Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us... and El Jordan... I’ve noticed some changes in attitudes and things seem to be improving somewhat... please continue to pray for wisdom... and the right words to say at the right time!!! Thanks so much...
Since yesterday was Mother’s Day... (I got to enjoy my mom being here!) I thought I’d talk a bit about mothers...
God gave me a soft heart for people in need... especially towards any one in a tough, miserable situation... but now that I’m a mom, there is an extra special spot in my heart when those circumstances include a mom or children...
Sometimes the responsibility of being a mom is overwhelming... just the basics of how many diapers they go through... how many bottles you have to wash... how many little clothes they dirty... is all quite amazing... let alone the thought of molding this little life... and guiding him in a correct way.
Then, I transport my feelings and “weight” into my “girls” lives and I understand a little bit better the burden that they carry... which is so much heavier than mine... with three, four, five or even more children dependent on you... no washing machine to lighten the load... a bit of money has to stretch even further... their one baby’s bottle getting a crack in it rather than having 4 to wash... bus after bus not wanting to pick you and your kids up... the powdered milk long gone and having to satisfy hunger and thirst with rice or corn water... a husband that comes home drunk or violent instead of willing to play with the kids for a while... Now when I listen to a discouraged Cinthia who needs to work to cover basic needs at home – yet at the same time is pulling her hair out with her 5 little kids... or Lidia not knowing how to pay for her kids’ school books when its a struggle even to put something on the table for them to eat, tears come to my eyes and I wish I could make their burden just a bit lighter... Then comes my dilemma... of first and foremost wanting to point people to Christ – who can truly lighten their load... yet also knowing how to practically encourage – because Christ also cared about the feelings and physical needs of people...
With Cinthia, we read a psalm written by David... when he felt afraid and alone... his reaction was to put his trust in God and praise His Word... and then he didn’t feel afraid anymore... the Philistines were still after him, but he was able to find peace, knowing God was on his side... (Psalm 56). A couple practical things I would love to do for Cinthia are to buy a worship CD that she can listen to at home... and look into seeing how she could sell hamburgers at the end of her street rather than sell sandwiches for someone else every night from 5 until midnight in another part of town...
Please pray for the moms at El Jordan... that they will come to completely put their trust in the Lord as they carry their heavy burdens... of just being a mom... In Bolivia, Mother’s Day is on May 27th... we always do something special for our girls to encourage them along the way... Last year the “travelled to Miami” for a shopping trip (we had “pilots” take them to “stores” where they could “buy” several new items of clothes that had been donated from Canada...) and this year we’re having a “beach theme” where they can have a special snack at the “beach” (my mom brought some flower leis, shells and a CD with ocean sounds to help with the atmosphere)... and maybe they can shop for either a new towel or sandals... we haven’t decided what yet... Anyhow... we’re celebrating mother’s day here on Wednesday the 26th... so you can pray that it’ll be a really special time for our girls...
At El Jordan, we not only have moms... we have kids... some of whom suffer from not having their moms in their lives... I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Romina and Allison... their mom has been on the streets all of their lives... although they live with their grandma, they didn’t have the opportunity to study until two years ago... Romina is now 13... and Allison 12... Because of some epileptic type “attacks” that Allison has, she has dropped out of school again... so has never even finished first grade... In spite of everything that her mom does (and doesn’t do), Allison adores her... and any time her mom shows up at the house, Allison loves to sit her lap and get a big hug... A few weeks ago when Allison came to “adolescents class” at El Jordan, she took me aside and asked, “Has my mom been coming?” Every once in a while, Ñola shows up for Bible study with her sisters who come regularly. Allison pulled down my head to whisper in my ear, “When my mom comes, can you tell her to come home?”
All she wants is her mom. She doesn’t look at her scars, dirty clothes or broken teeth... all she sees is “mom”... Shortly after this, Allison ran away to the streets – following Romina’s example... The family was eventually able to find both girls... but Romina is now very rebellious, has started cutting herself and has lost respect for everyone... Allison was taken to a girls’ home...
When I met Liliana, she was on the streets, pregnant with twins... Her oldest daughter had just died... The boys were born... and on the streets really didn’t have much of a chance... At five months they were the size of newborns... one of them died... but Josué was a little fighter... and lived...
He is now 10 years old... Liliana came to El Jordan for several years... but gave up everything to go back to the streets... Being the oldest, Josué would always be the one who had to care for his siblings... When his mom didn’t show up and they had no food or money, he would lead his brother and sisters on the buses to get to their grandma’s house... It was Josué who would look for a plastic bag to save a bit of his lunch – to make sure they had something to eat later... They didn’t have any support from their alcoholic dad... and they eventually ended up in a children’s home... Josué kept running away... and the home has said there is no use anyone taking him back there... because he will just run away again... Liliana is lost on the streets right now... so Josué is supposedly living with his dad... but because he is more often drunk than not, Josué has to fend for himself....
His grandma and aunt say that Josué will sometimes disappear for days at time... sometimes he will show up at their rooms at 2 or 3 in the morning... they say he doesn’t talk... nor will he ever knock on their doors... He will wait outside, with his big, serious eyes... and wait until someone happens to find him... If not he’ll just curl up outside...
Josué has started coming to El Jordán some Friday mornings... we want to take any opportunity to sow values and principles into his life... When he comes to El Jordan his eyes light up a bit... he chatters away... telling us... “I remember when I sat in this chair and my mom sat there... and we talked with you...” “I remember when you gave me a sweater... I still have it...”
Josué needs a mom... not a perfect mom... but a mom who is willing to give him love, guidance and the basic necessities... He doesn’t need a big fancy home... he just needs a place where he knows there is going to be someone there who wants him to come home... Without a mom, Josué is even more at risk of ending up on the streets or getting involved in delinquency or gangs...
That is why our work at El Jordán with the moms is so crucial... guiding, teaching, encouraging the moms... so they can be “mom” to their kids...
Well.. I need to go and “be a mom”... thank you for listening to my ramblings... and may God bless and encourage all of you mothers out there... knowing that your job is so important... its not so much what you can give or offer your kids... whether you are the best cook in the world or if your best is grilled cheese sandwiches... all the money that can be spent on fashion clothes or the latest toy is really nothing in comparison to a kind touch when they’ve had a fall... a listening ear... and a caring heart... It is YOU that they need... Thanks for being a mom...
Have a wonderful day...
Lots of love, Corina for Marco and Keiden too...