Newsletter - June, 2008
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June, 2008 Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40 Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210. (717) 349-7033 |
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Psalm 31:23 tells us about a truth that has clearly been a reality in the life of Sonia Gonzales: “The Lord preserves the faithful.” Sister Sonia came to know the Lord when she was only 11 years old. She admits that she did not completely understand what it meant to be a Christian at the time. However, God was already preparing her for His service.
When she finished high school in Siguatepeque, she decided to move to a nearby community to study education. It was there that she started to serve the Lord in a church. She has been active in the service of the Lord ever since.
When she came back to Siguatepeque, she also went back to the church where she grew up and from then on, she has been involved in many ministries. Presently she is part of several prayer groups and a women’s Bible study group.
During her life, sister Sonia has also encountered various health difficulties. She tells us that when she had her second daughter, she was having severe medical problems. Yet, she could not afford any medication to ease her pain. “But thanks be to God who always pulls us through,” sister Sonia says. For, in the end, only His hand was able to cure her.
Another great struggle she and her husband have had is in earning sufficient income to support their family of five. Yet, in this, Sonia has also looked to the Lord. For many years, Sonia had to work out of her house just to be able to help her husband put food on the table. As it is for many of the poor in Honduras, this was quite a struggle for Sonia and her husband.
However, in 2006, Sonia and her husband decided she would quit her job and start a neighborhood mini-mart in their house (called a pulperia in Honduras). This would allow Sonia to stay home with their children, while still earning income for the household. Sonia and her husband originally started the business with some small savings they had. However, Sonia later applied to the Society of the Good Shepherd for a loan, which enabled her to expand her inventory. Sonia tells us that that loan was a great blessing for her. Her business grew, and she was able to completely pay her loan off ahead of schedule.
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Right now, Sonia and her husband are planning some adjustments to their inventory to maximize the efficiency of their mini-mart. The prices of some of the products they carry have risen inordinately this year—which have hurt sales and cut into their profit margin. So they will be deleting some products and adding other ones in their place that they believe will be more profitable.
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Finally, sister Sonia asked for our prayers so that the Lord may give her wisdom in the decision of changing their product-lines. Nancy Barahona.
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Donations
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