Dona Marta... The Rest of the Story

Dona Marta is a success story. It is a story of a people whose lives continue to be transformed by the passion and power of a Pastor who believes in them, their worth, and their future.

 

Dona Marta is a favela. It is a poor neighborhood where dogs and cats (and chickens) roam the sidewalks and streets looking for food. It is a place where poverty is clearly apparent. According to Wikipedia, approximately 8,000 people live in the 500 houses and shacks that make up Dona Marta. The better area of the neighborhood still is rough and full of challenges. But, it is also a place of hope. It is a place that is better because people care. It is a place that has triumphed over drug lords and criminal activity. It is a place that has a future, a much brighter future than it had even a year ago.

Pastor Pedro Paulo’s daughter-in-law (Leila) worked with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Dona Marta. When their project finished there, Leila and her father began working on a new project, through the church that would continue the work that WYAM had begun. The Nazarene church decided to buy a property in Dona Marta to give them a headquarters and a place to work out of. This is the place we have been working at over the past couple of days. From this location, church services could be held, community events could occur and care bags could be passed out. It also served as a place that was revered by those who lived in Dona Marta. People from the church were allowed in and allowed to continue the work in order to better the community. These people continued to pray that Dona Marta would be delivered from the crime and drugs that infested it. Their prayers would be answered… eventually.

Our guide in Dona Marta is Suzy. She is a lovely, caring, kind individual whose smile radiates the love of God. But that was not always so. Suzy is the sister of Márcio Amaro de Oliveira, also known as Marcinho VP. At the time Marcinho VP was a drug dealer (manager of all dealers) known and much sought by police. When he was gone, Suzy would take over in his place. She was a powerful woman, and was well-respected as was her family. A couple of our students have been on this trip before with Pastor Brent and the last time they were here, she showed them the specific place that she would bring people to have them killed. But the God we serve is bigger than that, and He loves her and sought her out. Suzy finally accepted Christ as Savior and Pastor Pedro-Paulo took her into his home to get her out of that situation and provide her safety. However, life wasn’t easy. Suzy slipped and returned to drugs, and Pastor returned to her, plucked her out of that situation again and brought her back to Nilopolis. Some other church members agreed to take her into their home, and she has remained clean since then. She now leads groups into Dona Marta to work. The church continues to pray…

Katelyn and Holly, the young ladies who have been here previously shared that the first time they came, they were prepped beforehand as to what to expect and what would be happening behind the scenes. They shared that though this was a “heavy” place and there was much to be concerned about (bullet holes in the windows, people younger than they were standing as armed guards with rifles and grenades) there was still joy. Children still played, laughter could still be heard and hope still existed. They expressed that the last time they visited Dona Marta, the air was literally heavy with the unknown. Katelyn shared that she wondered about the children in Dona Marta, who under the sound of gunfire must have been concerned with their own safety and then that of their families. They detailed the account of them leaving behind schedule for the day one day and seeing the “bocas de fumo” (tables set up with mounds of drugs for sale) and many more guns and ammunition. And the church continued to pray…

The Nazarene church decided to expand their services and purchased another, larger property higher on the hill that would become the new church, and would also serve as a home for the pastor at Dona Marta. The previous church (building we have been working on) was converted to a computer center where people could come to learn English and find jobs, as well as other skills and tasks. Events were held in the new building and people began accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. People would come for haircuts and manicures, parties, and social services, as well as learning new crafts. The church became a revered place and the people in it were very respected. The church continued to pray for change and deliverance from the drug lords.

A couple of years ago the government decided to “establish peace” in Dona Marta. For many years the “control” over the community would go back and forth between the Red Command and the Third Command. Each command would control for awhile, until the other built up sufficient people and ammunition to regain control. The government of Brazil built headquarters and invaded the hill. The police either arrested the managers or forced them to run away. The “bocas de fumo” were shut down and the problems began to disappear. Currently there are no dealers in Dona Marta, though there are still users.

So much has changed from the last time Pastor Brent and his team was here. No longer is there an air of fear and worry, but the people, and the teams can breathe easily knowing they are safe. There are no armed guards or rifles seen on the corners as you walk by. The church is continuing to do the work in Dona Marta and will continue to help educate and provide for the needs there. Church members, and the community rejoice that they no longer live in fear, but are able to come and go, play with their children outside, smile and enjoy their new life.

The inspiration for sharing this story came from a tiny plant less than 15 feet from the community center where we were working. This little plant is thriving and growing in the middle of a concrete wall. It reminded me that sometimes, life springs from what was once cracked and dry.

Teams continue to come into Dona Marta to help with the church needs as well as the community needs. Monthly “care bags” are passed out and the church continues to hold events designed to entice people to attend in order to share the love of Jesus. Our team came in and helped to freshen up the community center with new paint and light repairs. This is another way to show that we love and genuinely care about the people of Dona Marta. We are blessed to be a part of the team, and the story of success in Dona Marta.