Read:Psalms 10:14-15 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.

When we walked into their shack, the 13-year-old quickly stepped behind her mother, physically separating us. “She is afraid of men,” said the mother. “Her stepfather abuses her.” Answering the question in our eyes, she continued, “I am afraid to report him, because he will kill me if I do.”

Incest.

It is a really ugly word and an uglier reality. Incest is a hidden epidemic in Brazil. Broken families combined with a culture that places little stigma on sexual exploitation allow it to persist. Hope Unlimited works hard to stop this abuse and affect cultural change to protect children. We work with parents to establish healthy homes, teach children in our care about right relationships, and point everyone toward the perfect Father’s love.