Vanessa - House 9
Vanessa’s case as well as her siblings (Sidinei and Paulo) is well known in our town. She along with the others were abandoned by their mother (a prostitute) who left them in the inexperienced hands of a drunk. She did not want the children, as she already had abandoned another three at a previous date. This is their story when they came to us in September, 1997.
A social worker found them left on their own , up to their necks in their own bowel movements, and hungry. At the time that they were found, her brother Paulo was not there because he was out looking for food. Being the oldest of the three, Paulo had a notion of what needed to be done. As it was, her brother Sidinei could have died the next day from dehydration. This was the report given by the hospital.
Vanessa and the others were in the half way house while we were renovating quarters for our fourth set of house parents. They waited for two whole months but finally the day arrived. After a few days, she would literally throw herself at the house mother when being carried by some one else. She is quiet and very content. She was very attentive and liked to look around, and drool at the same time. Vanessa did not have a birth certificate when she first came to us. We gathered her age from her vacination card which stated that she was born May 21, 1995.
She is now almost 10 and in grade 3 at school. Vanessa adapted well to her surroundings. She loves to play with dolls and with her other sisters in her house. She is takinga praise and worship class in our technical center. Please pray for Vanessa, that the Lord will continue to work in her life and that she will devote herself to her studies.
Update: Vanessinha likes to imitate the boys and do head stands. She complains though that her arms get tired. Once her arms gave out and she literally kissed the ground!
January 2007 Update: Vanessa Amaral is 11 and in 5th grade. Vanessa has made her decision for Christ but is still not baptized. At the homes she took the cross-stitch, craft and choreography course. At church she enjoys Pioneer Girls and likes to sing – recently in the Christmas cantata. She also participates in Sunday School. She is tidy, careful and is beginning to enjoy dressing up and fixing her hair. She is doing extensive orthodontic treatment. Vanessa is very quiet. Lately, her older sister, Michele, that has already gone through COL has been visiting and giving her very good counsel. This has been a positive influence.
Main Prayer Request: To be more sensitive to the Lord and to desire to study harder
2008 Update: Vanessa is twelve years old and is in grade five at school. At home she works to wash the dinner dishes. She is a quiet, calm girl who enjoys playing with dolls and other games in her spare time. Although she is a loving girl and has accepted the Lord as her Saviour she is not very demonstrative about her faith. She is active in Sunday School and Girls’ Club. Please pray that she would take more interest in school and in spiritual matters.
2009 Update: Vanessa Amaral earned a good mark in Art in her last report card and seems to be adapting very well to her new house parents, Graziele and Jeferson. She has trouble being patient and waiting for the right time for things to happen. School is difficult for her this year. She would like you to pray with her that she would do her best at school and be able to pass Grade 6. Also that she would make wise decisions concerning her future as she doesn’t always think things through.
Birthday: May 21, 1995
Brothers: Paulo, Sidinei, Paulinho