Each time Nilda goes home, she's reminded of God's grace.
It was just a few short years ago that her home in Salvador, Brazil,
was destroyed by a landslide caused by heavy rain.
This wasn't the first time her world fell apart.
When Nilda gave birth to her son, Nathan, her husband left her.
Nathan was born with autism and cerebral palsy,
making it difficult to nurture him as a single mother.
She had no money to spare
because all of her money went toward medical bills and treatments for her son.
After the landslide, Nilda had no money to rebuild her home.
Her faith in God slipped away as she fell into a deep depression.
But then a fellow church member heard what happened to Nilda's house
and called for a church meeting.
The local Adventist church banded together
and completely rebuilt Nilda's house.
They even reconstructed it to a higher standard than before
to protect against flooding and landslides.
They also added a second level
to ensure there would always be a dry living area for Nilda and Nathan.
Nilda sometimes visits the lower level where she and Nathan had lived before.
This space reminds her of the rainy nights she didn't sleep,
hauling buckets of water out of the rooms.
Sometimes, the water would flood high enough to reach her knees.
The furniture was destroyed over and over again.
But Nilda's greatest concern was for Nathan
to get a good night's sleep.
She remembers carrying Nathan up these stairs
every time they needed to leave the house for his treatments
or simply to buy food.
It was a time when Nilda's hope was slipping.
But her Adventist neighbors' compassion gave her hope again.
I saw the Lord moving in our lives as He had compassion on me and my son.
I saw that they did what God teaches, which is to love your neighbors.
Today, if I see a person in need, I'll take the time to help them as well.
This is the love the Lord wants us to exercise.
They made me very happy.
Today, Nilda's house proudly displays a sign that says,
"Construction of Hope, a project of the Seventh-day Adventist Church."
The community was so touched by the generosity of the Adventist church
that they began visiting her and asking questions about it.
The church members not only rebuilt Nilda's home--
God also used them to rebuild her faith.
I open my doors to everyone.
My house is a house of prayer for everyone in the community.
The people come here to worship and sing.
The things that were done in my life, I try to pass on to others:
the love and compassion we need to have for one another.
Nilda is passionate about spreading the gospel.
She's the leader of a small group that meets in her home every Friday night.
Through this small group,
many of her neighbors have given their hearts to Jesus.
I just want to thank God for what He has done in my life
and in the lives of my children.
May God keep using me each day through His Holy Spirit
that I may be a light and a living example to show people
that Jesus is coming soon.
This quarter, a portion of your 13th Sabbath offering
will help construct a church and Urban Center of Influence in Salvador,
where Nilda lives.
It will also help another project in Brazil
and two projects in Peru.
Please pray for these projects as God uses faithful church members
to touch the lives of people throughout South America.
Thanks for supporting mission!