La Abuela

Gracias a Dios por esta Abuela! (Thank you God for this Grandmother!)

Today Estelle and Yelle's Abuela (two girl's Grandmother pictured above) came to Greg and I and to the best of my translation, told us Thank you. She said that she knew we were sent by God and that she prays often for us and for what we have done for them in Los Brasiles and for Nicaragua. I could see the passion in her eyes as I have no idea, but can only imagine her struggle to raise the two beautiful teenage granddaughters not to mention the younger ones in this impoverished area. She has her whole familia living together down to her grandchildren to pool their resources to make ends meet. She watches the children, cooks for the familia, sees the children off to school, and takes care of the dailies while the other adults go off to work. La Abuela, as I like to call her went on to tell us that our teams and our churches were their answer to prayer. She realizes that we sacrifice to come and work so hard to provide hope and opportunity for Los Brasiles and for people that at one time never even knew existed. We replied by saying that it was our pleasure and obligation to come and fulfill a vision God had given to us. We explained that God had blessed us and we were to take what we had been given out to others to spread His love.

We asked if we could go to her casa to see it. She said she was a bit hesitant because it was FEA (UGLY!) We said your talking to the trabadoras (workers or builders) please take us there. She said a little shyly ok vamanos (let's go). She held our hands as we walked several blocks to her casa, we were amazed to see it beautifully adorned with plants along the entrance. As we were escorted to the back and saw this rag tag structure nailed together with scrap wood and a tin roof... rusted (sorry i could not help myself.) The kitchen in the back because of the open fire used to cook the meals, the dirt floor throughout, and at most 3 or 4 rooms. An outhouse for the obvious with a shower attached to the outside with black plastic for a curtain. She explained how the roof leaked throughout and dust blew in all day when it was not raining. I hope my laptop is waterproof because tears are streaming now while picturing it to blog about it. She asked us into the backyard and asked us to all hold hands in a circle with all the children too, and she commenced to praying and calling out to heaven. I was not even trying to translate it just taking in the moment. With her eyes clinched her face lifted to heaven and the biggest smile I have ever seen on her she thanked God with all her might.

Some that have nothing are thankful for everything, some that have everything are thankful for nothing. As we slowly walked arm and arm back to the job, I felt as God was walking arm and arm with us. La Abuela said that we were sent by God to touch them, I say she was sent by God to touch us. Amen.

Gracias a Dios por esta Abuela!

Until next time...