Meetings

On Wednesday I met up with Paty and then Sandra (Paty stayed on to meet with Sandra too). We met in the Santa Monica church so Tabitha was looked after by a very capable lady called Jacaranda. We were there from 9.30 and got home around 2.30pm! We ladies know how to talk!

What can I ask you to pray for as a result of the meeting? Please pray for my understanding of Spanish. Sandra talks very fast and uses a lot of street Spanish. My ability to understand is quite good but those 2 factors require that I have to concentrate very hard and some things do go over my head ( a good reason to have Paty around).

Pray too for wisdom. As you can imagine Sandra's situation is complicated and I don't suppose that there is a quick fix to her problems. I just need wisdom to know where to start and then how to continue. Sandra is keen to study together. She definitely has a hunger for God's word and is committed to her new faith. With Beto (her partner) she is studying through basic Christian principles and practices. They are working through a workbook and have been filling in all the spaces. My desire is to help her to be a Godly woman, wife and mother. Please pray that she will be patient as we work together on this, that the Holy Spirit will teach her and that together we will see definite changes in her life.

I spent some time in their little home (literally 2 rooms) as Beto washed our car (for money!). Tabitha made herself right at home with their 3 year old daughter and as they bounced around on the mattress on the floor Tabitha was giggling away. She was definitely leading the proceedings - whatever she did her little friend copied. It was the first time I had seen her in that role and as she had the best time, I was amazed.

I heard a little more of Sandra's story. Her mum disowned her when she was 2 years old. Her family looked after her for a while and then took her to the City to be looked after in a children's home. She escaped a few times and then went to the streets permanently. She has just come off the streets after 12 years. I asked what it was that finally convinced her to come off and to be so determined to stay off. She said that she was just sick of the street life, that she didn't want her children to suffer and that she herself didn't want to die on the streets (like so many others of her group). She is very concerned for another girl from her group and has tried to convince her to come and live in her little home. She asked what she should do as her friend says she wants to leave the streets but won't go to her house. I explained our situation with so many kids who we wish were off the streets but we have to wait until they are ready to leave and in the meantime we pray.

Praise God for the way He has saved Sandra's life (and soul!). Pray that He will to work in her life and that she will fulfill the role He has designed for her. There is so much potential but with so much work still to be done...