February 2008

Tell me…  Do you think providing a shower constitutes proclaiming God’s love?

It was a number of years ago.  I was in one of those circumstances too devastating to even take pictures.  Along with our EI Brazil leaders, our Partner Church pastor, and some church members, I visited the “Red Corridor”. 

Think narrow, rural, dirt road with reddish dust exploding around every car that passes, then settling to cover everything close to the road.  Between this dust-caked road and the nearest fenced farm is a small corridor of land – claimed as home by about a dozen landless families.  None of these families has any source of regular income.  The home we visited was typical of the rest; a two-room, mud and stick shack, with black plastic shreds for a roof.  The family we visited was a middle-aged Mom and her two grown sons, both born blind.

When we first arrived, the Mom was outside with one son.  Our arrival scared him into the back room.  We all crowded into the front room to visit with the Mom.  Later, after much coaxing, I was allowed to enter and sit on the bed with the son who had fled there.  It was only then I realized another son was in the room – he was curled in a fetal position under the bed, his regular lifestyle. 

That scene stunned me, left me feeling utterly helpless, and
I've wondered ever since how God’s love could ever penetrate. 

A few days ago, I delivered a final project report to a donor.  Together with some donors in the US, some in Brazil, and the local church, the 18 families who now call the “Red Corridor” home were each provided with clean and accessible water.  Let me quote that report for you:

“Osmar and Arlindo are two men who were born blind. They have lived in Corredor Vermelho [Red Corridor] for 16 years with their mother, who takes care of them. She had to bring water from more than 1 km and obviously showering was not priority one in the family. When Tarcísio [EI Brazil Rep] and the Church worker went in, one of their last visits, after the water system was set up, they had to wait to talk to them, as it was ‘shower time’ for Osmar and Arlindo. She had made a ‘bathroom’ with old blankets, so the family could now take daily showers. Some skin problems the blind men suffered are getting better.“ 

Blessings,

Andrew Atkins
General Director

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