Marcelo Estevão de Souza Dias

My parents came to America because of a situation occurring in Brazil. I was born in New Jersey. We later moved back to Brazil. My father went to a church in Brazil to help my grandfather who was a pastor. When I was eighteen I moved back to America so that I would not lose my U.S. nationality. My father and little brother then joined me. My father found himself in a bad situation. My brother didn’t want to live with him anymore. My father eventually divorced my mother and basically disappeared from our lives. I found myself having to raise myself and my brother. Life was very difficult and I didn’t have the opportunity for work. My brother had to return to Brazil. I was on my own and the opportunity to work came from the Army. I am now stationed at Fort Leavenworth serving as an MP. I plan to stay in the military until I am able to retire.

While being stationed here in Kansas I wanted to be able to mix with civilians, get off base, and make new friends. I heard about a FaceBook group where they discussed things like available jobs, hangouts, churches, and so on. It is through this group that I discovered Central Church and started attending. I took the membership class and became a member a few months ago.

My desire is to be reunited with my mother and brother. It has been six years since I have been with them. It is very difficult to help them when I am here and they are thousands of miles away in Brazil. The ability for my mother to be able to attend the Brazilian service would be good for her.