The Espirito Santos in the USA

Dear friends,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Cleide, and I want to share with you a deeply personal story that has shaped my life and led me to where I am today. I grew up in Altamira-PA, a small town in Brazil's Xingu Region. From a young age, I had the privilege of interacting with North American missionary families who inspired me with their language and culture.

You see, there was a scarcity of English teachers in our region, and I decided to take matters into my own hands. At the tender age of 15, I began teaching English to the local community. It was a challenging journey, but one that filled me with purpose and hope. English opened doors of opportunity for me in different areas of my life, especially in education. I became the first person in my family's generation to pursue higher education.

This experience instilled in me a profound belief that I could make a difference in other people's lives as well. I dedicated myself tirelessly to helping my students succeed in learning English, enabling them to truly speak the language and use it in their daily lives. Many years ago, people doubted that students could learn English in public schools, but through sheer determination and hard work, I started to transform the landscape of English language teaching in the interior of our state.

Recently, my efforts were recognized, and I was honored with a Fulbright Scholarship (DAI). I will be going to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. This prestigious program offers a fully-funded opportunity for me to study and develop a project in the United States (more details about the project in the video below), with the intention of implementing it upon my return to Brazil. It is an incredible chance to further enhance language teaching practices and contribute to the growth of education in my community.

However, there is one significant obstacle standing in my way: the thought of being away from my family for five long months, my two girls, Haley (11) and Liah (9), and my husband Allison. I want them to be a part of this incredible journey. Unfortunately, the expenses involved in bringing them along are significant, and I cannot do it alone.

We may not always understand the grand plan, but we trust that God is in control, guiding us through every step of the journey. We believe that he has greater plans, and this opportunity is just the beginning of things he will do in our lives and the lives of others around us. Not knowing exactly what we will encounter is sometimes very challenging, but it’s a great way to fully depend on the Lord and wait to see what he is doing and will do as we take a step of faith. One thing we deeply wish: wherever we go or stay, we pray the presence of the Lord and his kingdom comes along, and wherever it is, that is makes changes in people’s lives. Having said that, we believe this is not only about education, it involves God's purpose for our lives and how He works through it.

If you feel moved by my story and the vision I carry within my heart, I kindly ask for your support. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to making our dream a reality. Your donation will not only help ease the financial burden but also allow my family to experience this incredible journey.

If you want to see the breakdown of expenses required to bring my family along just click on the link below, where I attached a copy of the Fulbright Commission Email.

Considering the monthly expenses and the fact that I will be taking two kids and my husband for five months, the estimated expenses are about $ 12,300 plus $3600 for plane tickets and $1600 to complement the rent price, therefore a TOTAL OF $ 17, 500.

Thank you for your consideration, your kindness, and your belief in the power of education to transform lives. We also ask that you keep us in your prayers as we walk through this journey, that the Lord will open doors and make connections in every stage.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Cleide, Allison, Haley and Liah

Watch the videos below for a full overview of my life story and the type of work I do here in the Xingu Region.

Expenses details here