to provide for the children of Hope. The arrow points upward, symbolizing growth, improvement, and engaging the future. The arrow also carries the shape of a home, because it is at Hope that many of our children experience family for the first time. The drop of water represents not only the life-sustaining work of Hope, but also the Living Water which brings true transformation.
 

YOU can change the world of a child in mortal need.

 
Not a child who is “just” living in poverty … but a child whose very life is at grave risk unless circumstances change quickly. YOU! YOU can do that … for only $35 per month.

 

Real need. Financial commitment.

COLLISION

 
100% of each Thrive Team sponsorship goes directly to meet the needs of the children at Hope. 100%. I know of no other organization that can claim that. It’s been our goal … and now it’s our commitment to YOU … for the sake of the children.

Join today! You’ll be in good company. Besides yours truly, these bloggers are also supporters of the Thrive Team.  I’ll add their links when their Thrive Team posts publish — and I’ll add yours, too, if you join us!  (Just send me your link.)
 
Celia – High Heeled Life
Heather and Vanessa – At the Picket Fence
Laura – Decor to Adore
 
Please.  Click on the button below to learn more about the Thrive Team. Then join the rest of us and change the world … one child at a time.  COLLISION   How will you respond?

 
On the Thrive Team sign-up page, please type “My Place to Yours” on the comment line. I want to know how many children will receive Hope this holiday season because of the commitment and good hearts of My Place to Yours readers. In advance … on behalf of the children … thank you!

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I  pray you’ll share some of your many blessings with others …

 
If a monthly commitment is more than you can do right now, no problem!  YOU can still change the world for a child. It’s easy!  Click HERE to learn how — for as little as $10 — YOU can unwrap Hope for a child this Christmas.
 
I’ll be linking to:
Spiritual Sundays @ Blogger Spirit
Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Related posts:

Saving Lives At The Picket Fence Happy Thanksgiving – 2011 Greetings from the girls at Hope Unlimited in Brazil … Day 1: Rise and Shine … Let’s Go to Brazil!