Sandra Andréa Quinteros
Volunteer
My name is Sandra Andrea Quinteros and I am from the city of Neuquen, in Argentina. I am a Missionary with Happy Child supported by my church the Assembly of God.
While I was in Argentina I heard about Happy Child’s training course to teach people how to work with street children and children at risk. Through that God began to stir my heart and in July 2004 I left Argentina to come to Brazil.
The Happy Child training course really impacted me. The teaching really brought home to me the reality of the kids lives and their suffering. Every day that I am in Happy Child I see the difficulties that our beautiful children face.
After the course I worked as a Social Mum and helped a lot in Happy Child’s little shop. In the shop which was loaned to us we sold all the crafts and art work that the children themselves produced. The children loved to help in the shop and it really helped their self esteem when people bought the things they had made . It was so encouraging to see their confidence growing.
It was tough adapting to a new culture and in the early days my Portuguese wasn’t so good. There have been many challenges working with the children and living with them in our Homes. You have to be prepared to be a servant and to spend lots of time with them listening and building up friendship. At the moment I have two youngsters living in the home who are very demanding. One of them is always in a crisis at school and in the Home with his colleagues. Many nights until late I have sat up listening to him unload all his pain and rejection.
My work is not complete here yet. I am returning to Argentina to renew my visa but I intend to return to Happy Child to the work that God has called me to do.