We had a great speaker every Wednesday evening in July for 9 couples from El Jordan.  It was neat to see the nine who started, finish (with the exception of one man).  The speaker dealt with handling finances, resolving conflict, addictions and abuse/mistreatment in a relationship.   The girls are regulars at El Jordan – but at least 7 of the nine men still have problems with addictions.  As each week went by, they asked more questions and opened up more about the realities they lived.  When I walked in at the very end to present a Bible to each couple, tears came to my eyes...  Nine couples – all with their heads bowed, different ones earnestly praying for their families...  It was beautiful...  

Their lives and relationships are complicated to say the least – their families won’t change overnight – but what I do know is that they showed interest in learning... and God’s word was planted in their hearts... and it won’t return void!  Since then, several have mentioned their husbands reading the Bible they were given...

For those who would like to pray specifically for these couples (even just this once as you read the letter), their names are Raúl & Jenny, Carlos & Lupe, Ronald & Tania, Alfredo & Cinthia, Dorian & Mery A. (not the same Mery whose husband died in December – Mery Z.), Richard & Rosa, Roly & Katty, Elias & Mariela, Roberto & Martha... (and in these families there are 33 children...)

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In my last letter I wrote about the terrible cold spell we had... and asked you to pray – especially for some of our students who live in more precarious living quarters...   I asked a few how they had survived the bitter cold... Do you want to hear how God answered your prayers?

Mery Z.  lives with two of her kids in a wood room that has gaps between the slabs...  Since the abusive father of her children died in December, Mery has been like a withered rose whose bruised petals are opening up, revealing live, fresh, beautiful color.  The shadow and oppression she lived under is fading... and she has found hope and life in a relationship with Christ. 

Her answer about the cold?  With a definite nod of her head and all seriousness she said, “We were fine!  God protected us... He didn’t let the cold get in.  I asked Him to help us and He did!”

Nelly,    in a room made of slabs of lumber, claimed that it was warmer than a brick room... 

Jenny S.  who only had sheets to cover her “windows” said that the sweaters from El Jordan helped so much... and she thanked God that in spite of the cold, none of them got sick...

Adela’s family, living in a room made of tin and plastic haven’t been very comfortable.  When the roof leaks, their room is too small to all keep dry...  Help is coming – in a team of young people arriving this week from Oshawa, Ontario.  They are going to spend some time trying to make their room a bit more liveable.

So, in different ways we see God’s faithfulness... and His answers to our prayers...  Thank you for being involved in this way!

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A couple weeks ago, we travelled to a tiny little town with Santiago and Ana – the couple who live at our property.  They appreciate us treating them like “family” and all that they are learning about the Bible – and wanted to take us to visit their home... We left early Friday and came back on Monday... What was described as “just a little beyond Monteagudo” ended up taking us about 5 hours longer than expected (12 in all!)... the pig cooked in our honour made the arrival even sweeter...

Keiden behaved well... and it was good to get away... even though we missed showers and bathrooms!  We took clothes that weren’t being used from the clothes closet in El Jordan along with Bible booklets, colouring books and crayons for the kids...  We came back with more than what we gave away – oranges fresh off the tree, a chicken, sugar cane, a hand-woven blanket (out of hand spun wool)... and some good memories...  My camera went on the blink (the dust from along the way didn’t help) but I’ll get some pictures from Heidi to send on to you...

While we were on our trip, Juan phoned El Jordan to leave me a message that Lorena was in intensive care... could I please go visit her... 

I’ve known Lorena for basically all the years I’ve worked with street kids... She had the cutest little boy... with the greatest big eyes named Oliver...  (He’s now 16 years old!)  I have a picture of them hanging in the living room at El Jordán...

After meeting Lorena on the streets, she introduced me to her parents (both alcoholics)... and sisters (one of them is also on the streets)... More often than not, when I’d by the grandparents’ house, I’d find the little cousins alone, fending for themselves...  I always left them food and gifts for “Christmas on the Streets” ...  which was most likely the only “Christmas” they ever had...

Lorena with one of the babies who died.Lorena’s years on the streets cost her dearly... lungs riddled with tuberculosis... three babies who died (one of them a little Corina)... scars etched on her face and arms... Lorena never was stable enough to finish her T.B. treatments – leaving her with chronic problems with her lungs that had been eaten away by the bacteria...

She seemed to settle down a bit when she met Juan, a Peruvian man... although she never gave up her addictions and the streets... if she slept on the streets after meeting him it wasn’t out of necessity -  Juan always rented a room for their family...

Their first little boy died... Lorena had two little girls - Corina (#2) and Selena ... followed by another baby boy who also died...  Juan always loved his kids... seemed to have patience to hold them, change them and feed them... It was Juan who insisted that Oliver study (Lorena never stepped foot in a school and didn’t make it a priority for her kids either...)  Every month or so, he’d phone me up... and say, “Hermana Cori! Lorena wants to say hi...”  ...followed by all the kids that didn’t want to be left out...

Juan has a bad skin condition that never goes away and is irritated by the sun... He arrived in Bolivia selling natural potions/medicines...  but unfortunately got involved in delinquency... and ended up in jail...  Lorena took her kids to live in jail with Juan (yes... that’s actually permitted here!!!) and I lost regular contact with them...  they phoned me only occasionally – money and work is harder to come by in jail especially when Juan is shunned because of his skin.... Oliver started going downhill – he dropped out of school... and refused to live in jail... basically ending any adult guidance or control in his life...  I’d “catch” Lorena on the streets... she would say she was “looking for” food to take in for her kids... or medicine for Juan or one of the kids...  

Lorena was 5 months pregnant... what she and Juan didn’t know was that the baby died inside... and started a raging infection within her...  In her weakened (because of her lungs) and malnourished state, her body couldn’t fight the infection... and not many hours after she was rushed to the hospital, Lorena died.  I never got to talk to her again... by the time I got the message, she was already gone...

Marco and I went to the wake that night... My heart goes out to little Corina (5) and Selena (4)... they were there, “representing” Juan at the wake and funeral...  What future do they have?  There is a kindergarten/nursery within the jail premises where the girls are during the day...  It scares me to think of two little girls surrounded by the dangers of men’s jail...  I know Juan will take care of them to the best of his ability – but that is limited at the moment...  

He actually has the possibility of getting out of jail – but bail has been set at 3000 bolivianos (just over $400 US)... For him, it might as well be 3 million – because he doesn’t have a cent... or any family to ask for help...  Lorena’s mom died quite a few years ago... and there is talk of selling the house – and dividing it between the siblings...  What Juan would like to do, is to use his children’s part to buy a piece of land (a city lot)... and build even a simple, single room – where he can live and look after his kids...

We would like to help in some way... we usually don’t get involved in helping people get out of jail... but Marco has a soft spot in his heart for foreigners in jail... and now that he has Keiden, his heart melts when he sees kids in unfortunate circumstances... 

The judge has showed his leniency as well... and has lowered bail to 1000 bolivianos... (under $150 US)...  Right now, we don’t have that money available to help... the risk in waiting is that Juan might actually get sentenced (he has been in jail for over 2 years without being sentenced – which is why he has this opportunity to get out with bail...) 

Please pray for Oliver, Corina and Selena that have been left without a mom... I had always offered to help Oliver study if he ever decided to go back to school... and at his mom’s wake, I reiterated my offer...  He’d like to study mechanics... The course doesn’t start until January so we are praying he doesn’t change his mind before then...  Please pray specifically for the girls’ safety... and Juan’s situation...

Please pray for Marco and I... that we would have wisdom and discernment in every situation that God allows us to come across... 

Thank you so much!  Love, from Corina (for Marco and Keiden!)