A group of 20 people, composed by four members of the Network-of-Light of Sao Paulo, collaborators and people of the community of Vila Pantanal, develop helping work for needy families of the Southern region of the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Besides the material help, the work fosters the rescue of moral and spiritual values.
The activity began in 1992, with a different approach from what is today the Network-of-Light. But in hindsight, the members of the Network-of-Light of Sao Paulo concluded that they were already being prepared, since that time, to live the principles of voluntary service, of love and of fraternity.
“These seeds of charity frequently germinate very early, since childhood through family examples. Since I was a child I saw my parents and grand-parents be generous and pious to poor people, giving examples of this each day. So this would be a normal situation for me. Only later did I perceive that not all were like this”, said Rochele Gouveia, the organizer of the work.
Seeds watered by prayer
According to the members of the Network-of-Light, the reference for this work, which has charity as a base of service, arose through the contact of one of the members with the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in India and later deepened with the participation of the Network-of-Light. The focus of this group activity, besides the material support that includes the distribution of food items, coats, footwear and blankets, lies in feeding the hearts with prayer. “This is a seed that is being planted in each heart. And this group activity helps water it”, explains Enoreth, the coordinator of the group.
Rhythm
The rhythm of the activities is monthly, when the group gathers to make the distribution of food packages and other items, and also every Tuesday, when a handiwork workshop.
Assistance to needy families
About 75 needy families are assisted in the Vila Pantanal. Before the distribution, the group says a prayer and shares a snack. In commemorative dates, the group tries to make them a special day for these families, including playful activities. But the greatest commitment of the group is to develop the attributes of fraternity, charity, brotherhood and forgiveness, culminating in the change of consciousness of people.
Clothing donations
During all these years of activities, the group experienced special moments. “As the example of what happened with Mother Teresa, in India, there was a Sunday in which we went to distribute the food packages, but the provider had not delivered and we had nothing of food to distribute. We thought people would go away, without participating in the prayer and would be rebellious, as after all they waited a whole month to receive the package. On the contrary, they understood, and our integration at the time of the prayer was even greater. We left happy for understanding they had understood our objective, that is, they had acquired a different consciousness about our work. We felt they loved this moment and this was very gratifying”, says Rochelle.
Distribution of snacks
“The vast majority of people we assist are needy in many aspects of life. Even if they do have the understanding of the prayer that is being said, I clearly perceive an inner change in everyday life of these people. Silence is the power that prayer brought to these people. Lovingness, receptivity, welcoming and fraternity, have awakened in them through prayer”, said Andrea Andrade, a member of the Network-of-Light and a participant in the work.
