We are half way through the International Fair and still waiting for a “good” night… it is often after midnight, when all the regular pavilions close, more people start to wander by where we are… We are praying that the sales pick up more in the last 5 days of the fair…
The first night was GOOD… not because of the money amount that we sold, but because of WHAT we sold… Do you remember Matilde from the last letter? On the first night of the fair, someone picked up a paper-bead necklace Matilde made and said, ¨I want to buy THIS!”
The new girls at El Jordán have their Bible study mixed with something practical (bait to encourage attendance)… We´ve been teaching how to make paper beads… something I first saw in Africa… and then a team from Canada came last year and taught our girls the skill (Thanks Eastridge team!!!)… Matilde not only used to sleep through the Bible Study part our class, she´d get agitated and bored whenever we made beads… she´d look for an excuse to leave class early… but lately, she has been motivated to make beads… and even asked permission to take some home to work on them…
We are convinced that our people need to learn to WORK… Ephesians 4:28 says… He who steals must steal no longer… but work honestly with his hands… in order to share with those in need…. Matilde is learning the joy of using her hands for GOOD…
To have someone admire and buy her $2 necklace is so important… I´m sure it´s the very first time she´s ever earned money from something she MADE … Can you imagine how SHE will feel when she finds out that someone CHOSE to buy HER necklace? You see, that is why selling at the fair is so important to us… not only is the money the girls earn used for basic needs of food, shelter etc... but it is also inspires our girls to MORE… When you´ve believed the lies all of your life that you are worthless and can´t do anything, creating beautiful things and having other people wanting to buy them proves otherwise…
WOULD YOU HELP US PRAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE GOOD SALES THESE LAST 5 DAYS OF THE FAIR? Thank you… (I have another story about Matilde… but will have to wait until next letter…)
I have another urgent prayer request to leave with you… for some of you who have visited El Jordán… you might have met Mariela… she hasn´t come to El Jordan for at least a year, but we still carry her in our hearts… She has had a very sad, sad life… from being abandoned as a baby, growing up in an abusive children´s home, running away to the streets when she was FIVE… and then spending years and years on the streets… When her two oldest boys (now 15 and 17) were young, their father was run over and killed… Maybe 7 or 8 years ago, the father to her oldest daughter (now 10) died from street related health issues… As she struggled alone with her 4 children, she slipped back into old addictions…
That is when Elias (an upholsterer) met her and wanted to be a father to her kids and build a home with her... They have a 6 year old girl together… Life hasn´t been easy… Mariela´s oldest boys have been really rebellious and are now on their own… 13 year old Josué is a dwarf and has his own difficulties…
Well… 10 days ago, Elias slipped in his yard and cut his hand… He went to a pharmacy and came home with some antibiotics… Five days later, he started having problems in his mouth and throat and thought he might be having a stroke… It continued to complicate into more pain, lack of the ability to move, spasms… He was taken to a hospital on Sunday and has been diagnosed with tetanus… On Monday, he asked Mariela to phone Marco… We went to look for him, but he had just been transferred to another hospital because of lack of space…
The process of the sickness is awful and most doctors are giving no hope for recovery… he needs to be in intensive care but in this second hospital, there isn´t room either… , nor could his family afford to have him there… Mariela is heartbroken… the kids are frightened…
Marco was able to visit Elias tonight (he is still in Emergency because there isn´t any other space for him…)… and although Elias can´t open his eyes or talk, when Marco asked him if he could hear and understand, Elias was able to nod his head… The doctors told him that Elias could die at any time… but he could also make a long, difficult recovery… His life is in the balance right now…
SO… please… thank the Lord Marco was able to talk with Elias tonight… and please pray for God´s provision, peace and healing… and that Elias might decide to put his trust in Christ during this journey through this dark valley… Mariela didn´t have money for her bus fare to go home to check on her kid let alone to buy the medicines Elias needed tonight… (Here hospitals don´t provide any medications, family members have to be present to buy all the supplies and medications that the doctors ask for…) All the way around it is such a difficult situation… We are praying that Elias might have another chance to live… another chance to be that family for Mariela…
Please help us pray…
Thank you!
Corina… for Marco, Keiden and Marlee…