When the Absence Gets too Loud

Those were the words of Hillary, a young girl from Brazil, raised by a foster father but who now lives with her grandmother in Lapa—a poor neighbourhood in the region of Paraná, Brazil, where many families face daily struggles—unstable employment, overcrowded homes, and limited access to healthcare or education. And it was here—in this place—that she first met the members of a gospel-sharing team of Canadians and Brazilians during their GO Trip to Paraná. The team had decided to come to her school—a public school located in one of the most overlooked   areas of the region.

It was wintertime in southern Brazil, and so, on the last day of the ShareWord Global-led school day camp activity, the weather was cold, cloudy, and rainy. But the team arrived with full hearts, knowing this was their final chance to serve these students.

Hillary’s classroom filled with laughter when Garrett, one of the GO team members, broke the ice by holding up a broom and pretending it was a hockey stick. The kids laughed and leaned in. Then he said gently: “A broom also cleans.” That simple, funny moment opened the door to a deeper message—how only the blood of Jesus can clean our hearts from sin.

After sharing the gospel, the team gave out Spark magazines and asked the youth in the room one of the most important questions they may ever hear: “Does anyone want to follow Jesus?”

Every child said yes and began to write their names in their magazines. Then, one by one, they started talking, opening their hearts up during a time of personal prayer with the team. They shared stories that would break your heart—stories of abuse, unstable homes, and abandonment.

Then came Hillary’s turn. Her voice was quiet. Small. But already filled with a lifetime’s worth of pain.

“I feel sad,” she shared. As if she were being heard for the first time, she opened up about how she wished her parents wanted to know who she was.

No one interrupted. No one tried to explain it away. They simply stayed—quiet, attentive, and ready to receive what her heart needed to share. But they also saw this as a beautiful opportunity to tell her about a Father who does know her. So, they invited her to pray together—this time, a prayer of faith and belonging:

“Lord, I’ve made a decision to have You in my life. And my head may not yet understand and my heart may not yet feel it, but You are not only my God now—you are my Father. Please help me understand this. Help me feel this. I am never alone because now I have a Father who knows me, who wants to know me, and who will never leave me.”

That afternoon in Lapa, something beautiful happened. Among the laughter and quiet pain, those children heard the gospel clearly—some for the very first time. They listened. They responded. And in the end, nearly 200 students heard the message of Jesus. Around 50 young souls wrote their names in their Spark magazines as a sign of faith and personal decision to follow Him.

In a school where many carry invisible burdens, hope found its way in—through songs, through prayer, through the simple joy of being seen. And as the school day ended, the staff and students sent the GO team off with warmth: homemade food, handmade gifts, and a farewell performance by the children that was full of love.

It’s easy to think we just go on GO Trips to give. But stories like Hillary’s remind us: when we sow into the lives of others, we also reap. 

We receive glimpses of God’s heart.

We receive the privilege of witnessing God’s work.

And, we receive the invitation to return.

Going again isn’t just a blessing. It’s a calling. Because every time we GO, He meets us there.