By Maria Clara de Mello Connolly, 14, Brazil
(Second-generation member of the Family International.)

I was just listening to a song that goes something like this:

You can’t keep a good man down,
He’ll bounce back on his feet,
And just when you think you got him,
You’ll find out he can’t be beat!!

I would like to dedicate that song to all of those who believe they can stop our rain.

My name is Maria Clara de Mello Connolly. I have lived in Brazil my entire life. I have no fancy portfolio to boast, or any great accomplishments in my name, my life has been one based on simple tasks, insignificant to some but very significant to me. I study, cook, clean, help with a group of adorable children at our weekly social work, participate in a theater group, win souls and a little more. But one thing I don’t do is write, so ill keep this short!

It’s easy to keep this short because there’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said, I’d like to congratulate all my peers around the world for these great postings, they express wonderfully all that I believe in. Theirs just one thing id like to add to this website, and that is a big kiss to all of my friends in and out of the Family. Yes, that’s right, many of my friends have left the Family, but their decisions have not changed our love and friendship.

What has changed is that they are no longer my “role models” and I can no longer say “I want to grow up to be just like them.” The reason is not a lack of love or trust in my friends, but much more due to the fact that they are no longer giving their lives away. While in the Family as I look around all I see is people of every shape, size and color fully giving their lives away, and that is what I consider a role model! Someone who, regardless of their imperfections wakes up every morning and asks themselves what they have to give to the world and to Jesus, not how they can get a raise, a better car or better looks. The Family life is based on giving, giving of yourself, your possessions, your dedication, service and life.

All I can say is that the Family is full of role models, not saints, but people like Angela: GIVERS!