Every journey has a start…

He is 9 years old. His parents were arrested for drug trafficking and robbery, leaving him and his 5-year-old brother with a neighbor. However, this woman was unable to care for them, as she already had two grandchildren to look after, so she handed them over to an uncle who also lived in the world of drugs.

So they were terribly abused and eventually ended up living on the streets, begging and running all kinds of risks.

The child protection services were called in and a family took in the younger boy, but they said that no one wanted Mikael.

We stepped in and said, “We want you! You are precious! You are important!“

Today he lives with Tia Lenice (Tia Lele House), already participating in the Luz Project (Code Red), because we couldn’t let this boy get lost like that.

 Visão Geral

Objetivo de Longo Prazo: (Ex.: Ter uma Familia, Carreira, Educação, Desenvolvimento Pessoal)

Objetivo de Médio Prazo: (Ex.: Concluir o ensino médio, escolher uma faculdade)

Objetivo de Curto Prazo: (Ex.: Melhorar notas, participar de atividades extracurriculares)

Metas e Ações [Template]

Part I: From the Shadows of Hell’s Inn

In the heart of Belém, there lies a neighborhood long known as Hospedaria do Inferno—Hell’s Inn. It’s a place where hope is scarce and darkness often reigns. But even in the deepest shadows, light can break through.

That light is The Small Light Christian School, a beacon of hope supported by the unwavering love and generosity of the First Baptist Church of Rockville.

Among the twelve children rescued from Hell’s Inn, one shines with a story of resilience and redemption—his name is Mikael.

Part II: A Child Lost, A Light Found

Mikael’s early life was marked by tragedy. After losing his father to AIDS, he lived with his mother, stepfather, and two siblings in the Hell’s Inn community, a dangerous area plagued by violence and poverty. One day, the police raided their home. His mother and stepfather were arrested under grave accusations, leaving Mikael and his siblings terrified and alone.

A kind but elderly neighbor took them in, but unable to care for all three, she placed the children in the hands of others. Mikael and his brother ended up with a drug-addicted uncle who abused and neglected them. Eventually, they fled to the streets, begging for food and sleeping on sidewalks. One day, someone took his younger brother away, and Mikael was left completely alone.

That’s when we—through the support of the FBCR VBS—entered his story. When Mikael said, “No one wants me,” we answered, “We want you. You are too precious to be lost.”

Part III: A New Song, A New Life

Nearly two years have passed since Mikael was rescued. Today, he walks in the streets—not in despair, but with joy. His smile is wide, his steps confident. He is a student at The Small Light Christian School, where he is nurtured, educated, and loved.

His transformation is a living testimony to the power of Christ’s love and the faithful support of the First Baptist Church of Rockville.

But the story doesn’t end there. Mikael’s mother was recently released from prison. He had longed for this moment, dreaming of being reunited with her. Yet, her return brought new challenges. She cannot return to her old neighborhood—it’s too dangerous.

And while she wants to reclaim her children, we fear her motives may be influenced by government aid rather than genuine readiness.

Part IV: A Future Secured by Grace

We knew we had to act. With prayer and determination, we secured a small apartment near the school—a safe haven where Mikael and his family could start anew. But the apartment was empty. No beds, no furniture, no comfort.

That’s where the First Baptist Church of Rockville stepped in once again, rallying to raise funds from the VBS offering once again and provide everything this family needed to begin again.

Today, Mikael is not just surviving—he is thriving. He remains in the Project Luz, surrounded by mentors, teachers, and a community that believes in him.

His mother is being guided with compassion and care, and together, they are discovering the grace of Jesus Christ—the grace that reaches even into the darkest corners of Hell’s Inn.

 Revisão e Ajustes

**Data da Revisão: 06/01/2025 (Trimestral)

**Notas:

Mikael – From the Streets to the Light

Mikael is only nine years old, but his story carries the weight of many lifetimes. His parents were imprisoned for drug trafficking and robbery, leaving him and his five-year-old brother in the care of a neighbor. That woman, already overwhelmed caring for her two grandchildren, couldn’t handle two more little boys. Out of desperation, she handed them over to an uncle — a man also trapped in the world of drugs.

From there, things got worse. Mikael and his brother were cruelly mistreated and eventually abandoned, forced to survive on the streets — begging for food and facing every kind of danger no child should ever know.

When the local child protection council intervened, the younger brother was quickly taken in by a foster family. But when it came to Mikael, people said the same heartbreaking words:

“No one wants him.”

That’s when we stepped in and said, “We do!”
We looked into his eyes and told him, “You are precious. You are important. Your life matters.”

From that day, Mikael came to live safely with Aunt Lenice, at Tia Lele’s House. He joined Projeto Luz, became part of our RockSmith Club family, and began to experience love, structure, and purpose. Through music, he found joy again — a rhythm that spoke louder than pain, and a melody that reminded him he was never forgotten.

Recently, we received news that Mikael’s mother was freed from jail. She decided to move away from the Hell’s Inn neighborhood — the same place that held so many painful memories. With that, our mission with Mikael has reached its conclusion, at least for now.

We pray that everything he learned and lived during his time with us — the music, the discipline, the faith, the love — will stay in his heart and guide his steps. May these years together help him make wise and life-giving decisions, wherever the road takes him.

🎸 “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.” — Psalm 113:7
🙏 “Once unwanted, now chosen — may Mikael always remember that he is deeply loved.”