Caption: Vale Ouro and PACA outreach spends some time kicking a ball around on a nearby field as a way to connect with the children. [photo provided by Instagram PACA_HS]
by Rafael Meikle (Warrior Post Reporter / São Paulo, Brazil)
The high school students were given the opportunity to participate in “Outreach Day” on Saturday, September 23, 2023, for the purpose of helping local ministries that provide practical help and services to those in need in the city of São Paulo.
These projects were organized by Lucas Ham Swisher (known as Mr. Ham), and all high school students were given the opportunity to sign up as a volunteer for one of these projects. In the weeks leading up to Outreach Day, these volunteer teachers and students were assigned to three specific projects.
One project took PACA students to a ministry called “Vale Ouro” Project which means “Valley Gold Project” in Portuguese. The goal of this ministry is to transform families and children in social vulnerability. Projecto Vale Ouro “aims to reach children, adolescents and young people by offering values through sport and education capable of revealing a path of new possibilities for a better future,” as stated on their website (link here).
There are several pillars that are the focus of their activities, including sports, education, culture, biblical studies, and orientation. By transforming their emotional, physical, spiritual and social lives, the project has many diverse project spaces for engaging the local community. From learning music to cooking and from producing radio transmissions to playing sports.
Sophomore Sean Cho was grateful to participate in this project because he felt that the people at Vale Ouro Project welcomed the PACA volunteers so well.
“When we got here we were so lost,” said Cho. “Vale Ouro embraced us and guided us to help.”
He says he was able to make friends during their visit to the project.
Throughout the day students were able to meet the children and teenagers of the project, as well as the leader known as Samuel. While there, the PACA students helped clean the entire workspace of the location. This was followed by a time to evangelize within the local community through playing soccer, spending time with the kids, and looking for opportunities to share their faith.
That same day, other groups had the opportunity to visit the ministry of “Casa Esperança” and “Novo Amanhecer.” Both these ministries have the focus on changing the lives of those who live in the Brazilian favelas through their testimonies in Christ.
PACA students were able to experience Gods’ work through practical hands-on activities such as cleaning, preparing foods and playing sports.
Many of the leaders were giving out their testimonies to the kids who have a harsh background. Volunteer Middle School teacher, Joel Rast, was impressed by the personal testimonies given by PACA students during the devotional time.
Rast said that listening to Cintia’s testimony “sounded like a movie.”
“I think people were blown away by what God has been doing in that ministry,” said Rast.
“It was absolutely incredible. I was so impressed with the missionaries running the place and the youth helping them.
The students who participated in the project “Casa Esperança,” were given the opportunity to help lead a soccer clinic with youth between the ages of eight to 14. After the soccer games ended, the kids and PACA volunteers returned to the ministry location for a special lunch.
After eating, one of the PACA students, senior Joao Brandao, was given the chance to share his story and how he became a student at PACA. He explained how he too came from a poor background. He told his story to help motivate many of the kids on the mission who might feel hopelessness in their present situation.
For Dr. Cristina Meier, spending time helping the staff at “Casa Esperança” was a beautiful and eye opening experience.
“I was just so impressed with how much these people love these children,” said Meier. “It was my pleasure to be able to help them in a small and tangible way, even if it was only for a few hours.”
