Ali, gone but not forgotten

About two weeks ago we had a little girl about 3 years old come to the orphanage, what a little ball of fun she was. Sometimes she would just run up to me and attack me with a hug. Then little T and her had a blast together, but got each other in so much trouble sometimes.

Her uncle had been raising her for the past few years, but since her indian mother left her with him and took off without signing any guardianship paper; The government took her away from him, and sent her here. Then another organization got involved and located the mother, put her on a boat and brought her here, and the judge court ordered Ali back to her mother, a woman she hardly even knows. All of us are sad she is gone, and a little upset she wasn’t able to go back with her uncle, but can only pray for her future. Because only God knows her future, all we can do is do his work, pray, and hope that things will get better.

-Schuyler Costro

Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Baby phil

Baby Phil is probably the most stubborn and craziest of all the babies, he is about one years old and just loves all the attention he can get, and will do what ever it takes to get that attention, even trying to hurt himself. Sometimes its just throwing his head back, making himself fall over. But other times he has fits, or he will get jealous when ever you are playing with another baby or something. Don’t get me wrong, he is totally adorable and can be the funniest baby ever. But this little chubster knows exactly what he wants. He is a lil cray cray, but we love him all the same. i’ve spent a lot of time with him, so he’s kinda my little buddy, and he loves to eat. Which is totally great because i do to!! lol 🙂 feeding time is definitely the easiest with him, out of all the babies.

– Schuyler

Picnic at the Amazon River!

What a night of adventure! So Vania planned a picnic by the “beach” for all the orphans here at fathers heart.

The beach in Manaus, Brazil is not actually a legit beach, its a little man made plot, on the side of the amazon river. Which is totally awesome because, well it’s right next to the amazon river!! Anyways so we took the kids there, the adventure started out getting lost. Normally the ride there would be around 20 minutes, we ended up driving around for about an hour. Which was totally fine because we got to see the city and different streets and stuff. When we finally arrived; we meant up with Vania and the others. The kids got to play in the sand and we ate sandwiches, and then Vania read them the Noahs ark story. We all just ran around with the kids, played, and had a good time. When it was all over with the kids were quite tuckered out.

Its truly amazing being here, and being able to bless these kids with joy and love. Where they have seen so little. the look on these kids faces were priceless and you could tell how happy they were.

When Barry took the kids home. Hannah, Vania, Bryan, Daniel, Bryans friend, and I stayed back; because there was not room enough in the car for all of us. While we were waiting, Daniel found the cutest golden retriever named hope, and got to pet him. Then me and hannah got to check out the fountains, which was allot of fun

Shout out to the Halls :)

I just wanted to write a shout out to Vania and Barry Hall. The Hall family is so sweet, open, and loving. I absolutely love being here, and interacting with the orphans and bringing joy into their lives, where they have grown up with so little. As well as being a helping hand to the orphanage and the staff. The Halls have shown us so much kindness in allowing us to come stay for a month and help out. I have only been here a week so far, but from the first day it was very evident that the orphanage the Halls are running is truly of the Fathers heart, the way they have opened their hearts and their home to these orphans is just incredible. They truly love and care for these kids as Christ would, and you can truly see the Lords work being done here.

-Schuyler

Bread and Butter

The food here in brazil is pretty good, nothing fancy; but its good and I really enjoy it. For breakfast we normally have bread and butter, or cereal. Lunch is seen as the biggest meal of the day, which on average consists of rice and beans, and then also a meat; either beef, fish, or chicken. Then theres a 4 o’clock snack, that is where we get our brazilian surprises; all of which are delicious. Dinner then is normally left overs from lunch.

I do not normally eat bread and butter very often in the states. But ever since I have come here, I think I have eaten more bread and butter these last 5 days, then i have in the past five year of my life. It has definitely been been a change in diet, which is good.

Being here definitely helps break me of my taco bell obsession. Because well, no taco bell here and I pretty much eat what they give me; which is all real, and pretty healthy food, unlike taco bell. But i think i enjoy it more.

– Schuyler

rice and beans

my fish was staring at me!

Cake

Ok so, I love cake! It’s a fact. But coming on this trip, I’ve had to give up some of the luxuries that I have at home. One of them being cake, which was a bummer but I figured this is where God wants me right now, so I will deal with it and follow him.

Then today after we fed the kids lunch and put them down for there afternoon naps, I went up stairs and took a nap as well, because I was so exhausted. While I was napping I had this dream that I was back home and eating cake with some friends, which was a very good dream. Then when Hannah woke me up to go help Vania take the kids to get there shots, I told hannah of my dream and how great it was, because well Hannah knows me and how much I love cake. Then she told me she saw one of the helpers making a cake when she was down stairs. I got really excited :)! Anyways, so we took the kids to the hospital to get their shots and afterwards took them swimming. After all of this was done, the lady who made the cake, told Hannah and I that we could have a piece and we did. Thus ending my very happy story about cake.

Psalms 37:4 -Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

– Schuyler

God’s Plan, Not Mine

Coming home from El Salvador after a six week mission’s trip last year, I told myself that was it for a long time. I needed to stay home and save my money, and work toward building my life in the U.S., But God obviously had other plans.

In the beginning my mom started coming home from her Sunday school class telling me about the Father’s Heart ministry and how much they needed help and how it would be such a fantastic opportunity to be able to go to brazil to help out. The whole thing sounded really awesome to me. But I did not think I should go, because I thought that God wanted me to stay in the U.S., well turns out I was wrong. Because when Vania hall came to visit Florida, I was able to meet with her and she explained their need for help in the orphanage. As well as provide videos of what the Indian tribes do to these unwanted babies, along with the fathers heart ministry and their mission to help the children of brazil. Right then I knew that’s where God wanted me this summer. My only problem was I was completely broke, and had no money to even purchase a plane ticket, so I prayed about it and began raising the funds. Knowing that if God wants me to go, he will provide and he did, abundantly. I was shocked with all the help I received, and feel absolutely blessed that God has allowed me to journey to Manus, Brazil for five weeks with my friend Hannah, to help the hall family in the orphanage.

– Schuyler