When the month of January arrives, the youth of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, already know what to do: pack their bags for the Missão Calebe project. This year, more than a thousand young people answered the call for missionary activities and social projects developed during holidays in the central region of Rio.
For the participants of Três Rios, a municipality in the interior, the mission had to be adjusted due to a crisis. They were at the church during a service when the rain started, around 7:30 p.m. In less than three hours, the City Hall alert came: A state of public emergency due to the risk of new storms and floods. The water invaded houses, uprooted asphalt in several points, and forced many residents to be rescued by boat.
The youth leadership decided to start the Caleb Mission immediately. On the morning of Monday, Jan. 11, they called Civil Defense to see how they could help. The first task was to remove everything that was damaged inside the houses so that City Hall workers could collect all the furniture and appliances that were no longer usable due to the flood.
“There were only a few of us--around 12 young people--but every bit of help at such times is always welcome,” recalls Pedro Henrique Lopes, youth leader from the region of Três Rios and Paraíba do Sul.
Mud and help to residents
The Várzea do Otorino region had a 1.7-meter (5.6 feet) mark with mud on the walls. At the site, the volunteers were able to help clean around 25 houses. Among them were the residences of members of the Adventist Church, such as the Emanoel couple, 83 years old, and Darcília Corrêa, aged 77, who live with their daughter, Suely Corrêa. They were watching the service on TV Novo Tempo when their daughter said the water was inside the house.
“There was only time to save necessities,” explains Darcília. “We lost practically all of our furniture. It wasn’t until around 2 a.m. that the water started to drop.” She calls the Calebs 'golden youth,' saying, “They are one in a thousand! Very excited, smiling, and willing! If it weren't for them, maybe my house would still be dirty today. They helped everyone who needed it, and they were amazing! The whole week, they didn't stop. This Caleb Mission can never end! They are now part of our family!”
Family and dogs rescued from flood
Roberta Chaves is 21 years old, is a Computer Engineering student, and led, for the first time, the Calebes de Três Rios team. She says there were sad scenes scattered all over the place.
“The flood on January 11 was devastating,” she says. “There were so many flooded points that we were unable to help everyone. Of all the houses, the one that most impressed me was that of Celina, a single mother with two small children, two and three years old, living with her elderly father and several pets.”
Celina's family was one of those which received food from the 250 kilos (551 pounds) collected by the volunteers. As soon as the youth learned of their situation, they immediately went to clean the mud-filled house. Celina says she has already experienced two floods there, but none of this magnitude.
“That night, the rain was so heavy that in a short time Celina saw everything ending, Chaves explains.
Celina tried to save as many things as possible, but most had to be left behind. Her father, Ubirajara, said the water hit his chest and by the time Celina managed to leave the house, the water was already to her neck.
“With the help of the neighbors, they managed to save everyone and Celina did not leave the house until she was able to save her animals too,” adds Chaves.
Solidarity campaigns
The Calebs also campaigned to collect food, water, clothing, shoes, and hygiene and cleaning items. Among the donations, they also managed to get a stove, refrigerator, mattresses and even a bed.
“It was very sad to see so many people lose almost everything,” says Lopes. “There was a lady with her daughter who had planned to move, so their entire household was packed in boxes. In three days the truck was arriving to transport the boxes to their new home. They saw their boxed things being lost and they could do almost nothing.”
Robson Pereira is the pastor who leads young people in the Central Region of the State of Rio de Janeiro. He comments that, at first, they were worried about how it would be this year, with the pandemic.
“During training, we advise young people on how to take care of social distance, hand hygiene, and wearing masks at all times,” he says. “But hundreds of young people were not afraid and faced adversity in partnership with their pastors and local coordinators.”
Pereira visited the Calebe de Três Rios mission on Jan. 13 and says that in some places the water reached 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height. While there, he met Thais, a lady who was unable to enter the house for three days due to the flood.
“The Calebs broke a window to get in and clean the house for her,” Pereira shares. “They were true heroes.”
This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site