NEIDE is a little Brazilian girl, 11 with a lovely nature. Her gracious happy smile and quiet patient attitude are deeply attractive. She was only eight years old when she first came to a gospel meeting with her mother and heard the story of the love of the Lord Jesus. Her mother, whose name is Palmtree, immediately accepted the Lord Jesus and found peace and joy in believing.
After attending only a very few more meetings Neide went home one day and asked, “Mother, is it true the Lord Jesus died to save me too?”
“Yes,” said her mother.
With no more pressure, our little eight-year-old Neide gladly accepted Christ as her Saviour and Lord. The family is so poor that the mother was given a Bible and hymn book, and Neide received a New Testament and hymn book also as her very own.
Neide’s father never came to the gospel hall and declared that he does not want Christians to visit his home. He is a wicked man and spends a lot of money on cheap strong drink known as “Pinga.” When he comes home he is continually in a very sad state. As a result his poor wife, little Neide and her four younger brother and sisters suffer greatly.
Little Neide can only come to Sunday School when her father is out or when he is asleep after a drunken spree. But she prizes her New Testament and reads it wherever she can.
One day there was a rough call at our gate and there was Neide’s father with a Bible and two hymn books in his hand. He had come to return the books given to his wife, for he would not allow her to read them. We tried to explain graciously to him the error of his way, but he went away in a rage saying, “I ordered Palmtree to return these but she didn’t have the courage. Well, I have the courage, and here they are.”
Secretly we talked to Palmtree, trying to comfort her, but she replied joyously, “He did not find Neide’s Testament as she had hidden it, so I can still read the Word of God.”
Recently, one Lord’s day, dear little Neide, now ten, popped into my kitchen in a great hurry saying, “I can’t come to Sunday school tay, because Father is home, but here is a little offering for the poor orphan children.” Then pressing 20 cruzieros (about 15 cents) into my hand, she ran off.
Now please do not think all Brazilian fathers are drunkards; many are very good indeed and kind to their wives and children. You Christian boys and girls can pray with Neide and her mother that the father also might be transformed by the power of the gospel. Your prayers may be used of the Lord in bringing great happiness into Neide’s home.
M. Orr
ML-03/11/1973