Life will never be the same.

After experiencing the Compassion Project for a second time, I can’t help but feel that my life will never be the same. It would be impossible for me to undo the personal change and the inspiration that I experienced. This project is one of the most amazing pieces of work I have ever seen. The children in this community have so little. They live on a huge river next to a large port. The river is so large and interrelated with the ocean that it actually works with the tide as well. When it is high tide, the water rises into people’s houses, meaning they can keep little to nothing inside their houses. The wood and tile slates do little to stop flooding each day. The river is also used as a sewer and is ridden with trash and disease. Yet this is where kids play. Today when we arrived, it was low tide so we were able to walk on the beach towards the houses. As we walked we had to watch our step to avoid trash and disposed needles. It broke my heart to see what these children had to face everyday. We are so blessed where we live. We take so much for granted… Our houses, our heat, our electricity, our beds, our furniture, our dinner every night. We have things that we consider rights, that these kids dream about.

You would imagine that because of this, the children would be complacent, beaten down, depressed. Hopeless. But you couldn’t be more wrong. There is an indescribable passion in most of their eyes. There is so much joy. When they laugh and cry out in happiness, there is no way that you cannot join them. They are full of energy, excitement, playfulness, and love.

This community faces two major issues; drug use and prostitution, because of the nearby port. This means that many of the children are born never knowing their fathers… That presents an incredible opportunity then for us, especially the men. The boys cling to you for dear life. If there is one thing I wish I could have had today, it is twelve arms. I carried multiple kids everywhere we went and as we played. The presence of an older male figure who cares for them and openly expresses it, is so powerful to them-and they do not hold back in showing how much it means. Soccer, and swimming, wrestling and laughing-it all combines to form profound friendships and mentoring roles for these kids.

It was particularly encouraging to see the effects it had, had on the children who I met last time I went to the project. They have grown bigger, and so has their maturity. They are growing to be good men, who are the hope for this community. To stop the poverty and bring new life to their friends and family. I was really touched by one of the boys who i had bonded with last year, who had matured so much in the past 365 days. when we were walking back from the beach, i had a boy in each arm and was also carrying my shoes. i was struggling, mostly because it was awkward to hold on to the shoes. this boy came up to me, took my shoes, and carried them to the house for me. when we got there, we went back to the side of the house to wash the dirt of our feet, he filled the cup and poured water on ben, nate, joel, and my feet. it was profound. it was touching. it was heartbreaking. to see this young child, offering us everything he could when it was us that came to serve him.

It was particularly touching for me to see Marlin, a young boy who I met last time who I instantly bonded with. He is a precious kid with an amazing spirit. Feisty and outgoing, smart and athletic. I saw him walk through the gate towards the house and I walked up to him, unsure of whether or not he would remember me. I stuck my hand out and asked in broken Portuguese if he remembered me. He smiled as he took my hand saying “Chris” as I pulled him into a hug.        It was so hard to say goodbye again tonight. We must have hugged each other and said goodbye 14 times, easily. Neither of us wanted the day to end, and neither of us wanted the other to go. It was emotional for me, in the uncertainty of what will happen in the future. I feel a deep connection to Brazil and do not doubt that I will return, but it is hard to let go of a child when they are in such clear danger. But God is in control of these things and all I can do is trust that He will bring us together again. I have already been promised that if I send emails to the leader of the project she will translate them for me and give them to the Marlin and the other boys.

I consider myself incredibly blessed today because not only was I reunited with Marlin, but I made other new deep connections to some of the other children. The best example of this was a boy who I met today named Cosme. He is so small I think a breeze could knock him over. I have never seen a kid so full of life. He was incredibly energetic and full of energy, yet he was clearly smart and really listened when we spoke to him. He had a laugh that shook me to the core, it was so pure and beautiful. There was a great moment when we were on the beach… He walked up to me with his ear-to-ear grin and I picked him up and was holding him in my arms. Naomi walked over and decided that it was cute enough that it warranted a picture. So we posed and it was taken, but then Naomi wanted one with him. She reached out her arms and as I moved to let her go he wrapped his arms around my neck and wouldn’t let go. I leaned away from Naomi and looked at him as he shook his head no. I asked him if he would take the photo with her, for me, and he smiled and nodded. So he hopped down and cuddled up next to her. And promptly after the photo was taken was immediately back on my hip.

Now, to be clear, Naomi was constantly surrounded by children and I cannot emphasize how perfect she was with them. She has a real gift for interacting with people and especially integrating into Brazilian culture. We are lucky to have her here.

I may be ahead of myself, and will certainly need to do some long talks with the leadership at Ascension. But I feel a real calling to the Compassion Project and see a future in a mission trip specifically designed around those kids. A day is not enough time. A week isn’t either. But one step at a time, I suppose.

It honestly is a little frustrating to be forced to leave these kids so quickly. Even in our house in brazil, we have so much. these kids are going back to abusive homes with parents who either can’t or choose not to provide for them. It is really hard to let go and say goodbye until we can return again. It feels like we aren’t doing enough to help them. I wish I could spend years there, or bring them back to Pittsburgh. But I know what we did today made huge impacts in some of their lives and these relationships aren’t going to end soon.

Being with those kids and seeing the joy on their faces has changed me forever. And I couldn’t be happier about it. There is a bittersweet taste to know that we gave these kids so much joy today, but knowing that they still face a lot of hardships ahead.

Love to everyone back in Pittsburgh reading this.

Peace,

Christopher

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