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My father died when I was five years old. Four years later I had to leave my mother's house because she was too old to care for me, and also because the war got worse. I lived with my sister, who attended the Evangelical Church. I joined her.

When I was 18 and in my second year of electricity course I was forced into the army, where I served for seven years as 1st Tactical Instructor of Special Forces and as the commands 2nd Instructor and Land Navigation (topography). I pampered many bad habits like drinking, doing drugs and prostitution. I resigned as an officer of the army in 1992.

The woman I lived with died in June 1993. She left two children. A boy of two and a three month old girl, which also died six months later. I hit the lowest point in my life, barely surviving on booze and alcohol.

In July 1994 I had contact with YWAM missionaries and received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. My life changed and took a new direction. I did DTS, July to December 1994, and became a full-time YWAMer on 2 January 1995. I eventually became the School leader and also studied the course "Tools for Leaders".

Since June 1999 the Lord is calling me to work with children in need: orphans, abandoned kids, street kids. Since May 2000 I am leading the Children Centre which is supported by ORA-International, a German-based Relief Organisation.

Since June 2001 we run the
"El Shaddai" Project.

Since April 2000 I am married to Domingas Francisco Campos da Costa "Mila Campos". We have two children: Julio Fermino da Costas "Jully", who is 12, and Elvith Nadia C. da Costa, who is one year old.

We did the Rescue and Restoration School in May 2002.