Hope for the Hopeless (Kristin)

(Aline is on the far right)

The first time I met Aline, we were both pregnant. I was 29 and pregnant with my first; she was 18 and pregnant with her third. After our kids were born, we lost touch. She drifted out of the project we partner with in the favela and I had no way to get in touch with her. That was 3 years ago. About 6 months ago I ran into her randomly in the favela. It was great to see her and I was grateful to hear that she hadn't yet added a fourth child to the mix. I set up a time to visit her in her home.

Aline lives alone in a very poor house with her 3 little girls. Her own parents died when she was 7 years old and she was raised by her older brother who was involved in drug trafficking. She's been living by herself for a long time. Her girls have different fathers who are not involved in their lives and she has no job and no prospect of one. I felt so overwhelmed and depressed as I left from my visit. The question ringing in my mind, "What can I possibly DO?" Her situation left me feeling helpless and hopeless, because I look at her girls and I see them, young as they are, already running wild with no structure or stability and I think will this cycle ever be broken?

Then I have hope, because I remember Him...the Great Cycle-Breaker. The One who changes families, changes histories, gives hope, and redeems. I thank God that He lives to intercede in our miserable lives. I thank God that he gives me hope and that I can pass along that hope to others. Please pray for Aline and her girls. Pray for her situation. Pray that God will interfere and redeem. Pray that I will be a light for Him in her life as I continue to visit her.