A Passion for the Lord
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
By: The Cain Family
Well, it’s been about six months since our first update as official Moyo missionaries...
We have been in Brazil for over two years now, and it’s been a busy time. In addition to overseeing mission teams, helping with the Child Sponsorship program, devotionals, English classes, and other daily tasks for the children we serve, we are also now responsible for the interns we welcome each year. Doing that entails orientation with the ministry, acclimation to the culture, mentoring them, encouraging their spiritual growth, fostering a greater sense of ministry service, and helping with daily needs such as groceries, appointments, etc.
Personally, things are going pretty well. The boys are progressing along in school. Trevor has taken over their education, and the boys seem to prefer Trevor’s different approach. This frees me up to better prepare for classes and devotions. Mason is helping more with the monthly camps we hold for the kids at Vinde. Initially, he was only working the twice-a-year English camps, but now they’ve asked him to work regular camps as well. He’s been pretty excited about this. Our other son, Tucker, is amazing at Portuguese, and he’s really stepped up as a translator. It’s been amazing to watch him grow. Trevor now leads a weekly Bible study for teen boys. The boys spend time in fellowship (usually intense games of Catan), have dinner, study God’s Word, and even memorize Bible verses.
Everyone looks forward to these Tuesdays.
Ministry-wise, we are growing. We have more kids at each location this year, and we are also working to expand into more cities and build relationships with local businesses.
The ministry also started a Vinde Criar program. In Portuguese, criar means “to create.” It’s a play on words. We wanted something to help the teens after they age out of our program. To create opportunities, and to learn new life and trade skills that will help them as they transition into adulthood. We have local professionals volunteering their time and expertise to make this happen. The teens are learning carpentry, metalwork, business English, finance and budgeting, Christian ethics, and mechanics. Some of the classes are more creative in nature, too; hence the name. They are learning graphic design, communication, marketing, aesthetics, and entrepreneurship. The goal is for the teens to leave Vinde with a godly view of who they are, who Christ is, and skills that will help them succeed in life as adults.
The home life of so many of the kids we serve is heartbreaking, and we are constantly reminded of this as we spend time with them each day. Most of the kids' prayer requests are for their families; for dad to stop drinking and smoking, for the frequent moves they have to make, and for absent parents to return home. There’s so much uncertainty in their lives. It’s a lot for them to process. It can be overwhelming for us at times, but we know we serve a mighty God, and we trust that we are to continue serving and praying for these children. We can’t solve all their problems, but we can point them to Jesus, who can change hearts and families for eternity.
