Flooded with Faith
After a devastating flood, I learned that we can show the love of the Savior to people in small ways.
Living with so many relatives in my father’s barbershop was uncomfortable.
My family and I had been forced to evacuate our home during the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul and take up residence with my uncles, cousins, and grandmother at my father’s workplace, which was out of the danger zone.
The news, the images, the sound of water running through the streets, the constant fear of increased flooding, and the lack of access to many things we normally took for granted made the days feel endless.
I was stressed and afraid, but I knew others were facing even greater difficulties. The nearby Church meetinghouse sheltered many people who had completely lost their homes. There were a lot of children there. Fear, discomfort, and sadness hung on their faces. Even though I felt overwhelmed, I decided to do something—not just to distract myself, but to help others cope with the stress we were all feeling.
Connecting Through Creativity
One child caught my attention. He was always off to the side and hardly ever played with the others. He carried a small doll in his hand: an odd-looking figure made from a scarf he had carefully wrapped. I asked him about it.
With a shy smile, the boy explained it wasn’t just a doll. He told me it was an “alien,” a being from another planet who had come to help him. The boy’s imagination delighted me. So, using similar materials, I made a green doll for myself, which we named “Little Green.” I didn’t know this would be the beginning of many adventures together; during our weeks there, we created an entire world for our dolls.
At first, the boy was shy, but gradually, he opened up. He began to share more details and imaginative stories. The simple act of drawing together made him feel more comfortable. It wasn’t long before he started coming to me for company.
Power of Faith-Filled Actions
Not only him—but many other children began joining our space, creating their own worlds and sharing their stories in their own ways through drawing. Some drew houses, others drew animals or fantastic heroes. Through those small creations, we were able to escape reality a little and process what we were living through.
This experience was very difficult and, at times, quite overwhelming. In those moments, when everything seemed uncertain, I came to understand that faith is more than words; it’s action. It’s what we do amid adversity, when no one is watching.
I learned that selfless gestures—companionship, a smile, kind actions—are truly what makes a difference. Through small acts of kindness, we can have an immense impact. By being a helping hand, we show the love of the Savior to everyone.
The author is from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil