aVidaNova Blog

The last several months have been a difficult time of waiting for us here in the States. We submitted our paperwork to the Brazilian consulate back in March and have been awaiting the approval of our social work volunteer visas. We have had no definite word as to the status of our application so we have had to restructure the way we are carrying out the work of aVidaNova.

We have stayed in touch with our partners in Brazil. They continue to effectively care for the girls who have been rescued and we received word today, July 6th, that three other girls have been rescued from complete abandonment and destitution.  They are safe and lovingly cared for by their new family at the aVidaNova Vila. Their names are Leticia (4 yrs. old), Carol (7 yrs. old), and Fernanda (11 yrs. old).

Rescued!

We know there are reasons for the delay of our visas. Although we don’t know what those reasons are, one thing is certain. As we wait, God doesn’t. He knows the names of the girls who need aVidaNova, who need to be rescued.

Through our partners in Brazil and here in the States, God continues to fulfill His work of saving these precious young lives.

By the way, Maria Luiza, Talita, and Cristiane were baptized recently by pastor Gilvan. He said, “It was a very emotional moment for me. As I baptized them, I gave much thanks to God for these lives rescued for the Lord.”

Thank you for your support and prayers,
Curtis and Denise

Our “quick” trip to the US to apply for a social work volunteer visa through the Brazilian consulate has taken much longer than we anticipated. We do believe we are now on a final countdown and should return to Conquista in a couple of weeks.

Our time in the US has been productive for aVidaNova with new partners and supporters coming on board. We have taken care of some important business related to aVidaNova’s structure and work. Appreciation for our Brazilian partners is even greater now as they have taken care of matters in Brazil during our absence.

Bottom line is the rescue of young Brazilian girls from the tragedy of human trafficking. We keep learning there are many things that need to be done in order for such rescues to occur. We appreciate the time we have had to work out some of those needs and are ready to get back and keep the good work of aVidaNova moving forward. Your support and prayers, which we greatly appreciate, are crucial to the successful efforts of building and staffing family-style homes for the precious girls being rescued.

You are changing lives forever!

Blessings,
Curtis & Denise

New year, new partners, new work, new lives…2010 is fully underway for aVidaNova!

The Vila in Conquista is expanding with the second house 80% complete. The community kitchen and dining hall are up and running. The new playground is in full swing. And, most importantly, two new girls are being reached and rescued!

Our first volunteer team spent the first week in January helping with three major projects. They worked diligently and ended up accomplishing five major projects which moved the construction work ahead by months. They also had a tremendous impact in the girls’ lives.

Talita & CrossBridge volunteer

Maria Luiza could barely get the words out before tears starting flowing as she thanked the CrossBridge volunteer team for coming all the way from the U.S. to help build the Vila. We join Maria Luiza and the other girls in saying, “Thank you very much, CrossBridge team, for the wonderful work you did and for the long-lasting impact you will have in Conquista!”

We, Curtis and Denise, have been stateside for the last month and a half working on documentation, fund-raising, and other official matters in order to ensure aVidaNova’s work in Brazil keeps going for years. We have been blessed with new aVidaNova partners and an ever increasing interest in the work. We are hoping to return to Conquista within the next few weeks.

As always, we are extremely thankful for all of you who support aVidaNova through prayer and giving. You are a vital part of this crucial work of rescuing young Brazilian girls from the extreme at-risk conditions of human trafficking, exploitation, abandonment, and abuse. Our goal is to rescue girls and provide the loving environment where they came become all God created them to be.

Many blessings,

Curtis & Denise Richardson

www.avidanova.com

The words found on the Brazilian flag read, “Ordem e Progesso” (Order and Progress).  The arrival of the CrossBridge volunteer mission team is “just what the doctor ordered” and much progress has been made in the few days they have worked at the aVidaNova vila.

The second house has been roofed, the first house has been thoroughly cleaned on the inside and painted, the backyard playground has been cleared, leveled, and landscaped. All of this done is just two days! Not to mention how much the aVidaNova girls are loving the extra attention they are getting from their new “tias” (aunts) and “tios” (uncles).

There are still two more days of work remaining and the plans are to install the windows in the community kitchen, pour the floor in the second house, paint the outside of the first house, build the playground’s jungle gym, and spend more time with the girls.

aVidaNova is preparing and providing safe family-style homes for young Brazilian girls who have been rescued from extreme at-risk conditions (www.avidanova.com). Thanks to the CrossBridge team, more rescued girls will soon have a safe and loving home.

“I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – Jesus

We thank all of you who partner with aVidaNova through your prayers, giving, and volunteer service. You are definitely changing the world for good.

Curtis and Denise

www.avidanova.com

School’s out and the girls enjoyed an outdoor pool party on December 15th which seems quite unseasonal for those of us who are accustomed to the traditional winter wonderland around Christmas time. Christmas time in Brazil comes in the middle of Summer. No snow or icicles, no winter coats or gloves and mittens. It’s hot but the Christmas spirit still permeates.

Denise, Rosania, and the girls from the Vila were invited to an afternoon of backyard fun and swimming at a friend’s home. The experience was good for the girls; another opportunity for social interaction outside of the Vila and the Vila’s neighborhood.

Following the afternoon’s fun, everyone returned to the Vila hauling a donated Christmas tree and decorations. The evening was set to be a first for the  family. They would be decorating their first Christmas tree in preparation for their first Christmas as a family unit.

Christmas is defined by a child’s heart rather than the season. When a child gets that spark of anticipation in her eyes, you know it’s Christmas time even if you’re sweating from the summer heat.

There are more surprises in store for the girls as more gifts and donations are making their way to the Vila. Several have taken time to remember the girls and send presents. We are very grateful for such acts of kindness and generosity. They are reminders of what Christmas is truly about, giving.

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support,
Curtis and Denise
www.avidanova.com

One section at a time, with some pounding and hardy pushes, the wall at the end of the Vila’s original property line came crashing down. The newly purchased land has been walled in and has increased the Vila’s property by a third. Now there is room for a playground, a garden, and for enlarging the houses.

The evidence of God’s handiwork has been amazing. As we watch the Vila gradually take shape through construction, we see a greater work taking place in the girls’ lives. They are being set free and transformed through many constant acts of compassion and love. One such act was the recent donation of a bicycle which has provided hours of much needed laughter, play and great fun. The bike was given by a couple here in Conquista who recently became aware of the Vila’s work.

Others continue to be divinely called out to join the efforts of rescuing and transforming lives. A team of 15 volunteers from the US will be arriving in Conquista at the end of this month. They will spend a week building and shaping the Vila and also, more importantly, building and shaping young lives.

It’s great to have a front row seat and watch God continue to tear down walls and expand the work of aVidaNova!

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Curtis & Denise

Brazil does not celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving holiday like the USA. No turkey and business as usual here in Conquista over this past weekend; nevertheless, we took time to reflect upon the amazing blessings empowering the aVidaNova venture.

We are grateful for the divine calling which enlightened us concerning the plight of young Brazilian girls living in extreme at-risk conditions. It is the heartbeat of God to see these young lives rescued and transformed. His compassion daily motivates us and guides the purpose and focus of aVidaNova.

We are enormously thankful for those who have caught the vision of aVidaNova and who partner with us through prayer, encouragement, and giving. There would be no aVidaNova without faithful supporters and partners.

We are appreciative of family members who have embraced with us the necessary sacrifices and difficulties required to fulfill the work of aVidaNova.

We give thanks for the first aVidaNova family: Beto and Rosania (houseparents), Milena (big sister), Maria Luiza, Talita, Cristiane, Loranna, and Laiane who daily live out and fulfill the God-given purpose of aVidaNova.

And, as you read this, please know that we are grateful for you and pray God’s richest blessings upon you.

Giving thanks in all circumstances,
Curtis and Denise

A picture paints a thousand words.  Here are a few thousand words painted by some aVidaNova pictures.

Laiane in her "Family Life" t-shirt

"inspecting" construction of house #2

Cristiane & future playground

Vila progress

story time

“Why are you here?” is a question we have been asked several times during the last two months.  It is obvious to the locals we are foreigners so the question is expected.  There aren’t many foreigners in Conquista and Brazilian curiosity seeks an answer.

Store owners, lawyers, taxi drivers, university professors, doctors, and bankers are among those who have inquired.  As we explain our purpose for being in Brazil as that of rescuing young girls from situations of extreme risk and placing them in family-style homes, the initial curiosity usually magnifies.

The reality of child abuse, neglect, prostitution, and exploitation is common knowledge here but many, who would want to, don’t know what to do about it.  The government, social agencies, and religious organizations are viewed as responsible for solving the problem.  So, again, the question, “Why are you here?”

We are here because we belong to a group of people who believe individuals, not just agencies, can make a tremendous difference when it comes to rescuing and restoring the lives of socially discarded little girls.  We call ourselves aVidaNova (theNewLife), made up of those who provide resources, pray for, and get personally involved in transforming the girls’ lives.

aVidaNova, like a stone dropped in a pond, has produced ripples among the local community.  If nothing else, our response has presented our curious inquirers with an avenue by which anyone can get personally involved and help stem the tide of human injustice and misery.  After all, it was Jesus who said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.”

Lorrana celebrates her 9th birthday

We are blessed to belong to aVidaNova. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Curtis & Denise

Their eyes lit up as if it were Christmas morning. It was still October but the aVidaNova girls had just received some very thrilling news. aVidaNova was able to purchase some land adjacent to the Vila and a play area with playground equipment will soon be in place.

How the land became available is a story for another time; this story is about how the girls participated in the most exciting vote of their lives. We gathered the house parents and all the girls to tell them about the expansion of the Vila’s property and how the newly acquired land would be used. When they heard the word “parquinho” (Portuguese for playground), it was hard to tell who was most excited, the girls or the house parents. When we told the girls they would be the ones picking the playground equipment, the level of exhilaration went through the roof.

There were five available playground apparatuses from which they could choose three. “How do we pick?” they asked. “You all get to vote and the three apparatuses that get the most votes win,” we answered.

What came next was the birth of a new mini-democracy. Each apparatus came up for a vote and with great enthusiasm each girl voiced her opinion and cast her vote. From a slide, a swing set, a merry-go-round, a double swing, and a see-saw, these three won: the merry-go-round, the swing set, and the double-swing. The slide came in a very close fourth place.

That brief democratic process taught the girls how to make a group choice and how to live with the results of a fair vote. Cristiane really wanted the slide. She campaigned hard and feverishly to get the slide elected. However, since only three apparatuses could be chosen, in the end, the slide lost.

What is a childhood without a swing or a merry-go-round? Thanks to those who support aVidaNova, our girls won’t have to wonder what it would be like. And, Cristiane, who knows? Maybe that slide can sneak in on the coattails of the double swing…

Thank you for all your prayers and support!

Blessings, Curtis and Denise