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
“I have seen the power of prayer!”
Juana and her husband
In September of 2007, Juana Evangelista del Cid, received a loan from the Society to expand her small business. She sells baskets, mirrors, hammocks, wooden chairs, honey and hats (among other things) along the roadside. Her business is located on the side of the main highway between Siguatepeque and Comayagua, which is also where she and her husband live with their four children. With the loan, Juana has been able to buy more inventory and enlarge her business, which will help them to pay for two of their children’s education.
Let me share with you a little bit about Juana’s life and her experiences in business.
Juana’s house and business
Juana started her business about fifteen years ago. She began by selling three baskets that cost her 30 Lempiras (about $1.60). She placed them in front of her house (alongside the main highway). When she saw that they quickly sold, she bought more and kept selling them. Little by little her business started to grow. But one day she fell into a deep depression. “I was desperate and had no money to go to the doctor,” she says. “I didn’t know what to do, but I remember listening to Christian radio programs that said that God could heal through prayer.”
Honey and other items that Juana sells
Finally, Juana could not stand her situation anymore; she was desperate and decided to go to a local evangelical church. She walked in crying and asked for prayer. After they prayed for her, she felt a peace she had never experienced before and felt the healing power of God in her life. They also prayed that her sales would increase that week and that she would earn enough to pay for a doctor’s visit. She gave her life to the Lord, and what a surprise they had when that week—not only did she make enough to pay for the doctor—but she also had spare money.
Brightly colored hammocks that Juana sells
But Satan did not give her any rest. A few months after she received the Lord Jesus as her Savior, two men came to her business and stole almost everything she had—right in front of her eyes. But Juana didn’t give up, and she continued her business with the help of God. In spite of that incident and two other robberies that happened shortly after the first one, her business has continued to prosper. She understands that in every business there are risks, but she has seen God’s faithfulness. With the profits from her business and the work of her husband (he works as a farmer), they have been able to provide for their family. All of Juana’s children are studying and the two oldest are about to finish their last year of business education. Her gratitude towards the Lord is evident, and she expresses it with so much love.
Some of the hats that Juana sells
It has been seven years since Juana came to know Jesus. With much conviction and a smile on her face, Juana says: “I have seen the power of prayer! God healed me and changed my life!” Now, all of her family are Christians, and her oldest daughter is a Sunday School teacher in their church.
Juana is also very grateful to those who head up the ministry of the Society of the Good Shepherd and to the people who have blessed her through their donations and prayers. She also asks for you to continue praying so that her business will keep on growing and that God may strengthen her family as they recover from the death of a close relative.
Nancy Barahona