Mark and Paige Anderson
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Email Mark and Paige Anderson

Current Ministry: Children In High Risk - Brazil

In September of 1998, we, the Andersons, along with 12 other short-term missionaries from Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells, California, traveled to Natal, Brazil, to assist a local church in expanding an orphanage. WARNING: SHORT TERM MISSIONS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. With the support of Southwest we relocated our family to Brazil 2 years later. Talk about out on a limb! Moving to Fortaleza in February of 2000 we were privileged to oversee the foundation of the Davis Lar Orphanage from the ground up. After visiting a variety of orphanages and researching sites throughout the world, we came up with the Davis Lar plan. The orphanage focuses on the child victims of prostitution, drug trafficking, abuse, and abandonment, providing homes and restoring the children to spiritual, physical and emotional health while reaching out to their families and communities. Check out the rest of this site for details. We have grown to 6 functioning homes in Aracas, a new orphanage being constructed in Eusebio, a boy's transition home, a girl's transition home (currently in our house), an apprentice program, and a foster care program.

While working in a variety of areas, our hearts and most of our time remain with the children of the Davis Lar and Mark continues to serve as Vice President of the board and executive director. He also participates in counseling, fund raising through grants, and is the go-to guy to put out any and all fires the local staff can't douse. Paige facilitates volunteers, PR, and helps with house mom training while homeschooling her two and being a housemom for the girl's transition home. We are under the umbrella of Action International Ministries. We are supported separately from the Davis Lar. All funds you donate to the Lar go to the Lar. If you would like to support our family in this ministry, please click here!

Mark Eisenhower

I spent my life running from God. Avoiding the one relationship that matters, I found myself sinking into trouble until I finally reached a dead end. I either needed to make a life-changing decision, or wallow in the reality I created. Yet many seeds had been planted in my life, and in desperation I reached out to God to pull me out of the mess I was in...the very next night on December 6, 2004, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I had always enjoyed working with children; however, as my new life unfolded I felt called to work with at-risk youth. I had been one! I felt I could use my past experience as a tool to lead others to make the same decision I had. After working in the social services system in the United States, I felt the calling to venture outside of our borders. God made the way for me to come to the Davis Lar and work with these amazing kids down here in Fortaleza, Brasil.

I arrived at the Davis Lar in November of 2008. After six months, I knew this was where I wanted to be, where God was calling me, and returned to the US to get my volunteer visa. I am back full time teaching English classes and computer skills. I also work individually with some of our boys whom, due to mental and psychological challenges, require more one on one time than most of our children. This one on one time serves the purpose of giving these boys another male reference they can depend upon to care about them while helping the lar enforce limits. Creating relationships the kids trust in is a challenge. I enjoy building these relationships, working through problem behavior, and channeling the boys’ inherent curiosity and intelligence into productive and positive areas. I assist in all other areas that I am called to, and am currently overseeing Robson’s physical therapy. Tayane and Andreza have come alongside and are considering possible carreers in health!

While on site, I am finishing my degree in behavioral science through Ohio University’s Bachelors of Specialized Studies program. My goals are to grow in the discipling of the junior boys, taking on new responsibilities as needed, and being a big brother to all at the Davis Lar!