My name is Manuela, I am 6 years old, and I live in Guinea-Bissau. When I arrived here, I was 1 year old.
I have a 9-year-old brother named Matheus. He said it is better to be a child than to be an adult. I also think so. I also have an older sister. Her name is Esther, and she lives in Brazil. She married a man named Lucas. My father is a pastor, and my mother is studying to be a doctor. She likes to take care of sick people.
I am Brazilian, and I speak Portuguese. I also know a little Creole and French. My friends from church speak Creole with me, but at school we speak more French. I find it difficult to speak all these languages. I asked my father why I have to speak these other languages if I am Brazilian? He told me that, as missionaries, we have to know how to speak several languages so we can give Bible studies to many people. I still don’t know how to give Bible studies, but I will learn; my father will teach me.
At my school, I have a friend named Rafaela. She is also Brazilian. Her father is also a missionary, but he is from a different church. I don’t know the name of his church. Rafaela is my best friend. I like to buy her snacks when my dad gives me 100 francs (25 U.S. cents). Sometimes I also share my snacks with other classmates who are Muslims.
At the beginning of April, I was invested with a scarf in the Adventurer Club. My father and mother made a beautiful uniform for me. I was very excited about the investiture, but when it was time to go to the front to receive the scarf, I was very shy and almost cried. They asked me at the investiture what I want to be when I grow up and what my favorite Bible story is. I said I want to be a teacher when I grow up, and the story I like the most is Esther’s.
That’s it. I hope you like my story. Pray for my Muslim friends and for Rafaela. They are very nice. Bye!
