Delton and Fernie are serving with ABBA, an organization working with street children and other at-risk children in São Paulo. Delton coordinates ABBA's technical team providing counseling to the children in ABBA's care, support to the direct care staff, and coordination of family ministries. He is also assisting in the development of a foster care program, few of which exist in Brazil. Fernie is a homemaker caring for their two children, is active in a local school group, and serves the ministry in a support staffing and nursing role.
To see the lives of street children in São Paulo, Brazil changed through Christ's love and healing power, giving hope and wholeness where there was none before, and with them reaching their families.
Fernie is a native of São Paulo, Brazil. She learned English at an early age and attended St. Paul's British School in São Paulo which put her on track for study abroad when it came time for university. She came to know the Lord at an early age through contact with her aunt and grandparents. Delton spent his childhood in northwestern Ontario, Canada, where he enjoyed a variety of outdoor adventures. He also came to know the Lord at an early age through the influence of his parents. Delton began college studies at Rosedale Bible College in Ohio and subsequently transferred to Cedarville University where Fernie had begun attending. A Cedarville University Habitat for Humanity work trip served as the start of their friendship which gradually grew into a romance. Fernie graduated with a degree in nursing in 2001 and Delton with a degree in social work, also in 2001. Delton then spent six months working with ABBA, before their marriage at Calvary International Church in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2002.
The next six years were foundational ones as they spent time in Ohio establishing their family, finishing graduate school (master's degree in social work for Delton), obtaining work experience (work with troubled youths and their families in several settings for Delton and nursing for Fernie), and obtaining U.S. citizenship (Fernie). However, they always felt a call to return and work long-term with ABBA and in August of 2008, God opened the doors to make those dreams reality. Delton and Fernie intend to remain in Brazil long-term, serving in whatever capacity God calls them to.
Those willing to pray and provide a spiritual covering to the ministry
Those willing to support the ministry financially
Workers interested in coming down for short-term work projects or "longer" short-term to work with the children.
Advocates to introduce them to others who would be interested in their ministry.
Why... how do these kids end up on the street? Only 2% of street kids truly have no parents or a relative who would take them in. The rest end up on the streets to escape physical, mental, and/or sexual abuse, extreme poverty...or they're involved in drugs... or there is simply a lack of parental attention and presence - neglect... or it could be a combination of all those factors. They range in age from 5 to 18 years, boys and girls, left to fend for themselves in whatever way they can. Begging, selling candy at traffic lights, washing windshields, polishing shoes, guarding cars parked on the street, stealing, prostitution, and selling and doing drugs.
Many don't want to be helped. Hardened by their harsh realities, they're proud that they're "making" it on their own. With ABBA, and other programs across Brazil, approximately 80% end up accepting help and agreeing to a residential program of some sort to rehabilitate them back into society... of those, anywhere from 20-50% actually stay within the program and leave the streets for good.
ABBA seeks to meet the physical, emotional and mental needs of the kids; but more than that, Christ needs to be introduced. Only through Him can lives be changed. And it doesn't stop with changing the child, the child's family needs to change, or a new family found. The child needs to belong to a mother and father. As soon as the child makes a decision to live in one of ABBA's homes, the team initiates contact with their family and attempts to reintegrate the child. If that is not successful, another family is sought out. ABBA is pioneering the foster care movement in Brazil through the church, encouraging Christian families to reach out and take these children into their homes.
Working with street children is a very intense prospect. Many of them have learned to survive and enjoy living the "free" life of the streets. But we believe God has bigger plans for these children and that the desire of His heart is that they belong to a family. In a nutshell, ABBA seeks to develop relationships with the kids by meeting them on the streets, feeding and clothing them, playing with them, or taking them on outings. Eventually, after about a month or so, they invite them to a weekend camp, run them ragged to get the drugs and alcohol out of their system, talk to them about God, and invite whoever wishes to come and live in one of their homes. That initial home is where they get the "street" out of the kids and in turn, the kids find the freedom to become "kids" once again. At this point, an effort is made to contact the children's families and to disciple that family, teaching them about God and finding solutions for their basic needs (shelter, clothing, food) -- thus developing the stability to allow them to become a family once again and reintegrating the children. It is not an easy process, but one that his made possible through God's never-failing love for his people.
Donations may be made to:
BEA Ministries,
PO Box 22
Medway, OH 45341.
Donations are tax-deductible and will be receipted. Note donations are for "the Hochstedler Project" on the memo line.
E-mail:
Delton & Fernie Hochstedler
Telephone:
(740) 852-0922 (Stateside and in Brazil)
Ministry Correspondence:
C/O BEA Ministries,
PO Box 22
Medway, OH 45341
Field Address:
C/O ABBA
Rua Walter Pereira Correia, 187
Jd. Clipper
São Paulo –SP
04827-130, Brazil
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