Journey to Favela
My journey to
It has a population of about 2.5 million inhabitants, and covers an area of 333 sq. km.
Though there is much variation from favela to favela, the shortage of utilities is constant. Some favelas have better access to different utilities due to their location. Regardless of this, all are below standard access. Clean water is a must and first and foremost in need. Water is usually accessed by tapping into a water main that runs near the favela. This is always at the bottom of the hill and creates an incredibly difficult journey for those who live near the top. Several journeys a day are sometimes needed to gain enough for a household. Only about 50% of the favela’s have access to an in-house toilet facility. From these facilities, sewerage runs through open ditches and eventually ends up at street level, creating an incredible health hazard. Electricity is scarce and very hard to access. The electric company connect s outlets through only a few houses with meters, in the favela, and extension chords are run from these trunks to supply electricity to others. Each household is charged a fee per outlet, per month. This fee is usually much higher than what it would cost if it were metered directly. The demand is much higher than is being supplied and because of this, over tapped lines do not fulfill the need. When electricity is needed most, the evenings, there is hardly enough to run simple machines needed to bring in extra income (sewing machines, power tools, irons, etc..). Rubbish is either incinerated on the hill or brought down to the street where the city is supposed to haul it away. If incineration occurs, this can easily ignite many of the wooden houses and cause people to become sick due to the smoke. Since the city often does not live up to its obligation to haul away the rubbish, it can build up on street and also become a source for disease.
This is the background in which Danny O’Brien is working through AguAvivA , One Family helping Families. It was such a privilege to be with the team for 16 days. I visited people within the favela , these houses brought a new meaning to the phrase” You can’t swing a cat in there “ because in most you literally could not. Up to 5 people live in 2 rooms each the size of an average bathroom. Children run the street with no shoes on but are so happy. Their hospitality was amazing, although they have little they treat you like celebrities, the people are so warm and welcoming it was so humbling to be with them.
AguAvivA helps the people many in ways including food distribution which they have from a restaurant in Belo on a daily basis. We went into
One of the reasons for my visit to the favela Vila Leblon was to witness the opening of the
Children all over the world it seems love to have their photo’s taken and it’s no exception here in
God was not a taboo subject, and being a Christian did’nt mean I was a member of some weird minority group.God is alive and kicking in
Dave Townsend with the Children at
A new person , his name is Roberto has come to work as a volunteer for AguAvivA; he does have a secular job but feels God has called him for November and December to work with Danny. I have a heart of peace as we go to the favela to start painting in the Church, we have a week to complete everything ready for the Inaugural Service on SUNDAY NOVEMBER 25th.When we arrive the painter is still plastering the walls and the tiller is laying the floor tiles, it is very dusty so I get the brush and start sweeping up all the plaster etc. Roberto starts painting the upstairs door, I give him a hand later. At Dinner, we have eight people to feed Sandra has made Chicken, rice, pumpkin and tomatoes so every one enjoys a time of fellowship over dinner. We then go back to
Word came to Danny that the brother of one of Danny’s congregation members has been found dead this morning, he was about 30 years old and an alcoholic. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN THE FAVELA I WAS TOLD. Later in the day the family come to AguAvivA for money so they can go into Belo Horizonte by bus to sign the papers for the funeral, the bus fare is three Brazilian reals about one pound English money, Sandra and Danny provide them with the money, not only does AguAvivA help in this kind of situation but whatever the need they are there to help. It is so comforting to know whenever there is a need it is met. This can only happen because of the support AguAvivA receives from the generosity of the people in UK.I am just so privileged to see the work first hand and am so grateful to all who contribute to AguAvivA financially.
It is 09;00 and we go to the Church for the clean up, the painter is sign-writing on the outside wall. Sandra has her team of cleaners ready and soon it's hose pipe time, the people in the favela love to hose down everything, splashing water around is one of their favourite pastimes. The tiling has been completed so it 's water ,water everywhere with brushes and mops they all help. It is now gone
The people start to arrive at 6;45 for the Inaugural Service, people are steaming in and it is not long before the Church is packed to overflowing. While the people come in, Sandra and Danny with the AguAvivA Team, myself and Pastor Bob Muncy have a time of prayer before the service. At 7;00pm Danny welcomes everyone to this very special service and prays, the worship group plays for the worship time, and do the Brazilians love to worship, it goes on for about one and a half hours ,the spirit of the Lord filled the place.
Danny then invited me to speak and I give Christian greetings from the UK Support group and my home Church at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Barry Wales. I then spoke from 2 Tim 2;19." Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription," The Lord knows those who are his", and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.
Pastor Bob Muncy from
New beginings ,A hope and a future plan for you all and healing within the favela's. Salvation came to many as they came forward after the address and also for the healing ministry people were just praising God for what he had done. Danny, Sandra, Roberto and Bob prayed with many people for healing as the worship group played in the background, it was such a precious time for everyone, we were all together in one place and in one accord, the Lord moved mightily, a time of blessing was received by all who attended. It was gone 10;00pm before the service finished. It was worth all the 7000 miles I had travelled to be with AguAvivA in
The Last word is from Danny O’Brien in his newsletter
We thank you All so very much for the ways in which you have showed your commitment to us, we continue to ask God in our daily prayer meetings to pour back to you in abundance for your Faithfulness, we are so blessed to have you as part of AguAvivA Family, some are called to go, but many are called to support as many of you are doing and this has touched us deeply.
We have been so blessed with visitors from time to time, last year we had Jill & Jean from Trethomas Christian Fellowship, two women that had come to serve whole heartedly, our families still ask after them, why, because they knew that their lives were touched by the love of Jesus that just poured out of Jill & Jean.
Thanks girls so much for All you are doing in sharing about AguAvivA, God Bless You.
Another visitor we had three years ago was also, a man of God, Dave Townsend, anyone that comes into contact with Dave will realise too the Joy of the Lord that just pours out of him.
Well Dave caught the vision of AguAvivA and made a video of his first visit, on his return to
Doing deputation work in churches and house groups raising awareness of AguAvivA's work in the favelas of Belo Horizonte Brasil.
He then became a member of the AguAvivA support group in Wales, this year he came back to take part in the Inauguration of the AguAvivA Church ,but he needed to do some painting, etc first to get the church ready for the Inauguration.
Dave was here with Pr Bob Muncy from
Dave has since returned to Wales with another video that he is willing to share with churches, house groups or fellowships or any other group who would want to know more about the Favela’s of