Newsletter - June, 2019
| June, 2019 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 |
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (Jas. 1:27 NAS). God’s love and concern for widows, orphans and others in need is made abundantly clear throughout Scripture.
The main work of the Society of the Good Shepherd with the poor in Honduras is (1) helping small family businesses with interest-free microloans and (2) building rural health clinics. However, we have a third ministry to the poor, and that is in helping persons who are unable to manage a small business, such as elderly widows and the infirm. We handpick the persons in this program, based on character and faithfulness to Christ. However, we do not refuse non-Christians who demonstrate a great need. We have a number of people working with the Society in Honduras who visit these widows and infirm persons on a regular basis. We also have groups who personally pray for them. Three times a month, someone from the Society brings these persons a supply of essentials: corn meal for tortillas, flour, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, salt, cereal, toilet tissue, and several other basic items.
I want to introduce you to Francisca, one of these elderly women we are helping in this manner. Like so many others in Honduras, Francisca was raised by a single mother and grew up in severe poverty. As one of the oldest children in her family, Francisca did not have the chance to go to school, as she had to work to help provide for the family. As a result, she never learned how to read and write.
When she was very young, Francisca entered into a relationship with a man she had come to know, by whom she has a daughter. The relationship eventually became abusive, and Francisca left. She ended up raising her daughter alone, once again in deep poverty. Her daughter is now herself a single mother, and the cycle of poverty continues. From what we have witnessed, almost the only thing that ever breaks these endless cycles of broken homes and severe poverty is when a person makes a genuine commitment to Jesus Christ. Francisca has always worked hard her entire life in low-paying jobs with no future. She has worked as a maid for numerous people, babysat children, washed and ironed clothes, swept the streets, collected garbage—any job to put food on the table.
Later in life, Francisca learned about Christ. From the moment she first started coming to church, she had a deep hunger for God’s Word. Though she cannot read or write, Francisca joined the women’s Bible study group at the church she attends. She would listen in, participate, and learn at these Bible studies. After committing her life to Christ, Francisca has continued to grow in her faith, and she has a genuine passion for the Lord. Francisca enthusiastically shares with others what God has done in her life.
Francisca now lives with her unmarried daughter and grandchildren, whom she tries to help. Because neither she nor her daughter have any advanced job skills, they struggle to have enough funds to properly feed the children on their own. That is where the assistance program of the Society of the Good Shepherd comes in to make up the difference. I spent some time with Francisca, listening to her telling me about her struggles and her deep gratitude to God and to the Christians who are helping her. While speaking with her, I kept looking at her worn hands and her expressive face, and I thought… how many stories Francisca has to tell. You can tell she has been through many hardships and has persevered through some very rough times. She does not have much in a material way, but she does have an infectious joy, unending gratitude, and inspiring faith.
Please continue to pray for Francisca, her daughter, and her grandchildren. The Society needs guidance in how we can best help all of them, beyond ensuring that they have the daily essentials to live. Perhaps there is some kind of business they could run, but with their educational level and lack of job skills, this is difficult. Or maybe God can open up a better job opportunity for them, working for others. Also, it’s important that the grandchildren stay in school, so that this cycle of dire poverty can be broken. Please pray about these matters.
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations
|
|