Ivan Ferreira
Educational Co ordinator for Happy Child and
Co ordinator of Emaus the
24 hour emergency rescue centre
It is difficult to to put ten years of your life in such a brief synopsis. However I can only conclude that when we are called to dedicate our lives to a cause there is nothing that we cannot overcome through prayer and faith.
I was born in the interior of Sao Paulo, but brought up in one of the poor areas of Belo Horizonte. On my doorstep there was crime, oppression, a shortage of resources and so many other issues which confront our country Brazil.
.Like so many other youngsters, I left school, it was hard for me to find work, I spent a lot of my time on the streets of my community. At 17 I got to know Jesus and gave my life to him. Things started to change.
I completed my studies but felt I wanted to find a purpose for my life. How could I contribute to His work here on earth.
A friend of mine called Ademir took me along to get to know Happy Child On that day Cida (our Co ordinator in Recife) asked me a question which would hugely impact my life ‘Wouldn’t you like to work with us? We can’t really offer you a salary at the moment but I think there is a place for you here’. That was nine years ago and today I am still serving in this Ministry.
I am so grateful to God not just for the chance he has given me to serve in this Ministry but more than anything for the great opportunity he has given me to become who I am meant to be. This is the vision I have for the children I work with – that they can become all that God means them to be and I can be part of that.