Modern slavery, Lisa Kristine, Ted Talk

Furlough in Holland and worries and concerns about Davi

Dear friends,

We've just arrived back in Brazil after a wonderful furlough in Holland. We are so thankful for all those that helped make it such a blessed period.

Lots of snow in Holland!

“You guys opened my eyes,” one person said. Another wrote, “I just started a blog about human trafficking after hearing your message.” Still another person told us that the church service had been something she would never forget.

These are just a few of the many reactions we got after our presentations in a variety of churches, cell groups and seminaries for missions. It was so cool and encouraging to see so many people, young and old, seeking the will of God for their lives. We also enjoyed the hospitality of the many different places we went to.

It is always a remarkable experience to minister in cell groups which take place in people's homes. To be able to tell about our experiences in missions and the needs of victims of human trafficking, right in the living room of a home, gives us the opportunity to share on a much more personal level. We were able to speak about the many projects we are involved in, like the upcoming football/soccer 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the danger of people being trafficked for sexual exploitation during such big events.

Some groups we visited had even done some homework before our presentation by reading my book “A Cry From the Streets.”  This made for an even more intimate sharing time about our lives and we were able to answer the personal questions people had.

Our hearts are full of gratitude for all those who received us with so much kindness. We wish them God's richest blessings.

Christmas breakfast with the traditional red Jelly!

Dilma

In our last newsletter we mentioned that our adopted daughter Dilma (who in addition to her deafness also has intellectual limitations) has moved to Holland. She now lives in a home, run by a Christian organization, which does an excellent job in helping people with certain limitations. Many people have prayed for Dilma, as this is a huge step for her. Imagine... A new country, new friends, new work, new language and another sign language as well.

I believe that all these prayers have really helped. Dilma is adapting very well into the group she is living with. Three days a week she goes to a “Sign Language Farm."  Really!  It’s a chicken farm with 25,000 chickens run by deaf people who also provide occupation therapy for the deaf with extra limitations, like Dilma. Besides this she helps in a gift shop with very creative merchandise. She takes lessons in Dutch grammar, vocabulary, and sign.  Dilma goes to swimming and fitness classes and already has a good number of people in her social circle, including friends and members of our extended family.

Davi, Johan and Dilma

We are so grateful for all the people that have been helping Dilma with her adaptation process. She is picking up Dutch sign language pretty fast! A lot faster than us, but of course we can still use the Brazilian sign language to have a good conversation with her. She cried at the airport when she had to say goodbye to us, but to our comfort she has already written to tell us how she is enjoying her new friends, all while missing us a lot.

Davi, who had his birthday on the 25th of december

Davi

Davi, our 26 year old adopted son (who is paraplegic because of Spina Bifida), has been living in Holland in a home run by the same Christian organization for 6 years already.  At first Davi was a little apprehensive about his sister coming to Holland. I think he might have been afraid to lose the special attention they give him. Soon he found out that in reality it is nice to have his sister close by, although they live in different units about 2 miles distance from each other. Davi’s positive attitude is helping Dilma to adapt faster.

During our time in Holland both Davi and Dilma spent two weeks of Christmas holidays with us in the holiday cabin where we stay when we are in Holland. It was great to be in Holland for a change through the holiday season and to also spend some quality time with our oldest son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and of course brothers and sisters who live there as well. Our daughters in Brazil didn’t like it very much, but such is life when you have family living on two different continents.

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During the Christmas holidays however, Davi started having some strange symptoms. We were shocked when the doctor mentioned that he had kidney failure. His kidney function has diminished drastically. After some more thorough tests in the hospital of the University in Utrecht, they were able to define a kidney function of 27%. If this diminishes to 15% he will need to start hemodialysis. This was frightening thing to hear.

Davi was born with Spina Bifida. When we adopted him at 3 years of age he already had problems with bladder infections, however, this had been quite stable until now.

During the month of March Davi will be submitted to other various tests to see if they can stabilize the kidney function so he won't get to the 15% limit and have to start dialysis.

It was a bit difficult to go back to Brazil under these circumstances, but for the month of July I have been invited to teach in a school in YWAM Switzerland on the subject of Children at Risk. During that trip I plan to stay for a couple of weeks in Holland with our children on the other side of the ocean. However, if Davi's health takes a sudden turn for the worse, we might have to go to Holland sooner than that.

We have many questions and little answers just yet, but one thing we know for sure: God has our lives and the life of Davi in His hands. We trust Him. He promised to never leave us and to be with us in every situation, everywhere, always.

We would like to finish this letter with this, and pray that not just Davi or ourselves, but each one of you may have a deeper revelation of trusting in God’s presence in every situation, everywhere, always.

With much love we wish you God’s richest blessings,

Johan & Jeannette Lukasse

Prayer points:

• Thank God for the wonderful time we had in Holland and all the inspiring people we were able to meet.
• Thank God for the speedy process of adaptation of Dilma in Holland and the wonderful people around her.
• Please pray for Davi.  Please pray for his health, his emotions, for the people that guide him through this process, the people who live in the same house with him, and of course for the medical team.

Historical event during this furlough Johan with his 10 brothers and sisters!
(They had not been able to be all together for more than 30 years)