Cleide's Big Day

Mia presenting Cleide with a frosting kiss

Cleide jumping on the Bergen's homemade trampoline

Vatapa and Rice, a traditional Brazilian birthday dish that we served

We hosted our first brazilian 15th birthday party. Brin spent most of the day in the kitchen with 3 or 4 brazilian ladies cooking and conversing in broken portuguese. She spent most of today recuperating from the ordeal. Cleide, the birthday girl, was surprised and I think a bit overwhelmed. We were happy to host the party, knowing that her mother would not be able to give her a proper party. I'm glad our girls are still several years from that all important age of 15.

To tell you a little about Cleide.... she lives with her mom, who is on disability. The check from the government is too little for her to live on and often late. Cleide helps watch our two youngest in the mornings (much of what she makes helping us goes to support her and her mom). But more than that she has become part of our family. She is one of the few Brazilians in Altamira who speaks English almost fluently. She has picked up English mainly from being around missionary kids and their families. We know God will use Cleide in the future. She is already learning to play the guitar (in the hopes of playing in the worship band) and she has just recently begun to help with translating. Probably within the next few years she will be helping with teaching English at the English school.

This morning when Cleide arrived at our house she was still beaming. I often see young girls like Cleide that probably have very few people in their lives that show them Godly love. Someday Cleide may have a role in talking to some of those young girls about the love that she has experienced in her life, and pointing them to their loving, heavenly Father.