June 29 - Second Story, Second Chance

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 neighbor’s 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,

“Builders of Hope, a project
of the Sev-enth-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 help 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!