LightHouse International

Born Again

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:48:14 +0000

Like bullfrogs & butterflies!

September 2009

Jesus said, ” I assure you, unless you are born again,

you can never see the Kingdom of God.”

John 3:3

Dear Friend,

Too often life takes us to a pit in the ground so we’ll look up and realize that there is a loving father God above looking down waiting for us to cry out for HELP!

We too often see only the “I” in LIFE! But once we get to that point of desperation, hopelessness, and depression; that is when many of us come to realize who is the giver and keeper of our life!

In the community of Recreio, we’ve recently witnessed to such a person. Adair, is the local school director, whose son, Lucas (that you may recall from a past newsletter) attends the LightHouse Recreio.

Lucas’ mother Adair, is a very influential woman in the community being in charge over the school system which has more that 2,000 students.

But her professional position has only brought her stress and depression. Due to the heavy violence in the schools where there are guns brought inside by the kids and also due to the teachers who are constantly going on strike and not wanting to come to work for their safety.

Adair’s personal life is not much better. With a husband who has always cheated on her, bringing strife and division in the home. And their son Lucas has problems with homosexual tendencies, chronic lying, and identity crisis. But we have seen God do a huge work in Lucas since he has attended the LH.

Praise God!

Adair on the other hand had recently started to drink a bottle of whisky a day and even attempted to commit suicide. In the midst of her despair she remember the times that our LH staff had witnessed to her about God and how he can make her life worth the living.

On a day that there should not have been anyone there-Adair came to the LightHouse door franticly pounding. As the LightHouse team listened, she cried, opening her heart up for the first time. She repented of her sins and became BORN AGAIN! She is now on fire and openly tells everyone what the Lord has done in her life! We are doing a weekly follow up for her, giving her the prayer and discipleship needed.

She has now opened the school doors to us, giving us free access to pray and evangelize to all the students and teachers!

“All honor to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

for it is by his boundless mercy that

God has given us the privilege of being BORN AGAIN.”

I Peter 1:3

Keep in Prayer
LH Papagaio

We are doing a month of prayer specifically for LH Papagaio. Please be praying with us. For any donations you may want to give, please send your check to our Florida address, or donation here online.

Thank you!

Love and Prayer,

Junior and Steph

Unreached Children Reached

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:02:28 +0000

Vacation Bible School in Recreio

Dear Friend,

The cold winter break in Brazil is the whole month of July, reaching maybe low 50 and high 80 degrees. The wonderful weather is enjoyed every day here.

We took one week of this winter break to do a vacation Bible school in Recreio. To our wonderful amazement, we have found children that have NOT heard about Jesus! Our team had hiked out to the very far end of Recreio to invite new children to the LightHouse for VBS. We found children that are in great physical and emotional need. The most amazing thing is that these kids were hearing the story of Jesus dying for them for the first time!

The whole week we had these 70 new kids to witness to and had a very good response. We will even be taking in a few of them and placing them into the LightHouse to care for. It was very refreshing for our team to have new faces to evangelize. And an honor to tell them about Jesus for the first time.

Papagaio Kitchen

We are so excited to show you pictures of our new kitchen cabinets. We will soon be having the Papagaio girls in there to learn how to bake!

Mission Trip to Brazil!

Join a team for a mission trip on November 21-29, 2009 to the LightHouse here in Belo Horizonte, Brazil! Pr. Jacob Crawford from Life Point Church, from Centerville, LA will be leading this team.

Please contact us at Steph@LightHouseBrazil.com if you are interested to come down with him to minister to the LightHouse Kids!

Or call Bridget, our LightHouse representative, at 850-393-4875 for more information and details on the trip.

We pray for God’s richest blessings over your life this month.

Shining for Jesus,

Junior and Stephanie Feitosa

Founders

LightHouse Int’l Missions, Inc.

LightHouse International

1765 E. Nine Mile Rd.

Suite 1, #225

Pensacola, FL 32514

Make a donation today to help disciple and car for the poor and needy kids at the LightHouse.

All gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Thank you for your generosity!

BIRTHDAY DRESS UP

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:43:06 +0000

SHINING THE LIGHT OF JESUS

LightHouse International

YOU ARE MY HINDING PLACE…

July 2009

LightHouse International

1765 E. Nine Mile Rd.

Suite 1, #225

Pensacola, FL 32514

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble.”

Psalm 9:9

Make Someones Day…

Help Keep the LightHouse Ablaze!

Donate Now!

Dear Friend,

We praise God that in the slums of Brazil exists a hiding place for the youth here. Having a place that preserves their innocents, teaches purity, and defends those who are abused and neglected. We have seen our children at the LightHouse being protected from the wild whirlwinds of the wages of sin.

This month the kids dressed up like country folks for their birthday party celebration. Going fishing and playing pin-the-donkey, and all sorts of fun games. It is a blessing to see our kids in a haven such as the LightHouse in the peaceful presents of God, learning and growing.

Like a Lighthouse, let us be a beacon to this city…

The Recreio community has been very cruel recently. Within a 2 weeks time about 20 young people have been murdered here. All within the ages of 14 to 20. Several of them have been family of the kids in the LightHouse. Every death has been related to the using or dealing of drugs. Some have been killed for an unpaid drug debt as low as $2.00!

The day we had a meeting with our LH team agreeing to start weekly outreach meeting for the youth, was the same hour that we got news that one of our former LightHouse kids; Charlie, who’s 20 now, got shot in they eye. By the grace of God he is still alive yet lost his eye. Weeks before he was at our meeting and got ministered to. These young adults know God and love him, but don’t have the courage to step into a church.

Lord, like a lighthouse let us be a beacon to this city. May our arms be opened wide to all who come inside. This place of love and mercy for the lost.

May all who enter see the Holy Spirit meet their needs as the power of revival falls.

Amen!

Thank You

We want to say thank you once again for your prayers for this ministry. For we can surely see the Lord’s hand at work here. Blessings to you and your family!

Junior and Stephanie

Tough Enough to Tell the Truth

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:02:17 +0000

Teaching the Basics

Tough Enough

to Tell the Truth

Dear Friend,This month we would like to give you a little insight on the kids at LightHouse Papagaio. We are learning that our way to work in this house is very different than from Recreio. We are have lots of compitition with the activity on street. To where LH Recreio is the hottest thing in town! The children in Papagaio love to run free on the streets. For them to stay inside 4 walls, has been a bit challenging. And it is even more difficult reaching the parents. The children run free without parental supervision doing as they please. But we are seeking the Lord for wisdom and trusting that the ones we have now are the ones that the Lord has selected for this time.

Thanks again for your continued prayers for our family and the LightHouse and these great kids!

Shining the Light,

Junior and Stephanie

Tatiani’s Dream

If you were to walk on the backside of the slum of Papagaio in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, along the street were LightHouse Papagaio is, you just might hear a lesson like this being taught to the kids-BE TOUGH ENOUGH TO TELL THE TRUTH!

The first day that the LH Papagaio was opened we asked each one if they had used or are using drugs. Months later, after being taught to tell the truth, 9 year old Tatiani has spoken out!

The night before she spoke out, she had a horrifying dream that she shared with our LH teacher, Jozibel.

Tatiani said,

“I dreamed last night that I was on the street and a man and woman were following me. Then the woman came up to me offering me to sniff thinner (the most common drug for these slum children). I told her no! But she kept insisting and came after me, then the man started to run after me so I ran up into the bico (deep inside the slum) to hide but couldn’t find a safe place! Then I saw Tia Jozibel and Tio Marcelino (the LH workers) at the LightHouse. I called out to them and they heard me and reached out and grabbed me, I knew I was safe there! I was so scared!”

Please pray for Tatiani. She whispered in Jozibel’s ear that YES, she has used drugs, smoking marijuana. We are not sure if she is using drugs now or not but we would like for you to give Tatiani extra prayer this month because this has come up and she is evidently struggling with it. She is a very hard hearted girl and she is our leader of the pack. Having a great deal of power and influence over all the other girls, we would like to reach her the most. To see that the rest will follow her strong lead to the path of Eternal Life!

LightHouse International

1765 E. Nine Mile Rd.

Suite 1, #225

Pensacola, FL 32514

●●●

Jesus said,
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you FREE.”
John 8:32

●●●

LightHouse Int’l Missions, Inc. | 1765 E. Nine Mile Rd. | Ste.1, #225 | Pensacola | FL | 32514

Girls, Girls, Girls!!

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:48:36 +0000

LIGHTHOUSE
INTERNATIONAL

1765 E. Nine Mile Rd.

Suite 1, #225

Pensacola, FL 32514

A Wife of Noble Character

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

Prov. 31:10, 11

Beauty Doesn’t Last

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”
Prov. 31:30

HELPING OUR KIDS

All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. You can send your checks to LightHouse International to the above address or click “donate” to give easy and secure online. Your donation is grratefully appreciated. May the Lord bless you for your generosity!

Papagaio: Kite (English)

The day we opened LightHouse Papagaio we only had boys, finding it very difficult to get girls in. As time has gone by we have ended up with only girls! We have invited both girls and boys alike to the LH. But each day for weeks only the girls have shown up.

Just as a kite in the hands of a child, you don’t know until he throws it up on the air, where the wind will take it; so is the vision the Lord has given at LH Papagaio. We have done everything to get it up and flying-now it is up to the Lord to show us which direction he wants it to go.

Being attentive to what His desire and direction is; we’ve realized that only girls come to LH Papagaio, possibly He is wanting us to work with just girls since only beautiful street girls have been coming! If these girls come, it is only because God has hand picked them and because they have personally chosen it over the foot loose and fancy free life on the glamorous streets.

So we ask you to please be in prayer with us for God’s direction for our Papagaio (kite). If we are to claim this as a LightHouse for street girls or not. The need is definitely great and our hearts ache to be able to reach out to this generation of girls. To teach them to be virtuous ladies. Teaching them how to sit and dress properly, clean their homes, how to care for themselves as well as their family, how to serve and respect their husband, how to care for babies and discipline their children according to God’s guiding Word.

The need is great and the problems seem overwhelmingly hopeless, but if we can reach just one life, won’t it be worth it! For what if this one life was yours or mine?

Please keep this in prayer with us, that we may make the right decisions. Thank you!

In Him,

Junior and Steph

Crusading in Brazil!

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:36:12 +0000

Darker the Night–Brighter the Light

Dear friend,
We are so excited to see what the Lord has been doing lately and happy to inform you this month!

For the past 8 years here in Brazil we have never felt the need or pressure to do a meeting “minister as a church” for the public here in the slum of Recreio. We have always maintained our focus inside the LightHouse and the needs of the children within, till now!

Just recently we have been faced with the problem of too many people to witness to and too many families that need to be ministered to in their homes, YET not enough workers. (Well, I guess we have always had this problem but now it feels like it is just too much for us.)

Uniting the Pastors

These kids have been a light in their darkened homes, but how much easier it would be if we could speed up the process and reach their parents as well all at the same time and place? Soooo….

Junior called all the pastors in the local area together and asked for their help. Letting them know that we were not opening a church to take away any members or threaten them but asking them for their support to help us evangelize inside the home and also pull together to make a monthly crusade for the public.

These pastors actually got so excited because we have a problem they long for. That is easy access into the community’s homes. If we join together the local churches can help us minister to the many families we have, therefore also boosting the spiritual growth of our kids.

With the kids at the LightHouse, that door just flies open to us. But it is too much for our staff to handle, with so many families and so many problems in the home. So we did this meeting to get our families acquainted with the local pastors at the LightHouse. Creating a neutral place for our graduated teens to come and hear the Word without going to “church”.

A Full House

As Junior preached his heart out this first meeting, we saw the Lord do great things. It was unbelievable that more than 300 people showed up!

People where everywhere!! Filling both patios, the hillside, in the driveway and yes even a huge amount of kids that we had to separate and put up at the soccer field! We were so unprepared to have that many people turn up. We invited everyone who has gone through the LightHouse in the past 8 years. Having had the chance to see kids that we have not seen in years and seeing how beautiful their lives are and what God has done through them!!

This crusade has stirred the community and the local pastors that they are already waiting anxiously for this next meeting on April 23rd.

We praise the Lord that we can be a vessel in his hands and reach out to the spiritual needs of the families in this community. We appreciate your prayers and support!!

Have a blessed day!
Stephanie and Junior

LightHouse International

Isaiah 58:10-12

“If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”

Shining the Light in a Darkened World
LightHouse Int’l Missions, Inc.

LightHouse Int’l Missions, Inc. | 1765 E. Nine Mile Rd. | Ste.1, #225 | Pensacola | FL | 32514

Serving Papagaio Slum

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:56:32 +0000

Serving Papagaio

Dear freind,

We would like to share with you the different encounters that the LightHouse team has been having with the people in the slum of Papagaio. We praise God because of His grace and mercy on us; to be able to serve and be used by the Lord in this very lost and darkened community.

We appoligize for no related pictures in this newsletter.  We still feel that there is some danger and risk in bringing cameras in the slum. As relationships are built we will start to build confidence and security to take pictures outside of the LightHouse Papagaio.

.

Killer Carlos

Visitations have been the biggest key for us to get into the community and into their homes. Therefore we have continuous visitations during the week. While in one home up in the crack of the mountain, at the home of an older woman, God set up an appointment with young Carlos.

In the middle of a peaceful afternoon prayer Carlos (her 16 year old son) barged into the small house raging with anger and grabbed the kitchen knife that already had old blood on it. Then ran out after his victim whom he plotted to murder.

After asking his mother to go after him on the street and get him back in the house, he was calmed and prayed for. After a powerful spirit lead prayer, he was convinced to exchange weapons; he gave up a bag of crack and the knife for a Holy Bible. After he was prayed for Carlos passed out on his bed and didn’t wake up till 4:00 PM the next day. His mother quotes, “I have never seen anything like this happen to Carlos before.”

Carlos has already murder 2 people at the age of 16.  His most recent murder was on a man who was abusing his sister. Since the day that Carlos got prayed for he has been a very frequent visitor at the LightHouse Papagaio.

No sin is too great that the blood of Jesus can’t cover and cleanse!

Undercover Sergio

An important rule for slum life–if you are good with the big drug lords-you are good!

Recently we have discovered Sergio the bar tender is more that a bar tender. After he was witnessed to and read a book, “Face to Face” which is about drug rehabilitation by the power of God, he started to open up!! Sergio is a very wealthy man. He not only owns this bar but is one of the largest drug lords in Papagaio. His bar is just a cover for him to deal. Sergio even gives his tithe now to church, he said his tithe from both his bar and his drug money he wants to give to God.

Anyway we are in good with the drug lord and that means protection for us! In the mean time we will continue to witness to him and teach him some good theology.

They shall be blessed…

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

- Matthew 5:3-9

Continue in Prayer

We ask that you continue to pray for us to work in Papagaio. We still feel like there is so much resistance from the enemy for us to be there.   We need to work through the spiritual darkness and declair victory in this slum! Thanks for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Junior and Stephanie Feitosa

End of Year Report

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:44:02 +0000

January 2009

Christmas Report

Dear friend,

We would like to thank those of you who have helped us have a very successful Christmas this year by your generous giving spirit! The LightHouse children had a blast!! They spent the day at the pool and had a delicious all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ. It made us so happy to hear them say that they are stuffed and can’t bear to eat any more meat.

Praise God we were able to give them each a gift and a small turkey for their families. The Lord has proven once more his great love and faithfulness to the LightHouse.

We look forward to this New Year, to continue our partnership with you as we build the Kingdom of God together here in Brazil. May the Lord bless you and your family.

Love and prayers,

Feitosa Family

Recreio Report

Graduation

This year we have had the biggest graduation ever in LightHouse Recreio. Fourteen young teens completed Project SHINE. Most of these kids have been with us for 7 years. We ask that you keep these graduates in your prayers. It is our desire to keep them much longer, but due to being short on staff, we are unable continue a second phase for them, having to trust the Lord to keep them. The one scripture that has been most taught and memorized to them is Psalms 119:105. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Our prayer is that they will always remember the God’s Word will light their way and direct their path. We believe that the many seeds of God’s Word that has been planted will not return void!

Junia

Junia, is a story and testimony of God’s Word being planted and not returning void! About 5 years ago we found Junia in one of the most complicated and painful families. Her father had moved out of the house because of her mother’s blatant prostitution. Junia and her brother suffered from her mother’s many unashamed visitors in the home and deliberate neglect. During this time Junia and her brother attended the LightHouse learning the Word of God and receiving healing deep inside, only where God could touch. She was always a very sweet and receptive young girl.

One unsuspected day, Junia’s father made a drastic decision for their family to move away from their mother; far enough away to ease the pain the mother had been causing them. Now 2 years later, they have moved back to Recreio as a family, still without their mother.

Junia is now 16 and very beautiful. She takes care of her father and brother by keeping the house clean and in order and making their meals. But what was so encouraging was when we went to evangelize and she came with us. Suddenly as we were encouraging an elder lady, Junia started to cry and tell her to trust in the Lord in times of trouble. She stated that she learned at the LightHouse, to always go to God and trust him. She said that there were many times she wished she would have just died, but that is when she found God to be the answer to help her through those painful times.

Today she is very active in her church and always eager to tell others about Jesus when she sees someone in pain. Seeing Junia again has encouraged us and assures us that we can release these young people into the hands of God. Because he will lighten their path and His Word does not return void! Praise God!

Papagaio Report“When I get big I’m gonna fill your head with bullets!”

Ten-year-old Elias is one of the children that we have selected to attend LightHouse Papagaio. He caught our attention when he was being beaten by a man in the street in front of LightHouse Papagaio. From the above window, Marcelino, our live-in worker, saw the kid being abused and ran down to break up the fight. And this young boy screamed, “When I get big I’m gonna fill your head with bullets!” As Marcelino opened the door, he pulled the boy into the LightHouse for safety.

On the same street of LightHouse Papagaio, for years there has been a hangout area for the drug lords and dealers. As Elias was getting his wounds cleaned up, it was discovered that the man wanted Elias to traffic drugs for him since he is a minor, and Elias was refusing.

Since then, Elias has been coming to visit the LightHouse Papagaio and we are evangelizing him and loving on him. We had the privilege of inviting him to our LightHouse Christmas party.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, you save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”

2 Samuel 22:2

(Boys from Papagaio at the party- Elias, Althaed, & Alan.)

Children’s Day

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:56:16 +0000

Every year, for 7 years, on October 11th we celebrate a day for children. At the Lighthouse we believe in honoring the children. There are so many that are abandoned on the streets, left behind for the dangerous street life to raise and teach them to live in this very tough existence in Brazil.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:07:31 +0000

Please note our change of address. Thank you!

LightHouse International
1765 E. Nine Mile Rd.
Suite 1, #225
Pensacola, FL32514