Celebrate calm

 

“....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Calm is so very important so do this:

Refuse to give anyone power over your attitude and mood.

Refuse to allow anyone to dictate your response to them.

Refuse to give anyone the power to change your behavior.

Refuse to allow anyone to steal your peace and joy.

If someone is mean to you, remain kind.

If someone hurts you, forgive, but you no longer have to trust them.

If someone acts like a jerk. Have mercy.

Someone can be bitter. But be grateful that you do not have to live with that poison in your soul.

I cannot tell anyone what to do.

But I can tell you what I am going to do. I will keep calm.

This is self-control. This is humility. This is dignity. This is peace!

Our house sells in a phone booth

 

In Deuteronomy 7:9 (NLT) we read: “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love him and obey His commands.”

The dictionary defines the word lavish as profuse, exuberant, lush and opulent.  So, when the Word of God says that the Lord lavishes his unfailing love on you, it’s not a little bit of love, it is not a second-hand kind of love, it is not a distant kind of love, no, it’s a first quality love, an exuberant and unconditional love.

In August 1990, when we left Ottawa for the mission field in Mexico, our beautiful country home in Carp was still on the market. It had been on the market for months. It was a beautiful home with all the bells and whistles, but in was far in the country side and expensive.  Therefore prospective buyers were and far and few between, even if it  was listed with a prominent Ottawa realtor.

Roger’s C.A. practice had been sold and he felt that we needed to leave even if the house was still on the market. To leave for the mission field without a sold sign on the property was somewhat scary, nevertheless, on August 2^nd. waving at our three adult children and giving one last look at that “For Sale” sign, we left for California.

Back in those days, there were no cell phones and no wireless services. Nevertheless, before we left, we promised our kids to call them every day to make sure all was well back in Carp. Also it was to inform them how we were doing as we travelled throughout the United States to reach California.

Using a phone booth along the way was our only way to stay in touch. But, these type of phones would want us to deposit $3-$4 in quarters before giving us a connection. Using a credit card was not an option. Every evening, I would call our house in Carp. I would make a collect call and ask to speak to Denise. A collect call only required .25¢. If everything was fine, the kids would just say that I was not there and I would hang up.  If they needed to talk to us our daughter Chantal would get on the line and pretend to be me. This way we avoided long distance charges every evening.

One evening we were crossing the mountains when we finally found a campground in Yuma, Arizona. We were by then just about 4 hours away from San Diego. We ate supper and then called the kids from a phone booth near the campground office. By then it was 10:00 p.m. in Carp.

Chantal answered and pretended to be me.  She was in a mild state of panic as we had an offer on the house and it was due to expire at 11:59 p.m.

So, we called our realtor who was also in a mild panic waiting for our call.  Once she gave us the details, we concluded that probably by talking to the other realtor, we could come to an agreement on this offer.

Our realtor, keeping us on the line, called the prospective buyers realtor on another line, who called his client on another line.

We went back and forth for quite some time. At one point the camp ground manager brought us two chairs and told us: “If you are going to spend the evening in that phone booth, you might as well sit down.”

Every once in a while, the telephone operator would make us put more quarters in the payphone.  Again, the campground manager bailed us out by supplying us with those much needed quarters.

We had to decide on a fair price, so we haggled over that topic. Then we wanted a quick closing date, but the buyers wanted 60 days to get their finances arranged.

Anyhow, after 1.5 hour, we finally were agreed on all the details and made a verbal agreement that was to be followed the next day with a written contract sent by fax.

After thanking our realtor, we finally hung up.  It was 11:30 p.m. in Carp, but we still called the kids to tell them the good news.

The Lord had honored our faith by leaving after the business sold. Before we even got to San Diego, the house had sold. It sold, in a phone booth in Yuma, Arizona.

When we finally returned to our trailer, we realized that in this specific situation, the Lord had lavished His unfailing love on us, it was not a little bit of love, it was not a second-hand kind of love, it was not a distant kind of love, no, it was a first quality love, an exuberant and unconditional love. The Lord had just given us what we really needed for this specific need in our lives at that time. Amen!

To this day, almost 29 years later, He daily continues to lavish this kind of exuberant love on my life and ministry.

This song explains my feelings:

I am in awe of you

I am in awe of you

I am in awe of you

I am in awe of you

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can stand your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depths of your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty and enthroned above

I stand, I stand in awe of You…

Denise 

 

Exchanging garbage for food !

 

Exchanging garbage for food !

In the mid 1990’s, among the shanty towns we were helping, we had three that were situated near Tijuana’s biggest dump site at the time. Colonia Salva Tierra was the closest, with Colonias Flores Magon and Las Cumbres also in that area.

For a few years we worked with a wonderful older couple who had a house and feeding station at the exit of the dumpsite in Salva Tierra. We brought food every week.  We also often had bible studies with the kids. Standing at the back of the van with Roger and the sweet older pastor holding our song sheets, we sang with the kids. With our eyes closed and trying not to breathe in the bad odors coming from the dumpsite, we tried to imagine that we were singing with a children’s choir in a nice church in San Diego.

Working with these children was a unique and precious experience. Many of these kids did not go to school. On this Tijuana landfill, kids work alongside their families. They collected and tried to sell all sorts of items they found rummaging through garbage every day from sunrise to sunset.

These people were called Pepenadores, which means: “waste pickers”. They are people from the community who make their living picking through the trash left by city dump trucks. Almost everything they have, wear, or even eat comes from the dump. In the garbage, families work to find what they need to survive.

Some of these families had built shacks and lived on the dumpsite itself. There were no sewers nor running water on the dumpsite. Electricity was stolen from nearby electrical poles. Since this was considered an illegal community, there were absolutely no city services available in that area.

Working with those kids we quickly learned to have a strong stomach and to turn off our sense of smell. They would come straight from the dump to the feeding station. Even though they were filthy and smelly their big smiles won us over week after week. They were some of the most grateful kids we  helped during our time on the mission field.

We also had a feeding station in nearby Colonia Flores Magon. One day, after delivering food at that feeding station, we were leaving the area on our way to another of our feeding stations. Walking by the side of the road, we saw a family we knew who lived in Flores Magon. The three kids regularly came to our feeding program and bible studies. As soon as the kids saw our red van, they started to waive. Roger stopped the van, and we got out to talk to family. The mother told us that they had just gone to the dumpsite to try to find some food. The kids each had a dirty little metal pail in which they had their dumpsite food.

Not wanting to offend them, we diplomatically and quickly glanced at what was in the pails. Even though we were both shocked, we had to act as though everything was normal. Their little pails were full of broken pieces of dirty tortillas, pieces of mold ridden bread, half-eaten vegetables and some insects. It was completely disgusting. Our first thought was to throw these pails in the ravine by the side of the road. But this would have been very offensive to this family.

Roger had the gift of diplomacy. I, on the contrary was more direct. He used to tell me that at times my diplomacy was accompanied by a brick. In  all our years together, if he thought that I was going to use my kind of diplomacy, he would simply say: “Denise, let me take care of this.”

On, that day, on that dirt road, a short walk from the dumpsite, even Roger was not too sure how to handle the situation. Remembering that we had food in the van including some cookies, he asked the kids if they wanted cookies. Of course, their answer was yes.

He then went to the back of the van and opened the doors. First, Roger reached for the box with cookies and handed me a bag for each child. The kids were very happy. While Roger was taking out the cookies the kids had deposited their dirty little pails at the back of the van. With perfect timing, the Holy Spirit moved in like a gentle breeze into Roger’s spirit and he asked the kids if they could do him a favor. I had no clue was he was doing, but he had the children’s attention, so, I just stood there and waited to see what was going to happen.

The three kids were very enthusiastic about the thought of helping hermano Roger. He said: “I have a proposal to make to the three of you.” He then put an empty cardboard box near the kid's dirty little pails and asked them if they were willing to exchange what they had in their pails for food we had in the van. The kids were excited and of course their answer was yes. The children knew that our food was good because we gave them groceries on a regular basis.

Carefully and with gentleness, Roger picked up each little pail and emptied it in the carboard box. Then, he turned to me and asked me to help him. We filled three plastic bags with rice, beans, bread and whatever else we had in the van. I handed the bags of good and clean food to each of the kids. The smile on their faces was all the reward we needed. They said thank you and we each received a big hug.  

Meanwhile, the dirty little pails were still at the back of the van. Not giving them back was not an option.  Because Roger had started this “project”, I was not going to interfere. He took another plastic bag and put the dirty little pails in the bag. Then, he handed the bag to the kid's mom without saying word. He then closed the van doors and after getting another round of hugs we got back in the van to go to our next destination.

When situations like this one arose and after we had dealt with it, we often did not feel like talking. The emotions could be overwhelming. Silence was like a refuge where we could process what had just happened.

We drove to our next destination. Before unloading the food, Roger took a garbage bag and put the entire cardboard box containing the dump food, inside the bag. Then, he left on the side of the road near the feeding station so the garbage truck could pick it up. The irony was that this spoiled food came from the dumpsite and that is where it was going back. Amen! 

I am so grateful that the Lord permitted us to be on that road, exactly at the same time as this family was walking home from the dumpsite. That was not a coincidence, rather it was certainly a divine appointment.

In Matthew 25: Verse 35a, the Word of God says: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…” Verse 40 says: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

As Christians, we always must be attentive to anyone we encounter that are coming out of their “own brand of dumpsite” and needing our help. When we lend a helping hand to one of these, it is like as Jesus Himself is helping them. That thought should always motivate us to be kind, caring and compassionate.

God bless you,

Denise

 

 

Note: That dumpsite has now been closed for several years. Amen!

 

 

 

Emma, our knitting angel

In the 1990's a precious christian lady already in her 80's and living in the state of Washington, knitted hundreds of sweaters for our TLCCM children. She would send 50-100 items at any given time. Every color in the rainbow and every size from babies to teenagers.

She was a widow living on social security. I remember her telling us that she had arthritis in her knees and legs. She needed a walker to get around. She could have easily sat in her living room and complained or watch television all day. But, instead she turned her living room into a knitting room. Every day she would spend hours knitting sweaters for the kids.

After a while, she had knitted many sweaters but did not know of anyone who could use them. Her pastor came to her house once a month to give her communion, so she talked to him about these sweaters. He knew of a youth group that had recently visited Tijuana on a mission trip.  This youth group had come to help us with our Vacation Bible School program.  She contacted the leader who gave her our address and telephone number.

After she realized the children in Tijuana would be happy to have her sweaters, she sent us every sweater she had already knitted.  Afterwards, every day she would sit in her living room and make more and many more sweaters.

Back in those days, there was practically no internet, so Emma wrote to us on a regular basis. She made those beautiful sweaters for years. In all that time, I only spoke to her once. She would send us a letter to advise us that a box or two were coming in the mail.  She was adamant that we would notify her as soon as the sweaters arrived on our doorstep. The only request she ever made was that once or twice every year she wanted a few pictures of the kids wearing her precious creations. We sent her many pictures.

Then, one day, the letters stopped coming and so did the boxes of sweaters. We tried to call her, but her phone had been disconnected. We concluded that she had gone home to heaven.

She was the perfect example of a servant's heart. Working day in and day out alone in her living room to do her share to help the poor. Very few people knew about the sweaters. She just wanted to serve the Lord and bless the children.

I have no pictures of this sweet lady, nor did I remember her name, until just a few minutes ago, while writing this testimony.  Our precious lady’s name was Emma.  But, all along the Lord knew her name and He saw her labor of love.  Now she is enjoying her reward among the angels of heaven.

I wonder if she is knitting sweaters for the angels and if finally she made one for Roger!

Sincerely,  Denise  xxx

Is this my birthday cake?

“Take delight in the Lord,  and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

 Psalm 37:4 

After thirty-two years of ministry, there were many occasions when a specific situation took me by surprise. This article qualifies as one of those emotional, pleasant and unexpected situations.

For several years, TLCCM had the privilege to sponsor a children’s house group in Colonia Urbi, in Tijuana. This home bible group was an outreach of Templo Bethania whose pastors were my dear friends pastors Jorge & Rosa.

Colonia Urbi is at least fifty minutes from their local church. On Saturdays in Tijuana it is common to see street markets everywhere in the various shantytowns. It is a time where the local people can do some shopping for various items including fresh fruits and vegetables. These markets on held on the side of the streets or sometimes on the streets, making it difficult for traffic to circulate in a timely fashion. Because the children’s bible study was on Saturday, getting to the Urbi location was challenging.  It is another slum area and many of the children come from single parent household.

For several years, TLCCM paid for a small bus to transport these kids back and forth to our Vacation Bible School program or other special events happening at Templo Bethania. The cost of $60 per trip was a great investment in the lives of these precious children.

I was always very grateful for the wonderful and very reliable helpers that live in that area who took on the responsibility for this house group.

Every time I was in Tijuana, I would go for a visit. In January 2020 was no exception. I always enjoyed my time with this group of children. I always did something special with them and I also brought them blessings.

One Saturday morning, I woke up early and baked a slab cake for our afternoon session in Colonia Urbi. I often surprised the kids with homemade cake or cup cakes that I covered with a thick layer of icing and lots of candied sparkles. Upon arriving at the location in Colonia Urbi, Pastor Jorge handed me the cake to take to the ladies in the kitchen. 

I barely made a few steps towards the kitchen when I heard a little girl say: “Hermana is this cake for me?”.  I turned around and noticed that I did not know this little girl, but she was obliviously talking to me. Apparently, this was only her second time attending our weekly bible.

I smile and said: “Well sweetheart the cake is for everyone.” My answer was not to her satisfaction. She replied: “But, this cake is for me, it was my birthday this week and I did not get a cake, so, this one is for me, right?”

Looking at this pretty little girl that was believing with all her heart that this cake was “her cake” made my eyes filled with tears.

My answer to her was: “Precious, absolutely this cake is for you, but we will have to share it with the other children. Is that good with you?”  “Oh! yes” she said, and she ran into the classroom happy as a little bird on a nice spring day.

With my heart still full of emotions, I brought the cake in the kitchen. I explained to the ladies and to Pastor Rosa what had just happened outside. Immediately, love and compassion fell on everyone and without saying a word, we all knew what to do.

I went into the classroom to spend time with the kids. I learned that my birthday girl’s name was Lesly. Meanwhile, Pastor Rosa went to the little store next door to buy some candles. Usually, the ladies would have cut the cake and placed them on little paper plates, to serve to the kids after they finished their meal, but not that day. The cake stayed uncut on the counter.

After bible study, the kids ate a good meal. Lesly ate her meal and did not ask about “her cake”. In her mind, it was already settled, the cake I brought was her birthday cake. The simple faith of a child is always a reminder to us adults that the Lord loves this type of simple faith.

In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. !Amen.

Meanwhile, while some of the older kids picked up the empty plates and glasses, in the kitchen the ladies were putting candles on the cake. Then Pastora Rosa came in with the cake and all the kids started to sing “Happy Birthday Lesly”. I stood at the back of the room and took pictures with tears running down my cheeks.

Lesly’s face radiated with joy. It was easy to see this little girl was feeling loved. The other children instantly turned the occasion into a birthday celebration.

Afterwards, talking with her I learned that she did not go to school. Her single mom had to work and could not afford a babysitter. Lesly stayed home to watch her younger brother and sister. She enjoyed coming to the bible study because this was the only time during the week that she got to spend time with children her own age. It is really the only time during the week that she got to be “a little girl”.

Before the kids went home, we gave them their monthly bag of groceries. Lesly was so happy to get her supplies. This was a blessing she had never experienced.

This little girl needed a special touch from heaven and the Lord in His mercy made that happened. When I baked “her” cake earlier that day, I did not realize how much of a blessing it would bring to this precious little girl.

During my 32 years on the mission field of Tijuana, I made hundreds of cakes or cupcakes for the kids in our TLCCM program. The kids were always happy to see me arrive with a dessert. But I must admit that Lesly’s and “her” birthday cake have a special place in my heart.

Sometimes we do things that seems insignificant to us, but nothing is insignificant to the Lord. He often turns our insignificant things into a blessing for someone else, for someone that really needs a special blessing, a special touch from heaven.

This situation showed me that the Lord takes all of what we do for others, and He turns them into special blessings for those who need it the most. 

Nothing we do for others is insignificant in His eyes.

 Denise

All scriptures taken from the New International Version unless otherwise specified.

Take courage….do not be afraid!

In Matthew 14:27 (NIV): But Jesus immediately said to them:

 “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

When we go through difficult times it is normal to be or feel afraid. But, we always have to remember is that the Lord is just a prayer away. In John 14:1 Jesus tells us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

We never have or should carry heartaches, disappointments and even betrayals. The Lord is our refuge. He is the One we should and must trust at all times.

When we read the following scriptures verses we find peace and safety.

Psalm 9:9:“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Psalm 16:1:“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.”

Psalm 18:2:“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn^] of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 31:2: “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”

Therefore, when you heart hurts, your emotions are in a mess and your nerves are rattled, slow down, sit and talk to the Lord about your hurts, your feelings and your uncertainties. You can even talk to Him about your doubts and about the times you failed to completely trust Him.

After you shared with Him how you feel, sit quietly in His presence and let His peace overwhelm your soul. Take the time to listen what He is speaking to your heart and spirit.

At the end of the day, every hard thing either makes us bitter or better. When we begin to see His goodness reflected in the pleasant and painful things we encounter, we learn to trust Him in and for every situation of our lives.

If we learned to stand firm upon His word, trusting in His overwhelming goodness, His peace with fill our soul and spirit and we will dwell in the peace that only the Lord can provide.

The Lord says to you in Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”   

Denise  xx

HEROES IN THE FAITH

Several years ago, as I was praying for our TLCCM team of workers in Tijuana, and the Lord gave me a Word for them. Our team of workers are heroes in the faith. They really are! They work long hours without pay, in various areas of the ministry. Many of them work behind the scenes where nobody really sees their dedication and faithfulness. Nevertheless, they do what they do with joy and in unity. They are heroes in the faith.

In this BLOG, I want to encourage those of you, who serve the Lord in whatever area of ministry you have been called to serve. Mostly, I want to encourage the ones that work behind the scenes or in a capacity that many times your work and dedication is not understood or appreciated. I especially want to bless those who might feel like an “unknown” even if you are always surrounded by people.

Many of you reading this article are heroes in the faith! Most of you just don’t realize it.

The Lord uses various situations and difficult times in our lives to build our character and to bring forth the hero in us. He will often bring to the forefront a good and talented christian person that would otherwise stay unknown in their own environment. He will use situations, problems and adversities to reveal a real person of faith, a hero in the faith. I sincerely think that the Lord seeks to bring out “a hero in the faith” in all of us.

Through those various situations and often difficult times, the heroes in the faith come forth with strength, peace, dedication and wisdom. We are not all called to be Billy Graham. But, every day, we are certainly are all called to do make a difference around us, no matter who we are or where we are.

Pastor Paul Goulet of the International Church of Las Vegas once said something that deeply touched my heart. His words were: ”Can we change the world?” Many people think: “No, I can’t change the world. But the fact is that we can. If each of us does what the Lord asks us to do, we can change the world one person at a time, no matter who we are or wherever we are.

Your age is not important, your education although important, is not mandatory. What is important is having a pure and humble heart and a willingness to serve.

1 Samuel:17 we read that David was such a person. Like many of us, David was an unknown. But, he had a servant’s heart.  He was young. For the most part, he was out in the fields near Bethlehem taking care of his father’s sheep. Not a very prestigious job.

He was a shepherd boy. He was not even on the battlefield with his brothers. He only went to the battlefield when his father Jesse asked him to bring food and to inquire about the well-being of his brothers.

After he had brought the food to the keeper of the supplies, he ran to the battle line to see his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath the champion soldier of the Philistines came out of his lines to harass and threaten Saul’s army. For 40 days this aggressive giant had come out of the lines of his army and shouted defiance to the Israelites.

Today was going to be different, David was there in front of Goliath. David the little shepherd boy, David the unknown. Today, things were going to change. While David studied the situation, all the Israelites ran away in fear.

David was brave. He had killed a lion and a bear to protect his sheep. But when he came forward to offer to fight Goliath even one of his brothers made fun of him.  He even asked him with whom had David left his few sheep. He accused David of being conceited. 

He made David feel like he had no value. Did this ever happen to some of you? It has happened to me, and more than once. It certainly is not a good feeling. It is difficult for our emotions and self-esteem when someone cannot find anything positive to say about you, about your calling or about your everyday decisions. It takes faith, determination and the knowledge that you know who you are in Christ to be able to shake those negatives comments. It takes faith to believe that because of Jesus you have value.

David was not one to give up. So, he stepped away from his brothers and went to the other soldiers. But they also mocked him. Out of sheer frustration, he said: “Can’t I even speak? ”  He was more of a diplomat that I would have been. I would have said: “What is your problem?”

Finally, he told Saul: “Do not to lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him. Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.”

David completely depended on God.  In verse 37 he says: ^“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." He did not say, might deliver me, possibly he will deliver me. NO, he said He will deliver me.

Crisis, trial or difficulties forces to get on our knees and completely depend on God. I know that to be true. I’ve been on my knees a lot in the past several years. I would not have made it without completely trusting God to take care of me.

David knew how to depend on God.  How else would he have had the faith and confidence to face this 3 meter's giant with only a few small rocks?.

We must face our crisis or difficult situations with the same faith David faced Goliath.  We must speak the Word of God in faith and tell our giants the same thing David told Goliath.  With faith and authority we must say: “Devil, you come against me with situations, problems, difficulties…… but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty….Devil this day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I will defeat you and the whole world will know that the Lord is my God.

David had great faith in God. He was confident that the Lord would resolve a very dangerous situation. Actually, for David, it could have meant death.

He might have been just a shepherd boy, but David had the faith of a giant. 

We must all learn to trust the Lord with the faith of David.

In 1983, Roger and I traveled to Israel. Our travel guide took us to an olive grove to show us how they made olive oil. For this procedure, olives are put in a round cement container (tank). Over the olives, they install weights to long pieces of wood.  The donkeys are then harnessed to those weights and pieces of wood. They then proceed to go around and around the cement container. While they go around and around the weights put pressure on the olives.  It is a long procedure, but eventually they get oil

In times of crisis we are like the olives, we are pressed on every side. We feel the pressure.  But if we learn to trust to Lord, the “oil” of His strength, the “oil” of His peace, the “oil” of His love will pour out on us and get us through our crisis. This is how we grow in our faith, this is how we overcome the enemy of our soul.

I personally know many of you who read this BLOG. In my eyes you are heroes in the faith.  You have been through some very difficult times, but I have also seen you completely trust the Lord. Trust the Lord with the same faith David had when he faced Goliath.

Through those difficult times, you have learned to let the oil of His peace, the oil of His love, the oil of His faith be your strength. You have been through some rough situations, but you have always come out on the other side, praising God, being a good witness and continuing to serve Him. I call you: Heroes in the faith.

For those I do not know, in whatever crisis you may be going through right now, may I please encourage you to have the faith of David. Trust the Lord that He will be  

with you and give you the strength you need for your own situation. There is no Goliath that the Lord cannot help you conquer.  Sometimes He will deliver you from your fire. Other times He will let you go through the fire. But always, He is with you in your fire. (Pastor John Haggee)

Let your prayer be: “Lord give me faith of David to go through this crisis, be with me in this difficult situation. Pour out your oil of love, peace and strength over my life.” Amen!

Please, don’t lose heart in the face of your crisis because our God is faithful, always so very faithful.  Amen! By keeping faith in the Lord and continuing to serve Him through the good days and through the hard days, you will become or continue to be heroes in the faith.

Most important never forget to always be grateful and to give God all the glory.

Denise
Please note: Reading 1 Samuel chapter 17, will help you understand what I wrote in this BLOG.

“Grandma” wants to come and live with me in Ottawa

“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.”

1 Timothy 5:3 (NIV)

In Mexico, there is very financial help for the elderly. Older people who have a birth certificate get about $20 a month. Unfortunately, many older people never were registered with the government. Therefore, they are considered non-existent and receive no help. In my years as a missionary, many are the times, I have encountered some of those neglected older people, especially women.  Sometimes, they show up at the feeding stations hungry and tired. The feeding program is for children, nevertheless it is absolutely not acceptable to turn these ladies away. We give them a plate of food and something to drink. They are always grateful especially when we collect their empty plate and place a few cookies in their hands.

Many of these women offer to help in the kitchen knowing that we will them give something to eat before they go back home. Their degree of cleanliness is not always conducive to let them near the food. But, we always need volunteers to wash dishes. We never had one of these ladies refuse to do just that. In Mariano Matamoros, we had one of those ladies. Her name was so difficult to pronounce, I simply called her “Grandma”. She refused to tell me her age, just that she was over 75 years old. She was about 5 ft tall and very skinny. Her bathing habits were non-existent. But, she had a smile that stole your heart and a hug that was strong and sincere.

In 2014, during our Vacation Bible Program, Grandma brought two of her grandchildren to the program. She volunteered to do dishes. Because she was too short to reach the bottom of the sink, we had to install a wood step in front of the sink. It was in August and very hot, but all week Grandma washed dishes for the duration of the program. She really was happy to be helpful.

After VBS ended, I bought some Chinese food just for the workers. I wanted them to know how much they were appreciated. I had a gift bag with shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste & toothbrush and new socks for everyone. Each lady got an envelope with some monies sponsored by TLCCM. I had an envelope for Grandma. She arrived late for lunch. She was wearing a wrinkled blue dress. I went to meet her and as I hugged I realized that she was trying to look good without first taking the time to bathe.  I gave her a plate of Chinese food and we continued with our meal.

When I gave out the envelopes she looked at everyone and smiled. When I called out her name, she was not sure what to do. The other ladies told her to come up front to see me.  I gave her the bag of blessings and gave her an envelope which contained $20.00. I filled a take-out container of Chinese food and I gave it to her with a hug. Then she left. She stayed around for a while, but I guess she was wondering what was in the envelope. 

After that day, I became her best friend. She invited us to her shack. It was up the mountain where no cars could go. She had “cleaned” out the outside of her shack. An old dirty couch was the only place to sit.  Construction blocks and an old rusty wire rack was the “stove” where she cooked her food. Water came out of a hose that was hooked up to her daughter’s house in a row of shacks below her’s. Inside, she had one room with and old bed and old sofa. The rest of the room were items or better yet garbage she had picked up hoping to use them or sell them for a few pesos.

One of TLCCM sponsors bought a small two-cylinder propane stove for Grandma. We also made certain that she received some groceries. Meanwhile, I came back to Ottawa, but Grandma did not forget about me. She would ask the leaders if they knew when I was coming back. The next time I was at the church, she was there with her two grandchildren.  She asked to talk to me. I was busy with the kids, so I told her that I would talk to her once all the children had received their blessings. Wearing dirty clothes, her hair not having been washed in a while and without any kind of deodorant she looked very pitiful. But, she sat on a bench and patiently waited for me.  Once, I was finished with the kids, I went over to talk to her. She had made up a plan for her life and she wanted to share it with me. She said: Hermana Denise, you have been so good to me and I love you very much. Now, you know where I live and that I have nothing. I’m an old woman and I need someone to take care of me.  So, I was thinking that when you go back to Canada, you could take me with you and you could look after me. This way, I would not have to worry about what to eat or where to sleep.”  Her little 8 years old granddaughter was standing with her and she said: “Hermana, I also want to go live with you in Canada.”

I was completely astounded by these statements. Obviously both Grandma and the little girl had been making plans for their future. My heart was broken to see the desperation in their faces. They wanted a better life. I could very well understand why they wanted to end that life of hunger and poverty. I took a few long breaths and silently told the Lord He had to give me the right words to explain to them that I could not take them to Ottawa with me. Not counting that neither had any birth certificates to even obtain a passport, but I simply could not take them with me. I simply could not take on that responsibility.

I do not recall exactly what explanation I gave them. I know it was the Lord that took over the conversation because I was absolutely without words…….I am not one that usually is without words.

In the end, they said:“Thank you hermana, we understand. 

We know that if you could you would.”

I sat with them for a while inquiring about different little details as not to send them home without showing them love and compassion.

Afterwards, Grandma continued to come to church for almost one year. Then she stopped coming. I sent some workers up the hill to see if she was safe. But, they found the shack empty and boarded up. One neighbor said that one of her daughters had come for her and the little girl. They were now living with her in another part of Tijuana.

Nobody ever saw Grandma again. I often think of her. An older woman facing her future in a shack, wearing filthy clothing and many days having nothing to eat. Each time I think of Grandma, I thank God that I am facing such a different future. I have a beautiful home with a nice bathroom with hot water. I have nice clothes and a good car. I always have food in my fridge. I am so grateful for everything I do have. I will always remember never to abandon the poor and the needy. As long as I have my health and the calling of God on my life, I will look out for other grandmas who are in need.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, 

A hug from grandma

for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Grandma's room

 Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)