Faced with a bleak diagnosis, she decided that instead of living in anger and fear, she wanted to rely on Jesus. She started going to church, became more involved with the Social Work site, and grew in her understanding of the Bible and in her faith. Jesus called His daughter Lourdes Home within less than a year of her diagnosis.
While Lourdes lived, her biggest concern was for her children. She had an older daughter who lived out of the community, but she worried about leaving Joemmy and Jami. Chichi used drugs and alcohol and even when home was not helpful.
At this time, Chichi continues to live with them. He is gone during the day, perhaps to a job, but returns at night. The older sister rarely comes back to El Callejon.Francia, Lourdes’ sister, lives next door. She has two children of her own. She has been helping, on and off, with food and checking on Joemmy and Jami.
This week we found out that Francia is pregnant. She is focused on her boyfriend and coming baby and doesn’t feel she has room to take on her sister’s kids. Others in the community help provide food, but at night they are left in the home with their father.
Jami is 6, adorable, playful, and terribly small for his age. He doesn’t like wearing pants, and typically runs around in just a shirt.
Joemmy is 12, all at once grown up and a little girl. We’ll walk past and she’ll be sweeping and cleaning their home. She takes care of Jami, often taking him along to the Site. She also gets silly just like a ‘tween’ should, and still sucks her thumb, which she’s a little old for.
One of the other women pulled Daisy aside this week and told her that Chichi has been inviting other men to the home to use drugs. In El Callejon, girls get ‘married’ as early as 13. Having Chichi’s friends in the home at night stoned or high has us on our knees and crying out for answers.
Daisy decided we needed to find other places for them to sleep while we continue to seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom in what steps to take (or not take).
Francia told Daisy she doesn’t have room. She then talked with a woman in the community, who is also named Joemmy, and asked if she could take them. Joemy and her husband agreed to take Joemy, but since she will share their daughter’s bed, they don’t have room for Jami. We left yesterday still not sure where he would sleep although we believe Joemy will feed them both. The Site is reimbursing Joemy and her husband for the cost of the food they will buy.
Friends, our hearts are breaking, and we are struggling with what to do. We ask you to join us in praying for Joemmy and Jami, for Chichi and Francia, and for the entire situation.
Please pray that Chichi will give his consent to have Jami taken to a doctor, as right now he seems to have something lodged up one of his nostrils. (When she asked him if the kids could stay with others he raised no objections. We are thankful Chichi knows Daisy loved Lourdes and has the best interests of the kids at heart so he trusts her.)
Daisy plans to visit another aunt, who lives around 20 minutes away to see if they can move in with her. Please pray that God would guide Daisy’s words, and that if it is His will, she will invite the children to live with her. If that is not His will, please pray that He will help us see how best to help.
As with everything in El Callejon, the situation is complex. Taking on two additional children will cost money, time and attention. Our Site does not have the money to subsidize this, and in reality, that is probably not an appropriate, long-term solution. “Fixing” things can cause further dependence and even make the situation far worse. But, these precious little ones in an unhealthy and dangerous situation!
We don’t know what to do, but we continue to cling to the promise that the same powerful and miracle-working God who knew Lourdes before she was born, also knows Joemmy and Jami. Their earthly father is a troubled man, but their Heavenly Father loves them and cares for them. May we continue to seek Him as we search for our next steps.
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