Visit to Taquaril - 2

Went to visit the girl with the 3 ‘fostered’ kids in Taquaril the other day. The poor kid is completely overwhelmed. The good news is that the children’s mother came out of prison recently and they are now living altogether with Claudia (not her real name) while she gets some money together so that she and the kids can get a place of their own. We do hope that this will happen but have to look at the situation and the mother’s history (of abandoning the kids and saying she didn’t want anything more to do with them) into consideration. In the meantime it is a priority to help the kids get their documents (like ID cards and so on) so that they can register with the authorities and attend school. In the meantime it appears that another couple have given their child to C. to care for it while they are experiencing trouble in their relationship. We are coming to realise that what we regard as, perhaps, bizarre behaviour is the norm in the favelas, born, perhaps out of the dire predicaments some people find themselves in there.

The kids seemed really under-stimulated and despondent. It seems like they are waiting for something that will never happen if that makes sense. We need to do all we can and pray and trust that God will do all that He can in this situation.