A Bright Future Ahead Erika and her brother Eduardo live with their parents in a poverty-stricken area of Atibaia, Brazil. They attend Vinde Meninos faithfully each week to learn about God, receive a meal, and further their education. Erika is a dedicated 4th-grade student and loves to learn! She loves seeing her friends and having time to play at Vinde. Recently, Erika has understood more about her need for Christ as a Savior. Although she has been coming to Vinde Meninos fo

Abandoned girl finds a place in God's family. Fifteen minutes from the Village of Eden, there is a dense rainforest with towering trees, monkeys, baboons, birds, and snakes. Huge transfer trucks drive on the highway that runs through it as public transport vans race past. In November 2021, a good Samaritan found a young girl walking alone down the dangerous road. Local authorities were called and discovered that the girl, Swabura, had no one to care for her. Previously, aft

From Weak to Strong Written by Jessica Matthews, Director of Children's Ministries at the Village of Eden "Come here. I want you to meet someone." I followed Dr. Brenda out of one of our church Sunday School rooms, weaving my way between patients. People were sitting everywhere, waiting to be seen at the free medical clinic we were conducting at the Village of Eden. She led me into another room and walked up to a small, frail-looking girl that seemed to be about eight yea

If you know the ministry of the Village of Eden in Uganda at all, then you have heard the names of four incredibly special ladies; Dr. Brenda Kowalske, Jessica Matthews, Claudia Acuña , and Heather Oliver. There are many people who serve with the ministry of Helping Hands, but everyone will agree the heart of our ministry is made up of this special group. Who are these ladies? Where did they come from? What keeps them going as they serve full-time in a remote part of Africa?