When Life is Hard… There is Hope (Part 3)

     I started a series of blogs writing the stories of the lives of some of my beautiful friends here. If you would like to read Felix story, read Part 1. To see Rosa's story, read Part 2. 

     I would like for you to meet Nidia and her precious daughters Gisel (10) and her baby (2)- family pictured left. Nidia's "husband" abandoned her and the girls about a month ago. She is working 10-12 hours a day on a farm making roughly $2.50 per day. She is exhausted, has little time with her daughters, and still isn't making enough money to put food on the table. She isn't sure how she is going to provide for her family.
     Her family is encouraging her to leave for Costa Rica because she could find better work and provide for her children. Nubia refuses to leave her girls. Nidia confessed to me about a week ago that she was raped when she was 11 after her mom left to work in another country. She had never shared that with anyone before. She was molested by her brother-in-law while her sister's family is supposed to be taking care of her. Gisel, Nidia's oldest daughter, is 10 years old (Gisel and I pictured right). Nidia refuses to leave her daughters in the care of someone else because she will not allow the same thing happen to them that happened to her. So, she continues to struggle to provide for the girls as a single mom here in Candelaria. She loves her daughters so much and is doing everything she can to take care of them.

     About a week ago, Nidia came down to talk to me. All she really wanted was to have someone to listen to her hurts. I listened for about an hour, as Nidia sobbed and told me of her childhood trauma, her fear for her daughters, her anguish at not being able to provide for them, and how much her heart hurts over her boyfriend leaving her and the girls. I really couldn't do anything to help her. I just listened, held her as she cried, and prayed over her. It felt like so little, but Nidia was so grateful just to have someone to talk to.

     My heart aches for her. I wish I could remove the obstacles and make life easier for Nidia and her daughters. I feel so helpless. However, Nidia feels encouraged. She feels as though a weight has been lifted from her heart just by having someone to talk to about all of her hurts and her problems. She is believing that the Lord will provide for her, although she doesn't know how.

     The Lord did provide for Nidia and her daughters. That same week we received a new sponsor through our Adopt-a-Student program. We were able to match Gisel with a sponsor. Through this program, the Lord is meeting some of their basic needs and giving the family much-needed hope that they are seen, remembered, and loved by the Lord. Through her sponsor's gift of $25/month, Gisel received a bookbag for school filled with school uniform and supplies. This was one of Nidia's immediate concerns that school was beginning and she had no way to provide Gisel with her school supplies. This program will also provide Gisel with medical care as needed and food for the family when the mom's salary just isn't enough.

     YOU can be the hands and feet of Jesus and can provide hope for families like this!! If you are interested in helping other families like Nidia and her daughters, we are still looking for sponsors for about 100 needy children. You can become a part of this program by visiting our website link for our Adopt-a-Student Program. Help us provide hope for desperate families here in Candelaria.

To read the next story of hope, read Part 4 (Jasmina's story).