Day 15: Purity Recovered

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Read:Psalms 10:11-18 He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

How do you help a girl forced to sell her body see herself as pure? The Hope Unlimited team faces this challenge every day. Each year, on the Brazilian “Day of Lovers,” (their version of Valentine’s Day) we have a unique opportunity to redeem the secular holiday and teach our girls and unforgettable lesson.

Months before, as hundreds of friends of Hope Unlimited prepare Valentine cards for their own friends and family, they make extras for the girls at the City of Youth. Some are simple, store-bought cards, occasionally including a Portuguese phrase or two; others are elaborate, handmade cards of exceptional beauty. They arrive in our office by the thousands and then are taken to Brazil where the secular holiday becomes a vehicle for transformation. Our staff makes sure every girl gets a lapful of cards. Then they talk to the girls about the meaning of love, purity, and the plans God has for them. The impact is extraordinary. As one 13-year-old prayed, “Father, thank you for making me pure again.”

Pray:Father, thank you for the young women at Hope Unlimited. Help them see themselves as you see them: worthy of love, of infinite value, and precious to You. Work in their lives to bring them closer to you, so that they may show your love to others.

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