A Sad Story

Jose Luis showed up in our dooryard one day a few weeks ago, holding a handful of medical exam results. His eyes were sad as he explained that his mom, Maria Angela, was dying. As Kevin read over the papers with Luis, the seriousness of Maria's sickness became clear. Maria had had a cancerous tumor in  her stomach, which had been blocking the passage of food for many weeks. She had first gone to the herbal healers, who had given her purges and natural cures, but to no avail. By the time one of her sons took her to the medical health center, she was dying. The doctors removed the tumor, along with her stomach, and in the process found her body was full of cancer. Maria was sent home to spend her last days---and that was when Jose Luis showed up at our door.

We went to visit Maria and her husband Carlos every day for several weeks. Although she was just skin and bones, the first few days Maria Angela could still talk. We sat beside her and talked about the days, several years back, when Maria had joined us for church on Sunday for several months. "After awhile, I just got busy, and quit coming," Maria told us sadly. Some days we read over different portions of Scripture with her, verses like John 3:16 and also Matthew 11:28, one of our favorite verses..."Come to Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest..." Maria, and sometimes her young daughters and husband, would listen, although it was hard to tell how much they understood.  We prayed for the family each day before we left. One day we took Maria a mattress to lie on, as her bones were hurting as she laid on the boards of the plain bed frame.

How hard it was to watch this 44 yr old mom of 12 children just waste away, basically starving to death! And even harder to see the hopelessness of the family! Although they stoically (like all good Awa) tried to hide their emotions, their eyes betrayed their sadness. Death holds much 'sting' for those who have no hope in the Resurrection.

Maria died about noon on Friday, July 29th. The family and many neighbors and relatives spent the night around her body in the coffin consoling themselves the only way they know how to---drowning their sorrow by drinking. By the time we joined them early the next morning, Maria's relatives were crying and wailing, many of them too drunk to be able to think or walk. As we loaded the casket into our truck, to take them to the burial ground, we were reminded of the reason God has us here---to hold out the Hope that  God has for the Awa...the Hope of something beyond the death of our human bodies.

Since Maria's death, two of her youngest children (Ana, about 11 years old, and Raul, 9 or 10), along with several of her grandchildren, have been coming to join us on Sundays. We would like to visit Carlos and his older sons, especially Luis, and share the Bible lessons with them---but so far have found them either not at home or drunk. Luis is recovering from 7 stitches on his head from a drunken fight with his brother-in-law Jorge Patricio---just another reminder of what it is like to live in hopelessness.

The Joy of Knowing God

This is a sad story...and it is contrasted in our hearts with the joy we have had over the last few weeks in having our daughters Kimberly, and Keilah and husband Jeremy, visit us. Kimberly came from a summer working at Whispering Winds Bible Camp, and Keilah and Jeremy joined us from New Hampshire, where they have been working and taking part in our home church. What a blessing that our kids know the Lord! As we shared in the fun of their visit and days of vacation with them, and said farewell to them at the airport this last weekend, we are confident that God is with them, teaching and guiding them along their way. What a joy! and what a contrast to the world that Carlos and his children wake up to each day.

Thanks for your prayers for the Awa! One way in which we have seen God answering those prayers is in the life of Milton. One day Milton mentioned to me that he wanted to join us for church the following Sunday, explaining that he was hungry to hear God's word. Sure enough, on Sunday July 24th Milton walked into church. Although he was visibly nervous, and his head was hanging low, we saw some neat things happen that day---first with Gloria's husband Guillermo patting the empty seat beside him, saying to Milton, "Come and sit here!" Later on Meregildo prayed, stating his thoughts outloud..."Father God, we have all done wrong, and You have forgiven us, because of Jesus paying for our sins." Gloria, Milton's sister, also told us, "God says in His word that we should forgive our brother, and that's what I am choosing to do, because God tells us to." It has been a slow journey to this point, with many Sundays of Bible teaching...but God is bringing forth fruit.

There is still a long way to go...Milton has not been back to church since. Paulino, the older brother, was still very cold toward Milton and has mostly just ignored him. Rumors continue to fly each week...that Milton is back walking in sin, looking to renew his relationship with his sister-in-law. We find it very difficult to separate truth from lie---and there are many days we fight with discouragement. Satan is not ready to let this valley go without a good fight! We appreciate your prayers! We have seen our own power-less-ness in being able to change hearts...or to plant a church... BUT God has proved Himself able to do those exact things---and He begins His quiet work in the hearts and minds of His children.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy
 

PS Check out Kimberly's end of summer letter! Click HERE

For a printable version of this email letter Click HERE