"A Flower In The Favela"

Most of you probably know by now from some of my previous posts that a "favela" refers to a Brazilian slum. The word, "favela" actually comes from the name of a flower that covered the hillsides before they were overtaken by what we would refer to in the United States as "squatters."  Originally these were refugees who set up their dwelling places on land that they did not own. In Brazil this often takes place on the hillsides where people stack the makeshift dwellings on top of one another creating a very striking, if not somewhat shocking image to the newcomer to Brazil.

The other night David and I went with the elders to visit a recent convert and his family. I'm always a little uneasy about what conditions I will find in these homes. Walking through the dimly lit passages between the houses often feels a little like I would imagine what walking through a neighborhood in biblical times might have felt like with stone houses that almost feel like caves, only here they are made of cinder-block or cement.

A favela in our Ward

As we approached the entrance we were greeted with a smile that was as bright as the night was dark. A little girl about four years old named Alessandra gave us an enthusiastic welcome.  We made our way into the home with Alessandra leading the way. Her excitement made one think it could have been Christmas eve.

The Elders introduced us to Fabio, the father of the family, and told us the story of finding him and teaching him the Gospel. When I asked Fabio why he chose to be baptized he said, "Because I read the Book of Mormon and I did what it asks and prayed about it and I got an answer that it was true."  As he said this I could see a copy of the Book of Mormon placed front and center on a box being used as a coffee table in the middle of the room.

We met his wife, Jucimara, who took much longer to decide to be baptized.  She said that she already had a church when the elders taught Fabio and that she needed to be certain for herself and not just get baptized because her husband did it. As we spoke about baptism, little Alessandra expressed her excitement at being baptized one day.  She continued to twirl and skip and dance around the room as if all the happiness within that little body could not be contained. Her activity seemed different to me than just the excess energy one sees in children in confined spaces.  There wasn't anything restless or hyper about it.  It was pure joy made visible through her exultant movement.

After we shared a short message Alessandra volunteered to sing "I Am A Child of God" for us. I was amazed that she would already know all the words and music to that song after only being a member for a very short time.  It almost seemed as if she had always known it. And then we all sang Nearer My God To Thee. "Mais Perto Quero Estar."

Fabio and Alessandra

                                                           

Their family with Elder Rotela and Elder J. Ward

I know that long after I return home to Utah there will be many things I will forget about our experiences here. But I doubt that I will soon forget the feeling I had while singing the words to this hymn, gathered with this precious family in a cinder-block house where a Book of Mormon was placed on a box in the middle of the room where there was a little girl dancing who had a smile as bright as a flower in the favela.

                                               

"Though like a wanderer, the sun goes down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.

 Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to Thee. Nearer, to Thee.

 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky, 

 Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,

 Still all my song shall be nearer, my God to Thee.

 Nearer, my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!"

Until next time - Onward, ever onward.

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