Widows' Project

This is post is almost a week overdue!  Sorry about that! Time seems to fly - no matter where you live!! 

 

We have a weekly medical clinic in a mountain village called Chiminisijuan.  Once a month, we return to this village to do our "Widows' Project".  This project was started several years ago to help widows and abandoned wives provide for their families.  The women make baskets, trivets, and other things out of materials that they can gather where they live.  Pine needles found on the ground are the main material.  The ladies bring their crafts to the same building where clinic is held and the ministry purchases them.  We put small slips of paper into each item so that those who buy them learn of the maker's story.  Here is Flor purchasing baskets from these ladies.

We then have a short devotion. I was using my Spanglish which was being translated into Quiche (pronounced key-chay) by Anna (standing a little behind me).  The devotion was on how important our words are. I wanted them to turn to their neighbor and say something encouraging to each other.  This is SO not cultural for them!  However, it did make them smile!!

 

There were three who were not feeling well.  Kyla and I prayed over each of them . . . in English.  They don't understand much Spanish and it is cumbersome to translate the prayers.  Plus, it is hard to pray in Spanish!!  Necesito practicar!

We then give them food to help sustain them until the next time.  Just like with our kids' nutrition program, we distribute rice, beans, oatmeal, milk etc. Some of these ladies are widows but several of them have husbands who left them for other women or have drinking issues.  Most of them have several children and no way to provide for them. 

Once we are done, they leave the same way that they came . . . on foot. Several walk quite a distance for the little bit of assistance that we give them.  We pray that their hearts are impacted as much (or more) than their physical needs. 

 

Lord, we give these ladies and their children to you. May they know how much you love them.  May they see YOU as their Provider and not a bunch of flawed white people! Lord, please speak to their hearts and reveal Yourself to them.