I was talking with Duranda and Anna, two of our outreach participants. We had taken a walk during lunch, heading to Los Catorces, a community close by. The rain had stopped for a while, and it was good to get out, walk, talk, and enjoy a bit of sunshine.
It was nearly time to head back to the Site, but the bright red plant was too pretty to pass up. As we neared it, Duranda looked at one of the homes. “I remember this house”, she said excitedly. “When I was here last year, I visited it. Can we stop in?”Even though we hadn’t made plans ahead of time, in typical Dominican fashion we were warmly greeted and invited in. We sat down with the woman of the home, who lives there with her husband, a couple of her adult children, and eight grandkids. It was almost time for afternoon school, and as she talked she brushed the hair of one, then another, of her granddaughters.
She called to one of the little ones, who came out carrying a picture of some of the family. It was one that Duranda had taken, framed and sent from the year before! As we sat, several more kids and grandkids wandered in an out, each stopping to greet us. In some ways, it was a small thing, sitting and chatting for a few moments. But, oh, what a gift!
You see, I don’t know Los Catorces very well, having visited the area just a couple of times with Daisy. I had never been down that particular side road. I didn’t know the woman as she doesn’t come to the Social Work site. Duranda had been there only once, a year early. She’d snapped that photo and sent it back, not knowing if she’d even get to see the family again.
God, in His love, took all of this, and turned it into a tangible reminder that He sees and knows and is involved in our lives.
The past weeks in El Callejon have been challenging and at times downright discouraging. Our focus this year is on discipleship, on growing a faith which isn’t just about saying the “right” words, but living out what we believe.
And… it’s not going all that well. It seems every time we advance a little, something happens to knock us back.
A woman who wants to trust God falters, choosing to believe another woman has cursed her;
instead of being a testament to the changes that can come from conforming to God’s will, a newly, legally married couple refuses to soften their hearts toward their daughter;
teens who have been coming to the Site for years are pregnant;
several women are complicit in their ‘husbands’ stealing the Site’s electricity,
and on and on.
It’s so easy to get exhausted and disheartened. Satan is continuing his fight for (and against!) the hearts and souls of El Callejon. The temptation to give up, to concede defeat, can be strong.
And so, we praise God for this “chance” encounter, because it wasn’t chance at all. We praise Him for reminding us that He is with us. He sees and knows.
We cling to the assurance that just as all the seemingly random bits of that walk came together, so He can move in and through all the stuff we’re battling right now. That doesn’t make it less of a war, but it gives us glimpses of the victory Jesus has already won.
We pray that as we go into a new week, we will keep our eyes and hearts open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We invite you to pray with us and for us as well! And, we pray that in your lives, too, you see God’s hand at work in your “chance” encounters.
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