Los Pinos - January Update

Mari - Jennifer (19), Danielito (7)

Great visit to this wonderful family.  Now that Jennifer has graduated highschool, the next steps forward for this family include having Jennifer pass the university entrance exam, enroll in college classes beginning in May, getting Danielito enrolled in 2^nd grade classes beginning in February, and maybe most importantly, Jennifer NEEDS to find work! 

Since Mari’s heart condition only continues to worsen, she can’t hardly do household tasks without risking worsening her condition, much less go to work. The rest of her sisters refuse to believe that she is actually sick (having spoken with the doctors and seen lab results, I can assure you, she’s not lying), so they don’t support her in anyway. Mari and her family are surviving on occasional charity from others and monthly food rations I am able to bring in. Jennifer and I have sent out many many resumes and she’s visted all kinds of places, but work is incredibly hard to find right now. I’m confident that we will find something for Jennifer, so these next few weeks, I’m tapping into all the contacts I have to allow this family to support themselves.

During this visit, I was able to bring in Jennifer’s graduation pictures for Mari, who couldn’t attend the ceremony because of her condition, books for Danielito to continue practicing his reading and math, food staples and a few hygiene products.

Please be praying that we find work for Jennifer, her upcoming college entrance exam, and for a miraculous healing for Mari!

Marlin - Marisol (4), Cindy (2)

I invited Marlin to Mari’s house briefly to give her Pediasure for Marisol, pictures of Asmin and Anderson, and to check in with her. While the rest of her family is in another city visiting family, Marlin is in the house by herself, so she enjoyed having time to visit with others. It was wonderful to see her and Mari connect, as they both struggle with loneliness being in the house all day most days. Marlin said she is going to come and visit more often, and told Mari she would be in the downtown market in a few days, and she would try her best to bring her back some spice to make a tea that is supposed to help with her heart (not sure I believe the remedy, but oh well). It was really really cool to see people from the same community connecting and meeting each other’s needs as is possible for them. 

This will foster long term change in Los Pinos, when people make it a habit of working together, caring for one another, speaking truth and encouragement to each other, and helping to lift each other up and push each other forward.

Continued prayers for Marlin as she considers looking for work in another city if she can’t find any here, separating herself from her kids. Also pray for more encouraging relationships in her life where she can be blessed and also bless others.

Teresa – Fernando (18), Jasmine (14), and Marcela (12?)

This was my first time visiting this family. They reached out through Nohemi asking for support with the education of the two teenage girls who will be in 6^th and 7^th grade. Teresa is a single mom, and her son Fernando has special needs. He needs constant care to feed him, watch him, and care for him, and Teresa doesn’t have anyone close enough that she trusts to care for him. She has been unable to work because she is caring for her son, so her oldest daughter hasn’t been able to start high school because of the costs. The only provider for the household is Teresa’s oldest daughter, another single mom who has a son of her own. 

I’m asking God what is the best way to support this family, while not doing anything for them that they could do for themselves. I’m looking into programs for Fernando, and the possibility of weekend classes for Jasmine so that she can be home during the week, meanwhile her mom works and the family can have enough to provide for themselves.

Aracely – Juana (15), David (11)

Aracely is a young single mom to two kids, working the very lowest rung government job here, street sweeping. She makes about $250 a month, and somehow makes that work to pay her rent and food for her family. She never learned to read and feels very stuck in her situation, but she has made it clear she will fight so that her kids have every opportunity to study and move forward. She accompanied me, Nohemi, Ariel, and Steven on the house visits to provide extra security since we went into new areas with less familiar faces. 

It was really enjoyable and refreshing to spend time with her, hear her feisty spirit and faith in the Lord, and see her determination for a better future for her kids, refusing to be held back by her circumstances! Pray for this continued strength for her and provision for her and her family!

Please consider supporting the work being done in Los Pinos, or make a donation for education so I can support the families in need as they begin school in February. See the sidebar of this blog for details about how to donate.