Uruguay is located in Southern South America between Brazil and Argentina. It is the second smallest country in South America, with a population of approximately 3.5 million. The capital city is Montevideo, where approximately 1.9 million people live. The country was founded with the intent of having a society that was free from religion. As a result, Uruguay has a largely unreached society with the second highest suicide rate in South America.

Thousands of young boys and girls are abandoned in Uruguay every year. This is due partly because prostitution is legal. As a result one half of all live births in Uruguay are to women 18 and under, mostly single and many in prostitution. The by-product is unwanted children, abandoned to the streets. Many could be helped through adoption, but Uruguay prohibits adoption of children out of the country, and in-country adoptions are few, due to government red tape.

Children who are not adopted or helped by Christian orphanages, are either on the streets or in state run orphanages. Because of social policies, the government run orphanages prohibit the residents to work and education is voluntary. At the mandatory discharge age of 18, the majority of these teen- agers are put on the streets, with minimal skills or education. Many have no where to turn and become ensnared in prostitution, drugs and other criminal pursuits to try and survive. Some, however, are ripe for the Gospel and are desiring mentoring, fathering and discipling.

God calls Himself a “Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5) and He desires to draw these hurting, wayward children to Himself and restore them. (Luke 15:11-24) “He stands up for those who are beaten down. He gives food to hungry people. The Lord sets prisoners free. The Lord gives sight to those who are blind. The Lord lifts up those who feel helpless.” Psalm 146:7,8