Trying to find over 200 children definitely took a lot of
time. We spent many days walking around neighborhoods asking families,
neighbors, and kids if they recognized any of the children that were on our
list. Each day passed and with the help of families and neighbors we found more
and more each day. It was getting down to the wire and just a few days before
the distribution days we still had a list of about 25 kids we needed to find.
On this list there were a hand full of kids that the only information we had
were their names and uniform sizes. It’s a little hard to find someone with out
a phone number or directions to their house, but we continued searching.
There was one little girl we were looking for, she was one of the ones that we
had very little information on. We kept asking the kids and families we were
finding but no one knew where she lived. This was one of the last days we had
to find her. We came across 2 ladies walking down the street and asked them
about her, they didn’t know but they did tell us that the school was open for
cleaning and the director was there so we could go ask her. That’s exactly
where we went. I think we had about 7 or 8 left at this point and with the help
of the director and 2 other teachers they were able to tell us where all but 2
of them lived. Praise Jesus!!
So we went back out and went to these houses. As we walked
up to where they told us one of the girls lived there were 2 boys sitting
outside, we asked if she lived there and if their mom was home. They initially
told us that their mom wasn’t home, and then another boy came out of the house
and told us their mom was home but she was sick. Then a little girl came out
and said “mi mama esta enferma pero puede entrar”, my mom is sick but you can
come in. The house was pretty empty; the only thing in this main room was an
old table with 4 chairs, a fridge, sink and small gas stove. Ana Lorena, their
mom was sitting at the table. I went over to talk to her and explain why we
were there; that the English teacher had given us her name and told us that their
family would probably need help with school supplies/uniforms this year. As I was explaining our sponsorship program to
her tears began to run down her face. I asked her if she understood what I was
saying, just to make sure my Spanish was correct. She started telling me that
just a few days before she was praying, asking God what she was going to do and
how she was going to be able to send her kids to school. She has 5 biological
children and adopted 2 others whose parents left when they were babies. She gets 40,000 colones ($80)/month for child
support and there are times where she has to decide weather to use it on food
or rent. God definitely lead us to her house, we ended up having 2 of the 4
kids that needed to go to school on our list. She was so grateful. We told her
that we could take the names of her other 2 girls and continue looking for
sponsors for them but that we couldn’t make any promises. BUT…the next day staff got together again to
do some more work and prepare for day 1 of distribution. When I got to casa
azul I was SUPER excited, I was able to call Ana-Lorena back and let her know
that we had sponsors for her other children. What a blessing it was to be able to make that
phone call.
Since the day we visited her house it had been on my heart
to go back a visit Ana Lorena and her family, and take them some food. Just
this week we went back to visit her with a team from FBC Jax Beach, they wanted
to bless her family with some groceries. When we got to her house we had to
wait a little bit because she had to walk to the school and pick up one of her
daughters. The minute I saw her turn the corner and walk down the sidewalk I
saw a big, bright smile on her face! It was so nice seeing her again. She
invited all 20 of us into her house and Amanda and I began to explain to her
that the team had bought some food for her family. She got a little teary and
told Amanda that just the night before she was not feeling well and had a
little bit of beans left in the house. She started cooking them for the family
and went to lay down for a little bit. Time passed and she woke up to the smell
of burnt beans, the last of the food she had was burnt. She said all she could
do was pray and know that God was going to provide for her and her
children. And that morning, not the week
before or a day later, but that very day that she asked God to provide for her
family God lead us to her house with the team and food for her family.
God is SO GOOD!!! He
knows our every need, and when we put it all in His hands He will provide
exactly what we need when He knows we need it. He is our Jehovah - Jireh , He will provide!!!
