May the mountains yield prosperity for all; and may the hills be fruitful. Help him to defend the poor. to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.
Psalm 72: 3,4
He will rescue the poor when they cry out to him, he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
Psalm 72:12, 13.
She's a single mom to five children, living in a tiny home that is much smaller than our shed back in Canada. It has two rooms, divided by a sheet to separate the living quarters from the sleeping. In Canada everyone would have their own bed to sleep on, but not here. One double bed for 5 people. She has a tiny stove for which to cook and small fridge with a microwave on top of it. She makes the most of the little she has, so her tiny house is a home for her family.
She struggles, You can see it on her face; her eyes, hear it in her voice. Her sole means of survival is making and selling tortillas. With that money she must buy food and water, pay for the rent of not only the home but the property as well. It's hard to imagine selling tortillas would ever bring in near enough to cover her expenses.
"Life is hard" she told us. "It's about surviving"
In this photo the team is giving her a bag of groceries.
The second home we visited, like the last home, was also near the schools. We met a young mom of three.
Her home appeared to be in better condition. It was very clean. Outside she had a rag on which to wipe our feet on before entering the home. The floors looked spotless to me.
Her husband, who is not the father of the children, is one of the venders on the street selling phone chargers or cell phone covers at the traffic lights. We have probably even driven past him and not known it. He does this to provide for his family. It is their only source of income as she is a stay at home mom, caring for her little ones. I have seen countless venders like him at the traffic lights trying to sell their items. Hardly anyone buys from them; at least not that I have seen. I have never before thought about how discouraging it must be to always be told "no gracias" or to be ignored. I know it cannot bring in much income; especially by the time transportation is paid for to and from the streets to the mountains where they live.
Through her tears she explained some of her struggles. "Life is hard" she said like the first mom we visited.
Her first husband, had been murdered, and she lost a baby to asthma. Not only that but the baby that one of the team members from Lively held in her arms, also had asthma. She was concerned about him, worried that she would lose him too.
She told us how she had found favour with the landlord and was given two rooms to rent instead of just one. What a blessing that was to her family.
Before we left her home, we prayed with her, and one of the ladies on the team asked her if she knew Jesus.
She nodded and said "yes" and that He was her provider.
This is the team in the second home.
I held back my tears but I couldn't help feeling so very humbled......and thankful.
Thankful for all that our family has been blessed with. We have our beautiful home, food on the table, family, friends, a vehicle to get around in...the list goes on and on.
I thought of all the times I needlessly worried over stuff since moving here. Things like not having as much money for groceries one week, last minute notice that the kids need something more for school and wondering where we will find money for it when it wasn't budgeted or other last minute expenses. Needless worry when God always provides, there is always enough and most times MORE than enough. It's NOTHING compared to what these families face day in and day out, what reality is for them each day.
If I were in their shoes, would I truly be able to say like this one mom "God is my provider?" Would any of us? I would hope the answer would be a resounding "yes!" But it's something to think about....what if? Would we truly be content? The families living in these conditions who know the Lord must truly know what it is like to totally rely on the Lord and say "He is all I need"
Matthew 6:25, 26
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life...whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly father feeds them. Aren't you far more valuable than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
