WIDOWS, ORPHANS, THE ELDERLY, AND THE NEEDY

MARIA, 96 YEARS OLD, WITH HER HUSBAND OF 72 YEARS JUAN, 87.



Christmas time was fast approaching and I wanted to do something special for some very special people.  Many times in Scripture the Word admonishes us to look after the widows and orphans.  In Juarez, Mexico you don't have to look very hard to find plenty of them.  After several years of violence the City is filled with widows and orphans. There are so many that the thought of reaching all of them is mind boggling but that should not stop us from doing something.  So I asked Pastor Roberto and Pastor Lourdes to help me reach out to a few families that I knew. We would prepare something very special for these families. Something that they will never forget.

HAPPY FACES

PASTOR LOURDES AND HER 2 GIRLS

I know of two widows who are 31 and 34 years old.  Between the two they have 13 kids.  One of them is Celestina, who lives in a borrowed house that was big enough for a great outreach. I visited her and planned the event. She also knew of another widow, also very young, who had 4 girls.  I asked her to invite her. We set a date and I began to prepare with the help of Pastor Roberto and his family.  Missionary Susan Kirk, of Thru His Mercy Ministries, serving in the Cities of Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico had given me more than enough presents to give to all the orphan children and the widows. Pastor Roberto and his family prepared all the gifts by separating them into the appropriate ages and gender.  They also wrapped them beautifully.

So we had three full hours packed with singing, Bible stories, face painting, animal balloons, hot food, hot chocolate, soft drinks, a clown, games, gifts for all, and haircuts.   



CELESTINA AND PART OF HER FAMILY

SWEET MOMENTS

Pastor Lourdes works as a beautician, so I asked her if she would be willing to cut hair.  Even though she has many financial difficulties she was willing to take a Saturday off, her busiest day, to go with us to cut hair.  The event was set to start at 2pm but I dropped off Pastor Lourdes off at Celestina's house at 10am because she had more than 20 haircuts to do.

Along with the food that we ate at Celestina's I left 100 pounds of rice, 100 pounds of beans, and 50 pounds of potatoes to divide up between the families. I also took plenty group and individual pictures to develop in El Paso, place in frames, and return to each family as another gift. 

Before we started at 2pm Celestina asked me if she could invite an elderly couple who lived close to her.  I fell in love with them the moment I saw them.  Their names are Juan and Maria.  When I first met them I asked how long they had been married.  Maria answered me. She said 72 years.  I thought that she misunderstood me so I repeated the question. I told them that I didn't mean how old she was, but how long they had been married.  Juan answered me this time.  He said that they had been married for 72 years.  My next question immediately was about their age.  Juan said that the "old lady" was 96 but he was only 87.  He accused her of robbing the cradle.  Later Juan danced with the children.  Maria clapped and smiled.  What an incredible couple!!

It was a very memorable day for the kids and the moms.  It was exactly what we wanted to do.  Thanks to the Lord and to all who support the work in Juarez. 



ELVIA AND HER 4 DAUGHTERS

SUSANA AND HER FAMILY

Almost 2 weeks later Celestina borrows a phone and calls me.  She asked me to please come over.  A man just up the street was having epileptic seizures and no one had money to buy his medicine.  I quickly got the medicine and brought it to Celestina.  But she wanted me to go with her to the man's house and pray for him.  I met and prayed for Armando, a worship leader at a church.  Then Celestina also wanted me to pray for another member of the family.  She was in the room when I prayed for Armando.  Her name is Conchita.  I asked them what Conchita's problem was.  They said that no one knew because she doesn't speak and there was no money to take her to the doctor.  Conchita stays in bed most of the day and sometimes she ventures out into the living room and just sits there staring at the floor.  Conchita's son is married to Armando's daughter but she lives with Armando and his wife.  No one knew Conchita's age or even her last name, because...Conchita does not speak.  

CELESTINA WITH HER OLDEST DAUGHTER

I went over and sat by Conchita.  She didn't look at me.  I put my right hand over her shoulder and prayed a simple prayer.  Then I took her by the chin and looked at her face.  Her eyes looked well.  I asked her for her age.  She clearly said that she was 52 as she turned to look at me.  I turned around to look at the ones who had just told me that Conchita did not speak and their mouths were hanging open.  I turned back to Conchita and asked her last name.  Clearly she said that it was Hernandez.  I turned around again.  This time the group behind me was crying.  I asked Conchita if she would go outside with me for a walk.  She agreed and so we went.  The group cried more as we headed out the door.  Conchita and I spoke of many things as I held her by the hand and walked slowly.  I asked her what her favorite food was.  She told me and I made arrangements to get it for her that day.  I told her that I wanted to bring her a gift next time I came.  She asked for a pair of sneakers and gave me the size.  We returned inside the house and the teary mob was still...crying.

Celestina got back in the car so that I could take her back home.  She stared at me with tears still in her eyes and asked me if I realized what happened back there.  I really wasn't sure but I knew that the Lord had worked a miracle in Conchita's life.  She wiped her tears and soon she was getting down off my car.  But I remembered that I had all the pictures of party we had at her house about two weeks earlier.  Many of them were framed and I gave her many extras.  She saw them and fell apart all over again.  Through her tears and with loss of breath all she could say over and over again was, "Oh, my brother, my brother, my brother..."  Her kids came out and found their mom weeping almost uncontrollably.  The became worried.  I reassured them that their mom would be just fine in a few minutes.  I left and went back to what I was doing before the phone call.  I drove very slowly trying to put all the pieces together and give thanks to our great God who cares about the poorest of the poor and the neediest of the needy.

A few days later I returned with a brand new pair of white and blue sneakers for Conchita.  She put them on and we went out for our second walk together.  This time I let her do most of the speaking.



AND FINALLY.....CONCHITA.

Many people feel sorry for me because I live in Juarez.  Two weeks ago I visited a friend who was visibly shocked that I was back in Arkansas.  He was very frank and told me that he thought that I would never return alive.  But I have not given up anything to be in Juarez.  I have gained so much!  Meeting people like Maria and Juan, seeing the happy faces of children who have been traumatized by life, seeing widows smile again, walking with Conchita and holding her hand, knowing that I have a team of prayer warriors behind me, and walking hand in hand with Jesus makes my life nothing but a pure joy. 

A great many thanks to all who make it possible for me to serve in Juarez, Mexico.  My prayer is that 2013 will be another great year for all as we experience God's blessings on our lives so that we may keep bringing the gospel message to the ends of the Earth. 

Happy New Year to all.


Daniel



P.S. Double click on the pictures for enlargement.




Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936

1-501-827-7679


For tax deductible contributions:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, Arkansas 72145